BJ
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189
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Por
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I
Prought
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Jan David Erskine, Lord.
}
Lord Dun's
S
FRIENDLY
AND
FAMILIAR
ADVICES,
ADAPTED TO
The various Stations and Conditions
of Life, and the mutual Relations to
be obſerved amongſt them.
E DIN BURGH:
Printed for G. HAMILTON and BALFOUR.
M,DCCLIV.
8C
...1951
DO
7512--190:-
P R E F A C E.
+
TH
COURTEOUS READER,
HE great corruption and
degeneracy of the pre-
fent age, calls upon all true and
fincere Chriſtians, to contribute
their endeavours towards a re-
formation of the life and man-
ners of mankind : for that end,
I have thrown in my poor mite
into the treaſury; which pro-
ceeding from a ſincerely good
and charitable intention, I hope,
poor as it is, will be accepted
of, and have this good effect,
to prompt others of greater a-
bilities, to make larger contri-
butions.
My
iv
P R E F A C E.
My intention at firſt went no
further, than to offer
my humble
Advice to the perſons concern-
ed in the adminiſtration of ju-
ſtice, and managing of law-ſuits ;
for, my long experience in that
kind of buſineſs, diſcovered to
me many defects and abuſes
therein; which moved in me a
defire of attempting, according,
to my weak power, to rectify,
in ſome meaſure, what I obſer-
ved to be amiſs, in our judicial
proceedings.
But, after finiſhing the few
Advices to the practiſers at the
law, I thought that I could not
employ my vacant time to bet-
ter purpoſe, than to proceed with
my Advice to others of different
ranks, ſtations, and conditions ;
in hopes that, anongſt the fe-
verals
P R E F A CE:
V
verals I have preſumed to addreſs
myſelf to, ſome may be profited
from what I have ſuggeſted ;
and, if any one ſhall, I will think
my poor labour and pains well
beſtowed and fufficiently reward-
ed.
It was far from my intenti-
on, that any performance of
mine, of this or any other kind,
ſhould ever appear in public;
but, in place of deſtroying theſe
few ſheets, written only for mine
own amuſement, I have kept
them entire.
But, ſince they are to make
a public appearance, let me beg
the favourable indulgence of the
reader, to paſs by and overlook
the defects and imperfections he
may meet with, whether in point
of language, or any other thing;
and
A
vi
PRE FACE.
and as to the ſtyle of the lan-
guage; tho’I was Maſter ofit, as I
am not; yet, many of the perſons
for whom my Advice is intend-
ed being of the low and inferior
ránk, a plain and eaſy ſtyle is to
them beſt ſuited and moſt proper.
But, I hope, that, in place of
meeting with cenſure from the
reader, the ſincerity and upright-
neſs of my deſign in this under-
taking, will prove a veil for co-
vering all its imperfections.
CON-
CON TEN TS.
38
Advice to the Judge, calculated chiefly
for the Judge in the Court of
Seſion,
page-1
to the Advocate or Attorney, 28
to the Clerk,
to the Agent or Solicitor,
42
-to thoſe who are engaged as Par-
ties in a Law-ſuit, 47
to the Monarch, and other Sove-
reign Powers,
53
to the Subject,
61
to the Miniſter of State, and to
bim of the Sovereign's Coun-
cil,
76
to Country Noblemen and Gent:e-
men of landed Eſtates, -85
to the Man of Wealth and riches,
93
to the poor and Indigent, 99
to the Gospel Miniſter, and preach-
er of God's Word, 106
to the Merchant,
to the Tradeſman and Mechanic,
138
125
vii CONTENT S.
1
Advice to the Country Farmer and La-
bourer of the Ground,
147
to the Military, both Officers and
Soldiers,
156
to the Mariner, and Seafaring
Man,
173
-to Huſband and Wife, 183
-to Parents and Children, 191
to Maſters and Servants,
2169
-to Old and Young
227
Conclufion,
237
I
}
PREFACE,
1
ADVICE S.
ADVICE to the JUDGE, calculated
chiefly for the Judge in the Court of
Seſſion.
}
E whom God, in his providence,
placeth in the ſtation of a
Judge, as it is his indiſpenſible duty,
ſo it ſhould be his conſtant ſtudy and
care, in his ſtation, to advance, with the
utmoſt of his power, the glory and ho-
nour of his God, whoſe vicegerent he
is, and the good of his generation, for
whoſe benefit his office was ordained.
It is indeed true, that all ranks and
degrees of mankind are under obligati-
ons to act for attaining and advancing
theſe great ends : but, in a more parti-
cular and diſtinguiſhing manner, Jud-
ges are thereto.obliged; becauſe they
are truſted, both by God Almighty and
their fellow-creatures, with a greater
fare of power than others are, for en-
abling them to advance and promote
A
theſe
2
ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
theſe ends; and therefore, if they fail
therein, they are exceedingly guilty,
and their fin greatly heightened, with
this aggravating circumſtance, of being
unfaithful to their truſt.
The neceſſary qualifications for a
Judge, are in part natural, and partly
to be acquired : for, none can ſufficient-
ly diſcharge the important duties of that
great office and truſt, unleſs he be na-
turally gifted with a diſtinct notion and
knowledge of the principles of natural
reaſon and equity; and be endued with
a will and inclination, in all caſes that
are brought before him, to ſquare his
judgment by thoſe rules and principles,
when he hath no certain and poſitive
rule to guide and direct him.
But theſe gifts of nature, however
great they are, will, of themſelves, ne-
ver ſuffice, unleſs they are cultivated
and improven by a laborious and pain-
ful ſtudy, not only of the municipal
laws of the country and ſociety where-
in he judgeth (the ignorance whereof
is the greateſt reproach upon a Judge),
but alſo of the laws of the moſt polite
nations; particularly of that body of law
of
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. 3
of the Romans, which, for its juſtice
and perſpicuity, claims preference to all
others, and, for its excellency, is juſt-
ly termed the common law; whereof a
great part is wiſely adopted for law, by
many nations, and particularly by our
own ; I mean ſuch parts of it as are
founded
upon natural equity, and not
concerned with the ſubtleties, policy,
and
government of that people: for the
deſign of all human laws, for the moſt
part, is the fame; namely, for the pre-
ſerving and maintaining of juſtice in hu-
man ſociety, as the neceſſary bond there-
of: it thence follows, that the know-
ledge and ſtudy of theſe laws muſt be
very helpful, for clearing up of the prin-
ciples of right reaſon and natural equity;
and no leſs uſeful to the Judge in all
his adminiſtrations, for his forming a
right judgment, upon the various caſes
that come before him; which, from
the great variety of circumſtances, can-
not poſſibly be reduced to, or brought
under any poſitive rule, or ſtatute.
The perſon who preſumes to aſpire
to the office of a Judge, and, at the
ſame time, is conſcious of his unfitneſs
for
A 2
-
4 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
for it, from his want of the neceſſary
qualifications abovementioned, which too
frequently falls out, being' moved there-
to, either from a principle of ambi-
tion, covetouſneſs, or ſuch like fordid
and perverſe motive, is highly culpable;
and, on that account, hath much to
anſwer to God, his country, and his
own conſcience : and no, leſs guilty are
they, who, by abuſing their intereſt
with the Sovereign, or others at whoſe
diſpoſal the office depends, do procure
commiſſions in favours of unfit and dit-
qualified perſons: this is' to gratify their
friend at a very dear and expenſive rate;
for, by ſo doing, they are unfaithful to
the truſt repoſed in them by the so-
vereign, who, for ordinary, has no o-
ther means to know the fitneſs and fuf-
ficiency of perſons, for that weighty and
important office, than what he receives
from the informations and recommen-
dations of his Miniſters : they alſo, in
a moft fenfible and burtful manner, be-
tray their country, by putting over their
fellow-ſubjects, ignorant, or otherwiſe
inſufficient Judges; and, indeed, all the
injuſtice and iniquous judgment, com-
mitted
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. 5
--
mitted by them, may very juſtly be
charged upon the inſtruments of their
preferment.
THE duties incumbent on a Judge,
refer to his behaviour, as well extra-
judicially and out of judgment, as in
the fame.
Out of judgment, his conduct, in
every reſpect, ought to be ſuitable to
his character, which obliges him to be
grave in the whole of his deportment,
ſober, pious, and exemplary, in all parts
and inſtances of his life: in fine, he is
more ſtrictly bound than others are,
to be denied to all ungodlineſs and
worldly luſts, and to live piouſly towards
God, righteouſly towards his neighbour,
ſoberly and temperately with reſpect to
himſelf.
WHAT can be more unbecoming,
than for the executor of the law, to
be himſelf an offender againſt it? how
unſuitable is it for the Miniſter of ju-
ftice, to be unjuſt in his dealings with
others ? what is more unſeemly and in-
conſiſtent, than that he who is called
and commiffionated to judge and pu-
nilha
A 3
6 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
niſh the tranſgreſſions of others, ſhould
himſelf be guilty of the ſame offences ?
A JUDGE ſhould not only endeavour
to have his judgment ſupported by law,
but authoriſed and confirmed with his
own innocence, and freedom from the
guilt which he condemns in others, that
he may not be reproached with theſe
or the like words: How canſt thou,
O Judge! puniſh or condemn this crime,
ſince thou thyſelf art equally guilty
thereof? as it is expreſſed by the a-
poſtle Paul, in his epiſtle to the Romans,
chap. ii. ver. -1, 21, and 22.
AND becauſe the life of a Judge,
according as it is either good or bad,
hath great influence on the lives of o-
thers; he ought therefore to ſhew him-
ſelf a pattern to all, by living in a
ftrict obſervance of his duty to God, in
the conſtant practice of all acts of wor-
ſhip and devotion to him, in ſecret, in
his family, and in public attending up-
on all the public ordinances of divine
worſhip and inſtitution. He is, with
the utmoft care and diligence, to ab-
ſtain from all ſinful practices and vici-
ous habits.
НЕ
1
1
ADVICE TO A JUDGE .
7
V
HE 'is alſo to be no leſs careful in
giving obedience to that moſt import-
ant and indiſpenſable precept of our Sa-
viour, of loving his neighbour as him-
ſelf, by performing to him all acts of
charity and mercy: for, in a particular
manner, the Judge, by his office, is
called upon, to be the patron of the
poor, helpleſs, and indigent; not only
in defending them from the oppreſſions
of others; but in miniſtring to them
comfort and relief in their diſtreſſes :
and, how groſsly ſcandalous and ſhame-
ful a thing is it, for a Judge to be
guilty of any act of injuſtice and op-
preſſion againſt his neighbour, by inju-
sing him in his means, good name, re-
putation, or otherways; or by violating
the relative duties he ſtands engaged
in to others, as a huſband, parent, or
ſuch like?
Then, in reference to himſelf, the
Judge, in his eating and drinking, ought
to be fober and temperate ; in his re-
creations, moderate, making a right
choice of them; not to be addicted to
gaming with cards or dice: ſuch unlaw-
fut recreations are, by the Judge, to be
diſcouraged,
1
8 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
diſcouraged, as the occaſions of much
wickedneſs, and the woeful cauſe of
corrupting many, particularly of our
youth. In his habit, the Judge ought
to be grave and decent ; in the whole
of his deportment, humble, courteous,
affable, and meek: the whole of his
converſation" ought to be ſavory, wiſe,
and edifying: he ſhould be altogether
diſengaged from all covetouſneſs, am-
bition, pride, anger, malice, revenge,
and ſuch like diſorderly paſſions and af-
fections ; for all, or any of them, being
ſeated and reigning in a Judge's heart,
will, in conſequence, influence his judg-
ment, to the perverting of juſtice; and
by thus managing the courſe and te-
nor of his life, out of judgment, he
will thereby be more enabled to con-
duct himſelf in the right diſcharge of
his duty when in it.
For that end, and in the firſt place,
and above all other means, let me re-
commend to him to be frequent and
fèrvent' in prayer to God, for the ſpirie
of true judgment, for a wiſe and un-
derſtanding heart, that God Almighty
would conſtantly bend and incline his
will
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. 9
1
will towards the impartial adminiſtra-
tion of juſtice: and, 'in fine, that he
would conduct and direct him by his
holy Spirit, in the whole of his admi-
niſtrations; and this not only at his ſta-
ted hours and times of prayer, but oc-
caſionally, when he fits in judgment,
and when caſes of moment and difficul-
ty are brought before him: then is the
proper time to dart up to heaven, ſome
Thort mental petitions and ejaculations,
for divine conduct and affiſtance, with
reſpect to the caſe under preſent deli-
beration ; for poor, frail, and infirm
man, without the divine aid and affift-
' ance, is liable, in every action of his
life, to miſcarry ; but much more ſo,
in the great and important duties of
high places and ſtations: this makes it
the more neceſſary for thoſe who are
poffefſed of them, to be the more fre-
quent and importunate ſuitors at the
throne of grace, for ſupplies of all ne-
ceſſary gifts and graces, for directing
and conducting them aright; and, to
our great comfort and encouragement
herein, we have the promiſe of the moſt
faithful and true God, that he will be-
ſtow
1
10 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
ftow the gifts and graces of his holy
Spirit on thoſe who fervently and ear-
neſtly ſue and implore for the ſame.
But the communication of the di-
vine aſſiſtance, cannot reaſonably be ho-
ped for by him who lives in the nea
glect of all the neceſſary and appoint-
ed means for directing and governing
aright his judgment ; for, as the Judge's
work is difficult, ſo he is to be painful
and laborious, in the uſe of all proper
means, within his power, for his under-
ſtanding of all caſes that come before
him, with a dependance always upon
God for his bleſſing.
In the firſt place, the Judge, for un-
derſtanding of the caſe, muft be fully
acquainted with the whole fact in it
,
and of all its circumſtances : for that end,
he is, with great attention, to liſten to
the opening of the caſe, whether from
the bar, or otherways; and, after he
is well appriſed of the fact and of the
queſtion upon it, he is carefully to ſeek
after, and find out the rule of law and
juſtice, by which it is to be judged :
and where there is intricacy in the caſe,
or difficulty in the law whereby it is to
be
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. II
be judged; it is cautious and prudent
in the Judge not to proceed to give pre-
ſent judgment, but to delay for ſome
Short time, that he
may
have
opportu-
nity to think and deliberate upon it, and,
if neceſſary, to conſult both the living
and dead about it; for, to precipitate,
and rafhly to give judgment, is com-
monly attended with this bad effect, that,
when the caſe is brought under review,
ſome one material circumſtance or other,
having eſcaped the firſt judgment, muſt,
in conſequence, vary the ſecond from
it, and oftentimes make it directly op-
poſite to it ; which throws fome reflexi-
on upon the Judge, who, in honour
and duty is called upon, to uſe all the
means in his power for to have his judg-
ment and deciſion not to be vacillant,
but to be ſtable and ſure.
But then the Judge, on the other
hand, is to fhun all ſtiffneſs of opinion,
and not to be ſo wedded to his own,
as to be unwilling or aſhamed, upon
good reaſons, to change and depart from
it: for it would be a great impudence,
and unaccountable vanity, for any to
pretend to an abſolute freedom from all
errors
12 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
1
errors and miſtakes"; eſpecially in ſuch
courts of judicature, as is our Court of
Seffion, where, from the great variety
and multitudes of caſes that throngs up-
on the Judges, eſcapes muſt happen
and therefore, when, upon the review,
the Judge, from his own reflexion, or
from the reaſoning of others, is made
fenfible of his error; it is, in that caſe,
both his honour and duty to change
his.opinion, in place of being aſhamed
of the change.
Our Court of Seſſion is indeed great-
ly reproached with frequent changes
of opinion, in the ſame individual caſes:
and I am ſorry that this reproachful
charge, ſhould have any manner of foun-
dation ; but it is to be conſidered, that
this imperfection of procedure, flows
not from the vacillancy and unſtability
of the Judges their opinions, but from
the unſtability and unfixedneſs of ſede-
runts; that is to ſay, by the conſtitu-
tion of the court, ſome of the Judges
are, every diet of court, withdrawn from
the bench of the inner-houſe (where
almoſt all caſes receive their final judg-
ment), to attend their proper buſineſs
allotted
1
1
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. 13
allotted them, in the outer-houſe, or
on the bills; and this goes by rotation
amongſt all the ordinary Judges ; ſo that
the Judges in the inner-houſe of this
day, are not the ſame who fit Judges
to-enorrow ; confequently, when a caſe
receives its firſt judgment, and after-
wards that judgment is brought under
review (one review, by the rules of
court, being always admitted of), the
firſt and ſecond iudgments are pronoun-
ced by different Judges; and there-
fore, to find different judgments and
interloquitors, upon the individual fame
caſe, is no more to be wondred at, than
to fee different men differ in opinion.
It is to be will.ed, that this error in
the conſtitution of the ſupreme Court
was rećtified; but that belongs to the
legiſlative power, which, I hope, wiil
in time, and upon proper application,
provide a remedy: yet, I humbly think
that it is in the power of the Judges, in
a great meaſure, to help it; and, for
that end, I here take leave, with
great ſubmiſſion, to ſuggeſt ſome few
thoughts.
B
IN
o
3
41 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
In the firſt place, (beſides the cau-
tion formerly hinted, that the Judges
be careful not to precipitate, and too
haſtily proceed to give judgment, but
after mature deliberation, and full un-
derſtanding of the caſe) that all import-
ant and difficult caſes be judged, as far
as poſſible, with a full bench; and, for
that end, be taken up when the whole
of the Judges are preſent, which hap-
pens to be ſome part of every day's fe-
derunt, if not prevented by ſickneſs, or
ſuch neceſſary abſence of ſome : which
time, if it is well managed and hul-
banded by the Judges, may well fuffice
for determining all caſes that require a
full bench; but then no part of it is to
be conſumed, with the unneceſſary re-
ſuming of all the arguments debated
from the bar, on both ſides of the
que-
ſtion, but briefly to ſtate the fact of the
caſe, and the queſtion upon it ; to re-
ſume, or repeat more, I always thought
to be very idle, and a needleſs loſs of
time ; becauſe every Judge, in ſpeak-
ing upon the caſe, will readily give the
reaſons of his opinion, and take notice
of all arguments that influence it; fo
that
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. 15
that no argument of any moment, from
the bar, can well eſcape the obſerva-
tion of ſome one or other of the Judges
at adviſing
In the next place, when it happens,
that upon the ſame caſe, different inter-
loquitors are given, which, for ordi-
nary, as before ſaid, falls out, froin
change and alteration of federunts; then
it is abſolutely neceſſary, that it be
finally judged upon the laſt review, by
a full bench: and when ſo, the judg-
ment ſhould not afterwards be altered,
but on the diſcovery of ſome new fact,
fince pronouncing of the laſt judgment;
and though, by the rules of court, there
is place to reclaim againſt it, yet the
reclaiming petition ought to be reject-
ed, unleſs ſome of the Judges, who
gave
fuffrage for the judgment, or ſome of
them, who, from the doubtfulneſs of
the caſe, gave none, be of opinion, that
there is ſome ſtrength of reaſon in the
petition, as to alter the opinion of the
one, or determine the judgment of the
other.
THERE occurs an objection to the
method here propoſed, namely, that,
Thould
B 2
16 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
ſhould all caſes of importance, and theſe
wherein different judgments have been
given, be finaliy judged by a full bench
then theſe caſes would meet with long
delay : becauſe the time when all the
Judges can be preſent, is but ſhort and
no ways ſufficient for giving the neceſ-
ſary diſpatch to the parties concerned
in thém. lor obviating the above ob-
jection, a caution to the Judges is here
neceſſary; that is, that none of them
propoſe to have a caſe judged by a full
bench, but when one or other of the
forefaid reaſons calls for it, and makes
it neceſſary; not to make the motion
from a motive of pleaſing one or other
of the parties ; neither are they to com-
ply with the motion, when it comes.
from the bar, without cauſe; and then
great care is to be taken, as hinted be-
fore, to huſband well this ſhort time,
to waſte no part of it in long and un-
neceſſary ſpeaking, a thing very unbe-
coming the Judge, whoſe reaſoning
ought to be clofs and ſententious, with-
out any mixture of flouriſh and affecta-
tion; ſuch kind of arguing being more
ſuitable to the bar than to the bench.
THE
1
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. 157
THE Judge then, in his reaſoning;
and managing of his argument, is not
only to do it fententiouſly, as is ſaid,
but to do it with great modeſty and gra-
vity.
For, what is more unſuitable, than
for a Judge, in his reaſoning upon the
bench, in the view and audience of a
mixed multitude, to ſuffer himſelf to
be overcome with heat and paſſion !
which, in conſequence, muſt bring from
him many indecent expreſſions, and
move the audience to conclude, that
he is more acted from a principle of
keenneſs to ſerve one of the parties con-
cerned, than from a true principle, and
love to juſtice ; though, at the ſame
time, it muſt be acknowledged, that
ſuch is the conſtitution of ſome, that,
with no other view, than for ſupporting
of juſtice, they will ſometimes be over-
come with paſſion and eagerneſs, either
from the injuſtice that to them appears
from one ſide of the cafe, or when they
meet with any argument againſt them,
that has a ſuſpicious look of partiality
in others; but this cannot be juſtified:
for, ſuppoſing a Judge to be capable
B 3
of
18 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
of ſuch a perverſe biaſs, or, be the in-
juſtice of the caſe never ſo great ; the
more effejual way of overcoming both,
is with calmneſs and temper, than with
heat and paſſion.
When it happens (as it frequently
mult, in a collegiate court of judicature,
eſpecially in our Court of Seffion, where
the Judges are ſo numerous), that the
Judges do diffcr in opinion; then they
ought to hear one another's reaſoning,
with great attention, with a ready and
willing mind to yield to conviction, and
therefore to lay aſide all ſtiffneſs of o-
pinion, pride, ſelf-conceit, or over-va-
luing their own judgment beyond that
of others; to keep themſelves conſtantly
in an unbiaſſed diſpoſition, diſengaged
of all prejudice and prepoffeffion, having
none other end at heart, and in view,
than to have juſtice to govern the de-
ciſion.
When a Judge is diſſatisfied with
the reaſons offered againſt his own opi-
nion, he is to deliver his own judg-
ment and reaſons of it, and why they
preponderate with him more than the
arguments offered againſt it.
By
1
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. I
By this conduct it will rarely fall out,
that a Judge will have occaſion of ſpeak-
ing oftener to one caſe than twice, and
more frequently but once; for he is care-
fully to avoid the ſpeaking more or of-
tener than what is needful for making
the force of his reaſonings underſtood,
that no part of that time, allotted for
the diſpatch of buſineſs, be unneceſſa-
rily conſumed with idle diſſertations or
repetitions, much leſs is it to be waſted,
with faying any thing that's foreign,
and not pertinent to the purpoſe: di-
greſſions are indecent, even from the
bar, but much more fo from the bench.
There is no part of duty in the Judge
more indiſpenſably neceſſary,and of great-
er uſe, than to give diſpatch ; and there-
fore, for that end, and for preventing
all unneceſſary delays, the Judge is to
be painful and diligent in the uſe of
all poſſible means within his power,
to make himſelf foon to underſtand the
cafe, and, when underſtood, to give it
all poſſible diſpatch: for, how grievous
and hurtful a thing is it to the parties
concerned in law-ſuits, to have them
kept up in long dependance! for, be-
ſides
3
20
ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
ſides the charge of attendance, and ex-
pence of proceſs, they are withdrawn
from their homes and families, and their
other more neceſſary affairs ; their in-
duſtry and labour, which ought to be
employed for the benefit of themſelves
and others, lies in the mean time neg-
lected ; and all theſe things do concur
to make the adminiſtration of juſtice to
them, when delayed, a very
dear
pur-
chaſe ; and muſt, in conſequence, bring
a great ſcandal and reproach upon the
diſpenſers of it.
And therefore, for avoiding thoſe
evils, the Judge, on his part, is to be
very painful and affiduous, and not gi-
ven to lazineſs and indolence, but to be
always in readineſs, upon the applicati-
on of the parties or their doers, to hear
and determine their caſes ; as alſo to 0-
verſee advocates, clerks, and all others
concerned in the management of pro-
ceſſes, that they candidly and ingenu-
ouſly act their ſeveral parts, and with
their joint endeavours concur for bring-
ing them to a ſpeedy iſſue ; and when-
ever a contrary management is diſcover-
ed, either in parties or their doers, the
fame
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. 21
fame ought, by the Judge, to be fe-
verely reprimanded, and the party ſuf-
fering thereby, his damage fully to be
repaired.
I beg leave here to ſuggeſt my o-
pinion, which experience hath taught
me, that the great hindrance to the dif-
patch of bufineſs, in the inner-houſe,
is occafioned by the preſent way and
manner of bringing there, from the out-
er-houſe, the judgments pronounced by
ſingle Ordinaries, in order to be reviewed
by reclaiming bills: which, it is thought,
may
be remedied in a great meaſure, by
eſtabliſhing a rule of court, that, when
it happens that any of the parties are
diſpleaſed with the judgment pronoun-
ced by the Ordinary, and wants to have
it reviewed by the Lords in the inner-
houſe ; in place of his applying for that
end, in the way of a reclaiming bill,
wherein he uſually ſtates the caſe very
partially, in favours of his own fide,
by diſguiſing of facts, which obliges the
Judges in the inner-houſe to appoint it
to be ſeen and anſwered, which occa-
fions the loſs of much time before the
anſwers come in; and, after they are
brought
1
22 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
brought in, much time is loft before
they come to be adviſed, by reaſon of
a roll, that, by order of court, they muſt
be entered, which many times I have
known, keeps the caſe in dependance
for the ſpace of one year and more:
for remedying of this, i humbly fug-
geſt, that, in place of the reclaiming bill
by one of the parties, the minutes be-
fore the Ordinary ſhould be full and
complete, containing the whole facts and
arguments of both ſides ; that when a-
ny of the parties, or both of them,
think themſelves leſed by the Ordina-
rie's judgment, they may ſtill have ac-
ceſs to appeal and ſeek a review of the
Judges of the other houſe ; but, for that
end, in place of applying in the preſent
way, to make their application only, hy
printing a copy of the minutes, by which
means the Judges in the inner-houſe
get a diſtinct and full view of the me-
rits of the caſe; and, in place of ap-
pointing the complainers application for
a review to be anſwered, to the waſt-
ing of ſo much time, it is probable that
the Judges of the inner-houſe would
affirm the judgment of the Ordinary of
the
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. 23
the outer-houſe ; beſides, it would have
this good effect, that parties durſt not
inſiſt for a review of the interloquitor,
pronounced by the Ordinary, upon any
new arguments in fact or law, that was
not laid before him, which happens of-
ten to be the caſe; and that they may be
full and authentic, it ſhould be intima-
ted to the adverſe party, to attend to the
framing of the minutes, to ſee that they
be full and authentic ; and, in caſe of
the parties diſagreeing about it, that the
Ordinary ſhould interpoſe betwixt them,
that the minute might be full and real
as it was pled.
There is another very important and
very neceſſary part of juſtice, which is
carefully to be executed by the Judge ;
that is, to put in rigorous execution the
many good laws enacted againſt litigi-
ous parties, and groundleſs law-ſuits ;
ſo that, upon the finiſhing of every caſe,
a ſtrict examination ought to be made
of its merits, on the part both of purſu-
er and defender; and of their conduct
in the whole ſteps of procedure: and
when, in the event, the ſuit or plea on
either ſide appears groundleſs and ca-
lumnious,
24 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
lumnious, or the way of management
vexatious, and contentious; then the
party guilty ſhould be the only ſufferer,
and be obliged wholly to indemnify his
adverſary.
The Judge is carefully to avoid all
occaſions of being concerned as party
himſelf, to any law-ſuit; and therefore,
if he, at any time, is engaged with his
neighbour, in an affair that is debite-
able betwixt them ; in that ca e, he is
to make offer of ſubmitting it to the
judgment-and determination of any dif-
intereſted and judicious perſon : and, in
place of pretending, by reaſon of his
ſtation, to take advantage of his neigh-
bour, he is rather on that account, to
recede ſomewhat from his right; th:t
his impartiality, with reſpect to his own
proper caſe, inay equally appear to the
world, as in the cafes of oihers: and
if he is brought and forced into proceſs,
by the wilfulneſs and ſtubbornnes of his
party (which poſſibly my happen to
he the caſe, though not very prob:ble);
he is to have his part ſo conducted, as
may demonſtrate his unwillingne's of
entering in a law-fuit, and to have his
Cidlin
ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
25
ز
claim or plea in ſuch a manner mana-
ged, as to evidence his aim to be ra-
ther within, than without the ftrict
rules of law and equity : and, if the
Judge ſhall have the unhappineſs of tem-
per, to be either contentious, or unjuſt
in his pretenſions ; it is then incumbent
on his brethren Judges, in place of ſhow-
ing him the leaſt favour, to treat him
with more rigour, by awarding againſt
him all coſts of his adverſary's.
In fine, I ſhall conclude my advice
upon this important ſubject, which de-
ſerves to be lengthened out into a vo-
lume, by deſiring thee, O Judge ! to
conſider, and frequently to call to mind,
That, 'ere long, you will be fifted be-
fore the tribunal of the great and Sove-
reign Judge of heaven and earth, when
you muſt give account for the whole of
your conduct in your pilgrim ſtate here;
more particularly of your behaviour in
your capacity and ſtation of a judge, and
of God's vicegerent: and if therein
thou haſt judged unrighteouſly, and
perverted juſtice ; if in judging thou
haft been partial, by favouring the man
of one party more than him of another,
С
the
26 ADVICE TO A JUDGE.
the rich and great man more than the
poor and mean, thy friend and relation
more than the ſtranger and thine ene-
my; if thou haſt ſuffered thy judgment
to be biaſſed by bribe, prejudice, or o-
ther perverſe motive ; what judgment
canſt thou expect in that great day, but
that of condemnation. Remember that
he who is then to be thy judge, our
Lord Jeſus Chriſt, is privy and conſci-
ous to the moſt ſecret motions of your
heart, to the inward cauſes, and influ-
ences upon the judgment you give in
every caſe: therefore, if you have any
regard to your inward peace and tran-
quillity in tirne here, or to your eternal
happineſs hereafter, in that ſtate of life
which will have no end ; let it be
your
conſtant endeavour and utmoſt care, to
pronounce no judgment, without ha-
ving the approbation of God and
your
own confcience,
AND becauſe the infirmities of hu-
man nature are great, and may readily
impofe upon the judgment, and give
it a bials; the Judge ought therefore
to be always upon his guard: and, when
he is under any ſuſpicion of himſelf, of
favouring
?
ADVICE TO A JUDGE. 27
favouring one party more than the other;
my advice to him is, that he would
change the ſcales of the caſe, by pla-
cing him in whoſe favours he finds his
inclinations to lean, in the oppoſite ſide;
and then aſk impartially his own heart
and conſcience, as in the preſence of
the heart-ſearching God, that, if the
caſe was ſo, he would then give his
judgment as he intended.
But if thou, O Judge! in the whole
of thy adminiſtration, conſcientiouſly
diſcharge the duties of thine office and
truſt, by judging in all caſes that come
before thee, righteouſly, impartially, for
God, and as in his preſence: then, as your
adminiſtration will be a public bleſſing
in the land in which you live; ſo, it will
afford
you
much inward tranquillity and
peace of conſcience here ; which is a
great feaſt, preferable by much to all
worldly enjoyments whatſomever ; and
will hereafter be greatly rewarded, thro'-
out the ages of endleſs eternity.
A
C 2
ADVICE
28 ADVICE TO AN ADVOCATE
OCA
porno
ADVIČE to the ADVOCATE OF
ATTORNEY. .
IMA
N Order to the obtaining of juſtice in
a judicial manner, there are ſeveral
perſons beſides, the judge, that are ne-
ceſſarily to be employed.
AMONGST theſe, the Advocate or
Procurator is a neceſſary one; whoſe of-
fice, when rightly difcharged, as it is
very uſeful, fo in the opinion of all ages,
and moſt polite nations, has been eſteem-
ed very honourable.
To him the parties make their firſt
application (at leaſt it is their prudence
and intereſt to do it), and in a manner
make him firſt judge of their caſe, by
appealing to his judgment, the grounds
and merits of it: and therefore, when he
is at firſt called upon, to give advice and
council upon the ſubject of his client's
claim or defence; he is to deſire his em-
ployer, iſ preſent, or in his abſence,
the follicitor or agent, to inform hiin
truly of the caſe, of the whole fact and
all its circumſtances, without conceal-
ing
1
ao
OR ATTORNEY.
29
ing any part of it though it makes a-
gainſt him: yea, that is the part chiefly
to be laid before the council. And, when
the information is to be had from wri-
ters, to deſire that the whole be laid
before him; which, when done, they
are to be carefully peruſed by him.
AFTER that he is fully informed of
the caſe, he is carefully to conſider and
examine it, with the vouchers that are
offered upon it, according to the rules
of law and juſtice; and then to give his
advice upon it, with great candour and
ingenuity. If the caſe to him
appears
unjuft and illegal, his duty is, to diffuade
and diſcourage the client from infiſting
on it ; it being both finful and ſhame-
ful for an Advocate to encourage and
adviſe his client, in the proſecution of a
claim, upon which, if he was to fit
judge, and in that capacity to give judg-
ment, he would caſt it as illegal and un-
juſt; or to adviſe to defend againſt a
claim, which, in the forefaid ſuppoſed
capacity, he would pronounce to be juſt
and legal.
The Advocate who acts a contrary
part, is no better than a robber ; yea,
robs
C 3
30 ADVICE TO AN ADVOCATE
robs under truſt, and expoſes and lays
open his client to be pillaged and robbcd
by many others.
If the caſe upon which his council
is demanded appears doubtful, he is to
adviſe his client thereof, that he may
take his meaſures accordingly: and with
reſpect to ſuch caſes, and all others,
that are much involved and perplexed
in fact, or otherways intricate; the Ad-
vocate acts a good part, by offering to
interpoſe and mediate betwixt the
par-
ties, in order to the compoſing of their
differences; and, when called thereto,
he ought never to decline ſo good an of-
fice, when time and opportunity allows
him acceſs to it: and after he undertakes
it, either ſingle, or joined with any o-
ther ; he is to act ſincerely and impar-
tially, without partial favour to his cli-
ent, with the fingle view of ending the
difference, according to the rules of
law and juſtice. And, for his comfort
and encouragement, let him remember,
that, in the goſpel, there is a bleſſing
pronounced and promiſed to peace-ma-
kers. 'The Advocate of fuch a temper
and diſpoſition, cannot miſs to be of
great
1
A
31
OR ATTORNEY.
great uſe in his country, particularly in
that part of it, where, in vacation time,
he reſides.
The Gentlemen of this faculty have,
for ordinary, ſuch advantages of a li-
beral education, that muſt impreſs them
with juſt notions of true virtue and ho-
nour: unworthy therefore it is of them,
to pry into the ſtate of other mens af-
fairs, in the view of inciting and fo-
menting of law-ſuits, by hounding
out one neighbour againſt another! If
any of them was capable of ſuch an
hateful and bad practice, they are to be
looked
upon,
and ſhunned, as a com-
mon peſt and plague in the country,
unworthy to live in a peaceable and chri-
ſtian ſociety.
It is not to be preſumed, that any of
them ſhould be capable of tampering
with, or taking fees from both parties,
to one and the ſame fuit. This would
be ſuch a treachery, and high violation
of truſt and of honour and common ho-
neſty, that the perſon guilty well de-
ſerved to be noted with ſome mark of
diſgrace.
IT
32 ADVICE TO AN ADVOCATE
It is true, that the caſe may be fup-
poſed, when the Advocate may, with
freedom and honour, give advice to,
and take fees from, the party againſt
whom he was at firſt conſulted or re-
tained. As for inſtance; if one of
the parties, on purpoſe to ſtraiten his
adverſary in his choice of Advocates,
ſhould take up ſeveralls, by conſulting or
retaining them; and ſhould afterwards,
in the courſe of judicial procedure,
drop and neglect any of them, ſo as to
make his intention evidently appear to
have been, as above fuppoſed : in that
caſe, the Advocate ſo uſed, upon return-
ing his fee, may, with honour and good
reaſon, affiſt and give council to the o-
ther party; provided that he do not diſ-
cloſe what was committed to him in fe-
cret and truſt, by his firſt employer.
In the judicial procedure upon the
caſe, the Advocate, as on the one hand
he is to open it to the judge, under all
the advantages, in behalf of his client,
that the circumſtances of the caſe will
admit of; fo, on the other, in his plead-
ing, he is to ſtudy and practiſe all can-
dour and ingenuity; to advance nothing
in
A
OR ATTORNEY.
33
in fact without a warrand; and from
the fact to draw no concluſion, but
ſuch as by law can be ſupported.
At the firſt opening of the caſe,
and before the proofs are bộought into
proceſs, the Advocate muſt make his
allegations from his client's information,
or from that of his agent: but here the
Advocate, as before hinted, is in the
ſtrongeſt manner to caution them, to
advance nothing in fact, but what they
are able to vouch. But after the proof
is concluded, that the Advocate ſhould
then miſrepreſent the fact, and advance
a falfhood, muſt throw, upon his can-
dour and ingenuity, no ſmall reflexion:
yet, to my great ſurpriſe, I have often-
times obſerved the Gentlemen at the bar,
after the cauſe is fully prepared, and all
the evidences in proceſs, contradict one
another in point of fact; which cannot
proceed from any other cauſe, than by
neglecting to look into the evidences
themſelves, but pleading the import of
them, as reported to them by their client
or his agent: but, for preventing of this,
the Advocate, if his time allows of it,
ought himſelf to examine carefully all
the
34 ADVICE TO AN ADVOCATE
the proofs in proceſs; and, if he wants
time to do it (which may be the cafe
with ſome), then he is to charge the a-
gent in the ſtrongeſt manner, upon his
credit and reputation, to provide him
with a ſtate of the fact, as it truly is :
and after a diſcovery of his being mif-
led by the agent, either in denying of
a truth, or averring of a falfhood; he
then is to Thew his indignation and re-
ſentment againſt the agent: which could
not miſs to have the good effect, of ma-
king the men of that employment more
cautious and obſerving, with reſpect to
what falls within their province, than
what at preſent ſome of them are.
The Advocate, in pleading and wri-
ting upon the caſe, is to ſtudy all brevi-
ty; that is to ſay, he is to avoid all un-
neceſſary repetitions and digreſſions: he
ought to ſpeak clofs and foon to the
point in debate ; and, in managing of his
argument, to itudy rather to be ſuccinct
and ſententious, than to affect ſuperflui-
ty of words, and the flouriſh of elo-
quence : ſuch rhetorical ſtyle being on-
ly fit in haranguing and ſpeaking to the
populace and mixed multitude, but no-
ways
<
35
OR ATTORNEY.
;
ways proper from the bar to the bench
for it is to be preſumed, that the judges
have ſuch knowledge of the principles
of law and equity, that they want not
to have them cleared up with much
rhetoric and long reaſoning,
BEFORE the judge proceds to adviſe
and determine the caſe, it is the duty of
the Advocate to lay before him, the
whole force and ſtrength of his client's
ſide of it; to keep nothing in reſerve
for an after-application : for, by ſuch a
management, he does to his client
great
prejudice; whoſe intereſt it is, to have
the whole arguments upon his ſide of
the queſtion rather jointly conſidered,
than to have them ſeparately judged :
beſides, that way of doing tends to the
protracting of the plea, and obſtructs the
diſpatch of juſtice.
After judgment is given upon the
caſe, if the Advocate has not obſerved
ſome material fact, or argument in law,
to have eſcaped the judges obſervation,
in their reaſoning; he, in that caſe, un-
leſs ſome of the judges were non liquet,
ought to adviſe his client to acquieſce in
the judgment, and not to encourage him,
to
1
36 ADVICE TO AN ADVOCATE.
to his own needleſs expence, and the
judges trouble, to make further appli-
cations.
ANOTHER caution neceſſary to be
given to the Gentlemen of this faculty,
is, that they do not engage and immix
themſelves in the incumbered affairs of
others, by buying up pleas, or purcha-
fing rights and claims upon eftates en-
cumbered, with a view of uſing their
ſuperior ſkill and knowledge, to the
op
preſſion and prejudice of the more ig-
nořant: this would be the greateſt abuſe
of their ſuperior talents, and employing
them to the worſt of purpoſes ; there-
fore, the Advocate who acts ſuch a part,
juſtly expoſes himſelf to the contempt
and diſelteem of all, and makes him-
ſelf a public nuſance. Which caution
does apply to the Judge, in the ſtrongeſt
manner.
If the Advocate is in the knowledge
of
any perſon's being oppreſſed, either
by being kept from his juſt right, or
unjuſtly attacked in the peaceable pof-
ſeſſion of what belongs to him, and has
no means of proſecuting the one or de-
fending the other; the Advocate, in
that
or ATTORNEY.
37
;
that caſe, is, in charity and duty, bound
to give his aſſiſtance and patrociny, with-
out fee or reward : for, tho there is
annually a nomination made of ſome of
the faculty, for the ſervice of the
poor,
who applies for the benefit of that roll
yet, it oftentimes falls out, that the no-
minees are either negligent, or ſuper-
ficial in their aſſiſtance; and
many
there
are who are aſhamed, in that manner,
to apply for gratis ſervice, tho' in great
need of it.
To conclude, the Advocate who dif-
charges faithfully and conſcientiouſly the
duties of his employment, as he de-
ſerves honour and eſteem from all; ro,
in a particular manner, he is juſtly in-
titled to the favour and recommendati-
on of the men in power, to be brought
by them from the bar to the bench
and, good it were for the country, if
ſuch were made choice of!
{
A
D
ADVICE
38 ADVICE TO THE CLERK.
ADVICE to the CLERK.
TH
HE Clerk is a member of court,
whole office is very neceſſary ;
and, when rightly diſcharged, no leſs
ſubfervient to the adminiſtration of ju-
tice.
His duty and buſineſs is, to be pain-
ful in acquainting himſelf with the
whole ſteps of proceſs, and judicial
procedure therein ; that he may be al-
ways in readineſs to give an account of
any part thereof, when either appealed
to by any of the parties or doers, or
called on by the judge.
His province is to clerk, and put in
writing, the whole of procedure: for
inſtance, to make a diſtinct minute of
the debate of the ſeveral allegations of
both parties, undertaken to be proven
by them; and, after leading and conclu-
ding of the proof, to make up a diſtinct
ſummary thereof: and, if in any of the
premiſſes he meets with difficulty,
then'to make application to the law-
yers, or other managers of the parties ;
and
ADVICE TO THE CLERK. 39
and, when neceſſary, to ſeek for advice
and direction from the judge.
But more particularly, when the
caſe comes under the judge's delibera.
tion, he is then, with great attention,
to liſten to the judge's reaſonings ; that
he may perfectly underſtand the mean-
ing of their judgment when pronoun-
ced, whether deciſive or interlocutory ;
that, in clerking of it, he may ſurely,
without miſtake, hit it: this is the
more neceſſary in the Court of Seffion,
where, by reaſon of the multitude and
great variety of buſineſs, the judges
have no time and leiſure immediately to
dictate their judgment to the Clerk, up-
on their pronouncing of it, but muſt
leave it with the Clerk to write it out:
and though, in all caſes, particularly in
thoſe of importance, the Clerk reads it
before ſigning it, in preſence of alt
the judges ; yet, it may ſometimes hap-
pen, that a day or two may interveen,
betwixt pronouncing and ſubſcribing;
by which means, by the inaccuracy and
inadvertency of the Clerk, much time
is loſt, in correcting of his eſcapes ;
and, by a wrongous clerking of the judg-
D 2
ment-
40 ADVICE TO THE CLERK. .
ment, parties are brought to the expence
of making new applications for having
their errors rectified; yea, from the de-
fault of clerking aright the fentence,
it
may happen ſometimes, that, in place
of having the plea thereby ended, it be-
comes itſelf the ſubject of a new one :
it is therefore of great importance to
the right adminiſtration of juſtice, that
the Clerk be painful, faithful, and di-
ſtinct, in the diſcharge of the duties of
his office,
The Clerk is under no temptation,
from his office, of ſhowing any par-
tiality, in favours of any of the parties:
his caſe, in this reſpect, differs from
that of the advocate and agent, whoſe
ſervice being hired by one of the liti-
gants againſt the other, may give them
a biaſs in favours of their client (though
it ſhould never prevail with them, by
any unfair and unjuſtifiable practice, to
ſeek after advantage in favours of their
employer : and what benefit ariſes from
the diligence and activity upon the one
fide, is counter-balanced by the watch-
fulneſs, and the like care, taken by ma-
nagers on the other); but the Clerk is
the
ADVICE TO THE CLERK. 4T
1
the common ſervant or truſtee for both;
and therefore, in his clerking, reading,
minuting, and in every other part of
- his office, he is to act impartially, with-
out favouring in the leaſt one of the par-
ties more than the other; and, if he acts
otherways, he ought not to eſcape the
judges cenſure.
As diligence and fidelity are the prin-
cipal parts of his duty,, ſo he is to ap-
ply himſelf
, with equal care and pains,
in managing and underſtanding of all
proceſſes entruſted with him; without
making diſtinction betwixt the ſuits of
the great and rich, and thoſe of the
mcan and poor ; but to be equally pre-
pared with reſpect to both, according
as they come, in courſe to be adviſed.
In fine, he is to beware of exacting
from the parties, or any of them, for
his pains and labour, more than what
is his due: his fees are fixed, either by
ſtatute, or rules of court; and, if he ex-
acts more, he becomes an oppreſſor of
the ſubject, and a taker of bribes ; for,
what more is paid, muſt be conſtructed
to be given and received in that view.
THE
D 3
42 ADVICE TO THE AGENT
The Clerk, by diſcharging conſci-
entiouſly and aright, the duties of his
office, is of great uſe, both to the court
and to the parties ; but, by debording
therefrom, he becomes the reproach of
the one, and the plague of the other.
ADVICE to the AGENT 0%
SOLICITO R.
T has been much queſtioned, and
remains ſtill a doubt with ſome,
if the office of agency, as a ſeparate and
diſtinct employment, be uſeful, or ra-
ther that it be not hurtful, to the fa-
ciety; which, ſome time ago, was the
opinion of our legiſlator, as may be ſeen
from the regulations touching the Court
of Seſſion, enacted in the
year
when the Agent acts his part faithfully,
and with conſcience, I am of opinion
that his office is neceſſary, and that he
may be of great uſe in the adminiſtra-
tion of juſtice.
For he, in a great meaſure, ſupplies
the want of the parties preſence and
attendance, during the dependence of
the
: but
OR SOLICITOR.
7
the fuit: and, even when they are pre-
ſent, his aſſiſtance is very neceſſary to
all others concerned in the manage-
ment of proceſs, viz.to advocates, clerks,
and extractors ; particularly to the firſt,
whoſe bufineſs, perhaps, allows not time
to overſee, and look after many of the
ſteps of procedure ; which muſt there-
fore be entruſted to the care and over-
ſight of the Agent.
The proceſs, till it is brought the
length of being called before the judge,
in order to debate, is under the care and
inſpection of the Agent; who, within
that period of time, is to be careful to
have all the preliminarie ſteps regular-
ly carried on according to the forms
and rules of court; which, as they are
wiſely preſcribed, for preſerving of good
order, and preventing of confuſion, are
therefore to be obſerved.
When the caſe is in readineſs for des
bate, he is to provide the clients coun-
cil with all neceſſary information ; to
advertiſe them of the time when the
proceſs is to be called, that there
may
be no ſurprize : and, during the whole
dependence, according as the ſtate of
proceſs
--
44
ADVICE TO THE AGENT
proceſs calls for aſſiſtance, either from
advocate, clerk, or extractor, the agent
is to be their remembrancer, keeping
them in mind of their reſpective parts ;
and to have all things prepared, and in
order for their performance.
Let me caution the agent to beware
of hounding out and enticing parties to
engage in law-ſuits; which, as faid be-
fore, is a moſt abominable practice,
though, I am afraid, too common : the
Agent, by ſo doing, preſumes too much,
and acts without his ſphere; his pro-
vince is not to give counſel upon mat-
ters dubious and debateable; but to open
the caſe to the advocate; and in repre-
fenting of it, to do it fully and truly,
without the concealing of any fact or
circumſtance; and to lay before him all
writings and other evidences he is, or
can be maſter of, which concerns the
caſe: by doing ſo, if it ſhall afterwards
appear, that the party has been raſhly
engaged in a ſuit, the Agent is blameleſs:
but if, truſting to his own opinion, he
has been the promptor to it, he is not
only liighly culpable, but juſtly charge-
able with the parties damages: and
indeed
OR ATTORNEY:
45
1
indeed the ſeeking for, and the giving
found and ſolid counſel, before corn-
mencing of the ſuit, is of greater uſe,
and more neceſſary, than at any other
time whatſoever.
The Agent, in his procedure, and
during the dependence of the ſuit, is
to avoid the ſtealing out, or, by trick
and unfair means, to ſeek after any un-
due advantage over the adverſe party ;
which is a practice too common, and
when diſcovered, as it is to be cenſured
by the judge, ſo it ſeldom or never miſ-
ſes of being prejudicial even to the party
who obtains it: for, though it may give
him ſome preſent ſatisfaction, yet, af-
terwards, when it comes to be chal-
lenged and examined by the judge; the
obtainer, as he is put to expence in de-
fending it, ſo, in the event, he muſt
ſuccumb, and be caſt in it: beſides,
fuch agentry doth greatly retard, and
obſtruct the diſpatch of juſtice.
The Agent, for ordinary, is employ-
ed in deburfing the expence of proceſs ;
and therefore obliged to huſband his
client's money with all frugal care, by
laying out no more than what is receta
fary:
46 ADVICE TO THE AGENT, &c.
ſary; and, in his accompt, to ſtate no
more than what is ſo expended. The
great and common complaint againſt
ſome Agents is, in reference to the ſta-
ting of their accounts: and if, in this
reſpect, he be found guilty, he well
deferves to be noted with infamy ; for,
if he duly weighs and conſiders the na-
ture of his crime, he muſt conclude
himſelf to be a greater thief than a horſe
or ſheep-ſtealer, who, by law and
pra-
ctice, is puniſhed with death ; his theft
exceeding theirs, in this, that it is com-
mitted under truſt, and may perhaps
exceed alſo in value : and therefore, as
he regards his own reputation, his in-
ward peace and tranquillity here, and
eternal happineſs hereafter; let him be
adviſed, carefully to abſtain from that,
and all other diſhoneſt and unfair pra-
Etices.
ADVICE
i
!
ADVICE TO PARTIES 47
as
ADVICE to theſe who are engaged
PARTIES in a right De-
bateable, or in a law-fuit, for remo-
ving it.
HEN it happens that a contro-
verſy, in point of right, a-
riſes betwixt two perſons, it is the du-
ty of both, impartially to examine the
caſe, in all its circumſtances ; and each
of them ſhould, by changing of the
fides and ſcales of the queſtion, place
himſelf in the ſide oppoſite to himſelf;
and then reflect, by putting it home to
his heart and conſcience, as in the
pre-
fence of God, what, in that caſe, he
would do, ſuffer, or perform to his ad-
verſe
party : by which means that gold-
en and goſpel rule, to do to every one
as you would be done to by him ; or,
as it is negatively expreſſed, quod tibi
fieri non vis, alteri ne feceris; what you
would not have done to you, do not
that to another ; may be the governing
rule and ſquare of the whole of their
behaviour and conduct.
IF
48 ADVICE TO PARTIES
j
IF by thus reflecting within them-
ſelves, or by a calm and fair reaſoning
betwixt one another, they come to no
agreement; it might contribute much
thereto, to call for the affiſtance and
advice of ſome judicious and diſintereſt-
ed perſons, to w.hoſe judgment the
per-
fons intereſted in the queſtion, should
have great regard : and if they are dif-
engaged of humour, prejudice, and
biaſs, the paſſions which for ordinary
influence the moſt of men, in all con-
troverſies betwixt them and their neigh-
bours; they will readily acquieſce in
the opinion of others, from the diſtruſt
they ought to have of their own judg-
ment, as being partial in their own fa-
vours.
If the controverſy cannot be remo-
ved, by the communing before, and
the friendly interpoſition of others; it
is then adviſable and prudent for them,
to ſubmit the difference, to the deter-
mination of knowing and judicious per-
fons; more particularly ſuch differences,
that in their nature are trivial, and of
ſmall moment: yea, with reſpect to
theſe, it were prudent, and greatly their
intereſt,
)
IN
49.
A LAWSUIT.
intereſt, to give up and part with their
pretenſions, than to engage in a law
ſuit about them: and after the ſubmiſ-
fion is agreed to, and by the arbiters
accepted (who ſhould never refuſe their
acceptance of ſo good and chriſtian an
office); the arbitrators are in conſcience
and duty bound to determine therein,
without reſpect of perſons, having no
regard to their humours, to the plea-
ſing or diſpleaſing of them; but to give
their judgment, to the beſt of their
knowledge, according to the rules of
equity and juſtice : and, ſhould the ar-
biters differ in opinion, they ought to
ſeek advice from perſons of judgment
and knowledge; to lay before them,
their ſeveral opinions and reaſons of
them; and to hear the ſentiments of
theſe others; by which means, it is pro-
bable, that the arbiters, laying aſide
all ſtiffneſs of opinion, will be brought
to an agreement: and, where they have
powers from the ſubmiſſion of chu-
ſing an overſman, upon their differing,
they are to make choice of a proper and
unbiaſſed one; that by his interpoſition
the ſubmiſſion may terminate in a de-
E
creet:
50
ADVICE TO PARTIES
ز
creet: yea, rather than to part with it
and make it ineffectual, it would be
right in the arbiters, and much for the
intereſt of the parties, that the referrees
ſhould in part yield to one another's o-
pinion, if it was by ſtriking a medium
upon the points of their difference.
But in caſe, through the obſtinacy
of both, or either of the parties, the
foreſaid means of accommodation are
110t uſed; or, when uſed, prove unſuc-
ceſsful ; and that, for ending the contro-
verſy, a' law ſuit is commenced ; then
ought the parties to engage in it, with
an equal temper and diſpoſition, having
nothing at heart and in view, but to
have law and juſtice to determine be-
twixt them; to lay aſide, and guard a-
gainſt all ſelfiſh views, humour and
fpirit of contention; to avoid the catch-
ing of advantages the one againſt the
other, by any quirk in law, or in form
of procedure, or other unfair means :
but let them concur with their joint en-
deavours, to have the matter in debate
ſpeedily diſcuſſed; and, for that end, to
have the caſe fully and ingenuouſly o-
pened, and laid before the judge, with-
out
IN A L AW SUIT.
51
out altercation, or calumnious allegati-
on.
AFTER ſentence, upon a full un-
derſtanding and mature deliberation
of the caſe, is pronounced ; it is the
duty of the parties concerned therein
to acquieſce ; which they will readily
do, if not acted and influenced more
by the ſpirit of contention, and ſtiffneſs
of temper, than either by their intereſt
or deſire of juſtice ; for, as before hint-
ed, every one has reaſon of being fuf-
picious, that, in his own cafe, his judg-
ment will be partial : at the ſame time,
he is to preſume, that, with reſpect to
all debateable points about right, the
judge, as he is of a more ſuperior know-
ledge of the rules and principles of law
and equity, whereby the cale is to be
determined ; fo, in charity, he is to pre-
fume that the judgment he gives upon
it is juſt and right.
It is indeed true, that, in ſome ca-
fes (which ought only to be allowed in
theſe of importance) parties may with
reaſon appeal from the ſentence of the
inferior judge, to that of the higher :
but, it is much to be feared and re-
greted
1
E 2
52 ADVICE TO PARTIES
greted, that the greateſt part of ap-
peals proceeds more from a wilful, ma-
litious, and contentious ſpirit, than from
any juſt cauſe of complaint.
It is a moſt unreaſonable and un-
chriſtian thing, for parties, becauſe of
their being engaged in a law-ſuit; to
break through all bonds of friendſhip;
and, on that account, to entertain a
grudge and prejudice, the one againſt
the other : which is a thing too com-
mon, and is carefully to be avoided.
THE. ſum of all is, for one to engage
in a law-fuit, before a ſtrict and impar-
tial examination of the matter, much
more, after a conviction, or even a fü-
ſpicion, of his being in the wrong, is
great injuſtice: to refuſe an amicable
compoſure of differences, ſhows much
ill-nature, and an obſtinate and conten-
tious diſpoſition. During the depend-
ence of the ſuit, to ſeek after undue
advantage, by unfair means, or to wea-
ry out the adverſe party with ſhifts and
unneceſſary delays, is very oppreſſive ;
and, to take up any grudge and preju-
dice, by reaſon of a difference at law,
is moſt unchriſtian and unreaſonable.
ADVICE
-
ADVICE TO THE MONARCH, 53
+
ADVICE to the MON ARCH,
and other Sovereign POWERS.
A
FTER offering my poor advice
to judges, and other members
of the court of judicature ; I preſume to
proceed with my advice to the greateſt
of all earthly judges, the fovereign pow-
ers of the world.
Of the whole race of mankind, there
is none under ſo ſtrong obligations to
their Creator, than are the ſovereign
powers on earth; and therefore, they
are more ſtrictly tied and bound to ſerve
him, than others are.
The peculiar obligations they lie un-
der are obvious : for, by God they are
placed in an eminent and high ſtation,
above their fellow-creatures, inveſted
with power and dominion over them;
they are God's deputies and vicegerents
here on earth; their authority in his word
is enacted and declared ; obedience and
ſubjection to them is commanded; their
perſons, by the ſame divine law, are,
from all dangers, injuries, and infults,
1
E 3
in
54 ADVICE TO THE MONARCH,
ز
1
in a particular manner, ſecured and
made ſacred ; and their actings, in re-
ſpect of trial and puniſhment, are ex-
empted from all human laws, and earth-
ly tribunals; God reſerving to himſelf
the trial and judging of them, at the
laſt and great day of judgment.
But let them not think, that, becauſe
of theſe high privileges, they are more
at liberty to live and do as they pleaſe ;
or that they are more exempted than
others are, from the binding force of
the laws of God, of reaſon and religion.
No, ſurely ; but, ön the contrary, they,
of all others, are more ſtrictly bound
thereby. With reſpect to God, beſides
the common ties they are under with
all mankind, to live in obedience to his
laws, and in conformity to his will ;
they are under the additional tie of gra-
titude ; tho' no creature can plead free-
dom from that bond, yet in a ſpecial
manner, and ſtronger degree, are Sove-
reigns bound by it ; for the more boun-
tiful God, in his diſpenſations of provi-
dence, is to any of his creatures, the
more he requires and expects from
them : then, with reſpect to man, they
2
are
AND OTHER SOVEREIGN Powers. 55
>
are no leſs bound ; ſince, for the bene-
fit of him, their power, greatneſs, and
other diſtinguiſhing characters and pri-
vileges, are chiefly intender.
Let the Monarch ſeriouſly then con-
fider, for what ends God Almighty has,
in his providence, advanced him to ſo
eminent and high a ſtation above his
fellow-creatures, inveſting him with
ſuch a ſhare of power and greatneſs.
Is it, that he may be the more able to
oppreſs, and tyrannize over the reſt of
mankind, either his own ſubjects, or
his neighbours ? that he may, vitha,
out controul, indulge him elf in all li-
centiouſneſs, and ſenſual pleaſures ? No,
ſurely: he himſelf can't think ſo. And
therefore, if he inakes uſe of his power
and authority, wherewith God has en-
truſted him for the end only of advan-
cing his glory, the good of mankind,
and generation wherein he lives, and
make it fubfervient for ſuch contrary
and bad purpofes ; let him reflect with-
in himſelf upon the fatal and woeful
iſſue of ſuch a conduct: for, though
he eſcapes the juſt puniſhment thereof
here on earth, yet he will be called to
account
56 ADVICE TO THE MONARCH,
account ſtrictly for it, at the general
and laſt day of judgement, before the
tribunal of him, who is King of Kings,
with whom there is no reſpect of per-
fons; and muſt then receive ſentence
according to the demerit of his criminal
and ſinful life ; particularly for the great
abuſe of the talents and ſtewardſhip en-
trufted with him.
On the other hand, if he acts a true
and faithful part to God, whoſe vice-
gerent he is, and to whom he is under
ſo many and ſtrong obligations, in em-
ploying his power and authority for his
maſter's ſervice, by advancing his glo-
ry, religion, and intereſts of his king-
dom; the ſpiritual good and temporal
benefit of the ſociety, whereof he is
head; by having wholſom laws for
theſe good ends enacted, and, when en-
acted, by having them put in vigorous
execution, in puniſhing all tranſgreſſors,
that he may not bear the ſword in vain,
but to the evil-doers to prove a terror,
and to them that do well, a praiſe and
encouragement; what great and eter-
nal rewards are promiſed and abiding
him! inward peace of conſcience and
tranquillity
$
AND OTHER SOVEREIGN Powers. 57
tranquillity of mind here, and eternal
happineſs hereafter! And, Oh, that all
crowned heads would ſeriouſly conſider
of this, and of the different iſſues and
ends of theſe two different courfes of
life!
It is the indiſpenſable duty of all
Monarch's, and will contribute much
to their peace and comfort, to be ye-
ry circumſpect in their private walk ;
that therein they may be exemplary to
all about them, and under their influ-
ence : for, according as his life is vir-
tuous or vicious, it never fails to have a
powerful influence on the lives of o-
thers. His habits, in the eyes of all a-
bout him, are looked on to be faſhion-
able, and made patterns of by the ge-
nerality to be copied after ; then the
perfons, who, from their employments,
ranks and other cauſes, are obliged or
make choice of attending upon the court,
which are not few, and, for ordinary,
perſons of power and diſtinction, há-
ving fucked in the vices of their Prince,
carry them to their ſeveral reſidences
and country retirements, which being
diffuſed over all the country, their vices
and
58 ADVICE TO THE MONARCH,
and ill habits are no leſs copied after,
by all under and about them; ſo that,
the Monarch being addicted to a vice
of any kind, the fame, like a conta-
gion, overſpreads the whole country.
Let the Monarch and all Sovereign
powers conſider, that, with regard to
God, they are in the ſame cafe as the
perſons employed under them are, with
reſpect to themſelves : if the perſons
whom they honour with offices of pow-
er, ſtate, and authority, to rule and
govern under them, ſhould ſo far a-
buſe their power and truſt, as to rebel
againſt their Prince, contemn his laws
and authority, oppreſs and tyrannize
over their fellow-ſubjects; would not
the Prince, in that caſe, not only turn
them off with diſgrace, but alſo, as they
well deſerved, puniſh them as traitors ?
The cafe betwixt Almighty God,
King of Kings, and them, I ſay, is the
very ſame: they are his deputies here.
on earth, entruſted by him with pow-
er and authority for the ends and pur-
poſes above faid ; if they ſhall then ſa
far abufe their truſt and power, in turn-
ing it into rebellion againſt their ma-
itor
AND OTHER SOVEREIGN POWERS. 59
1
ſter, into a daring contempt of his laws
and authority, by making it ſubfervient
to their corrupt lufts, diſorderly and fin-
ful paſſions and vicious inclinations ;
what can they expect, but to be treat-
ed as rebels - and traitors againſt their
Sovereign King of both heaven and
earth?
LET him, moreover, conſider what
an abject and unſuitable thing it is for
him, to whom God, in his conduct of
providence, hath put in ſubjection, ſo
many of his fellow-creatures, to ſuffer
himſelf to be a ſlave and ſervant to the
worſt of maſters, I mean to his luſts
and paſſions ; which, when it is the
caſe, never fails to be attended with
moſt fatal and diſmal conſequences :
for inſtance, if he is a llave to ambition,
by thirſting after a greater extent of
power and dominion; or is of a proud
and revengeful fpirit; the effects are,
as hiſtory and experience of all ages
teaches us, the engaging both his ſub-
jects and neighbours into bloody wars,
the native conſequences whereof (be-
fides the facrificing the lives of many
thouſands, filling thereby the land with
orphans
ز
60 ADVICE TO THE MONARCH,
orphans and widows) are poverty,
fa-
mine, peſtilence, or ſuch like ruinous
evils ; which are all juſtly to be char-
ged upon him, and for which he muſt
accompt, at the laſt and great day of
judgement.
It is of the greateſt importance to
both Prince and people, that, in his
choice of ſervants and counſellors, he
be directed in his choice by none other
motive, but the real inerit, true virtue,
and public ſpirit of the perſons made
choice of: for, by doing otherways,
and bringing to the helm of public af-
fairs, men of corrupt principles, or of
evil habits, let their ſufficiency in point.
of ſkill and knowledge be never fo great;
yet, the courſe they will ſteer will al-
ways be ſuitable to, and correſpondent
with their vicious and corrupted prin-
ciples and manners.
In fine, for convincing all fovereign
powers of what moment it is for them
to rule and govern aright, according to
the divine laws, and laws of their coun-
try ; let me put them in mind of the
many inſtances recorded in facred and
profane hiſtories, how that, according
to
ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT. 61
to the different way of their ruling
and governing, right or wrong, and
their way of living, whether virtuous
or vicious, are poured down from hea-
ven upon both King and people, either
bleſſings or curſes ; which muſt be an
argument of great weight, to ſuch of
them as are not altogether abandoned,
and deprived of reaſon, thought, and
reflexion.
ADVICE to the SUBJECT.
MAN, as he is a rational creature,
is, in his nature, formed and
diſpoſed to live in ſociety; conſequent-
ly it is both the duty and intereſt of e-
very individual, after joining to, and in-
corporating into any ſociety, to ſubject
himſelf to be governed by the rules and
laws thereof, made and enacted in the
view of the public good, and common
ſafety of the whole: for, without the
ſupport and muưual aſſiſtance ariſing to
every individual from ſociety, the life
of man would be very comfortleſs, yea,
could not ſubſiſt: and, after the con-
F
junction
62 ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT.
junction and aſſociation of many into
one body-politic, not to be governed by
the laws and ſtatutes of the ſociety,
would be like to the aſſembling together
of ſo many wild brute beaſts, who, in
place of finding common ſafety from
their union, would be bent upon the
mutual deſtruction of one another.
It is impoſſible for any ſociety to
ſubfift, nor can one be figured, without
a ſubordination of powers and ranks a-
mongſt the people united in it; conſe-
quently, without a ſupreme power, to
which all muſt be ſubject and ſubmit,
and make their laſt reſort.
Whether this ſupreme power be
lodged in the hands of one, or of ma-
ny, is the ſame thing as to my preſent
purpoſe ; which is to ſhow, that obedi-
ence and ſubjection is, by all the mem-
bers of the ſociety, due thereto: nei-
ther ſhall I digreſs in ſpeaking to the
queſtion, what kind of government is
the moſt proper and moſt conducive to
the public good, beſt ſuited for anſwer-
ing the ends and deſigns of government.
Bui, upon good reaſons, I think it may
be avcrred, that it is the happineſs of the
conftitu.
ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT. 63
conſtitution of Britain, which, as it
is monarchical, and under limitations,
ſeems the moſt calculated for anſwer-
ing theſe ends.
The duties betwixt Sovereign and
Subject are mutual and reciprocal; on
the part of him, he is to rule and go-
vern his people by the laws of God, and
of the land and conſtitution, to preſerve
and protect them, in the full and free
enjoyment of their properties, liberties,
and all other rights, both civil and re-
ligious, according to the oath he takes
at his coronation or inſtalment, On
the part of the ſubjects, they are to pay
and perform all dutiful obedience and
ſubjection to him chearfully, without
grudge ; to pay all taxes impoſed for
ſupport of the Prince and government;
to give ſtrict and exact obedience to all
laws that are enacted, by performing
what is commanded, and abſtaining
from what is forbidden.
After the form of government with-
in a ſtate or ſociety is fixed, and, for
the courſe of ſome ages, ſettled ; for in-
ſtance, if it is monarchical, and heredi-
tary in one family and particular line
1
F 2
of
64 ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT.
of heirs ; nothing can be more danger-
ous to that people and ſtate, than to un-
hinge that ſettlement, and, upon any
pretence whatſomever, to depart from
that fixed rule: for, befides the injuſtice
thereby done to the perſon and family
poſſeſſed of the right, it never fails of
being attended with moſt fatal conſe-
quences, and ruin to the ſtate and people;
ſince from thence ariſes a competition
about the ſupreme power ; a diſpute, a-
bove all things, and by all wiſe people,
to be carefully avoided, as the greateſt
judgment that can befal them; for, lo
long as that queſtion depends, (and it
can never come to an end ſo long as
there are contending parties exiſting),
it is next to impoflible for that people
to enjoy peace and quiet. It may be
true, that, from the occaſional circum-
ſtances of the perſon and family difpof-
feſſed, they may have ſome peaceable in-
terval; yet that muſt needs be of ſhort
continuance, as depending upon various
accidents, and liable to be interrupted,
either by the ſpirit of faction from with-
in, or the ſituation of affairs from with-
out: unhappy then muſt be the condi,
tion
ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT. 65
tion of that people, whoſe peace and
tranquillity ſtands upon ſuch a precari-
ous and uncertain footing! as may be
exemplified by the great bloodſhed and
other devaſtations occafioned in Scotland,
on account of that queſtion, betwixt
the Bruce and Baliol , and in England,
betwixt the houſes of York and Lanca-
Ater.
AFTER this ſhort digreſſion, I return to
my deſign ; and to ſhow, that it is both
duty and intereſt for ſubjects to ſubmit,
and to give obedience, both active and
paſſive, to the ſupreme powers and ma-
giſtrates.
This appears obvious from the
poo-
fitive and expreſs command of the ſo-
vereign and almighty Power of heaven
and earth, who, in his word and reve-
lation of his will made to mankind, com-
mands nothing more expreſsly, thanı
that obedience ſhould be given to Kings
and ſupreme magiſtrates, his vice-
gerents on earth: many paſſages in
both Old and New Teſtaments to this
purpoſe may be cited, particularly in
the latter ; the holy and inſpired a-
poſtles Paul and Peter, do earneſtly
F 3
press
66 ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT.
1
preſs and injoin it; and there does not,
appear any warrant and authority from
divine oracles for the doctrine of refift-
ance : neither doth the inſtances record-
ed under the Jewiſh ſtate an econo-
my,
afford
any argument for it, when
it is conſidered that, their government
being hierarchical, the whole parts of
their policy and adminiſtration was un-
der the conduct and direction of God
himſelf.
The doctrine and practice of the pri-
mitive chriſtians gives ſtrength to my
preſent argument, to whom I appeal, as
both teachers and practiſers of the do-
ctrine of paffive obedience; and, if I
am not miſtaken, I think I may here
give defiance to the patriots and adva-
cates of the doctrine of reſiſtance, to
give one inſtance where the primitive
chriſtians had recourſe to arms (others
than ſpiritual) in oppoſition and reſiſt-
ance to the ſupreme powers, though
frequently in their power of doing it,
with a probability of ſucceſs.
The characteriſtic of a true goſpel
ſpirit and chriſtian temper, is to ſuffer
injuries and wrongs though done to
1
us
ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT. 67
us by our equals; and the only lawful
means of redreſs, is to ſue for it before
thoſe having juriſdiction and authority
over both, or over him, the injurer: and
in that caſe, to take by force, repara-
tion at our own hands, is, in the opini-
on of all men, condemned as a thing
unlawful, and muſt be attended with
the breach and diſturbance of the
peace,
quiet, and good order of the ſociety.
AGAIN, where one free independent
ſtate or republic is injured by another,
or the individual members of the one
meets with injuſtice from thoſe of the
other ; if, upon demand of reparation,
it is refuſed, then recourſe may lawful-
ly be had to the means of force, by
making repriſals, or otherways, becauſe
of no ſuperiority the one has over the
other. But, for the ſubjects of any
bo.
dy-politic to reſiſt and rebel againſt the
ſupreme power, on account of injuries
threatned, or received, real or imagina-
ry, is not only utterly inconſiſtent with
the ends and deſigns of all government,
but alſo repugnant and contradictory
to the light of nature and realon.
For, as ſaid before, mankind is by na-
ture
t
68 ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT.
ture formed for ſociety, and without it
he cannot well fubfift; neither can the
ſociety ſubfift, unleſs a ſupreme uncon-
troulable power, from which there lies
no appeal, and to which all muſt ſubmit,
be lodged ſome how or other.
This fupereminent power, however
lodged, muſt either rule and govern
without controul, or all things muſt
run into the utmoſt diſorder and confu-
fion; for, it is abſolutely impoſſible for
any to rule and govern, be his govern-
ment never ſo perfect and ſtraight, as to
give fatisfaction and contentment to all :
for daily experience teacheth, that there
is no ſociety of men but amongſt them
there are different opinions, with reſpect
to what is good or bad for the public
intereſt and common utility of the
whole : and if this is the caſe, as cer-
tainly it is, and that it was lawful for
theſe, diſſatisfied with the public ad-
miniſtration, becauſe, in their judgment,
managed and carried on to the hurt
and prejudice of the common good of
the ſociety, to reſiſt and rebel againſt
the ſupreme power ; then, how preca-
rious and unſtable would the peace and
tranquillity
ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT. 69
tranquillity of the ſociety be, which could
no longer continue, than during the
want of power in the party diſcontented
to break and diſturb the ſame!
THE diſtinction that is now invented
betwixt the different kind of deeds of
mal-adminiſtration, as if ſome, though
wrong, did not juſtify reſiſtance, but
others, of a higher nature, which they
call encroachments upon the fundament-
al rights of the people, did ſufficiently
warrant a rebellion, this diſtinction I
conceive to be without foundation ; for,
what is called fundamentals, is, in eve-
ry ſtate and government, ſo uncertain,
depending much upon the caprice and
humour of the people, liable, from the
change of times, and circumſtances of
affairs, to alterations; and therefore, if
on them the public peace and tranquil-
lity did depend, it behooved to be very
precarious.
As no juſt cauſe can be aſſigned for a
people's -riſing in arms againſt their fo-
vereign and ſupreme power ; and, as
before faid, is repugnant to the goſpel
precepts and light of reaſon, utterly in-
conſiſtent with the ends and deſigns of
govern-
70 ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT.
ment ; ſo it ſeldom fails of being con-
trary to that very end, which, by the
means of reſiſtance, is intended.
This the experience of all ages
doth
teach and demonſtrate; and few or no
inſtances can be given, when a people,
for remedying of any evil public admi-
niſtration, betake themſelves to arms
againſt their Sovereign, but that the
remedy proves much worſe than the
diſeaſe: and how can it be otherways ex-
pected, ſince thereby the very baſis and
foundation of the government is ſtruck
at and unhinged, and the body politic
disjointed ; and therefore, as in the na-
tural body, muſt move and live in pain
and torture ? and the native conſequen-
ces that enſue, are bloody wars, robbe-
ries, famine, and ſuch like miſeries
and then, it feldom or never fails, but
that the inſtruments and prompters of
the rebellion, or thoſe ſet up by them
to rule, prove greater tyrants and op-
preſſors than were they whom they de-
throne ; a clear evidence, that God Al-
mighty, in the conduct of his provi-
dence, declares himſelf an enemy to
the practice of rebellion and reſiſtance,
by
;
ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT. 71
>
>
by puniſhing ſo remarkably the practi-
ſers thereof, that they may read their fin
in their judgment, which ſeldom or ne-
ver terminates till fuch time as they re-
turn to their allegiance and ſubjection
to their lawful Sovereign! as the people
of this iſland, by woeful experience,
has frequently been taught!
THE mutual duties and relation be-
twixt the ſupreme magiſtrate and the
people, reſembles thoſe betwixt parents
and children ; the Sovereign being the
common father of the people : there-
fore, as in the laſt caſe, fuppofing a
parent ſhould ſo far abuſe his power
and authority over his child, as to op-
preſs and tyrannize over him; it will
not be ſaid, that the child, from ſuch a
treatment, is intitled to take up arms,
and with force to reſiſt and rebel a-
gainſt his parent.
It remains to inquire into the pro-
per and lawful means for redreſs, when
à people is much aggrieved and forely
oppreſſed with an evil and public admi-
niſtration ; that there is no remedy in
ſuch a cale competent, is not to be
doubted;
1
72 ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT.
doubted; and the advocates for paſſive
obedience will not deny it.
THAT Sovereigns are under ſtrict ob-
ligations, and in duty bound to rule and
-reign over their ſubjects with a view to
their common good, ſafety, and protecti-
on, is without all queſtion : and, when
they act otherways, though they are ex-
empted from trial before an earthly tri-
bunal; yet they will be brought to ac-
count for it before the tribunal of the
great God, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt,
as is obſerved in the preceeding cha-
pter.
But, if the Sovereign, in place of u-
ſing his power and authority for the
people's ſafety and protection, ſhould
make uſe of it in oppreſſing and tyran-
nizing over them; the
proper means
to be uſed by the Subject, in ſeeking for
redreſs, is, in a dutiful manner to re-
preſent their grievances, and to pray for
a change of meaſures; and, for effectu-
ating thereof, to call upon the aſſiſtance
of the Sovereign's council and miniſtry,
that they would, in proper times and
ſeaſons, ſecond their addreſſes with ſound
council and advice: and if, notwith-
ſtanding
1
1
ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT. 73
ſtanding thereof, the Sovereign perfifts
in his wicked and perverſe adminiſtra-
tion ; then to prefer in a becoming way,
their complaints and grievances, before
the great council of the nation, that“,
they in their wiſdom would interpoſe
in their behalf: for, though the ſtates
and great council of a nation has no law-
ful power, by the means of force and
reſiſtance, to reſtrain and repreſs the
exorbitancies of tyranny and oppreſſion
in the Sovereign ; yet they have other
means in their power which may be
lawfully uſed for that effect; viz. by
refuſing to comply with his demands of
money, and ſuch like neceſſary fup-
ports of government, when they fee
them perverted, and made up in ſup-
porting of tyrannical purpoſes and vici-
ous paſſions and inclinations ; and when
ſuch applications are made, and in a du-
tiful manner managed, they will ſeldom
fail of having ſucceſs: for it is not to
be imagined that any monarch will be
ſo egregiouſly wicked, as merely to
delight and take pleaſure in the miſeries
and ruin of his people ; when, in con-
ſequence, it muſt bring the ſame upon
G
himſelf
A
74 ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT.
ز
himſelf and his family ; as to thut with
obſtinacy, his ears, to the repeated calls
and complaints of his people, when
there is cauſe and occafion for them.
But, ſhould it happen to be the
misfortune of a people, to have over
them a Sovereign who takes delight in
tyranny and oppreſſion; for that ſuch
monſters have been is certain, who go-
vern by no other rule than their own
corrupted will and perverſe pleaſure ;
yet, in that deplorable caſe the people
are to conſider it as an afilicting provi-
dence, ſent by God Almighty for trial
or puniſhment; and therefore, with all
ſuch like diſpenſations, to be borne
and ſubmitted unto with patience and
reſignation ; which if done, they have
ground to hope that God Almighty will,
in the wife conduct of his providence,
bring them relief, either by working in
the heart of the tyrant a change, for in
his hands the hearts of all Kings are,
or by death removing him : and, in or-
der to haften their deliverance, the moſt
fure and beſt means to be uſed, is for
the people to reflect upon the growing
and predominant fins and vices of the
land,
ADVICE TO THE SUBJECT. 75
1
land, by conſidering them as the pro-
curing cauſe of the judgment ; to mourn
over them, and, by a hearty and thorough
reformation for the future, to refrain-
and abſtain from them.
It frºquently happens, that the evils
of a government are not ſo much to be
imputed to the Sovereign who reigns,
as to his miniſters and adviſers: when
that is the caſe, it may be both expe-
dient and neceſſary to bring ſuch men,
by a legal and fair trial, to account for
their wrong council and mal-adminiſtra-
tion; and according to the demerit of their
faults to inflict upon them a juſt cen-
ſure and puniſhment; with this caution
always, that it be not done but upon
juſt and weighty cauſes, never to be
attempted for ſmall eſcapes, or ſuch as
may proceed from the want of a pene-
trating foreſight or error in judgment;
much leſs is it to be done for ſatisfying
the humour of a faction and party, or
the caprice of the people.
G 2
ADVICE
76
ADVICE TO THE
+
.
ADVICE to the MINISTER
of SI AT E, and to him of the
SOVEREIGN's Council.
1
}
1
ز
THE great diſturbance and miſchief
given to the world and to mankind,
from the evil government of Princes,
has been chiefly occafioned by their e-
vil counſellors; for it feldom falls out
that Princes do otherways rule and go-
vern, and undertake a matter of any
conſequence, but by the advice and
ap-
probation of their council; therefore,
who amongſt them do join and concur
in giving bad advice, are anſwerable
for all conſequences that enſue upon
'it.
The perfon called by the Monarch
to be of his council, or is employed
under him in any office of State, ſhould
in the firſt place, conſider well the true
ends of government, and diligently ap-
ply himſelf to the ſtudy and knowledge
of, and adviſing to, the proper means
for attaining theſe ends.
MORE particularly, he is to inform
himſelf of the true ſtate of affairs from
within,
1
1
5
MINISTER OF STATE, &c. 77
1
within, to ſee that truth and peace, ju-
ſtice and equity, induſtry and morality
do flouriſh, and are preſerved amongſt
the ſubjects, and that every one, in his
proper ſtation, acts his part, with a view
to the advancing and promoting this
end ; and when he diſcovers any failure
therein, or a defect of any kind, he is
to adviſe his Prince thereof, and of its
proper cure and remedy.
He is to be of eaſy acceſs, ready to
hear the complaints and grievances of
all; not to take them on truſt, but to
enquire and examine into the truths
and cauſes of them; and thereafter to
find out and apply the proper means of
redreſs.
For, as the Sovereign has no other
means of knowing the true ſtate of his
dominions, the condition and circum-
ftances of affairs and people, but by
and through the information of his Mi-
niſters and counſellors; ſo the people
has no other way of acceſs to him, for
laying before him their deſires and
grievances but by them : being there-
fore' thus interpoſed betwixt the two,
they are to act a juſt and faithful part,
G 3
with
1
!
78
ADVICE TO THE
1
1
with reſpect to both; not to impoſe up-
on the Prince, by repreſenting to him
what is falſe, or concealing from him
what is true; or upon the ſubject, by
falſe and diſſembled appearances; and
in the mean time to delay or forget to
negotiate their juſt and neceſſary buſi-
neſs.
HE, in like manner, is to inform
himſelf by proper intelligence of the
ſtate of affairs from without and abroad;
that he may be the more able to ad-
viſe all neceſſary precautions to be ta-
ken againſt, and for preventing the de-
ligns of neighbours and enemies, which
- may tend to the hurt and prejudice of
his Prince and people; but by no means
is he to adviſe his Sovereign, by reaſon
of any neighbours weakneſs in power, to
engage in war with him, in the view
only of extending his Prince's power
and dominions : for, as this would be
an act of great injuſtice, fo‘it never
fails of being attended with the ſhedding
of much human blood, and other moſt
fatal conſequences; with all which the
wicked Counſellor is juſtly chargeable,
and will be called to an account for.
WHEN
MINISTER OF STATE, &c. 79
When the Sovereign is under age,
the perſons then truſted with the reing
of government, and who ſteer the helm
of public adminiſtration, are above all
things to be careful of the Prince's e-
ducation ; that he may be early impreſs-
ed with the knowledge and love of the
principles of true honour, virtue, and
religion ; of the true and real ends of
government, that in the whole of his
after-conduct he may purſue the ſame,
and anſwer the truſt committed to him
by his Creator, for which, as his pro-
per ſtewardſhip, he will be called to ac-
count, and at the great day judged. And
upon
thie appearance of any particular
weakneſs and infirmity in him, or of
any prevailing vicious paſſion; then in
a particular manner, painfully to labour,
by pointing out the evil and danger of
it, for having him in time to ſubdue
and become maſter of it, before that by
long habit he becomes its ſlave. And
what on this head is ſaid, is of that
importance, that the obſervance of it is
a great and indiſpenſable duty upon all
Sovereigns, in the education of their
children : for the experience of all ages
teaches
}
So
ADVICE TO THE
teaches us, that as the principal cauſe
of bringing ruin upon princes, their
people, and kingdoins, proceeds fram
their evit government and mal-admini-
ftration; ſo the chief and great cauſe of
that evil government proceeds from a
bad and neglected education, inſtilling
in them, in their young and tender
years, falſe and miſtaken notions about
their fupreme power and authority ;
flattering them into a belief, as if they
were beyond and above the ſpecies of
mankind, and that all under them were
obliged to do and ſuffer, according to
their pleaſure; and that they themſelves
were under no ties and reſtraint, but
warranted to act and live, as they had a
mind, and without controul.
The Stateſman, who, in his conduct
of affairs entruſted with him, governs
with a true public ſpirit and love to his
King and country, whoſe intereſts can
never interfere, well deſerves to be had
in honour and eſteem of both Princes
and people; and in the event will find
ſuch a conduct to be the only true and
wifeft maxim of what is called politics :
and as his after reflexion upon
actions,
his paſt
f
MINISTER OF STATE, &c. 81
1
actions, whereby he may make Sa-
muel's appeal, will bring him much in-
ward peace and tranquillity of mind;
fo he will not miſs of being highly re-
warded for it eternally, and his memo-
ry by future generations will be inuch
eſteemed and honoured.
But, alas ! how does daily experience
teach us, that Stateſinen for ordinary are
acted, and their adminiftration in-
fluenced, by direct contrary principles !
having nothing ſo much at heart, and
in view, than ſelf intereft; and; when
that is the caſe, it is not to be wonde-
red at, when they abuſe their power
and truſt, by making them fubfervient
for advancing their ſelfiſh views and
ends, though at the expence of facri-
ficing the public intereſt: for inſtance,
if the Stateſman be acted by a ſpirit of
avarice and covetouſneſs, then, for en-
riching himſelf and family, he will op-
preſs his fellow ſubjects, or purloin
and embezzle the public revenue, or
take rewards and bribes, for procuring
from his Maſter offices to others. If
he is acted by a ſpirit of ambition, he
will ſtick at nothing that will contri-
bute
82
ADVICE TO THE
bute for advancing him to greater ho-
nours and power, and for continuing in
poſſeſſion thereof, when obtained.
It is of the greateſt importance for a
ftate and people, to have wiſe Counſel-
lors about the Sovereign, men of a
public ſpirit, fearing God, and hating
covetouſneſs; therefore all lawful
means and endeavours are to be uſed,
for directing the Prince in his choice of
them: and the ſubjects of rank and
quality, however much intitled to
places of preferment, are by no means
to force themſelves upon the Prince,
either by cauſleſly envying and ma-
ligning theſe in poſſeſſion, or by ſtirring
up fačtions aud parties againſt them,
and then heading them ; in the view of
making it neceſſary for the Prince to
make a change, by removing the pre-
fent and employing themſelves; ſuch a
pradiice can never proceed from any
other view than what is felfth and in-
tereſted : ſo long as 'Miniſters and
Counfcllors of ſtate continue faith-
ful to their truſt, they are to be ho-
noured, and not wearied of; but when
they act a contrary part, and endea-
vour
MINISTER OF STATE, &c. . 83
vour to ſupport their power and au-
thority with the Prince, by ſoothing
him up, and flattering him in his evil
habits; and then, for preventing a ſtop
to be made thereto, and themſelves
from being challenged and cenfured for
their bad council and conduct, to en-
deavour, by bribery and corruption, to -
have the whole of their adminiſtration
approved of in the great council of the
nation; and, for that end, to endea .
vour, with bribes,
to corrupt the
whole country, when about the ma-
king of a choice of their repreſentatives
to Parliament, that, in place of electing
with freedom, as they ought to do,
they ſhould make choice of the Mi-
niſter's creatures and dependants : I ſay,
the Miniſter, or Miniſtry, by ſo doing,
faps the very foundation of the people's
liberty, is guilty of a crime of the high-
eſt magnitude; and conſequently de-
ferves to be turned out of employment
with diſgrace, and otherwiſe puniſhed.
For any ſubject to force his ſervice.
upon the Prince, by creating a fear of
his power, and, as it was to be the on-
ly means of engaging his ſubmiſſion
and
84
ADVICE TO THE
}
and dutiful allegiance, acts a moſt un-
dutiful and impudent part, at the ſame
time a part moſt imprudent; ſince he
thereby provokes juftly both Prince and
ftate, to retrench him of his power and
greatneſs, becauſe of his abuſing it to
ſuch a height of extravagancy.
To conclude, and for inſpiring the
ſtateſman with a true public ſpirit, and
faithfulneſs in his conduct : let ne call
upon him to conſider, that, as he will
be called to account, before the tribu-
nal of heaven, for his actings in his pu-
·blic ſtation ; ſo, if they be there appro-
ved of, he is ſure to meet with his re-
ward
; yea, here on earth, it muſt af-
ford him much inward peace; makes
him, while in life, beloved and eſteem-
ed by both King and people ; and, af-
ter death, makes his memory to be fa-
vory to future generations.
But if, on the contrary, he be go-
verned by unworthy and ſelfiſh ends and
views; and, for advancing of theſe, ſa-
crifices, or turns neglective of the pu-
blic intereſts : let him remember the
fatal conſequences of ſuch a conduct,
not only to the whole body-politic, but
1
even
S
MINISTER OF STATE, &c. 85
!
1
even to himſelf, at leaſt to his pofte-
rity and family : for, though by his art-
ful and dexterous management, he may
for ſome time, yea, granting for his
whole life, fatiate his felfiſh temper,
and gratify his corrupted ſenſual luſts
and pleaſures; yet, with reſpect to a dy-
ing hour and future ſtate, if he is endu-
ed with reflexion and reaſon, he muſt
have a melancholy proſpect ; and his
family and poſterity muſt be ſharers of
the common calamity, brought by his
evil adıniniftration upon the country.
ADVICE to the Country Noblemen
and Gentlemen of L ÅNDED
ESTATES.
THE
HE Nobleman and Gentleman of
Eſtates, who makes choice of the
country retired life, in place of a life
more public and at Court; a choice in-
deed commendable ! and in many re-
ſpects, according to the rules of ſolid
judgment and reaſon, much to be pre-
ferred to the other !
H
- BUT
86
ADVICE TO
..
he may
But; though he abſtracts himſelf
from public affairs and of ſtate, let him
not think it allowable for him to take
up with a life of floth and idleneſs, but
to conſider that he has his proper work
on hands. to do, to which, with all
care and diligence, he ought to apply
himſelf.
He is much miſtaken to think, that,
becauſe his ſituation in the world
doth exempt him from any particular
calling or peculiar buſineſs,
therefore waſte away his time as he
liſteth, either in idleneſs, or upon his
pleaſures and diverſions; no, on the
contrary, the more time and leiſure he
hath in his power, the more good will
be required and expected of him.
Let him conſider, that it is altoge-
ther owing to the kind providence of
God, that diſtinguiſhes him from the
pooreſt and meaneſt creature living un-
der him; therefore, in point of grati-
tude, as of many other ties, he is ob-
liged to make ſuitable returns to God
for his diſtinguiſhing goodneſs.
In the firſt place, let him he advi-
ſed to be very obſerving of his duty to
God,
LANDED MEN.
87
1
God, in the exerciſe of all acts of pi-
ety and devotion to him, fecrctly in his
cloſet, privately in his family, and pu-
blicly in the houſe of God, by being a
conſtant attendant there, on the public
duties of his worſhip and ſervice, par-
ticularly every Sunday, for joining with
the 'congregation in the ordinary acts
of divine worſhip ; and, as opportuni-
ties offer on facramental days, for join-
ing in the more folemn and extraordi-
nary acts of chriſtian devotion : the ne-
glect of one of theſe, yea, of both, is,
alas, too common amongſt our nobles
and gentlemen! a thing much to be
regreted! and argues a great decay of,
and indifference about true religion !
In the next place, he is to be no leſs
obſerving of the duties he lies under to
his neighbour and himſelf; with reſpect
to the former, to act juſtly, to love
and exerciſe mercy and charity : for no-
thing can be more unreaſonable and iin-
pious, than to ſee a great man, and of
diſtinction, lording over, and oppreffing
the poor, and thoſe of the inferior rank .
living under him ; to behold him car-
rying towards them with haughtineſs
and.
-
ز
!
H 2 -
Something
88
ADVICE TO
사
​and contempt ; treating them as llaves,
and as they were a different ſpecies of
mankind from themſelves.
Then, with reſpect to himſelf, he
is to live ſoberly, abſtaining from all de-
grees of intemperance and luxury; chaſt-
ly avoiding all acts of incontinency, and
carnal ſenſuality: in a word, he ought
to be exemplary in the whole of his
conduct, to all about him, and under
his influence, by ſhining in all chriſtian
graces and moral virtues : for inſtance,
in his relative duties, to be a pattern to
others, by being a good and dutiful huſ-
band, parent, maſter, and neighbour.
As by his life and converſation he ought
to be exemplary and a pattern in all good
neſs to others, ſo by his authority he
ought to diſcourage and frown upon the
diſorderly and vicious, and to encou-
rage the good and virtuous: remember-
ing, that as God, in his kind provi-
dence, has placed him in a rank above
his other fellow-creatures ; ſo he will
be brought to account for this talent
beſtowed on him, for this very purpoſe,
to be employed by him for the advance-
inent of his Creator and Benefactor's
glory
LANDED MEN
89*
glory, and the ſpiritual and temporal
benefit of his neighbours and fellow-
chriſtians : for, without doubt, the ma-
fter and proprietor of lands is veſted
with ſome kind of juriſdiction and au-
thority over the inhabitants within his
grounds; and is in duty bound to take
care and inſpection over tenants and o-
thers within them, by endeavouring to
preſerve amongſt them love, peace,
and good order : and, upon diſcovery
of any one of them, of a different tem-
per, of a dangerous principle, or wicked
life, to uſe all means within his power
of reclaiming him; and, if irreclaimable,
to turn him out of his ground, as a per-
ſon unworthy of being a member of any
chriſtian ſociety.
One thing I would here recommend
to the perſons I am now addreſſing with
my humble advice, that they would ſee
to the ſupplying the wants of all poor
and indigent perſons within their
bounds, by themſelves, ſo far as their
worldly circumſtances, and retrenching
their own ſuperplus expences, will al-
low; and, when that falls ſhort of a full
and neceſſary proviſion, then to get all
others
--
ز
H3
}
go
ADVICE TO
1
others under their authority or in-
fluence, to contribute with them, ac-
cording to their ſeveral abilities, for "To
good and charitable an end. As this is
a duty indiſpenſable upon all, and none
more preſs’d upon us in holy ſcriptures,
wherein love and charity to our brother
and neighbour, is given as the dif-
tinguiſhing mark and evidence of our
love to God, and as the true characte-
riſtic of a ſincere true chriſtian ; ſo it
is the moſt probable means of bringing
down the bleſſing of God upon their
own ſubſtances and families.
BEFORE leaving this head, I would
recommend it to the Noblemen and
Gentlemen, within one and the ſame
pariſh, that they would join their cha-
ritable endeavours, for having the
whole poor and needy within it com-
fortably ſubſiſted, at their ſeveral
homes; that they may not be obliged
to wander abroad, from pariſh to pariſh,
to ſeek their bread: this would
prove
the effectual means of preventing the
many evils that attend the multitude of
our vagrant begging poor, who, ſtrol-
ling through the country in troops, by
heir
-
LANDED MEN.
91.
1
their thieving and maſterful behaviour
in poor country families, are great op-
preſſors, and public nuſances to the
country ; beſides, the practice of wan-
dering about begging, opens a door to
many
idle and ſtrong vagabonds of
both ſexes, to betake themſelves to
that
way
of life; and, of all ſocieties of
people, there is none to be found more
abandoned wretches, ſo impious and
profane as they are ; for, by many it
is obſerved, that they did never ſee
marriage celebrated betwixt them, any
of their children chriſtened, and but
ſeldom any of their dead buried; and
how can it be otherwiſe ? ſince, as
they are grofly ignorant, ſo they are in
want of all the means of knowledge
and inſtruction ; for few or none of
them are taught to read, and, by rea-
ſon of their wandering life, they are
not under the care and inſpection of
any one, who, by office, is obliged to
inſtruct the ignorant,
What I here adviſe with reſpect to
the poor, is to be taken with this cau-
tion, that it is only mean't of thoſe,
who, by old age, bodily infirmitįes, or
ſuch
:
92
ADVICE TO
ſuch like misfortunes, are unable, by
labour and induſtry, to ſubſiſt them-
felves; or who, for that end, are in
need of aid and aſſiſtance from others,
to be joined to their own induſtry; but
by no means is it to be underſtood, for
indulging idleneſs and lazineſs in any :
on the contrary, when perſons are re-
duced to ſtraits from their own default,
deſerve no pity; and when they ſee
that, on that account, others with-
draw from them their aſſiſtance, would
be a powerful motive to prevail with
them to apply to labour and induſtry.
The country Nobleman and Gentle-
man may be ſerviceable, and of great
uſe amongſt his neighbours, by pre-
ſerving of mutual peace and friendſhip
amongſt them : for inſtance, when à
controverſy and miſunderſtanding of a-
ny kind ariſes, he ought to interpoſe
betwixt the parties concerned ; and, by
uſing his endeavours and proper means
of reconciliation, he very probably will
become the inſtrument of peace-making,
and thereby entail upon himſelf the
bleſſing promiſed in the goſpel upon the
peace-makers.
IF
LANDED MEN.
93
If the country Nobleman and Gentle-
man, would thus employ his time, by
laying himſelf out, both by example
and practice, to be ſerviceable to God
and his generation ; what a great bleſ-
fing would he be to the place and coun-
try where he reſides? what inward peace
and tranquillity would he enjoy, parti-
cularly at the hour of death and af-
ter it; his memory, as the Wiſeman
faith, would be had in perpetual re-
membrance; and he himſelf rewarded
with everlaſting joys and eternal hap-
pineſs with his God and Redeemer, in
the heavens above.
ADVICE to the Man of WEALTH
and RICHES.
1
THE
HERE is nothing more certain
than that the perfon under theſe
circumſtances, has it much in his power
to be ſerviceable to God the giver of
them, and to his fellow-creatures:
and it is no leſs certain, that for theſe
ends and uſes his riches, as talents, are
given him: and therefore, if he abuſes
them
94
ADVICE TO THE
them, in making them ſubſervient to
his vitious lufts and wicked inclinations;
he is to expect that dreadful ſentence
pronounced in the goſpel upon the un-
profitable ſtryant.
It is a thing too common, and much
to be regreted, the great abuſe that is
made of riches by the poffeffors of them;
not conſidering that they only have
them
upon the title of ſtewardſhip, and
not of abſolute property, to be diſpoſed
of at pleaſure, on their luxury and ſen-
ſuality, upon worldly pomp and figure,
or other high and expenſive living : no,
if they ſo pervert the uſe of them, when
brought to account for their ſteward-
fhip, how can they eſcape our Savi-
our's doom, pronounced upon the un-
juſt ſteward?
It pleaſeth God, in the conduct of
his providence, to diſtribute talents,
fewer or more, to every creature, fo
that none of them is without ſome
but the rich man has a great ſhare, and
to whom much is given, our Saviour
ſays, of them much will be required.
The proper improvement and uſe to
be made of riches, is thereby to ſerve
God
ވެ
MAN OF -
WEALTH, &c. 95
God the giver of them, in works of
mercy and charity towards our fellow-
creatures ; not to hoard them up with
the miſer in our coffers, or to appro-
priate them only for increaſing our e-
ſtates; for this, like to the unprofitable
fervant, would be to hide the talent of
riches in a napkin, or bury it under the
earth : much leſs are they to be made
uſe of, in indulging of ſenſual and fin-
ful pleaſures, as in feeding of luxury,
pampering of the ſenſual appetite, ſup-
porting of pride, vanity, or other fin-
ful folly ; for this, like the prodigal
fon, would be to waſte away and con-
ſume our talent and portion in ſinful
and riotous living.
BUT,alas! our daily experience ſhows
us that the generality of rich men, in
place of uſing their riches for thefe
good ends and purpoſes, that in duty
and gratitude to their Creator they ought,
do pervert and abuſe them for the con-
trary and worſt of purpoſes ; lifting up
their hearts againſt God with pride and
vanity, making their wealth to be ſub-
fervient to their luxury and ſenſuality,
their worldly pomp and glory; and be-
cauſe
96
ADVICE TO THE
1
cauſe of it, with the rich man in the go-
ſpel, ſinging a requiem to their ſouls:
and, in place of being beneficial to their
fellow-creatures with their riches, in
feeding the hungry, clothing the naked,
and miniſtring to others in their wants
and diſtreſſes ; do they not often, by
reaſon of their riches, not only contemn;
but alſo opprefs, injure, and lord over
their
poor brethren ; and the-miſerable
and fatal event of ſuch a conduct of
life is clearly revealed to us by Jeſus
Chriſt in his goſpel, viz. Depart from
me ye curſed, into everlaſting torments; for
when I was hungry, you fed me not,; thir-
ſty, naked, and in priſon, yłu did riot mi-
niſter to me. And, in anſwer to their
que-
ſtion, he tells them, that their refuſing
theſe charitable helps to their poor bre-
thren here, was equal as refuſed to him-
ſelf,
On the other hand, if the rich man
employs his riches in a right manner,
for the good ends intended and com-
manded by God in giving them; how
capable is he of doing much good and
benefit to mankind? of being a public
bleſſing to the ſociety, and to all under
and
MAN OF WEALTH, &c. 97
a fick
and about him ? which is the moſt rea-
dy way of procuring the bleſſing of God
upon his ſubſtance, and of obtaining
a bleſſing from all thoſe who are be-
nefited by him: then, upon reflexion
within himſelf, eſpecially. on
and death bed, when all the riches a-
maſſed by the miſer and covetous, can
afford no comfort; what inward joy
and comfort muſt he feel, from his
well-grounded hope, of receiving from
our Lord Jeſus Chriſt a ſentence of
ap-
probation, of a Well done, good and faithful
ſervant! and by him deſired to enter in-
to his Maſter's joy : for 1 was hungry,
and
you fed me.; naked, and
you
clothed
ine, &c?
1
As a motive for prevailing with the
rich, to employ their wealth for theſe
pious and charitable good ends; I would
have them to conſider, that it is only
owing to the diſtinguiſhing mercy and
kind providenc of God, and not to any
merit in themſelves, that they are pla-
ced, in this world, in a higher condi-
tion, in any degree different from the
ſtate and condition of the pooreſt and
loweſt of his creatures; whoſe title, by
I
nature,
98
ADVICE TO THE
1
nature, to the good things of this life,
is equally good with theirs. Let them
moreover conſider, how precarious and
uncertain their right is to them, and
how ſoon they muſt part with them,
either by removing from them their
riches; for, as the Wiſeman ſays, they
take wings and fly away: or, which is
moſt certain, by parting them aſunder
by death. This conſideration, if duly
weighed, could not miſs the effect of
withdrawing our hearts and affections
from off this world, and diſpoſe the en-
joyers of the good things of it to be
charitable and communicative of what
they have, and thereby lay up to them-
ſelves a treaſure, and the more durable
riches in heaven: at the ſame time, it
might prove an effectual cure to that
univerſal fpirit of covetoufneſs, and of
anxious and folicitous carefulneſs about
the things of this world.
Nothing is obſerved more common,
though nothing can be more fooliſh
and unchriſtian, than to ſee the perſon
endowed with wealth and riches, that,
the more that is heaped upon him,
the more he covets and thirſts after :
which,
POOR AND, INDIGENT. 99
which, as it ſhows the emptineſs of all
worldly comforts and enjoyments,' and
how fruitleſs a thing it is to expect
from them
any
folid and truc fatisfaction;
ſo it is an evidence that he has them not
with God's bleſſing, but with a curſe;
ſince it is no ſmall judgment for him
who poſſeſſes the good things of this.
life, and not to have the heart of being
contented with his portion of them; and
to make, with thankfulneſs and fobrie-
tý, a proper and right uſe of them,
with reſpect both to himſelf and 0-
thers.
1
ADVICE to the POOR and
INDIGENI..
!
IF
TF poverty and ſtraitning circumſtan-
ces be thy lot in this world, my
advice is, that you will labour after
contentment in thy low and ſtraitned
condition; tò endeavour, with the A-
poſtle Paul, in every ſtate and condi-
tion of life, therewith to be content;
to learn, how to want, as well as to a-
bound; to conſider that your lot is or-
dered
I 2
Іоо
ADVICE TO THE
dered by the wiſdom of divine Provi-
dence, who knows what is fitteſt for
you better than you can do your ſelf ;
and, if, without repining, it be chear-
fully ſubmitted to, will prove to you
the moſt proper ſtate for advancing
your fpiritual and eternal good; there-
fore, in that reſpect, is a ſtate far more
preferable to that of wealth and afflu-
ence.
For, though the latter, if ſanctified,
may be greatly improved for the ad-
vancement of God's glory, our own
ſalvation and the good of others; yet
it is attended with great dangers and
many temptations, and has proved the
fatal and unhappy means of ruining ma-
ny
ſouls; and is not ſuited to every tem-
per, and would perhaps have been very
improper for thine.
If poverty is brought upon you
through your own fault ; for inſtance,
from floth and indolence, and neglect
of induſtry; you become the woeful
cauſe of your own ſtraits, and make
yourſelf to'be unpitied by others: there-
fore it is your wiſdom and intereſt to
Make off your idleneſs, and to apply
yourſelf
1
POOR AND INDIGENT. 10I
yourſelf to the uſe of all lawful and
proper means, within the compaſs of
your power, ſtrength and capacity, for
ſupplying yourſelf and family, with all
neceſſaries of life, and to be contented
with a ſober and moderate one, ſuit-
ed, and in proportion to your profits
and gains : for, ſeldom it happens, that
the virtuous and induſtrious perſon is
deprived of the neceffaries of life : and,
ſhould it be the pleaſure of God to
order it otherways, as it is his duty to
fubmit and be contented; ſo he is juſt-
ly intitled to have his wants ſupplied
from the bounty and charity of others :
and, ſhould the wealthy and rich ſee
and behold the wants of ſuch an one,
without bowels of compaffion and cha-
rity; they are juſtiy to be reckoned mon-
iters of nature, and void of all huma-
nity.
Íf by an expenſive and profuſed way,
of living, or other kind of extravagancy,
thou haſt brought poverty upon thy
ſelf and family, which too frequently
happens to be the caſe; your duty is to
your foily, and to read your
fin in your judgment ; ſpeedily and in
time
މް
repent of
I 3
!
I02
ADVICE TO THE
time to reform, by being denied to all
exceſs and ſuperfluities of life, and by
taking up with a ſober and temperate
one, ſuitable to your condition, to
the yearly fruits of your labours and.o-
ther incomes; and not to affect to live
up to the way and manner of thoſe
that are nigh or about you, or in con-
formity to the cuſtoms and falbions of
the age you live in ; which, alas ! in
the preſent, are full of luxury, pride,
and vanity, and daily growing more and
more ſo ; for, daily experience teaches,
that the moſt common cauſe of redu-
cing perſons and families to ſtraits and
poverty, is the living up at higher ex-
pence than what their yearly profits and
incomes will admit of, and endeavour-
ing to live up equal to their more opu-
lent neighbours; than which nothing
is of greater folly, and in its conſe-
quence muſt, by degrees, conſume their
whole ſubſtance, and, in the opinion
of all reaſonable men, appear no leſs
ridiculous, than if a man of a weak na-
ture and body ſhould pretend to equal,
in acts and feats of ſtrength, the man
of the ſtrongeſt conſtitution. Let it
be
POOR AND INDIGENT. 103
be ſuppoſed that any one ſhould be fo
ridiculouſly fooliſh, as for feeding his
luxury and that of others for one day
at the expence of ſo much money, as
in moderation might ſerve him and his
family for eight, and thereby expoſe
himſelf and family to want for ſeven
-days; he would deſervedly be unpitied,
and, in the opinion of the wife and
thinking part of mankind, reckoned no
lefs void of reaſon than the natural fool
and madman : and the folly of this ſup-
poſed caſe is no greater than the for-
mer.
BEWARE that
your
ſtraits and pover-
ty do not drive you to ſeek relief from
any diſhoneſt or unlawful means; ſuch
as ſtealing, robbing, oppreſſing, or de-
frauding your neighbour; for, be afſu-
red, that ſuch ſinful and unlawful pra-
ctices, in place of bringing you relief,
will add to your poverty much ſhame
and diſgrace; and if continued in, un-
repented of, (and repentance of it, with-
out reftitution, can never be fincere) will
bring upon you eternal ruin and mi-
ſery.
IF
104
ADVICE TO THE
proper, and
If it is duly weighed, and with rea-
fon conſidered, that God Almighty, as
he is the fole and univerſal Governor
of this world, the only diſpoſer of all
perſons and events in it; ſo he, in his
wiſe providence, diſtributes to the chil-
dren of men his creatures, the good
things of this world, ſuch as riches,
power, and honours,' according to his
good pleaſure ; and the lot of every in-
dividual is carved out by him, which,
if rightly improved and ſubmitted to,
will in the event prove moſt
to be beſt calculated for him. On the
one hand, what is more reaſonable and
dutiful for his depending creatures, than
chearfully, and with contentment, to
ſubmit to all his diſpenſations ; and en-
tirely to be reſigned into the will of
his providence and fovereign admini-
ſtration : on the other hand, what
can be more undutiful and impious, and
provoking to God; than to murmur and
repine at our lot and condition, or to
be moved with envy at the more flou-
riſhing condition and circumſtances of
others? ſince thereby we arraign his ſo-
vereignty over us, and ſecretly in our
hearts
ز
POOR AND INDIGENT. 105
hearts rebel againſt his divine and ſu-
preme adminiſtrations ; beſides, it is well
to be conſidered, that by our diſcontent
and murmurings, we, 'in place of bet-
tering our condition, imbitter it much
by the fretting of our fpirits, and in-
ward diſquiets of mind.
In fine, I recommend to the poor
man, frequently to meditate and reflect
upon that ſignificant parable in the go-
fpel, of poor Lazarus and the rich glut-
ton; which may be ſufficient to recon-
cile the mind of man to want and
po-
verty ; left the reverſe condition ſhould
make his portion to be only of the good
things in this ſide of time; which, it is
to be feared, is the fate and caſe of ma-
ny of the rich and powerful: befides,
let him conſider, if a deliverance from
poverty or affliction of any kind is not
brought about during this thort and un-
certain life, he will certainly meet with
it from death ; and, upon his making a
right improvement, and fanctified uſe
of his condition here, he will be recei-
ved into, and enter upon a ſtate of e-
ternal happineſs, when poverty and af-
flictions of all kinds will for ever ceale
and
106
ADVICE TO THE
and no more be, and will be ſucceed-
ed with joys unſpeakable and full of
glory.
ADVICE to the GOSPEL
MINISTER, and Preacker of
God's Word.
TT may juſtly be thought no ſmall pre-
ſumption in me to offer advice to
theſe, whoſe peculiar province is to
teach, to adviſe, and to give ſpiritual
counſel to others; but experience teach-
es us, that infallibility belongs no more
to the eccleſiaſtic order, than to thoſe
of the fecular rank; and that Church-
men and Divines are liable to the like
weakneſſes and infirmities with other
men.
Their duty and proper buſineſs is ſo
plainly held forth to them, by their
Lord and Maſter, in his Goſpel, that it
is not to be ſuppoſed, that their failure
therein proceeds from ignorance ;
how, that in a peculiar manner, they
are called to be followers of him,
whoſe immediate ſervants they profeſs
to
GOSPEL MINISTER, &c. 107
to be ; are commanded, both by life
and doctrine, to teach and preach to
others the pure and peaceable doctrines
of the goſpel ;' in their converfation
and practice; to copy after him, their
great pattern and maſter, that thereby
they may be exemplary to others; to
diſengage themſelves from the world,
and all worldly and earthly things ;
and to confecrate and dedicate them-
felves to be ſubſervient, for advancing
the glory and honour of God, the inte-
reſts of religion and kingdom of Chriſt
Jeſus, and the ſalvation of the ſouls of
men.
But, alas! have we not both ſeen
and heard, how that many of them,
in place of being the inſtruments of
preſerving of that peace and union, that
ought to prevail' amongſt all profeſſors
of chriſtianity, have been the great dif-
turbers of it? Is not hiſtory full of in-
ſtances of chriſtianity's having ſuffered
much, by the woeful diviſions and idle
diſputes of Divines; who, in place of
ſpending their zeal in defence of the
true and ſubſtantial parts of chriſtianity,
ſuch as faith, repentance, love, peace,
charity,
108
ADVICE TO THE
charity, ſelf-denial, meekneſs, morti-
fication, and the like goſpel virtues
and chriſtian graces, do miſplace and
miſimply their zeal, upon their own
idle ſchemes and ſpeculative notions ;
en things indifferent and circumſtantial,
ſuch as, on this, or the other form of
external government of the church, or
this or the other method of proceeding
in their meetings and judicatures; on
the way and manner of planting vacant
churches; all which things being only
circumſtantial and external forms, the
ſubſtantials of religion and chriſtianity
are noways concerned in them, but may
be maintained and preſerved by any of
the different modles that are diſputed,
when carefully and conſcientiouſly made
uſe of for that end.
The hiſtory of all chriſtian ages, and
almoſt of every chriſtian country, in-
forms us of many bloody wars and in-
teſtine troubles, that has proceeded
from none other cauſe, but from the
idle and unprofitable diſputes, the fiery
zeal and ſpirit of Church-men: and, at
this very day, and in this iſland, the
ſame ſpirit does inſpire ſome of them,
who
GOSPEL MINISTER, &c. 109
13
1
1
;
who affect to tread the ſteps of their
predeceffors, who, in every reign al-
moſt, ſince the reformation, were very
inſtrumental in involving theſe lands
into civil wars and rebellions; and, that
they may the more eaſily impofe upon
the more ignorant and deluded people,
they preſume to palliate their fiery zeal
and temper, with a cloak of ſanctity
and religion, as if the chriſtian doctrine
and of the goſpel of the bleſſed and
meek Jeſus, which teaches nothing
more than the doctrine of peace, love,
charity, meekneſs, patience, and for-
bearance, could warrand ſuch oppoſite
and antechriſtian practices.
When we go to church to attend
the divine public worſhip and ordi-
nances, it ſometimes happens, that, in
place of being entertained with the do-
ctrines of faith, repentance, and other
goſpel truths and graces, that the pul-
pits of ſome ſounds nothing ſo much in
our ears, as rage and invectives againſt
fome one ſet or other of our fellow
chriſtians ; not by realon of any funda-
mental and material difference, in point
of faith and doctrine, but on account of
K
a
IIO
ADVICE TO THE
a difference in opinion about ſuch trivi-
al and indifferent matters, as before
mentioned; yea, for propagating of
their notions, they will not be content-
ed with ſuch an audience as their
churches will contain, but will go to
the open fields, of purpoſe to aſſemble
together great multitudes of ignorant
and giddy deluded people, whom they
know to be fond of novelties, and rea-
dy to ſuck in their tenets; and, rather
than be diſappointed of their aim, they
will withdraw themſelves from the
communion of the eſtabliſhed church,
as knowing that to be the ready way of
ſeducing the ignorant, and of increaſing
the number of their followers.
Let it not be thought, that, what I
have here obſerved with reſpect to thoſe
of the ſacred order, is intended as a
ſatire upon them : far from it! for I
pay the greateſt regard to their chara-
Eter; and, when they live up to it, they
will always be much eſteemed, as they
well deſerve, hy all good men; and
the moſt ready way of bringing their
character into contempt, is an unſuit-
able conduct and behaviour to it. My
deſign
GOSPEL MINISTER, &C. III.
deſign then, of what is formerly ob-
ſerved, is that they may be kept in re-
membrance of the many evils have flow-
ed from the turbulent fpirit of the tribe
of Levi; that her Sons of this, and fu-
ture generations, may take warning,
and beware of being actuated and led,
by the like fpirit.
God be thanked! there are ſome, and
I hope many, of the ſacred order, par-
ticularly in this country, who make
conſcience in the diſcharge of the ſe-
veral
parts of their holy function; and
keep themſelves within their proper
ſphere, by employing their whole time,
labour and pains, in their Maſter's fer-
vice, in advancing of his glory and in-
tereſt, by gaining and doing good to the
fouls of men, particularly of thoſe un-
der their charge and flock.
The goſpel Miniſter is not to think
it a full and ſufficient performance of
his duty, by preaching, every Lord's
day, to his congregation and people :
for tho' that is a neceſſary part of his
duty, and, when rightly performed, of
great benefit; yet, in compariſon of
the whole other parts of his duty, it
K 2
is
· I 12
ADVICE TO THE
-
is. but ſmall; for, throughout the whole
of the week and his time, he ought
in his ordinary converſation and walk,
by good example, and favoury diſcour-
ſes, to be daily inſtructing his flock in
ſpiritual knowledge, and in the practice
of alt moral virtues and Chriſtian gra-
ces; for that end, frequently to viſit
the families within his congregation;
to pray with and for them; to adapt his
diſcourſes and advices to their various,
caſes and tempers, with a ſingle regard
to their ſpiritual profit and edification ;
and, upon his diſcovering of any ſinful
practice and vicious habit in the life of
any, to endeavour, by gentle and pru-
dent mean's, to reclaim them; and, when
neceſſary, to rebuke them, either in
private, or more publicly, but always
in the ſpirit of meekneſs; which never
fails of being attended with more ſuc-
ceſs, than when done with a ſpirit of
-fire and bitterneſs; which has a tenden-
су
rather to harden, than to reclaim.
To catechiſe, in order to inſtruction,
frequently the people of his flock, par-
ticularly the younger and children, is a
part of his duty: for that
end
very material
.
GOSPEL MINISTER, &c. 113
end, it is incumbent upon him, frequenta
ly to viſit the ſchool within his pariſh;
to overſee the ſchoolmaſter, that he
faithfully and diligently diſcharge' his
duty : and, when any family or perſon
within his congregation, is under any
affliction and diſtreſs by fickneſs or o-
therways; his duty is, frequently to
viſit them, and to miniſter to them
all relief and comfort that is within
the compaſs of his power ; with the
view chiefly to the good of their ſouls,
more eſpecially when they are in the
bed of fickneſs and death.
In his public miniſtrations in the
houſe of God, in all his addreſſes by
prayer to the 'Almighty; as he is the
mouth of the congregation, he is to be
careful, fo to form and frame his pray-
ers, that they may conſiſt of ſuch con-
feffions, petitions, thanksgivings, and
interceſſions, as that all the people may,
with chearful and devout hearts, join
him with an hearty amen. And, good
it were, and much to be wiſhed, that,
in obedience to our Lord and Saviour's
precept in the goſpel, he would con-
clude every one of his prayers, with
K 3
that
I 14
ADVICE TO THE
that heavenly, moſt comprehenſive, and
excellent form of prayer recorded there !
the omiffion whereof, in our preſent
eſtabliſhed church is very unaccount-
able, and gives great ſcandal to all. o-
ther chriſtian churches in the world.
THERE is the more reaſon for the
Goſpel Miniſters of this church to give
pains in the framing and compoſing of
public prayers fince they make no uſe
of our moſt excellent liturgy; a thing
much to be regreted! but moſt of them
entertain a groundleſs prejudice and a-
verſion to it; though, as to the matter
of it, it is beyond their power to find
fault with it; and, as to its form, with
what reaſon can they object to it, other
than that it is practiſed in a church
from which they maintain ſome differ-
ences, with reſpect to outward forms.
and modes, and other circumſtances,
wherein the ſubſtance of chriſtian and
religious worſhip has no concern ?
LET me not be here miſunder-
ftood, as if I meaned that our Clergy,
at all times, and upon all occaſions,
ſhould be tied down altogether, and
allenarly to the uſe of the liturgy; no,
many
-
GOSPEL í
115
MINISTER.
ers,
many of them there are, who, by la-
bour, pains, and experience, have ob-
tained that moſt excelient gift of prayer,
which upon occaſions, and different cir-
cumſtances of times, and of their hear-
is never to be neglected: my mean-
ing then is, in their public addreſſes to
God Almighty, they thould either make
uſe of the public prayers of the church,
or have a form and model of their own
for their direction, and not altoge-
ther to truſt to their own extemporary
thoughts and ſuggeſtions; which, as it
cannot fail of diſtracting and much di-
verting their own mind and thoughts,
ſo it oftentimes produces from them
unbecoming petitions and expreſſions.
NOTHING can be more contrary to
the true ſpirit of prayer, than to ac-
commodate them to the different facti-
ons and parties of the times; to ſtuff
them with invectives and imprecations
againſt ſome, and with praiſes and flat-
teries of others : or, to mix in their
prayers, petitions in behalf of one ſet :
of men and opinions, to the prejudice
and breach of charity towards others;
for
&
116
ADVICE TO THE
for prayers, without charity, will never
be acceptable to Almighty God.
Having, with great ſubmiſſion, and
with the peace, I hope, of Churchmen,
faid ſo much with reſpect to the pub-
lic prayers in the church ; I take leave
to ſay a word or two with reſpect to
that other part of religious and divine
worſhip, namely praiſing: which is,
that the public praiſing may be con-
cluded with ſinging of the Doxology ;
a practice univerſally obſerved in all
chriſtian churches, and, to the great
reproach of ours, totally neglected, for
what reaſon, I never could conceive.
There is another neglect in our
churches, which I muſt obſerve, and,
in my humble opinion, condemn ; and
that is, the neglect of reading a porti-
on of holy fcriptures' every Lord's day
in our churches, which if practiſed,
and with attention liſtned to, as it ought,
would be beneficial to all; but, more e-
ſpecially to thoſe who have no other
means of knowing and being acquainted
with them ; ſuch as thoſe who cannot
read themſelves, or as have no time and
leiſure of reading them; and of ſuch
there
GOSPEL MINISTER, &c. 117
%
there are many, in every congregation :
beſides, after aſſembling of the people,
much time is loft before the Miniſter
comes into his pulpit to begin divine
worſhip and ſervice.
The adminiſtration of the holy fa-
crament of the Lord's ſupper, being
the moſt folemn act of public chriſtian
worſhip, ought frequently to be admi-
niſtrated by every Goſpel Miniſter to his
congregation and Alock; but, alas! how
much is this great and neceſſary duty
neglected, by fome, for the courſe of
ſeveral years running! and, by the moſt
part of them, diſpenſed only once in the
year! and, when adminiſtrated, per-
formed in a way- and manner very in-
decent, by encouraging and inviting
multitudes of people to aſſemble to them.
from all corners, and at great diſtance !
doing what they can to divert and with-
draw the deluded and ignorant people
from their own parochial churches and
Miniſters! priding themſelves in having,
on theſe occaſions, a confuſed multi-
tude of giddy people, whom their
churches not being able to contain, tents
and tabernacles are erected in the open
fields,
118
ADVICE TO THE
fields, and in every one a Miniſter of
their own ſtamp placed, for holding
forth to ſo many as will fock about
him ! and perhaps a third part of the
whole being without the reach of his
voice, and, by reaſon of many other in-
terruptions, ariſing from ſuch a confu-
ſed gathering of people, hears no more
than the found of it! with which ma-
ny reſt contented, having gone to the
meeting more out of novelty and curio-
ſity, than from a deſign of reaping ſpi-
ritual profit and edification : and I have
been often told, that the pulpit enter-
tertainment that is given on theſe occa-
fions has no great tendency that way,
but rather for impreſſing and foment-
ing, within the minds of their ignorant
audience, the ſpirit of faction and di-
viſion.
But, as before hinted, the Miniſter
of the Goſpel is to be chiefly careful
to walk before his people, in an exem-
plary, pious good life; which will be
more inſtructive to them than teaching
and preaching, though moſt
pure and
ſound doctrines; for the generality of
people are more influenced and
govern-
ed
GOSPEL MINISTER, &C. 119
>
1
ed by example than precept; and unleſs
the lives and manners of our ſpiritual
guides are correſpondent to the rules
and doctrines they teach, is it wonder
for the people to conclude, that what
they deliver from their pulpits is meer
fancy and affected, and not believed by
themſelves, ſince their life and practice
is ſo oppoſite to it?
What a contradiction is it to obſerve
a Goſpel Miniſter, when out of his pul-
pit, to live the 'reſt of his time in all
common and ordinary actions of life ;
like other worldly, carnal, and unre-
generate men, indulging himſelf in all
worldly and ſenſual pleaſures, diverſi-
ons, and recreations ; minding chiefly
his worldly intereſts, full of covetour-
neſs, pride, earthly or ſpiritual, of ma-
lice, envy, revenge, or a ſlave to any
other ſinful paſſion and vicious habit;
uncharitable, implacable, contentious, a
backbiter and evil ſpeaker of his neigh-
bour : for, if the vicious and immoral
life of the profeſſor of chriſtianity gives
great ſcandal, and brings reproach up-
on the chriſtian religion; how much
more
I 20
ADVICE TO THE
more muſt the vicious and corrupt life
of the Goſpel Miniſter do ſo?
As the faithful diſcharge of the ſeve-
ral parts of the ſacred office and
function, with reſpect to every one's
proper and peculiar charge, requires
great diligence and aſſiduous applica-
tion, and can never with ſucceſs be per-
formed by the flothful and indolent;
there is another part of their duty,
more general and extenſive, which re-
quires no leſs care, prudence, and con-
duct, and perhaps more; namely, when
they are brought to meet together in a
body to conſult about the common
affairs of the church, and intereſts of re-
ligion, whether to meetings more ſu-
preme or ſubordinate: then, laying
aſide all party diviſions, fiery and indif-
creet zeal, they ought to have nothing
elſe in view and at heart, but the glory
and honour of God and of Jeſus Chriſt
their Maſter, and head of the church,
the advancement of his kingdom, and
intereſts of his religion : and, when it
happens, as in all public meetings it
muſt, that amongſt them there falls
out a difference of opinions, about this
or
GOSPEL MINISTER, &c. 121
or the other form and method of doing,
as leſs or more conducive for attaining the
end they all agree in ; they ought, in their
reaſonings and deliberations, to proceed
with all meekneſs and modeſty, love,
peace, and charity towards one ano-
ther ; to lay aſide all peremptorineſs and
ſtiffneſs of temper; and, when the
matter is brought to a determination,
however contrary to their own opi-
nions, it is the duty of all to acquieſce
therein, and ſubmit thereto.
As to theſe of the Clergy who are
raiſed to an higher rank and ſtation
than their brethern, and inveſted with
authority and juriſdiction over them ; let
them conſider that they are under a
double tye and obligation to
to exert
themſelves, in employing their autho-
rity, for the good ends and purpoſes of
the facred function : for beſides the
paſtoral care they are to have over their
flocks, and, over the ſouls of all under
their influence and authority; this addi-
tional duty is incumbent upon them, to
inſpect and overſee the conduct and be-
haviour of all of the prieſtly order, ſub-
ject to their authority and juriſdiction ;
L
and
I 22
ADVICE TO THE
and that, by ſound advice, counſel, and
reproof, when neceſſary, and particu-
larly by good example, they keep and
encourage all of them in the faithful
diſcharge of their duty; and, that their
whole time may be employed about
their proper buſineſs, they ought not to
be diverted therefrom by any ſecular
concern : and, with ſubmiſſion, I
think, that the making a Church-man
a miniſter of ſtate, or employing him
in ſtate affairs, is moſt abſurd and un-
reaſonable, further than to call upon
them to give counſel or advice, when
the affairs of the church are brought
under deliberation ; for the affairs of
church and ſtate are of a very different
nature, and in ſome meaſure incompa-
tible, and any one of them a ſufficient
taſk for the perſon employed about
them: and it is no leſs abfurd and un-
reaſonable for any ſingle Church-man to
be poſſeſſed of plurality of benefices,
ſince it is impoſſible for him to give at-
tendance upon all; and any one of them,
provided he make. conſcience in dif-
charging his duty, as he ought, is ſuffi-
cient for taking up his whole time; and
the
ma
GOSPEL MINISTER, &c. 123
the ſupplying his vice, and the cure
with another, whom they call his Cu-
rate, upon giving him a ſmall part of
the benefice, is the great reproach of
our neighbouring church, and the
means of bringing contempt upon
thoſe
of the facred order in it, particularly
upon thoſe of them in the rank of cu-
racy.
BEFORE I conclude my humble advice
to the tribe of Levi, I beg leáve to of-
fer this caution to all of them; namely,
that none do preſume to take on him
holy orders without finding in himſelf a
call and diſpoſition thereto; by which I.
mean, without, after a ſtrict and nar-
row examination of his own heart and
inward diſpoſition, he find in himſelf
ſuch a ſtate of mind, ſuch a heavenly
ſpiritual temper of ſoul, as makes him
both able and willing to renounce this
world with all its vanities and finful
cuſtoms, and with it, all temptations
of both fleſh and devil; and to conſe-
crate and make entire reſignation of
himſelf, his whole powers and facul-
ties to the ſervice of Chriſt Jeſus his
Lord and Maſter; to devote his time, la-
bour,
ز
'
L 2
124
ADVICE TO THE
bour, and pains, for the advancing of his
intereſt and kingdom, and of the ſalva-
tion of fouls, by inſtructing the igno-
rant, by convincing and converting the
hardened and impenitent, and that
both by doctrine and example ; and, in
fine, to be frequent and inſtant in his
addreſſes to the throne of grace, for all
needful and ſpiritual gifts and endow-
ments, for qualifying and enabling him
to perform, and faithfully to diſcharge
all the parts of his facred office and holy
function.
When, in entering into prieſtly or-
ders, he has chiefly in view the glory
of God and the good of ſouls, it is not
to be doubted, but that he will apply
himſelf to the uſe of all the means with-
in his
for promoting theſe ends;
and has ground to hope, that his la-
bours will be bleſſed with ſucceſs, and
of aſſurance, that they will be reward-
ed with joys unſpeakable, eternal, and
full of glory: but the man, whoſe
chief motive in feeking after the office
of the holy miniſtry is worldly intereſt,
of getting himſelf ſettled in a good bene-
fice and living; what is to be expected
from
power, for
1
GOSPEL MINISTER, &c. - 125
.
from him, but that he will prefer his
earthly concerns to the proper and in-
portant duties of his office and when
that is the caſe, and he brought before
his judge and Maſter, the great
Thepherd and head of his church;
what doom can he expect! when the
loſs of many ſouls are juſtly charged
upon him, who have periſhed through
the ſloth and negligence of his unfaith-
ful miniſtry, and paſtoral care.
May the tribe of Levi weigh and
conſider theſe things! and may the Al-
mighty God give and pour upon all
Miniſters, who ſerve at his altar, a dou-
ble portion of his holy ſpirit! Amen
and Amen.
ADVICE to the MERCHANT.
IN every country, and in all parts of
the world, trafficking Merchants
make up a very conſiderable part of ſo-
ciety; for, tho' it is to be wiſhed, that
the ſubject matter of their commerce
conſiſted in leſs, than what it doth at
preſent, of ſuperfluities, yet their buſi-
neſs
13
.
126
ADVICE TO THE
.-
neſs is abſolutely neceſſary, and of great
benefit to the public and tò mankind;
without which, the life of man would
be comfortleſs, and could not well ſub-
fift. For God, in his wiſe providence,
has ſo ordered things, in this world,
that not one country in it can well ſub-
fiſt without the aid and affiftance of an-
other; by which means, an univerſal
ſociety amongſt all different nations be-
comes neceſſary, and is eſtabliſhed by
mutually ſupplying of one another's
wants with the exchange of the ſurplus
of the natural produce of each, beyond
what is conſumed within themſelves;
which was antiently carried on in the
way
of permutation, before money was
in ſuch plenty, and made uſe of as the
common token of exchange fo that
every country is provided with all the
neceſſaries and comforts of life, as if e-
very particular, needful for that pur-
poſe, was its own product.
EXPERIENCE teaches us, that the flou-
riſhing of a country, particularly its in-
creaſe in riches, doth chiefly depend
upon its trade and commerce: and ac-
cording as the ſituation of it is ſuited for
that
1
MERCHANT.
127
}
1
that end, and as the inhabitants thereof
improve, with induſtry and diligence, the
advantages of their ſituation, and other
benefits kind providence has favoured
them with ; 'ſo, in proportion, they
become more or leſs powerful.
The Merchant, in the courſe of his
buſineſs, muſt have to do with many
perſons in diſtant and different countries;
and the great and fundamental rule of
his whole conduct, is to be ſtrictly ho-
neſt, faithful and ingenuous; which
when obſerved, will conduce greatly
for promoting his intereſt, and ſupport-
ing his credit, which is inſeparably con-
nected therewith.
As the Merchant cannot carry on his
trade, without having a correſpondence
abroad, and employing of factors for
executing his commiſſions ; thence ari-
ſes a mutual faith and truſt betwixt them:
the factor, on the one hand, ought
faithfully to execute his commiſſion,
and, in his account, to ſtate no more
than the real prices by him payed, or
agreed to be payed, for the goods he
buys, and tranſmits to his employer ;
and to ſtate no leſs than the true price
of
{
1
1
128
ADVICE TO THE
of the goods conſigned to him, with
the commoil and ordinary rate of fa-
Ćtorage and commiſſion money : and,
on the other hand, the Merchant that
employs him, ought, with the utmoſt
care, make proviſion for the factor's
indemnification and reimburſement; and
duly to honour the bills drawn on him
for that end. I mention this, the ra-
ther, becauſe of the many inſtances I
have known, of our Merchants having
been, in this reſpect, very faulty and
unjuſt, by ſuffering, without any juſt
cauſe, the bills drawn on them by their
factors and correſpondents abroad, to
be proteſted ; by which means, the
national credit, as well as the credit of
him that acts ſo, doth greatly ſuffer.
Should it happen, that, from caſual lof-
ſes and misfortunes, it is without the
Merchant's power to honour his bills
in that caſe, it is more adviſable for him,
to acquaint his correſpondent of it, and
to aſk the favour of a forbearance, than
to ſeek after' a ſuſpenſion of payment,
upon lies and fallhoods : for, as no man
of conſcience and common honeſty,
tho' in ſtraits, will betake himſelf to
ſuch
MERCHAN T.
129
}
1
ſuch á refuge; yet in the Merchant the
fault is greater, becauſe it may be ſaid,
that, in the nature of his buſineſs, a
ſtricter faith is to be obſerved, than in
other common affairs.
When any queſtion and debate falls
out betwixt them, and amongſt trading
Merchants; good it were, that in place
of having it removed and ended in
the way of proceſs, and of a ſuit at
law, which is very detrimental to, and
inconſiſtent with the nature of trade
and commerce ; that a reference ſhould
be made by the parties concerned, to
fome fellow Merchants, of probity,
knowledge and experience, to decide
betwixt them! in whoſe determination
the parties ought to acquieſce : and, in
my opinion, it would be of great uſe
and benefit to trade, that, in every tra-
ding city and place, there was a ſelect
number of proper Merchants, yearly
made choice of, for determining all
controverfies and debateable matters,
ſhould ariſe amongſt traffickers and
Merchants; for, both mercantile and
maritime laws being founded upon the
practice of trading nations, Who are
more
130
ADVICE TO THE
ز
ز
more proper judges thereof, than the
Merchants of practice and experience ?
The Merchant, in all his tranſacti-
ons and buſineſs, ought to act con-.
ſcientiouſly; particularly, to be careful
that the goods vended by him be found
and unſophiſticated; that his weights
and meaſures be juſt, and his price ra-
tional and moderate, proportioned to a
reaſonable profit and gain, without im-
pofing upon the ignorance or neceffi-
ties of the buyer ; and, in treating about
the price, to avoid all falfhoods and
lying, which is a practice too common-
ly uſed for raiſing the price to an ex-
orbitant height: and, when the Mer-
chant governs himſelf by theſe rules,
the buyer ought frankly, and without
grudge, to give ſuch price as may yield
to the Merchant a reaſonable profit, af-
ter conſidering of all circumſtances, his
lying out of his money, the riſk he runs,
and other accidents he
may
be liable to;
and it would be great injuſtice and
cruelty in any to impoſe upon, and take
advantage of the Merchant, when per-
haps he is brought under the necefli-
ty of ſelling and diſpoſing of his ef-
fects
MER-CHANT:
131
3
them, to ſuit their way of living in
fects at any rate, for å preſent ſupply
of money, then to offer and give him
leſs price than the true value. And
here I muſt recommend that excellent
goſpel and golden rule, which ought
always to be in view, in all our tranſ-
actions and dealings with one another
namely, that, we Thould act and do to
others, as we would wiſh them to do
to ourſelves, were we in their circum-
ſtances.
ONE great reaſon why many of our
Merchants are tempted to demand more
than a reaſonable profit upon their mer-
chandize, and for that end, making the
uſe of unlawful means, is their high
and extravagant way of living, which
cannot be ſupported without an immo-
derate profit upon their ſtocks, which,
in this country are for ordinary but
ſmall: let me therefore here adviſe
A.
1
proportion to a reaſonable profit that
may be expected to ariſe from the ex-
tent of their ſtock and buſineſs ; for, if
they ſhall exceed that proportion, it is
impoſſible that they can ſtand it out
long; and experience gives many in-
Itances
132
ADVICE TO THE
ſtances of our Merchants failing and
turning bankrupt, ffom no other cauſe,
than from their ſuperfluous and luxu-
riànt way of life.
AND probably this is the cauſe of a
much greater evil, namely, of carrying
on a ſmuggling and illicited trade, in
open contempt of the law; a practice,
though I am afraid too common, yet,
if conſidered, will be found, not only
in its nature moſt illegal, but alſo at-
tended with moſt finful and pernicious
conſequences : for inſtance, in order
to avoid the payment of the duties and
taxes by law impoſed on their commo-
dities, or, in order to import, for the ſake
of a little gain, ſuch goods as hy law are
prohibited ; they will venture by ſtealth
to run in their goods, and diſpoſe of them
in a clandeſtine manner ; and, which
is much to be both wondered at and re-
grated, many of our Merchants think
it no evil.
In the firſt place, let them conſider,
that, by ſo doing, they are guilty of a
manifeſt theft, by ſtealing from the
public what properly belongs to it: for,
as every ſtate and government muſt be
ſupported
1
MERCHANT:
.
133
ſupported out of the eſtates, means, and
induſtry of the people under it, on ac-
count of the protection received from
it: ſo when, for that purpoſe, taxes are
impoſed by lawful authority, upon ei-
ther
property, trade, or other kind of
induſtry ; that duty and taxation is no
leſs the property of the public, than
the remainder is that of the owners ;
therefore, to cheat and deprive the pu-
blic of it is a downright theft and rob-
bery: and it is no ples and excuſe to
ſay, that more taxes are impoſed than
what are neceſſary, or that the public
money, is embezzled, miſapplied, and
under a mal-adminiſtration ; for, grant-
ing it was true, the remedy lies ſome-
where elſe, than in refuſing payment,
to which all ſubjects are in duty bound
to ſubmit chearfully, to pay their tri-
bute, and to render, in obedience to our
Saviour's precept, to Cæſar, his due ; and
the plea is no ſtronger than if one ſhould
plead excuſe for robbing his neighbour,
becauſe he was prodigal and conſumed
his eſtate and ſubſtance on finful and
extravagant uſes.
M
BESIDES
!
1
ز
1
1
134
ADVICE. TO THE
Besides, the above bad practice is,
in ſome meaſure, a robbing of our
neighbour ; for, as all taxations are im-
poſed for the neceſſary charges and exi-
gencies of the government, the with-
holding of a part by ſome, brings an
unequal and heavier ſhare of the bur-
den upon others; then the fair trader is
thereby much injured, who, in compu-
ting of the price of his goods, muſt
bring the duties he honeſtly paid to
the account; by which means the
ſmuggler and unfair trader is able to
underſell him; though, for ordinary,
it is obſerved that the latter is equal in
his price with the former, and thereby
tranſgreffes one of the foreſaid rules,
in ſelling at a rate beyond a reaſonable
profit.
But the bad conſequences of that
ſmuggling way of trading reſts not here,
but other evils attend it; of a very black
nature, and deep dye ; ſuch as perjury,
either in themſelves, or in others em-
ployed by them, as maſters of ſhips,
mariners, and frequently in both and
all of them, and oftentimes is accom-
panied with bribery and corruption, that
muſt
MERCHANT.
135
!
a far
muſt be uſed upon the officers appoint-
ed to watch and guard againſt them:
then, for covering of their knavery, they
are obliged to make uſe of falſe and
double clearances, and, under the co-
ver of permits and entries, for ſuch part
as they have fairly entred, they fell off
greater part perhaps, of what they
have ſmuggled, which is a manifeſt
falfhood ; yea, for a cloak to their kna-
very, are ſometimes guilty of down-
right forgery.
I HAVE inſiſted the longer on this
head, becauſe of the frequency of the
practice, and the flight thoughts that
the Merchant has of it; but, to add no
more upon it, I call upon the Mer-
chant ſmuggler to conſider, the many
and great diſturbances of the public
peace have been lately occafioned in this
country by their ſmuggling; how many
perſons called by them to their aſſiſtance,
have ſuffered the juſt penalties of the
law, by tranſportation and otherways ;
how much blood has been ſhed ; yea,
of fome, to the loſs of their lives : a!l
which aforeſaid evils, as they are occa-
fioned by the ſmuggling trade, ſo they
M 2
are
136 ADVICE TO THE
are juſtly chargeable on the dealers
therein.
ANOTHER worſe" practice, I have
heard of, if worſe can be ; and that is,
by cheating and defrauding the public,
with reſpect to premiums allowed on
the exportation of ſome particular com-
modities; for the ſake whereof, it is
ſaid, to have been the practice of ſome
Merchants, to make entry of ſuch goods
in order to exportation, and that upon
oath ; but, after they are put aboard,
and the ſhip ſet out on her ſuppoſed in-
tended voyage, then ſhe returns, and
the goods are re-landed; which is ſuch
a conſummate piece of fraud and vil-
lany, that robbery on the high-way is
not comparable with it!
LET the Merchant be then adviſed
and prevailed with, to forbear and a-
void all ſuch abominable and ſinful
practices; to be contented with a mode-
rate profit and reaſonable gain, over
and above all coſts and charges, duties
included; then may he expect a bleſ-
ſing and ſucceſs upon his induſtry and
labours : and it is remarkable, that the
Merchant who haſtens to be rich, by
means
MERCHANT.
r3
i
Ineans ſo unfair and unlawful as there
above mentioned, for ordinary, as in
juſt providence he ought, meets with
a diſappointment; for, where one fuc-
ceeds by ſuch practices, many are there-
by brought to ruin and beggary, by ha-
ving ſometimes their ſtock and goods
ſeized and condemned, as is by law ap-
pointed; ſo that both intereſt and duty
concur in backing what is here advi-
ſed.
The Merchant, in the courſe of his
trade and buſineſs, is liable to many
dangers and caſualities, by ſhipwreck
and ſuch like providences, the confide-
ration whereof, without doubt, is to
be had in ſtating of his prices; but,
when a misfortune of any kind happens
to him, his duty is, with patience and
reſignation, and without the leaſt mur-
mur, to ſubmit to it: as, on the other
hand, when proſperity and ſucceſs at-
tends any part of his negotiations and
trade, he ought to be very thankful to
God for it.
I HAVE done with this advice, af-
ter counſelling the Merchant to be a
ftrict obſerver of his duty to God, in
i
M 3
а.
----
138
ADVICE TO THE
a pious, devout and godly life ; of his
duty to his neighbour in a juſt and
righteous one; and of his duty to him-
ſelf in a life of fobriety and temperance;
which is the moſt probable means of
proſperity in this world, and the means
moſt ſure, of being for ever happy in
the next.
ADV ICE to the TRADES
MAN and MECHANIC.
GỌI
OD Almighty, in his wife provi-
dence, has fo ordered the af-
fairs of human ſociety, as to make the
different parts and members of it ab-
ſolutely neceſſary for the ſupport and
comfort of the whole, and to have a
mutual dependence upon one another :
from thence ariſes the great variety of
trades and arts in the world, without
which the world could not well ſubfift;
whereby every individual has it in his
power to be, ſome way or other, uſe-
ful to the ſociety whereof he is a mem-
ber; and has the means afforded him,
upon
TRADESMAN, &c. 139
1
upon his application, to ſome uſeful
trade and buſineſs, to provide himſelf
with neceſſary ſubſiſtence.
SOME few inſtances there are, and
will probably always be, when, by rea-
ſon of bodily infirmities, or thoſe of
the mind, ſome perſons are rendered
incapable of following out any buſineſs
or calling; with reſpect to whom, as
their caſe is to be pitied, ſo they are the
proper objects of our charity ; and, by
the ties and bonds of both humanity
and chriſtianity, they ought to be com-
fortably provided for.
In every country, there is a variety
of trades and manufactures, fit for com-
mon uſe; each of them produces, in a
great meafure, proper materials for the
exerciſe of artiſts and mechanical ſpi-
rits ; and the perſons intending to ap-
ply themſelves to that kind of buſineſs,
ought to make choice of that particular
one, adapted moſtly to his genius, the
produce of his country, and to the de-
mand and conſumpt of its inhabitants,
or to what is proper for exportation to
foreign mercats; which if he doth,
and follows out his employment with
diligence,
1
140
ADVICE TO THE
diligence, it is next to impoſſible that
he can want his bread and a comfortable
ſubſiſtence.
It is indeed true, that too many of
our Tradeſmen are very poor, and fre- .
quently pinched with wants and ſtraits :.
but it is no leſs true, that, for ordinary,
it proceeds from their own faults and
miſcarriages ; for remedying whereof,
the following advice is intended.
In the firſt place, my advice to them
is, and my hearty wiſh, that I could
prevail with them to take up with a ſo-
ber and temperate life ; to abſtain from
all kind of intemperance, particularly
of drinking, which is the common
bane of all our Tradeſmen, and the new
ver-failing cauſe of bringing ruin and
poverty upon themſelves and families.
Doth not daily experience. inform us
of many inſtances, of our Tradeſmen,
who no ſooner by their labour, earn a
little money, but immediately to the
tavern they reſort, and never reſt till
the whole is conſumed upon their bottle,
though, at the ſame time, their families,
wives, and children are perhaps ſtarving
at home,
MANY
TRADESMAN, SC.
141
upon them
Many are the arguments may be
here uſed, for putting a ſtop to this e-
pidemic evil; as firſt, I cal}
to conſider the ſinfulneſs of it, how dif-
pleaſing it is to God Almighty; and,
if not repented of, and forſaken, will
not only be puniſhed, as for ordinary
it is, with poverty and ſhame here, but
with eternal ruin and torments hereaf-
ter ; for God in his holy word hath re-
vealed, that no drunkard ſhall inherit
the Kingdom of heaven.
In the next place, let them conſider,
when they are waſting away their time
and money in the tavern and at their
bottle ; they, at the ſame time, are fin-
fully conſuming the only and neceſſary
means of their families bread and ſub-
ſiſtence; that, whilſt they are ſurfeiting
themſelves with drink, their wives and
children are perhaps pinched with hun-
ger at home: theſe reaſons, if duly
weighed and conſidered, may, nethinks,
be ſufficient to deter any rational being
from the evil habit of drunkenneſs; to
which many more may be added, par-
ticularly this one, that it is juſtly called
the mother of moſt of all other evils
and
142
ADVICE TO THE
and miſchiefs, as woeful experience
teaches.
My next advice to the Artiſt and
Tradeſman is, that he will follow out
his calling and employment with dili-
gence, faithfulneſs, and honeſty: with-
out diligence, it is not poſſible he can
proſper ; for, according to the ſaying
of wiſe Solomon, It is the band of the
diligent that makes rich; wherefore he
is to be affiduous and laborious about his
work; to keep conſtant to it; not to
waſte his time in idleneſs, folly, and di-
verſions, excepting ſo much of it as is
neceſſary for reſt to his body when
wearied, or relief to his ſpirits when
exhauſted ; God, in his kind and wiſe
providence, having allotted a compe-
tent ſpace of time, one day of ſeven,
for that purpoſe.
AND, without faithfulneſs and hon
neſty, the Tradeſman can have no hopes
of thriving: in obſerving the laws and
rules of honefty, he muſt be careful
of having both his work and ſubject
matter of it ſufficient ; otherways he
muſt loſe his credit, and keep back
people from employing him : the ne-
glect
TRADESMAN, &C.
1
143
A
glect herein has been frequently, and
moſt juftly, complained of; and, as it
is a great breach of honeſty, ſo it is
attended with bad effects and conſe-
quences, particularly, with reſpect to
ſuch manufactories as are exported to
foreign mercats ; for inſtance, in ma-
nufacturing of cloth, woolen or linen,
it has been obſerved and complained
of, that the Tradeſman, in making up
his web, has been careful of making up
ſome yards of both ends, ſuch as he
thought might be ſurveyed by the buy-
er, of ſufficient ſtuff, whereas, betwixt
the two, the reſt unſufficient; than
which, there can be no greater deceit
and fraud equal, if not higher than the
uſing of falſe weights and meaſures !
beſides, it brings that commodity in fo-
reign parts under great diſcredit, and
frightens all ſtranger merchants from
dealing in it ; conſequently is a public
lofs to the country, and brings reproach
upon our countrymen.
It is ordinary, in employing of
Tradeſmen, to put into their hands the
ſubject matter of their labour, to be
wrought and manufactured by them:
in
.
144
ADVICE TO THE
in which caſe, their duty is, to beware
of embezzling any part, and carefully
to preſerve the whole committed ta
their truſt, by making a faithful return
of it to their imployer: by doing other-
ways, they are guilty of theft, and
breach of truſt.
In fine, their conduct, with reſpect
to the whole of their trade and com-
merce, in both ſelling and buying,
ought to be carried on with great hone-
ſty and conſcience; to guard againſt all
cheating and lying, to demand their
price, in proportion to their expence
and labour, by making a juſt calculation
of both : particularly with reſpect to
their labour, to calculate how much
work, by diligence, they are able to put
through their hands, within a certain
ſpace of time ; and to demand no more
than a reaſonable profit, in proportion
to that time: but here this caution is
neceſſary, that they do not indulge
themſelves for any time in idleneſs, and
be thereby obliged, for making up the
loſs of that time, to impoſe a higher
price upon the after fruits of their la-
bour: and, upon no account whatever,
are
TRADESMAN, 3.
145
are they to extortion and raiſe their
price, from the neceſſities that the buy-
er, and the employer of them, may
perhaps be under.
It happens frequently, that the
Tradeſman's labour is hired by daily
wages, which may be to ſome of them
a temptation to linger out the time in
lazineſs and idleneſs, by reaſon that
their profit -is the ſame, whether their
work be more or leſs; and, at other
times, they are hired and payed accor-
ding to the meaſure of their work,
which may tempt them to make their
work flight and inſufficient, for extend-
ing its meaſure: both which faults, be-
ing extremely diſhoneſt, the conſcien-
tious Tradeſman ought, and will care-
fully avoid.
Upon the Tradeſman's performing his
work and labour, according to the fore-
ſaid rules, he well deſerves a reaſonable
profit, and all encouragement: and all
theſe are blame-worthy who begrudge
them it; and who, from a narrowneſs
of temper, well knowing their neceffi-
tous circumſtances, that they muſt la-
bour daily for their bread, and accept of
N
any
I
146
ADVICE TO THE
1
any hire and reward rather than not to be
employed, do impoſe upon their neceſ-
ſities, hy prevailing with them, to ac-
cept of leſs price, than in proportion,
to what their labour and work de-
ferves, which is great injuſtice and op-
preſſion.
I ſhall conclude this advice, with a
ferious recommendation to all Artiſts,
Mechanics, and Tradeſmen, that, tho
they be obliged to more conſtant labour
than others are; yet, that they will
not ſuffer their worldly buſineſs and em-
ployment to juſtle out of their minds,
the more important concerns of their
ſouls and eternity ; but that they will
always keep that one thing needful in
view; for there is no particular calling
or buſineſs in life, that, of its nature,
interferes with, or is a juſt impediment
to, the exerciſe of ſpiritual and religious
duties : on the contrary, by following
out of any lawful particular calling
with diligence and faithfulneſs, thereby
God is ſerved, and obedience is paid to
his moſt holy laws; and, in the midſt
and throng of worldly labour, it is in
the labourer's power, every now and
then,
TRADESMAN, &c.
147
then, to employ his thoughts, heart, and
affections, on fpiritual and heavenly
objects, pious meditations, and devout
ejaculations.
ADVICE to the COUNTRY FARMER
and Labourer of Ground.
THIS employment, of all others,
may be ſaid to be moſt uſeful :
fince from it proceeds all the neceſſary
proviſions of life. Without it, after
the fall of man, and the curſe that fol-
lowed it, our grounds would be barren;
therefore, as it became thereafter to be.
abſolutely neceſſary, ſo, of all others,
it is the moſt ancient.
In its nature, it is both innocent and
laborious, admits of no idleneſs and la-
zinels : but runs in a perpetual circle
throughout the whole year : for, no
ſooner is the time of reaping over, but
immediately, the preparing of the
ground
for next year's ſowing begins; and con-
ftant labour of one kind or other, con-
tinues till next year's harveſt.
THIS
1
1
N 2
148
ADVICE TO THE
)
This employment leads naturally the
perſons concerned in it, not only to a
life of induſtry, but to that of virtue
and ſobriety: it diſpoſes the mind, at
leaſt ought to imploy it, in divine con-
templations and meditations : for, when
the body is employed in labour, the
mind, in every obſerving perſon, can-
not fail of making ſuitable reflexions
upon the conduct of divine providence
with reſpect to the various and different
turnings and ſeaſons of the year, and
the different influences upon the face
of the whole earth, ariſing therefrom.
It is true, that the conduct of di-
vine providence herein, affords to eve-
ry conſidering being, matter of admi-
ration, praiſe, and thankſgiving: but
the Ground-labourer, as he has a more
immediate and direct concern therein,
and dependence thereon, and, on that
account, is a daily obſerver thereof; ſo
ought he to draw therefrom, frequent
pious and devout meditations.
As this employment is very labori-
ous, without admitting any part of time
to be waſted in indolence and idleneſs
and, as it naturally diſpoſes the mind
towards.
i
COUNTRY-FARMER, &c. 149
towards a life of innocence, virtue, and
piety: if the perſon imployed therein,
Thalí
, notwithſtanding of, and in oppo-
ſition to, all theſe advantages, live im-
piouſly and viciouſly ; muſt argue to be
in him more than an ordinary wicked
and perverſe temper.
The followers after this employ-
ment are liable to ſome peculiar faults
and failings, which more particularly
are to be guarded againſt: for inſtance,
the profits thence ariſing, as they de-
pend much upon the weather through-
out the whole different ſeaſons of the
year ; hence it is, that the Huſband-
man is apt to repine at ſuch weather,
as he imagines to be croſs to the fruit-
fulneſs of the ground of his poſſeffion ;
which cannot miſs of being very offen-
five to God Almighty, on whoſe provi-
dence the various turns and ſeaſons of
the year do entirely depend; and
therefore, in his providence, he ought
to place his truſt,' and to its diſpenſa-
tions chearfully ſubmit; which if done,
our gracious God will not fail of ma-
king good his promiſe, in preſerving
and continuing with us our ſeaſons,
N 3
and
150
ADVICE TO THE
and giving us both the former and lat-
ter rains.
It is juſtly obſerved, upon the ſup-
poſition that it was in our power to have
the weather and ſeaſons according to
our wiſh, that the earth would be much
leſs fruitful; ſo various is the nature
and quality of grounds, that, what
would be ſeaſonable and proper for
one kind, would be deſtructive to o-
thers; and, in vain is it to be expected,
that, in the common courſe of provi-
dence, God ſhould accommodate the ſea-
fon more to one particular ground than
to another ; but it pleaſes him, in his
great mercy and wiſdom, for ordinary ſo
to order the ſeaſons of the year, as to
make them anſwerable to the wants
and neceffities of his creatures : for,
he it is, that provides for both man and
beaſt.
FAITHFULNESS and honeſty, in all
human affairs and tranſactions, is indiſ-
penſably neceffary: and as the Farmer,
in the courſe of his buſineſs, has fre-
quent occaſions of dealing with others,
with reſpect both to buying and ſelling;
fo, in the whole of it, juſtice, honeſty,
and
COUNTRY-FARMER, &C 156
2
I.
and ingenuity ought to be the ſtandard
rule and meaſure of his conduct, by
guarding againſt lying, cheating, and
fallhood of any kind; with refpect to
his landlord, his duty is, with care and
induſtry, to cultivate, manure, and im-
prove the ground, with a view, not
only to his own private and proper in-
tereſt, but alſo to his maſter's profit, by
bettering of the ground.
It is his intereſt, as well as duty, to
make yearly payment of his rent, to
take care that no deficiency thereof do
proceed from his lack of induſtry, much
leſs from a profuſe extravagant way.
of
living, by habituating himſelf to tippling
and drinking, or other fuperfluity of
life : but if he is rendered unable to
make payment of his tack duty, by any
croſs accident and providence, ſuch as,
by ſterility of the ground, occaſioned by
unfavourable ſeaſons, by ſhaking or
rotting of the fruits, by the death of
beſtial, or ſuch like misfortunes; it
would be cruelty in the landlord, in
that caſe, not to have patience, by re-
fuſing a forbearance till ſuch time, as,
by ſucceeding and more favourable
ſeaſons,
d
+
552
ADVICE TO THE
fe.fons, the Tenent may recover his
preceeding loſs, and thereby be put in
condition of paying up his bypaſt ar-
rears; tho', at the ſame time, there
may be ſuch circumſtances in the
caſé às ſhould diſpoſe the master to give
his
poor
Tenent fome abatement : and
when the rent conſiſts of grain, and
the defect of payment occaſioned as
above-ſaid; he is a hard and cruel
maſter that refuſes boll for boll in a
more plentiful crop:
WHEN any of the forefaid misfor-
tunes falls out, it is the duty of the
Tenent with chearfulneſs to ſubmit to
the divine providence, to acknowledge
the hand of God therein, to reflect on
the paſt tenure of his life for diſcovering
the miſcarriages of it, which might
juſtly provoke 'the Divine Majeſty to
fmite with his road, and, upon the diſ-
covery, to reform and amend what has
been amifs, to-beware of all murmuring
and repining, and to put intire truſt in
God's good providence for the future ;
if he ſhall thus improve all.croſs provi-
dences, he hath reaſon to expect, that,
for the future, God, will, in his kind
providence,
COUNTRY-FARMER, &c. 153
"
1
---
providence, ſo order and direct matters
as to make them even conducive for his
temporal condition ; but for certain, will
make all his providences to contri-
bute for his ſpiritual and eternal ad-
vantage.
THE Labourers of ground make
up a conſiderable and very uſeful part
of the public and common ſociety; and
therefore a regular, dutiful, and be.
coming conduct in them is of great
confequence; which calls loudly upon
them, within their proper ſpheres, to
demean themſelves, with great circum-
fpection; to apply themſelves with all
induſtry to their laborious bufineſs
j
and, ſince all country parochial ſocieties
do moſtly conſiſt of them and their fa-
milies, therefore both their family and
perſonal conduct ſhould be blameleſs,
and in the fear of God; and, becauſe
of the relation and nigh connexion
there is amongſt themſelves, they
ought to live in great love, friendſhip,
and good will, by giving their mutual
aſſiſtance to one another, and carefully.
avoiding all occaſions of injury, ſtrife,
and contention; and, when any contro-
verly
154
ADVICE TO THE
verſy or miſunderſtanding of any kind
ariſes betwixt two or more, thoſe un-
concerned in the queſtion ought to in-
terpoſe, with their good offices, for
bringing about an agreement.
What is here ſaid and offered in ad-
vice to the Ground-labourer, is appli-
cable and intended to all others, who
labour under them, be they Subtenants,
Cottaries, or others, whoſe daily la-
bours are employed in the fields, and
about cultivating of the ground: but,
alas! the generality of this kind of
people for ordinary run into one of two
extremes ; either by employing both
body and mind conſtantly about their
daily labours, to the total neglect of
their fouls and future ſtate, neglecting
the neceſſary means of their ſpiritual
knowledge ; eſpecially in their younger
years, the learning to read, by which
means, they, all their time, live in
groſs ignorance; in the total neglect of
their daily devotions and duty to God,
as if the daily and conſtant labour of the
body was inconſiſtent with ſpiritual
exerciſes, which, as hinted before, is a
great miſtake, and no interfering be-
twixt
COUNTRY-FARMER, &c. 155
twixt them; but, on the contrary, the
one may be helpful to the other; and,
while the body is employed about la-
bour, the mind and heart is at freedom
to be employed about heavenly and di-
vine objects.
OTHERS there are, who, in the con-
(trary extreme, live both in neglect
of their duty to God, and of the
duties of their particular vocation, by
conſuming their time in idleneſs and
indolence, perhaps in tippling and
drinking; and, thereby running them-
ſelves in debt and under difficulties,
are tempted, for their relief, to betake
themſelves to unlawful ſhifts, ſuch as
ſtealing, cheating, and defrauding their
neighbour ; from whence ariſes ſtrife
and contention, maligning, envying,
and backbiting amongſt themſelves, and
many other evils, to the great ſcandal
of their holy profeſſion and chriſti-
anity.
ADVICE
1
156
ADVICE TO THE
ADVICE to the MILITARY,
both Officers and ſoldiers.
re-
IT
T is much to be regreted, that there
ſhould be any need in the world for
this employment: but, ſo long as men
are under ſubjection and government to
their unruly paffions, as pride, ambi-
tion, covetouſneſs, reſentment,
venge, and ſuch like finful lufts and ir-
regular affections; the employment will
continue to be neceſſary: and the law-
fulneſs of it appears from John the
Baptiſt his anſwer to the Soidier, who
aſking him what he ſhould do, the
Baptiſt replyed, that he ſhould be con-
tented with his wages, and do violence
to no man; whereas, if the occupa-
tion had been unlawful, the reply had
without doubt ſaid ſo, and the Baptiſt
would have adviſed him to quit it, and
to betake himſelf to ſome other.
BUT, tho' in itſelf lawful, yet, for or-
dinary the employment is greatly abuſed,
and the men of it, of all others, the
moſt-idle and uſeleſs part of the ſociety:
and,
3
MILITARY, &c.
157
and, which is worſe, the moſt pro-
fane, impious, and moſt profligate
ſet of men; tho', from the nature of
their calling, whereby they are ex-
poſed, particularly in a ſtate of war,
daily to dangers, to ſudden and unex-
pected deaths, they are loudly called
upon to live more regularly and better
than their neighbours, keeping death
always in their view, as if every day was
to be their laſt.
But, alas ! do we not ſee our Soldi-
ery, on the contrary, out-do all others
in a flagitious wicked life ; yea, to con-
tinue therein, when death looks on them
in the face, and they in the midſt of
dangers, when perhaps they are about
the engaging with the enemy, or with
fome fortreſs belonging to him ?
It may be thought almoſt needleſs
to uſe motives and arguments againſt
ſuch an inconſiſtent courſe of life, ſo
repugnant to human reaſon and reflexi-
on; but experience tells us, that reaſon
and reflexion are not ſtrong enough to
diſſuade them from it: therefore, in
my advice to them, I ſhall briefly touch
at the more ordinary vices that moſt
O
apparently
158
ADVICE TO THE
apparently predomine in the Army; at
the moſt probable cauſes of them, and
the moſt proper means and remedies to
be made uſe of againſt them.
The moſt common vices are curſing
and ſwearing, drunkenneſs and intempe-
rance, whoredom and uncleanneſs; to
which may be added, open profaneneſs
and contempt of all religion; which
vices are too common to both Officers
and Soldiers : and another there is
pe-
culiar to the Soldiery, at leaſt to many
of them, that is thieving and ſtealing.
As to the firſt of thoſe, curſing and
ſwearing; the chief cauſe of it, in my
opinion, proceeds not only from the
want of thought, but from a very wrong
and perverſe way of thinking in ſome,
as if the blafpheming of God's holy
name, ſwearing by the moſt precious
blood and wounds of our Redeemer,
and ſuch like execrable oaths, and im-
precating curſes, yea, damnation to their
neighbour, was a proper and neceſſary
qualification for the Military and fine
Gentleman ; a thought-moſt ridiculous
and abſurd ! For, let it be conſidered,
for what good purpoſe can oaths and
· curſes
MILITARY, &c.
159
1
curſes ſerve, if they are uſed in ordi-
nary converſation? abſtracting from the
great offence thereby done to Almigh-
ty God, where is the need of them?
on the contrary, are they not offenſive
to all good and ſober perſons, and the
breach of the rules of good manners ?
If it is ſaid, that they add weight to
the truth ſpoken, and ſtrength to the
words, by making them to have a more
deep impreſſion; can any thing be more
ridiculous ? for, it is only - the candor
and ingenuity of the ſpeaker that gives
force and credit to what he ſpeaks ;
and his adding oaths thereto, which
are only habitual, can have no more ef-
fect than other innocent bywords and
phraſes that are accuſtomed by others.
THIS evil is oftentimes contracted
from the example of others, it being
of an infectious nature; and it ſeldom
fails, but the perſon who is daily con-
verſant with thoſe addicted thereto, e-
ſcapes the infection : I therefore adviſe
every one, ſo far as he can, to fliun the
company and converſation of tlie ſwear-
er ; and when that cannot be done, as
amongſt the Military it cannot be eva-
02
ded,
l
16
ADVICE TO THE
ded, that then they would be much up-
on their guard againſt the poiſon of
it, by not only ſhowing their diſlike, and
abhorrence of it, but alſo by giving fea-
ſonable reproof and advice againſt it ;
by which means, as they might keep
themſelves free from it, ſo by degrees
they may prove the happy inſtruments
of reforming others addicted to it : for,
with reſpect to this, it is, as to all other
evil habits, that nothing would tend
more towards the reformation of the
guilty, than to ſee themſelves ſhunned
on account, of their evil practices; which
would readily bring them both under
ſhame and conviction of their guilt :
whereas, when they ſee themſelves ca-
reſſed, and ſuffered, without frown and
rebuke, to go on in their wicked cour-
ſes, yea, perhaps, made patterns, of for
imitation, this hardens them in their
wickedneſs, and makes them glory in
their ſhame.
This abominable fin of curſing, is
become, in this evil and degenerate age,
not only common, but faſhionable ; not
only amongſt the Military, but amongſt
people of all ranks and conditions :
though
MILITARY, &c.
161
1
1
though, by all, it muſt be acknowledg-
ed, that it is highly offenſive to God,
and an open violation of one of his po-
ſitive and expreſs precepts; and it is no
ſmall aggravation of the evil of it, that
it is contracted and practiſed, without
the leaſt temptation to it; either from
profit, pleaſure, or other gratification :
whereas, moſt of all other fins are back-
ed and preſſed upon us, with ſome one
temptation or other, of profit or plea-
fure ; but the fin of ſwearing is void of
any ſuch plea, and the commiffion of it
may be juſtly looked on, as an open af-
front, and contempt of the Divine Ma-
jeſty and Authority: let” me therefore
moſt earneſtly recommend it to the
Military, and to all others, to guard a-
gainſt it, eſpecially in their younger
years ; for if they once give way to it,
and contract a habit of it, it is one to a
thouſand if thereafter they get free of
it; and, few inſtances there are, where
the habitual fwearer is ever reformed.
DRUNKENNESS and intemperance is
another predominant evil amongſt the
Military; and, alas, is become a raging
evil amongſt all other ranks and con-
ditions
:
}
O 3
162
ADVICE TO THE
-..
ditions of men ! yea, even ſome of the
other ſex are not free of it! My de-
ſign here is not ſo much to paint out,
and deſcribe the evil of this abominable
practice, and the many bad conſequen-
ces that do attend it ; but rather to point
out the common and ordinary cauſe of
it, and the proper remedy for removing
and preventing it: it may indeed be cal-
led the mother almoſt of all other evils,
particularly of thoſe others here men-
tioned ; and how can it be otherways,
ſince by drunkenneſs reaſon is loſt, the
Spirits and paſſions are inflamed, and
the Spirit and grace of God provoked
to leave and ſeparate from us? Is it then
to be wondered at, to ſee the perſon,
while drunk, capable and bent upon
all extravagancies and impieties; and
from thence do commonly ariſe quar-
rellings and fightings, to the loſs of the
lives of many.
The moſt ordinary cauſe of it, I
take to be the idleneſs of the Soldier's
life, who, having no project in view,
lays afide all other buſineſs and kind of
occupation, fits down contented with
his daily pay, by which means the great-
eft
MILITARY, &C. 163
eſt part of his time lies heavy upon him,
that he knows not how to employ it,
whereby heisexpoſed, and readily yields
to all temptations, and runs headleſsly
and gradually into many ſinful and vici-
ous habits ; amongſt others, into that
of drunkenneſs and intemperance.
The proper cure then of this evil,
is, that both Officer and Soldier ſhould
apply to ſome other proper vocation and
buſineſs of life, belides their Military
employment, which is not conſtant, but
occaſional, and noways inconſiſtent with
employments of other kinds ; for in-
ftance, What hinders the Officer from
purſuing the buſineſs of a country life
like other Gentlemen, be it huſband-
ry, or ſuch like country amuſements ?
what hinders him, by ſtudy and read-
ing, from improving his mind, and ca-
pacitating himſelf, ſo as to be uſeful in
his generation; and to the ſociety.where-
of he is a member? yea, for that pur-
poſe, he has more time to beſtow than
many others have.
What hinders the
Soldier, when not on duty, to betake
himſelf to fome honeſt labour, which
he will never want the opportunity of
doing
+
164
ADVICE TO THE
doing, eſpecially when in garriſon, if
he is willing, diligent and faithful, to
him who employs him; and even, in
the time of encamping, both Officer
and Soldier, if willing, will find out
ſome proper buſineſs to be employed
in, either with their hands or heads,
as ſúits beſt to their ſeveral capacities
and circumſtances : my advice then to
both is, that, for avoiding idleneſs, they
will, beſides their Military buſineſs, ap-
ply themſelves according to their re-
ſpective capacities, to ſome one or other
uſefut labour or employment; and good
it was, if, in time of peace, as is the
practice of ſome countries, the Govern-
ment would contrive fome uſeful public
work for the Army's employment !
WHOREDOM and uncleanneſs is an-
other prevalent vice in the Army, and,
in a great meaſure proceeds from intem-
perance and idleneſs; therefore, the
cure of theſe may, by the bleſſing of
Ged, prove the means of remedying
this.
As marriage, by divine appointment,
is the moſt proper remedy againſt un-
cleanneſs; to reſtrain the Soldier from
the
i
1
MILITARY,
, &c.
165
the uſe of that lawful*mean; is, in my
opinion, moſt oppreſſive and illegal;
but after entering into that ſtate of life,
the conjugal duties are equally binding
upon them, as on all others: though it
is too common a practice amongſt them,
occaſioned by their frequent removings
from place to place, to be married to
ſeveral wives, at once; a practice ſo hate-
ful and impious, that it is much to be
regreted and wondered at, it ſhould be
acted and heard of in a chriſtian coun-
try! therefore, when any is guilty of
it, it is the duty of the Officer, who
hath authority and command over hirn,
to turn him with diſgrace out of ſervice,
and to put him into the hands of the
civil magiſtrate, to be puniſhed accor-
ding to the demerit of his crime.
The reaſon given for putting the Sol-
dier under reſtraint from marrying, is,
that, after getting wife and children, he
becomes leſs fit for Military ſervice, and.
brings upon
corps he belongs to, an
embarralment and burden; beſides, his
unconſtant reſidence and moveable fi-
tuation, makes the marriage ſtate incon-
venient: but this is no argument; for,
according
the corps
foi
166 ADVICE TO THE
according to it, many others may be
debarred froin it, ſuch as the ſeafaring
man, and all others, who, in place of
following out their buſineſs in a fixed
reſidence, are obliged to purſue after
it, in many different and diſtant places.
What hinders the Soldier to ſet down
his wife and children in ſome particular
and convenient place, there to remain,
while he is called on to march from
place to place, in a tranſient way, and
until he arrives at the place deſtined to
be his quarters for ſome time, and there
to bring his wife and family to him?
tranſportation eaſy; and, if both huf-
band and wife act their ſeveral parts
aright, by applying themſelves to fome
honeſt labour and induſtry, they cannot
fail, with the aid of the huſband's pay,
to make proviſion for their family ;
yea, in that reſpect, they are in better
caſe than the poor labouring man, who,
for the fubfiftence of himſelf and fa-
mily, has nothing elſe to depend on
but his daily labour.
OPEN profaneneſs and contempt of
religion is another common vice in the
Army
1
MILITARY, &c. 167
1
Army, and of all ranks amongſt them;
which in a great meaſure,
a great meaſure, proceeds:
from their neglect of duty and devo-
tion to God: and therefore, for their
reformation herein, let me adviſe both
Officer and Soldier, to practiſe and be
obſerving of all commanded religious
duties; without which it may be ſaid to
be next to an impoſſibility for any to
be preſerved from a profane and im-
pious life, and contempt of God and
all religion ; for inſtance, if daily de-
votions and prayers to God be neglected,
is it any wonder that God is provoked
to withdraw from us his grace and Spi-
rit, which, without ſuing earneſtly for
it, can never be expected ; by which
means, being left to ourſelves, and the
dictates of corrupt nature, is it any won-
der? yea, muſt we not in conſequence
fall into the groffeſt of impieties and pro-
faneneſs; juſt ſo, with reſpect to the pu-
blic duties of God's worthip and fer-
vice, if they are neglecied ; as is, alas,
the common fault of the Military ! as
may be obſerved on Sabbath days, and
other days appointed for public worn in;
how
168
ADVICE TO THE
how few of that order of men are to
be ſeen in our worſhipping aſſemblies ?
ONE great mean of reforming the
Army would be, for the Officers firſt to
reform themſelves, and, by their exam-
ple and authority, to endeavour a re-
formation of the Soldiery. On this
head, let me call upon the Officers-of
all ranks to conſider the
great
influence
their own perſonal life and walk has
upon all under their command and au-
thority: if their life be looſe, vicious,
and profane, it ſpreads, like a conta-
gious diſtemper, amongſt all under
their influence and authority; on the
contrary, if it be regular and virtuous,
it cannot well miſs to be copied after,
by all having dependance upon them,
as the moſt probable means of obtain-
ing their favour: for in all orders and
focieties of men, particularly of the
Army, virtue and vice flouriſhes or
abates according as the one or other is
practiſed and countenanced by the ſu-
periors of the order. Beſides, every
Officer, of whatſoever rank, is to con-
ſider and look upon all under his imme-
diate command as a part of his family,
entruſted
MILITARY, 30. 169
entruſted to his care ; and that there-
fore it is his duty to have a particular care
and inſpection over them, as much as
it is the duty of a maſter of a family to
overſee and ſuperintend the conduct and
lives of his children and ſervants; for
inſtance, the Captain and his Subal-
terns, in their reſpective ſtations, ought
to examine into the lives and manners of
the whole of their Company; and upon
finding out any of them to be guilty of
any of the above-mentioned vices, or of
other crimes and immoralities, to en-
deavour their r formation, by counſel
and advice, by reproof or correction ;
and, when called upon to attend public
worſhip on Sundays or other ſtated days,
for that purpoſe, to ſee that all of thein,
not on duty, do give attendance on them:
and, what is here ſaid of the Captain, will
apply to all Officers of the higheſt ranks.
Ir is both wiſely and chriſtianly or-
dered, that to every Regiment a Chap-
lain is appointed, and a regular pay is
allowed him for attending on it; but
no care is taken for obliging him to
give attendance: and, upon the matter,
and in practice, it is become a firiec re
P
and
5
3
170
ADVICE TO THE
i
and a nominal office. It were a good
thing for the Government to rectify this
abuſe, and to withdraw from the Chap-
lain his daily pay according to the num-
ber of his abſent days, without a ne-
ceſſary reaſon and excuſe; and the
commanding Officer of the Regiment is
greatly to be blamed if he fees not to
the Chaplain's faithful diſcharge of his
duty: and the Chaplain who neglects
it, as he muſt account to God Almigh-
ty for it; I would have him to conſider,
that the Regiment he ſerves in is his
peculiar congregation; and he no leſs
obliged to the faithful diſcharge of all
paſtoral duties unto them, than the pa-
rochial paſtor is to all within his pariſh;
and therefore, in duty and conſcience,
he ought to take all pains in inſtructing
of the ignorant, by catechifing and o-
therways, in frequently viſiting and ex-
horting, if not every one individually,
by Companies, at ſtated times and
places; and theſe appointments, it is
the duty of the Officers to oblige the
Soldiers to keep. The Chaplain is
moreover to viſit the ſick, to aſſiſt them
with his ghoſtly and good counſel and
prayers ;
MILITARY, &C.
171
prayers; he ought, on ſtated days for
prayer, to have them all, not on duty,
conveened in ſome proper place for
morning and evening prayers ; and, on
Sundays and other holy days, to
aſſemble them for preaching to them,
reading and explaining fome portion of
the Holy Scriptures, and for joining
with them in public prayers and praiſes :
theſe and the other parts of the miniſte-
rial ſacred function being painfully per-
formed amongſt them, which is the
Chaplain's bounden duty to do, might,
by God's bleffing, prove the effectual
means of reforming our Army, and of
keeping up virtue, good order, and
a fenfe of duty and religion amongſt
them.
The only remaining vice before
mentioned, not as yet noticed, is that
of theft and ſtealing, which is too com-
mon a practice amongſt the Soldiery,
occaſioned chiefly jfrom their idleneſs
and debauchery ; for by giving them-
ſelves up to the firſt, and by their ex-
travagancies of life, particularly
. drunk-
enneſs, they run themſelves into ſtraits,
by which means their pay is not ſuffi-
cient
:
·
P 2
172
ADVICE TO THE
cient for their ſupport and ſubſiſtance ;
conſequently they are brought under
the temptation, either of ſtealing from
others, or of contracting debts for their
neceſſary ſubſiſtance, without any in-
tention of paying them back, and per-
haps without being in condition ever to
do it, which is nothing better than theft
itſelf.
The remedy here, next to a labo-
rious and regular life in themſelves, lies
at the Officer's door, to ſee that their
way of life be temperate and induſtri-
ous; and when it is otherwiſe, and
they guilty of injuring their neighbours
by theft, or getting from them credit
which they are unable to diſcharge,
to puniſh them according to their de-
merit.
To conclude this advice, let me call
upon both Officers and Soldiers, to con-
ſider the many dangers they are expoſed
to beyond what others are ; and, though
the time of life here is to every one pre-
carious and uncertain, yet to them it is
much more fo, from the many hazards
and ſudden accidents that attend their
employment: and therefore, as they
love
1
MARINERS, &C..
1773"
love their ſouls, and have regard to
their future happineſs ; let every one of
them be prevailed with, ſo to live and
demean themſelves, that he may be al-
ways prepared and in readineſs to meet
death, however ſudden it may happen
to them.
ADVICE to the MARINER,
and Seafaring Man.
و
NAVIGATION is the neceſſary
means of keeping up a corre-
ſpondence amongſt all the different
countries and nations of the world ;
and of ſupplying every one of them
with all the neceſſary commodities and
conveniencies of life : for, in the wif-
dom of Divine Providence, it is ſo or-
dered, that not any one country, with-
in itſelf, is provided with all that is
neceſſary ; but, what is wanting in it,
muſt be fought for, and got from an-
other, in exchange, and by ſending to
that other a part of its own produce,
which that other wants and stands in
need of; ſo that the whole are mutu-
ally
RO
P 3
174
ADVICE TO THE
ally aiding and aſſiſting to one another ;
in the ſame manner as different pro-
vinces of the ſame country, are mutual-
ly communicative of their ſeveral pro-
duces to one another.
The Mariner, in the courſe and na-
ture of his employment, has daily oc-
caſions of obſerving and admiring, in
a particular manner, the wonderful
works of God's providence ; for his
wonders are eſpecially ſeen in the depth;
in the various turns and changes upon
the face of the waters, occaſioned by
the frequent tempeſts and calms that
alternately ſucceed one another : and,
as the Mariner is oftentimes expoſed to
great dangers, ſo he is frequently de-
livered out of them, in a wonderful
and ſurpriſing manner.
All theſe things, methinks, ſhould
be prevailing motives for perſuading
and obliging him to a more circum-
ſpect and religious life than others : but
experience teaches us that it is far o-
therways ; and that for ordinary, Ma-
riners do live after a more diffolute and
debauched way
than
many
others do.
THE
1
!
MARINERS, &C.
1975
?
The reaſon of this may perhaps be,
that Seafaring men, while on their voy-
ages, are removed from the uſual di-
vine ordinances and public aſſemblies,
appointed for public worſhip and ſervice;
by which means they contract a total
neglect and forgetfulneſs of the duties.
of religious worſhip; and the fenſe and
impreſſion thereof gradually wears out
of their mind : for a remedy of this,
I would adviſe the Mariner, while at
ſea, to be the more obſerving of his
ſecret devotions, morning and evening,
and other ſtated times of every day;
and to have always alongſt with him
his Bible, with ſome other
proper
books
of piety and devotion, for his uſing and
reading on them, as he has time and
leiſure, which for ordinary he has abun-
dance to ſpare ; and, when any of the
Ship's crew cannot read, it would be
an excellent good practice for the Ma-
fter of the ſhip by himſelf, and when
he cannot attend upon it, by ſome o-
ther to read unto them. On this head,
let me recommend to all Maſters of
ſhips, while plying their voyages, to
bring daily together their whole crew,
Y
1
as
176 ADVICE TO THE
as circumſtances will allow of, in order
to put up their prayers to God for mercy
and his kind providence, which daily,
in a particular manner, they ſtand in
need of.
If they were thus mindful of their
duty and devotions to God, when at
ſea, it might prove the means of pre-
venting their lewdneſs and debauche-
ries upon their arrival to land, which
is too common amongit them ; yea, fre-
quently, after an immediate deliverance
from dangerous ſtorms and tempeſts,
which is the height of impiety and un-
thankfulneſs.
And therefore, after their arrival to
land, it is their great duty to return
their thanks to God Almighty, for their
preſervation at ſea, and their ſafe arri-
val: but, alas! it is much to be regre-
ted, that, no ſooner is their foot on the
ſhoar, but they give themſelves up to
all manner of lewdneſs and debauchery,
particularly to that of whoring and
drinking ; which perhaps may proceed
from faving of their money; while at
ſea, their purſes are full ; and, when
at land, they give themſelves to idle-
1
neſs ;
---
MARINERS, &c.
177
for a
neſs'; which, as it expoſes them to ma-
ny temptations, fo it is the ſource and
{pring of great and many evils. For
advice here, I muſt recommend to them
to conſider, that the wages they earn
at ſea, though not paid for ſome time,
ought to be preſerved and laid
up
fund of their own and family's ſubfiſt-
ence, if they have any, eſpecially for
the time of their being out of employ-
ment; for the buſineſs of the Mariner
is not conſtant, but occaſional : then,
when they are at land, betwixt voyages,
or at harbour in courſe of a voyage ;
let me adviſe them to fhun idleneſs, by
applying themſelves to ſome honeſt la
bour and induſtry, which they can-
not fail the occaſion of, if they be wil-
ling; yea oftentimes in their voyages
and at the havens they are brought to,
they are preſented with opportunities
of ſome profitable traffick.
ALL Maſters of thips and Mariners,
as they are obliged, in the courſe of
their buſineſs, strictly to obſerve all
laws that are enacted with reſpect both
to trade and navigation ; ſo they ought:
to be very careful, that they take not:
aboard
378 ADVICE vic
TO THE
aboard of their ſhips, any contraband
and prohibited goods; and that they
make a full and open entry of the whole,
without ſuffering the merchant proprie-
tor to ſteal out and run any part, much
leſs are they to take out falſe clearances,
for covering the intended frauds of mer-
chants : and, when they are called upon
to make faith
upon their cargoes and
clearances, they are to make great con-
ſcience of ſwearing nothing but the
truth, without ſuppreſſing any part of
it, much leſs of ſwearing to a falfhood.
It is much to be regreted, that, a-
mongſt Maſters of ſhips and Mariners,
it ſhould be a practice too common in
this country, that, out of favour to their
own intereſts, and intereſts of their mer-
chants employers, they, when put up-
on oath in making their entries, or when
their ſhips, before breaking of bulk, are
upon ſuſpicion apprehended and ſeized,
for covering and concealing their frauds
and fraudulent intentions, ſhould ſwear
to fallhoods ; yea, from the frequency
of this abominable practice, in the opi-
nion of many of them, a cuſtom-houſe
oath, as it is called, goes for nothing,
and,
1
MARINÉRS, &c.
179
1
Ch
and, whether true or falſe, is a matter
indifferent: but, let them here confider,
that heinous and groſs fin of perjury,
the nature of which does not confiſt in
the way and manner, or before whom,
the oath is emitted, or in what matter;
but the effence of the crime confifts
in calling upon God, and appealing to
him as a witneſs to the truth of what
they ſwear ; and therefore they are e-
qually guilty of the fin of perjury, as
if they perjured themſelves in the moſt
ſolemn judicial manner; neither is the
fin varied from the conſequences follow-
ing it, whether thereby the injury be
done to a private party, or the public :
I then earneſtly adviſe them to be on
their guard againſt ſo great wickedneſs,
and not to ſuffer themſelves to be tempt-
ed to it for the ſake of any profit or
gain to themſelves or others.
There is another ſet of Mariners,
who in their employment, differ from
the former ; theſe are they who are em-
ployed in our ſhips of war, for man-
ning and navigating them, who, for the
moſt part, may be ranked amongſt the
lewdeſt
5
y
*
180
ADVICE TO THE
lewdeſt and moſt impious of men for
open profaneneſs; being for ordinary de-
ftitute of all fear of God, of all ſenſe,
as well as the practice of religion ; gi-
ving themſelves up to all manner of vi-
ces and wickedneſs, ſuch as ſwearing
and blafpheming, drunkenneſs and in-
temperance, and when on land, to
whoredom and uncleanneſs: to them
I add, beſides what I have ſaid to the
former, that they would conſider the
many dangers they are daily expo'ed to,
not only from ſtorms and tempeſts, but
from enemies they may meet with, and
the many other perils and ſudden deaths
to which they are expoſed, by chan-
ging of climates, long continuance at
fea, and unwholſome coaſtings and ſta-
tions; which are ſo many motives and
arguments to prevail with them to live
a regular, virtuous, and pious life, that
they may be always in readineſs to en-
counter the greateſt dangers, and even
death itſelf.
On this head, I muſt call upon all
Captains, Commanders, and other offi-
cers in theſe ahips, to have a particular
care and overſight over all within them,
and
MARINERS, &C. 181
}
1
and under their command; to look up-
on them as of their family, and under
their truſt; therefore to ſee, that, when
they are aboard and at ſea, good order,
rules of morality and chriſtianity, be ob-
ſerved by them ; for that end, to have
divine worſhip .daily, particularly on
Sundays, and other ſtated days, per-
förmed amongſt them, as in a family,
or parochial congregation : and, for gi-
ving force to their orders, authority, and
commands, tò give good example to
them; and, when the Government is at
the charge of providing to the ſhip a
Chaplain, it is his bounden duty to attend
his charge, and faithfully to perform
all the parts of the paſtoral function un-
'to them, by catechizing and inſtructing
them, by reading, praying, and preach-
ing' unto them, and by uſing all other
means within his power, for inſtructing
the ignorant, convincing them that are
hardened, and reforming theſe that are
vicious and wicked.
In like manner, when they come to
land, and are kept together in one bo-
dy, the like care is to be taken of them,
both
Q
1
2.82
ADVICE TO THE
both by Officers and Chaplain ; parti-
cularly that -they. be employed about
ſome honeſt labour and induſtry, that
from idleneſs, they may not be tempt-
ed to run themſelves into drunkenneſs
and other debaucheries.
THERE is a third ſort of Mariners,
which is a reproach upon human na-
ture that any ſuch ſhould be, namely
Pyrates and Sea-robbers, to whom any
advice would be needleſs ; for it is im-
poſſible, I think, that any who be-
lieve in God, or in a future ſtate, would
betake themſelves to ſuch an employ-
ment. The only advice to be here
given is, that all the civil powers on
earth ſhould unite in one for ſup-
preſſing and extirpating theſe Sea-rob-
bers, if no means of reforming them
can be found out; but, even amongſt
the chriſtian powers, ſome ſuch thing is
tolerated and authoriſed, when in a
ſtate of war, one againſt another, by
letters of pyracy, impowering the ſhips
provided with them; yea fitting out
Îhips for that very purpoſe, to prey up-
on and make capture of the merchant
Thips
HUSBAND AND WIFE. 183
ſhips belonging to the ſubjects of the
enemy: which, in my opinion, is a
moſt unchriſtian practice, and cannot
be juſtified by the laws of war. It is
true, if the one does it, the other, by
way of repriſal, muſt do the like but
it was to be wiſhed, that the practice
was condemned by all nations, and a-
greed to be forever demoliſhed; for
by the ſame reaſon, the ſubject of the
one, if found travelling through the
country of the other, about any lawful
buſineſs or for travelling's fake, might:
be apprehended, captivated, and plun-
dered.
1
ADVICE to HUSBAND and WIFE..
THE conjugal ſociety, as it is the
moſt ancient of any, ſo it gives
riſe to, and is the origin of all others :
from the nature of it, the union be-,
twixt the two is the moſt ſtrong and
the cloſeſt of all others; and, as the word
of God expreſſes it, they two become one
fleſh: that is to ſay, though formerly
Q 2
they
1
184 ADVICE TO THE
-
they were two ſeparate and diſtinct bo-
dies, and conſequently juſtly liable to
ſeparate and different views, tempers,
and intereſts; yet, by the conjugal union,
that difference is ternoved, and both
united in one and the fame.
It is true, that, in point of govern-
ment and adminiſtration of their united
and common concerns, the Huſband
is the head; but by no means dcth this
entitle him to make uſe of his power
and authority in an arbitrary manner :
. on the contrary, he is called upon, and
ſtrongly obliged, to exerce it for the mu-
tual comfort and good of both.
For as, in the natural body, the
head, which is the principal and go-
verning member of the whole, muſt
rule and govern towards the well being
and comfort of all the reſt; fo, in this
united body, the Huſband, who is the
head, muſt not abuſe his authority by cre-
ating uneaſineſs and diſquiet to his Wife;
but direct his power and government
towards the comfort and ſatisfaction of
her, and the other members of their
family
How
1
HUSBAND AND WIFE. 185
How unaccountable a thing is it,
tho' too common, to fee a Huſband,
in place of uſing the lawful means, by
his labour and induſtry, to provide for
himſelf and family: to ſee him, I ſay,
acting the very reverſe, by ſquande-
ring away the proper funds of their
fubſiſtence, in conſuming them per-
haps on gratifying of his own luxury,
on eating, drinking, or ſome one ex-
travagancy and ſenſual pleaſure of one
kind or other; reducing thereby the poor
Wife and children to great ſtraits and
want of neceſſaries !
It is chiefly incumbent on the Huf-
band to be careful in the uſe of all law-
ful means to provide for himſelf and
family; therefore not to indulge himſelf
in indolence and idleneſs, but according
to his circumſtances and ſituation in the
world: if they are narrow, then to ap-
ply himſelf to ſome honeft employment
and buſineſs of life; if they are opulent,
to huſband well his rents and incomes,
not for ſupporting his luxury or any o-
ther extravagancy of life, but thereup-
on to live frugally and virtuouſly: hav-
ing it always in view, that he is only a
Q 3
ſteward
186
ADVICE TO THE
ſteward of them, and will be brought
to account for his ſtewardſhip; and in
a particular manner he is to be reckoned
a ſteward only for the behoof and
common benefit of his Wife and fa-
mily.
THE Huſband is to avoid all finful
and vicious habits, to ſubdue and go-
vern his paſſions according to the rules
of reaſon and religion ; for, if he is a
ſlave to any one, it cannot miſs of being
the cauſe of much diſquiet and diſtur-
bance within the family : for inſtance,
if he is given to intemperance, What
uneaſineſs inuft it create to the Wife
of his boſom, to ſee her Huſband with
drunkenneſs frequently deprived of his
reaſon; and thereby liable and expoſed
to all the evils and miſchiefs that are
concomitant with, and ſubſequent upon
that vicious habit! If he is a flave to
paſſion, What family diſturbances muſt
thereupon enfue in place of that tran-
quillity and peace, fo deſirable in a fa-
mily, without which there can be no
comfort within doors, nothing but
fcoldings and quarrellings, and ſuch
like fruits of anger and fury !
IT
HUSBAND AND WIFE.. 187
0
A
It is no lels incumbent on the Wife.
to follow the above direction, in ab-
ſtaining from all viajous habits of what
kind ſoever, and to Itudy to be miſtreſs
of her paſſions ; to adviſe her to tem-
perance, may be thought very needleſs,
fince it is not to be ſuppoſed that a Wife
ſhould be ſo far. abandoned as to give
herſelf
up to any intemperance; but
experience teaches us, that there are .
even inſtances of that kind, to the
great reproach of the ſex; the indecen-
cy, as well as the immorality of ſuch an
evil is ſo obvious and ſelf-evident, that
it is more to be wondered-at, than it is
neceſſary to deſcribe it: therefore all
I ſhall ſay to the Wife that is guilty of
it, is, to reflect, not only upon the great
fin and diſhonour thereby done to God
and our holy religion, but upon the
great diſgrace thereby brought upon
herfelf; and how inconſiſtent it is with
the duties incumbent upon her towards
her Huſband and family, and that it
cannot miſs of the effect of diverting his
affections from her, and of bringing her
under the contempt of the whole fa-
ز
milya,
THE
188
ADVICE TO THE
The Huſband and Wife, above all
things, are to be faithful to one ano-
ther in the marriage bed; for that end,
they in a particular manner, are folemn-
bound by the marriage-vow : and in-
deed, if in this reſpect they be unfaith-
ful to one another, then in conſequence,
all the comforts of the conjugal ſtate
are at an end : therefore, O Huſband !
if thou findeſt in thyſelf any inclination
towards ſuch a perfidious evil; reflect
on the great guilt of it againſt thy God,
the Wife of thy boſom, againſt thine
own family, and perhaps the family of
another; and, be perſuaded, that it will
not fail of being, in all probability, the
procuring cauſe of bringing down God's
wrath and judgments on you
and
your
family, even in this time ; but, for cer-
tain, if not repented of, his eternal
wrath and judgments in the life.. to
And thou, O. Wife! if any
ſuch perverſe inclination appears in thee;
cruſh it in its bud : make the fame re-
flexion, with this addition, that thou
art in ſome reſpect yet more guilty, in
offending againſt the modeſty which
ought to be the peculiar ornament of
thy
come.
HUSBAND AND WIFE. 189
I
thy 'ſex, and thereby impoſes on thy
Huſband and his family thy fpurious
brood.
Both Huſband and wife, in the.
whole of their conduct and behaviour,
particularly within doors, are to act a
part with a ſingle view to their mutual
comfort ; and, when the one diſcovers
in the other what is amiſs in their tem-
per, their duty is, to bear with one an-
other's infirmities and weakneſſes ; and,
by ſeaſonable advice and prudent infi-
nuations, to endeavour to rectify them.
They are, in all reſpects, to ſympathize
with one another; and, when it hap-
pens that the one is under the power of
any paſſion (fór none can plead exem-
ption therefrom), then it is the duty
and prudence of the other to act the
reverſe, by putting on the ſpirit of meek-
neſs and calmneſs ; for, if both their
paffions do at the ſame time concur,
they muſt burſt out into a flame and
fury to their great diſpeace and diſ-
quiet.
. In fine, the great means of enabling
both Huſband and Wife to live up to
the relative duties, they are engaged in,
.
to
1
190
ADVICE TO THE
to one another, is, that they both live in
the fear of God; and therefore, they
are herein to be mutually aſſiſting to
one another, to unite in their endea-
vours, to promote and advance his glo-
ry, to ferve and adore him in their re-
ſpective ſtations and relations : for,
without the aid and aſſiſtance of his Spi-
rit, it is impoſſible for any to perform
the duties incumbent on him, either per-
fonal or relative; and, without his bles-
fing, no ſtate and condition of life can
be made happy and comfortable ; and,
in vain do we expect either the one or
the other, unleſs we faithfully ſerve
and obėy him in our generation ; and
therefore the concluſion of this advice
to Huſband and Wife is, to fear God
and keep his commandments..
ADVICE
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 19T
ADVICE to PARENTS and
CHILDREN.
il
THE reciprocal duties ariſing from
this relation, are ſo ſtrongly im-
printed in our natures, that it is im-
poſſible that the violation or not obſer-
vance of them can proceed from igno-
rance ; but muſt flow from the ſtrong-
eſt corruption and total depravation of
nature: yea, the unnatural Parent or
Child may be here inftructed from the
brute animals in the fields, or fowls in
the air, amongſt whom, the greateſt
care and tender affection betwixt the
old and their young offspring, while
they continue in the knowledge and
remembrance of that relation, is very
remarkable ; and is an 'evidence that
they partake in common with mankind,
of theſe natural impreſſions ; and indeed
very juſtly, from their conduct, they
throw reproach upon all unnatural Pa-
rents and Children.
How ſoon Parents are bleſſed with
Children, and while they are in an in-
fant-ſtate ; the care chiefly then requi-
ſite,
192
ADVICE TO THE
ſite, is, with regard to their infant and
tender bodies and conſtitutions, to have
them nouriſhed up with proper food and
aliment, which in a peculiar manner,
falls within the province of the Mother":
and, I muſt here obſerve, and deliver
as my opinion, that when the Mother's
conftitution admits of it, and that ſhe
is provided with the means of nurſing
her own child; it is her duty to do
it: for it is not to be imagined that
an hireling of a nurſe will have that
tender regard over the Child that its
own Mother will have. On this head,
I muſt, with the greateſt aſtoniſhment,
reflect upon theſe monſters of nature ; I
mean, theſe unnatural ſavages, barbarous
and inhumane Mothers, who, for co-
vering their ſhame and fin of unclean-
neſs, are tempted to deprive the fruit
of their womb of the means of life, by
either provoking of abortion, or by ne-
glecting to call for neceſſary aſſiſtance
to the birth, on purpoſe to put an end
to its life: yea, to that height of cruel-
ty has ſome Mothers been brought, that
even after bringing forth a living Child,
in ſpite, of all endeavours for prevent-
ing
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 193.
!
ing of it, they have imbrewed their
unnatural and cruel hands in the blood
and murder of their own Child; which
is an inſtance of greater cruelty and
barbarity than what the moſt favage
brute animals are capable of!
THOUGH, in their ſtate of infancy,
the greateſt part of the Parents pains
and labour, is about their bodies; yet
their better part, namely their fouls,
their ſpiritual and eterral concerns, muſt
not be neglected. The proper means
to be uſed for that purpoſe, in their in-
fant-age, are to put up frequent and
fervent prayers to God in their behalf;
which ought to be doubled, while they
are in a ſtate of incapacity of praying
for themſelves.
In the next period of their age, when
they begin to be capable of receiving
impreſſions, and of forming ideas, fo
as to be able to conceive and diſtinguiſh
between what is right and what is
wrong ; the Parents are here, and at
this time in a particular manner, to
endeavour early to impreſs their tender
ininds with juſt and true notions of
things; to inſtill in them gradually, as
R
their
!
ز
}
194
1
ADVICE TO THE
their judgment and capacity encreaſes,
the principles of all virtue, piety, and
morality, by uſing, for that end, means
proper and adapted to their capacities ;
feeding them as it were, firſt with milk,
then with meat, making it ſtronger
and ſtronger in degrees, according as
their capacities are able to comprehend
and digeſt it.
For inſtance, they are capable very
carly to be inſtructed in the knowledge
of the being of God, and that from
the daily occurrencies of life, which
cannot eſcape the obſervation of the
youngeſt, how ſoon they are endued
with any meaſure of reaſon and reflexi-
on; for, by looking above them, they
ſee the ſun, moon, and ſtars, all of
them keeping their regular courſes and
revolutions; and, by looking about them,
they ſee the curious frame of this earth,
the various events of providences to it,
and in it, ſuch as the changes and year-
ly revolution of our ſeaſons, and the
like; yea, by looking within themſelves,
they are very early capable of reflexion
and obſervation, in finding a yearly
change upon themſelves, both in their
bodies
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 195
bodies and minds, in obſerving the va-
rious turns that happen to themſelves,
fometimes fick, at other times in health:
now, as to all theſe plain and eaſy ob-
fervations, how eaſy is it to iinprove
them for this very good purpoſe, to in-
ſtill in them the impreſſion, that they
do not, nor cannot proceed from chance!
but, as they were firſt-created by a ſu-
preme and eternal Being, ſo they are
continually under the authority and go-
vernment of the fame divine Power!
and the natural concluſion from thence,
to be impreffed upon their tender minds,
is, that this God in whom we live,
move, and from whom we have our
being, is to be feared, loved, adored,
and obeyed by all his creatures.
AGAIN, how eaſy is it, early to im-
preſs them with a belief and knowledge
of their frailey and mortality, from their
daily experience and obſervation of
deaths and burials! and from thence to
bear home upon their tender minds, a
juſt contempt of this world, and of all
its pleaſures and enjoyments ! fince our
poffeffion thereof is ſo precarious and
uncertain, and of ſhort continuance:
R 2
01.
1
196 ADVICE TO THE
.
on the other hand, to bring them un-
der a deep conviction and impreſſion,
of their having within them an immor-
tal foul, diſtinguiſhing them from the
brute beaſts, and other irrational crea-
tures! and as this their foul never dies,
but lives for ever, ſo after its ſeparation
from the body, it enters into a ſtate of
eternal happineſs or miſery, according
to the lite it lives in this world, whether
a life of virtue or vice : theſe, and the
like truths, being early inculcated upon
them, might prove the means of gi-
ving them ſoon a juſt taſte and reliſh of
things, and to value them according to
their true worth and merit, by diſtin-
guiſhing betwixt what is really good
and evil, from the different ends thieſe
two extremes are attended with, the
one followed and crowned with eter-
nal rewards, the other with eternal
pains and puniſhments.
How ſoon they are capable of be-
ing inſtructed in human arts and scien-
ces, it is the great duty of Parents to
provide them with the means of ſuch
inſtruction as is beſt ſuited to their ca-
pacities, ranks, and conditions in the
world;
1
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 19%
world; but there is one part of inſtru-
ction, as it is neceſſary, ſo ſhould it be
common to all, namely to have them
learned to read, which, God be thank-
ed ! in every part of this country, there
is eaſy acceſs for obtaining.it; and the
condition of the Farents, be it never fo
low and poor, does not deprive the Chil-
dren of the means of this neceſſary in-
ſtruction, but they are always received
and made welcome to the public ſchool
of the pariſh ; and, when neceſſary,
ought to be maintained and ſupported
from the charity thereof: and indee
no greater inſtance of charity can be,
than what is laid out and beſtowed up-
on the ſouls of our poor neighbours;
and there is no better help and means
of ſpiritual knowledge than that of read-
ing.
It is of the greateſt conſequence and
benefit to Children, that will probably
continue with them during the whole
courſe of their lives, that they be early
inured and accuſtomed to the daily praa
ctice and, obſervance of their duty and
devotions to God: let me therefore here
enjoin all Parents, how ſoon their Chil-
dren
R 3
1
198
ADVICE TO THE
V
dren are in a capacity of it, to keep them
to the daily practice of morning and even-
ing prayers, and of reading every day ſome
portion of the holy Scriptures; and to put
in their hands for their frequent ſtudy,
proper books, for improving both their
knowledge in, and practice of, true pie-
ty and devotion : for, if they are once,
and ſoon, brought into a habit of fo do-
ing, it will not only become eaſy to
them, but will readily ſtick to them
during all their life; and may prove, by
the bleſſing of God, the beſt means of
moulding their tender minds into a pi-
ous and heavenly temper.
And, for attaining of the ſame end,
1, in like manner, adviſe all Parents,
early and continually to accuſtom their
Children to give attendance on the pu-
blic duties of God's ſervice and worſhip;
particularly on the Sabbath day, and
that both in the morning and afternoon
diets: and, when they attain to the capa-
city of underſtanding the nature, end,
and deſign of tħe holy ſacrament of
the Lord's ſupper, that, without delay,
they be brought to the participation
thereof; which is the more neceſſary
in
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 199
I
in this Church, where the confirma-
tion of Children in order to transfer
upon them their baptiſmal vows, en-
gaged in their name, and upon their
behalf by their Parents, is not in pra-
&tice: beſides, in my experience, I have
obſerved many inſtances, that, when
people in their youth have not been ac- ';
cuſtomed to this holy participation, the
neglect of it grows with their years,
and perhaps never do partake of it
during life, at leaſt, not till the time
of ſickneſs, and immediately before
death ; and then, how juſt is it, that
the God of all juſtice, as well as of
all mercy, ſhould deprive them of the
comforts and benefits of that holy ordi-
nance ſo deſpiſed and neglected by them,
during their whole lives, in diſobedie
ence to their Saviour's expreſs precept,
when about to die for us, commanding
all his diſciples and followers to do this
in remembrance of him!.
BEFORE I leave this head, I would
recommend it to all Parents, that ein
ther by themſelves or others, they
would ſet up in their houſes, a daily
family worſhip; which could not miſs
of
1
200
ADVICE TO THE
i
of being a great benefit to themſelves,
their Children and ſervants, and the
probable means of procuring the bleſ-
fing of God, and his mercies, both 1pi-
ritual and temporal, on their families.
How ſoon, from the natural temper
and conſtitution of Children, their
pre-
vailing paſſion does appear, which very
early may be diſcove: ed, and will ſpring
up, in fome, perhaps, haughtineſs of
fpirit, the fruits whereof are,. pride,
vanity, diſcontents, and murmurings,
revenge, malice, envy, contempt, and
undervaluing of others; in others, a
rath and haty ſpirit, froin whence pro-
ceed's wrath and rafh anger, burſting
forth into furious fallies of paſſion :
whenever, the bent of their natural in-
firinities and paſſions doth thus appear,
then the Parents are in a ſpecial man-
ner caled upon, to open to them the
evil of their predominant and prevailing
paſſion, by inculcating upon them the
miſchievous effects and conſequences
thereof, both to themſelves and others,
and to direct them into the proper
means of lubduing them.
BUT
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 201
But they are in greater danger from
evil habits than from natural paſſions;
therefore Parents are to be here very
careful, to prevent their contracting of
vicious habits and cuſtoms, ſuch as
curfing and ſwearing, lying and pro-
faneneſs of any kind ; and, as they ad-
vance in years, to guard them againſt
the habit of drunkenneſs and unclean-
nefs ; for, if once they be habituated
- to the practice of any one of theſe or
the like vices, they become hardened
under them, and will readily continue
Aaves to them, during the whole of
their lives.
As Parents are to uſe all the means
in their Power towards their Children's
right and religious education, according
to their folemn vows undertaken by
them at baptiſm ; impreſſing them ear-
ly with juſt and true notions of their
duty towards God, their neighbour,
and themſelves, in all ſtations and re-
lations of life ; inſtructing them in the
knowledge of the real good and worth
of the virtuous life ; on the contrary, of
the miſery, folly, and evil confequen-
ces that attend the life of vice and fin,
and
202
ADVICE TO THE
and that both in this life and in that to
come : ſo, among other means, that of
feaſonable correction, in the proper ſea-
fon of their age, is not to be neglect-
ed; which fome Parents, from their o-
ver indulgence towards their Children,
are very deficient in.
But, alas ! how is it to be regreted,
that Parents, for the moſt part, are
chiefly intent upon educating and bring-
ing up their Children in this view, on-
ly of having them made capable of
making the beſt thew and figure in
this world they can ! to out-do, if pof-
fible, their neighbours and equals, in
honours, riches, and worldly greatneſs !
yea, for that end, are at pains to in-
ſtruct them in all cunning arts and ar-
tifices, that, by what is called worldly
and political wiſdom, they may be able
to over-reach others, though by means
altogether inconſiſtent with religion,
true honour, and honeſty! thereby pre-
ferring their ſhort-lived and uncertain
ſtate here, to their ſouls and important
concerns of eternity!
Do we not fee daily, that Parents
of a higher rank and condition, in
place
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 203
place of inſtilling into the minds of
their Children, juſt and reaſonable re-
flexions, upon their diſtinguiſhed con-
dition, by impreſſing them with a grate-
ful ſenſe thereof, as entirely owing to
the bounty and goodneſs of God, no-
ways to any merit in them ; that they
are in reſpect of worldly goods, favour-
ed beyond the pooreſt and meaneſt of
their fellow-creatures ; that they are
given and beſtowed on them by God,
as his ſtewards, that thereby they may
employ them in his ſervice, for advan-
cing of his glory and the good of man-
kind, in ſupplying the wants of others,
and laying them out on other charitable
and pious purpoſes : I ſay, in place of
making this proper improvement of ſuch
a ſtate and condition of life, what is
more common for the Parents bleſſed
therewith, than to act the reverſe ! and
to take occaſion from their riches and
power, to breed up and educate their
Children in all inſtances of pride, vani-
ty, and luxury, in their behaviour to-
wards theſe of the poor and inferior
rank! to carry with inſolence and con-
tempt, and to keep from them at luch
a
204
ADVICE TO THE
the way
a diſtance as if they were of a differ-
ent ſpecies of mankind ! and as to the
uſe they are to make of their wealth, in
way of life, to teach them both by
precept and examples, to employ it in
high living, that they may make what
is called a figure in the world, and in-
dulge themſelves in every inſtance of
vanity and pride, by keeping of ſtate,
equipage, and other marks of worldly
pomp and grandeur ! well were it for
ſuch Children they had been born of
Parents of a low and poor condition !
On the other hand, it too frequent-
ly happens, that the poor and indigent
Parents who, in duty, and from their
worldly circumſtances, are bound, not
only for themſelves, to be contented
with their lot and condition in this
world, chearfully to ſubmit to the di-
vine will and providence, but alſo to in-
ſtruct their Children to the like con-
tentment and ſubmiffion, and to apply
themſelves to all lawful means of in-
duſtry and labour, to provide themſelves
with the neceſſary conveniencies of life,
truſting in God's providence and de-
pending on him for his bleſſing: but,
in
PARENTS AND CHILDREN.
205
in place thereof, does not daily experi-
ence ſhew us, that the Parents, in that
condition, as they are ready themſelves
to repine at their own worldly circum-
ſtances; ſo, by their example and in-
ſtruction, to impreſs their Children
with a murmuring and diſcontented fpi-
rit, becauſe they are not equal to others
in worldly enjoyments ! thereby do pro-
voke and kindle in them the ſpirit of
malice and envy, and diſpoſition of mind
to uſe all means, whether lawful or
unlawftil
, for bringing their condition
to be on a level with others !
It is the great fault of many Parents,
to beſtow their whole care and labour
in behalf of their children, upon their
concerns in this life, having no other
view in reſpect to them, than to leave
them a plentiful fortune, and great
worldly poſſeſſions, which, if they do,
they think they have diſcharged all the
Parental duties incumbent on them!
but herein they are groſsly deceived
and miſtaken ; for, would we not look
upon that Parent to be a fool and a
madman, who, in order to have the
life of his child made pleaſant and a-
S
greeable
!
206
ADVICE TO THE
greeable to him for the ſpace of a
minute, would purchaſe it at the riſk
and hazard of the Child's miſery and
want during the reſt of his whole life?
ſuch a choice, in the opinion of all rea-
fonable men, behooved to be condemn-
ed as ridiculous; but no leſs fooliſh, yea,
much more ſo is that Parent, who over-
looking the ſoul and eternal concerns of
his Child, is negligent thereof, and is
wholly intent upon his condition and
ftate in this wo:ld ; not conſidering that
the more of riches he leaves to his
Child in this world, he thereby expoſes
him the more to diverſe dangers and
temptations; and, from daily experience
we ſee, that riches left to Chiidren has
frequently proved the means of their
• ruin even in this life, when abuſed up-
on their luxury and ſenſual gratifica-
tions, and of their eternal ruin and mi-
ſery in the life to come ; for, according
to our Saviour's ſaying, It is eaſier for
a camel to paſs through the ey. of a needle,
than for a rich man to enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
It is not here meaned, that Parents
are not, by all lawful means and indu-
ſtry,
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 2017
!
ſtry, to provide for their Children, e-
ven after their death ; but, to make
that their principal and chief care abou
them, is, though too common, highly
criminal in the light of God, and a great
breach of Parental duty.
OTHER Parents there are, who are
guilty of the contrary extreme, who;
in place of laying up proviſion by in-
duſtry and labour for their Children, do
ſquander away what they have uponi
their own ſinful pleaſures, follies, and
ities, leaving their children behind
them, poor and deſtitute; thereby ex-
poſing them to all the dangers, tem-
ptations and inconveniences that are
conſequent upon ſuch a ſtate: let me
here call upon all ſuch Parents, to con-
- fider and reflect upon the great miſery
they entail and bring upon their poſteri-
ty, by ſuch a prodigal courſe of life,
whereby their memory after death is
made unfavoury and deteſtable to fu-
ture generations.
I HAVE done with this advice, after
adding one thing more ; and I have
indeed inſiſted the longer upon it, be-
cauſe of the great and important con-
ſequence
2
S 2
208
ADVICE TO THE
-
;
ſequence of it: for, one of the prin-
cipal cauſes of the great degeneracy of
the preſent age, may be well aſcribed
to the neglect of Children's education
for vice and corruption is, by that means,
handed down, as it were, from gene-
ration to generation ; whereas the in-
ſtructing and training up aright one ge-
neration of our youth, may, by the bleſ-
ſing of God, prove the means of put-
ting a ſtop to the tide of ſin and immo-
rality, and of reforming the lives and
manners of mankind ; for, till the foun-
tain is made clean and clear, it is in
vain to expect that the ſtreams flowing
from it will be pure.
To conclude then this advice, let me
beſeech all Parents, to be careful in in-
ſtructing their Children, not only by
advice and precept, but by their own
example ; which, for ordinary is a more
powerful and effectual means than the
other: for, let a Parent's counſel and
precepts be never fo found and whol-
ſome, if his own manners be not cor-
reſpondent thereto; what influence is
to be expected therefrom? for, 'may not
the Child within himſelf juſtly conclude,
that
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 209
Cameron
that the good precepts of life given him;
are all ſham and affectation, while he
fees and obferves the Parent act a part
in life ſo contrary thereto? for inſtance,
if a Parent be drunkenfome and intem-
perate, be an habitual fwearer and blaſ-
phemer, unchaft and given to unclean-
neſs, be a ſlave to his paſſions and diſ-
orderly affection, or live in the habit
of any vice whatſoever ; what reaſon
hath he to expect for ſucceſs to his ad-
vice and precepts he gives to his Chil-
dren, againſt all or any one of theſe vices
that he himfelf is addicted to ? or to be
able to perſuade them to the practice
of their contrary virtues, which he
himſelf is ſo great a ſtranger to ?
IF. a Mother ſhall ſpend her time
in vanity and folly, for inſtance, in at-
tending on public balls and plays, and
ſuch like diverſions what reaſon has
ſhe to expect, after giving to her daugh-
ters ſuch a copy of life, and carrying
them alongſt with her, or indulging
them therein ; with what reaſon, I ſay,
doth ſhe hope that they will ever devi-
ate from her ſteps, or alter ſuch an idle,
yea ſinful courſe of life? is it not there
fore
;
S 3
i
210
ADVICE TO THE.
1
fore plain, from reaſon and the nature
of the thing, that it is greatly incum-
bent on Parents to walk before their
Children in a virtuous, pious, regular,
and orderly life; as they wiſh that their
Children ſhould walk and tread in theſe
paths ? and, for a motive to perſuade all
Parents to a compliance with this my
advice, let me put them in mind, that
all the finful follies, miſcarriages, im-
moralities, and profaneneſs, that Child-
ren may, in the courſe of their life, be
guilty of, are juftly chargeable upon the
Parents who are negligent in any part
of their duty here mentioned towards
their Children.
What is here adviſed to Parents
is repeated, and may be well applied, to
all tutors, guardians, and others, who
by blood and relation, or any other tie
whatſoever, have the care and overſight
of the education and bringing up of
orphan Children.
The reciprocal duties of Children to
Parents, are ſo ſtrongly imprinted up-
on us by nature, that it is unneceſſary
to ſay much upon it; however, there
are not a few inſtances amongſt us, in
this
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 211
this corrupted age, of undutiful and un-
natural Children, whoſe conduct and
behaviour towards their Parents is ſuch,
that they may be juſtly ranked among
the monſters of nature: to all ſuch, and
to all Children in general, I will offer
theſe few conſiderations ; firſt, that from
their Parents they owe their being, are
from them, and as a part of themſelves ;
conſequently, and in the nature and
reaſon of the thing, are obliged, in the
ſtrongeſt manner, to pay all ſubjection,
reverence, love, and obedience to them:
beſides, let them conſider the tender
care had over them by their Parents,
in their infancy and nonage, while ut-
terly incapable to take care of them-
ſelves ; the greateſt toil and labour that
for ordinary is undergone by Parents, in
no other view, at leaſt chiefly, but for
the behoof and benefit of their Chil-
dren. Further, on this head, let them
reflect upon the authority given to Pa-
rents, both by God and nature, over
their children, and upon the reciprocal
ſubjection, love and obedience due by
them to that authority. Theſe, and
the like conſiderations, cannot fail of
convin-
2 1 2
ADVICE TO THE
1
convincing the moſt obdurate and
per-
verſe Children, that they owe to their
Parents all dutiful ſubjection, honour,
reſpect and reverence, love and obedi-
ence, to all their lawful commands and
injunctions.
'Tis to be remarked, that the firſt
divine command having a promiſe
of a bleſſing annexed to it, is that
which commands honour, wherein all
other duties are included, to be paid
to Parents. by their Children; froni
thence it may be juſtly inferred, that
thee Children who are undutiful in
any reſpect to their Parents, are to meet
with a curſe and judgment, contrary to
the bleſſing there promiſed to the filial
obedience.
It is the indiſpenſible duty; as well
as the intereſt of all Children, in every
ſtep and inſtance of life, to ſeek advice
and counſel from their Parents ; more
eſpecially in all their projects and af-
fairs of conſequence and importance :
and here I muſt regrete the many late
inſtances among us, of Children of both
ſexes, their having not only,. contrary
to, and without the advice and conſent
of
I
V
PARENTS AND CHILDREN.
215
of their parents, but even without their
knowledge, preſumed and ventured, in
contempt of all duty, and the laws
both divine and human, to enter and
engage
into a married ſtate, though the
moſt important ſtep and concern of life!
how can they expect God's bleſſing to
it, when gone into in a way fo offenſive
and provoking to him, fo unnatural and
undutiful to their Parents ! and it fre-
quently happens, and indeed no won-
der it is, that God Almighty, in his
juſt providence, in place of a bleſſing,
brings down a judgment and curſe upon
all ſuch unlawful marriages ; therefore,
let this deter and affrighten all Children
from being guilty thereof.
THERE is nothing can happen to
Children from their parents, will diſ-
penſe with any part of duty they are ob-
liged to perform to them : nould the
Parent treat his child with bitterneſs
and roughneſs, yea, fuppoſing, which
may be thought next to impoffible, he
withdrew from him all paternal care,
tenderneſs and affection ; yet, in that
caſe, the Child is no ways loofed from
his natural obligation of his filial duty
and
214
ADVICE TO THE
and obedience; but ought with patience
to ſubmit to his misfortune and afflicti-
on, and to endeavour, by a ſuitable be-
haviour under it, to regain the favour
of his parent; which, in all probability,
could not well miſs of having that ef-
fect.
WHATEVER be the infirmities of
the Parent ; and who is he that is free
of them.? it is the duty of Children
to bear patiently with them, and, in
place of throwing upon them the leaſt
-reproach, to cover and conceal them.
SHOULD the Parent fall under want,
and ſtraitning circumſtances, which
ſometimes happens, particularly in their
old age ; then it is the great duty of
Children to miniſter to them, by ſup-
plying their wants and neceſſities to the
utmoſt of their power by their induſtry
and labour.
In fine, let me adviſe all Children;
as an indiſpenſible duty upon them,
throughout the whole of their life, and
in every ſtep of their conduct therein,
to ſtudy to miniſter all the comfort they
ean to their Parents, whoſe comfort in
this world doth indeed chiefly depend
upon
i
PARENTS AND CHILDREN. 215
}
upon the good or bad behaviour of their
Children: when good, and according
to the rules and principles of religion
and virtue, of true honour and, mora-
lity; then, how great conſolation doth
the Parent draw from thence! yea, it
makes the whole parts of his life full
of comfort and ſweetneſs : but, on the
l other hand, when Children act the re-
verſe, by giving themſelves up to a
diſſolute, perverſe, immoral and impi-
ous life ;, what a load of affliction does
this bring upon the poor Parent ! makes
him frequently wiſh he had never be-
gotten ſuch a Child ! it brings down
his head to the grave with ſorrow !
and, whatever other comforts of life
he may be pofſeffed of, it imbitters and
diſreliſhes them all! And I earneſtly
call upon all perverſe and diſobedient
Children, frequently to read and me-
ditate
upon
what is here briefly ſuggeſt-
ed, and
grant
his bleſſing!
ز
may God
ADVICE
216
ADVICE TO THE
ADVICE to MASTERS and
SERVANTS.
THE due obſervance of all ſtation-
al and relational duties, incum-
bent on us, makes up a great and im-
portant part of the chriſtian moral and
religious life ; and the reciprocal and
mutual duties betwixt Maſter and Ser-
vant, ariſing from the relation betwixt
them, are very ſtrong and binding upon
both; and when obſerved, are of great
uſe to human ſociety.
What theſe duties are, is a thing
fo plain and obvious, that none can
pretend ignorance of them, however
much they are neglected by the gene-
rality of mankind; herein we are in-
ſtructed both by the laws of nature and
reaſon, as being united members of one
and the ſame family, the cloſeſt of all
focieties, and the original of all others;
conſequently obliged to promote the
mutual good and intereſt of one ano-
ther, and the common good of the u-
nited body : the reciprocal duties ariſing
from this relation are alſo very fully and
clearly
MASTERS AND SERVANTS: 217
clearly enjoined us by divine revelation,
particularly in the Epiſtles of the holy A-
poſtles, Paul and Peter.
On the part of the Maſter and Mif-
treſs, it is their duty to have a watch-
ful care over their Servants' lives and
practices, that, in the whole of their
conduct and behaviour, they may live,
in the firſt place, in the obſervance of
their duty to God; for that end to en
join them, in the morning and evening
of every day, to beſtow ſome time in
prayer
and devotion to God; and to o-
blige them to give conſtant attendance
upon the public duties of his ſervice and
worſhip; particularly on the Sabbath
days to attend the church and the di-
vine ordinances that are there perform-
ed; and becauſe there is no more effe-
Ctual means for keeping up a religious
good order in a family, than by calling
them together every day; and if this is
done every morning and evening, it is
ſo much the better; and when ſo aſ-
ſembled, that the Maſter of the houſe,
or ſome other in his ſtead, ſhould offer
up a morning and evening facrifice of
prayer and thankſgiving to Alınighty
T
God;
218
ADVICE TO
God; and, as time will allow, read a
portion of the holy Scriptures: by ſuch
a conſtant and daily practice, a houſe
and family becomes a little Beth-el of di-
vine ſervice and worſhip; and could
not miſs of bringing down on the fami-
ly the bleſſing of God, and make their
daily labours and induſtry to proſper.
IT frequently happens amongſt Ser-
vants, that many of them are ignorant
from the want of the neceſſary means
of inſtruction, before they enter into
ſervice.
With reſpect to ſuch, it is a duty in-
cumbent on Maſters to provide them
with all helps and means of ſpiritual in-
Struction; to them that can read, to put
into their hands proper books ſuited to
their capacity, and fit for. enlightning
their ignorant and dark minds ; parti-
cularly to enjoin the frequent ſtudy and
reading of the holy Scriptures ; ſuch as
cannot read, if they are not paſt the
time of learning, it were good to teach
them it; but, if otherwiſe, there ſhould
be one appointed to read to them, and,
in reading, to explain what is difficult
and dark to their comprehenſion.
LET
1
MASTERS AND SERVANTS, 219
$
LET no Maſter or Miſtreſs begrudge
the time that is ſpent for the fpiritual
good and benefit of their Servants' ſouls;
But conſider that they will be brought
to give account to the common Judge
and Maſter of both for their conduct
and behaviour towards their Servants;
therefore if a Servant periſhes through
the fault of the Maſter in not uſing the
means within his power for preventing it,
that Servant’s blood is juſtly chargeable
on the Maſter's head : but, alas ! daily
experience teaches us, that the greateſt
part of Maſters are chiefly and only con-
cerned to keep their Servants cloſs to
their labour and daily taſk; which if
performed, are altogether indifferent a-
bout them in every other refpect; ha-
ving no more care about them than
they have over their labouring beaſts,
as if both were equally deſtitute of ra-
tional and immortal fouls,
If a Mafter diſcovers in his Servant
any vicious practice and habit, ſuch as
curſing and ſwearing, drunkenneſs,
uncleanneſs, lying, or ſuch like wick-
edneſs; the Maſter's duty is to uſe all'
means
T 2
220
ADVICE TO
1
means in his power for reforming and
amending him, as by advice, counſel,
and reproof, and particularly by being
exemplary to him in all moral and
chriſtian virtues, and when neceſſary,
by inflicting on him ſome ſuitable pu-
niſhment, ſuch as expoſing him to
ſhame and diſgrace; which kind of
chaſtiſement I always thought much
better, either for reforming the perſon
himſelf, or for deterring others from
the like guilt, than ſtriking and beating;
which, as it is both indecent and un-
manly, ſo it is the effect only of the
Maſter's ſudden heat and paſſion, which
oftentimes is attended with very bad con-
ſequences.
If the Servant proves incorrigible in
any kind of wickedneſs, then it is the
Maſter's duty to turn him out of his
ſervice; after the example of the royal
Pſalınift, (Pfal. ci.) who would not
ſuffer any ſuch to abide in his houſe :
and indeed in ſome families, particular-
ly theſe wherein there is a multitude
of Servants, there is ſo much wicked-
neſs and impiety committed amongſt
them, as is ſufficient to bring down up-
1
on
MASTERS AND SERVANTS. 221
on the houſe God's judgment and ven-
geance
Besides the care and concern that
Maſters are to have over the ſouls of
their Servants, they alſo are to have re-
gard to their temporal comfort and hap-
pineſs; therefore to do all juſtice to
them in, paying up punctually their
wages, the withdrawing whereof, being
in God's word threatened with a curſe,
as it is indeed a great oppreſſion and
a heinous crime ; by ſuſtaining them
with ſufficiency of plain and wholſom
food, ſuch as is fit for their ſtation and
work; for to ſcrimp them in their diet,
as is the practice of ſome miferable and
penurious Maſters, is a moſt wicked
and cruel thing.
For a motive to perfuade all Maſters
and Miſtreſſes to the obſerving of theſe
and all other duties to their Servants;
let me bring under their reflexion this
conſideration, that it is only owing to
the divine goodneſs and providence that
diſtinguiſhes them from the rank of Ser-
vants, who, by nature, are equally
entitled to the good things and enjoy-
ments of this world, as are their Mar-
ters;
1
-
T3
222
ADVICE TO
j
ters; therefore that moſt excellent rule
of all juſtice and righteouſneſs ought in
a peculiar manner to hold in this caſe
namely, that all Maſters ſhould behave
and carry towards their Servants, as
they would wiſh to be treated by them,
if God in his providence had ſo ordered
it, that their different ſtates and condi-
tions had been inverted and changed.
MASTERS are not to think that their
Servants are their flaves, and to be
treated by them as ſuch, by keeping
them conſtantly to hard and ſevere toil
and labour: for as, on the one hand,
Servants are noways to be indulged in
idleneſs, but to be kept to their reſpe-
ctive labour and buſineſs allotted to
them ; ſo, on the other hand, they are
not to be made drudges of, and uſed
like to the labouring beaſts ; but with
that moderation and equality, as to al-
low them ſome part of every day, to
be employed in performing their duty
and devotion to God; beſides what is
neceſſary for their daily refreſhments,
at their meals, and their nightly refreſh-
ments by ſleep
THERE
MASTERS AND SERVANTS. 223
There is here juſt cauſe of com-
plaining of ſome Maſters, who moſt
cruelly and tyrannically treat their Ser-
vants, as if they were of a different fpe-
cies from themſelves and the reſt of
mankind ; yea, uſe them no better,
and perhaps worſe, than they do their
horſes and dogs ; which is not only in-
conſiſtent with the laws of God and
chriſtianity, but contrary to the laws of
nature and humanity ; and the Maſter
that is guilty thereof beſpeaks himſelf to
be no better than a cruel ſavage, de-
ſtitute of honour, reaſon, and huma-
nity.
The reciprocal duties of Servants to-
wards their Maſters, are ſelf-evident:
and, ſince there is no interfering be-
twixt the ſervice due by them to God,
the ſupreme Lord and Maſter, and their
earthly Maſters ; therefore the ſervice
to theſe muſt not juſtle out of their
minds the ſervice that is due to HIM :
but, on the contrary, the obſervance of
this renders them the more capable and
fucceſsful in the performance of the o-
ther.
THE
224
ADVICE TO
The ties and obligations under which
Servants are to their Maſters, are many
and ſtrong; they are bound to honeſty
and faithfulneſs, to love and affection,
to care and induſtry : and therefore,
in the whole of their deportment, as
they are to conduct themſelves by theſe
rules and principles, ſo they are to a-
void all practices that are oppoſite to
them.
Such as all diſhoneſty and unfaithful-
neſs, by ſtealth and embezzlement, ei-
ther by themſelves, or their connivance
with others, which are the contraries of
the firſt of theſe rules; all careleſſneſs
and indifferency about their Maſter's in-
tereſts and concerns, which are the op-
poſites of the ſecond ; to avoid all ſloth,
negligence, and idleneſs, which are in
direct contradict on to the third.
THERE can be no doubt of the Maſters
authority over their Servants; and, as
it is their right and privilege to com-
mand, ſo it is the duty of the other to
obey, in every thing that is lawful.
AND, as Servants are ſometimes very
capable to give advice and counſel in
matters falling within their ſpheres and
provinces,
MASTERS AND SERVANTS. 225
1
provinces, ſo it is their duty, in a ſub-
miffive and becoming manner; to aſſiſt
their Maſters with their counſel and ad-
vice; and, upon diſcovering of any
danger or loſs to their Maſters, upon
any account or occaſion whatſoever, to
acquaint them thereof, and of the cauſe
from which it proceeds, and of the
proper remedy to be taken, either for
prevention or reparation.
It is the duty of Servants, not only
to be careful of their own proper
bu-
ſineſs, but alſo to be watchful over their
fellow-fervants, that every one, with
care and diligence, may diſcharge their
reſpective offices, and all of them mu-
tually conſpire, and act their parts for
advancing the good and profit of their
Maſters and of the family : if any one
obſerves a fault and failure in another,
he, by advice or reproof, if neceſſary,
is to endeavour an amendment; and,
if his endeavours are unſucceſsful; he
is to complain and adverti e his Maſter
thereof, that he may take his meaſures
accordingly.
AMONGST the many motives and ar-
guments for perſuading Servants to the
obfervance
r
226
ADVICE TO
obſervance of all duties to their Ma-
ſters, one proceeds from gratitude; for,
as they have from them their bread and
ſubſiſtence, ſo in return they ought to
advance and promote, with the utmoſt
diligence, their Maſter's profit and be-
nefit.
SERVANTS are by no means to repine
at their ſervile condition ; but, as it is
allotted to them by God in his provi-
dence, they are to ſubmit thereto with
chearfulneſs and contentedneſs.
WHEN there are many of them in
one houſe and family, they ought to
conſider themſelves as mutually linked
to one another ; therefore to live
toge-
ther in friendſhip, love, and affection ;
to beware of envying, maligning, or
backbiting one another; more particu-
larly, to avoid all occaſions of quarrel,
ftrife, and contention, which, in its con-
ſequence, creates great diſturbance in
the family; and, when any ground of
complaint and debate ariſes amongſt or
betwixt any of them, their duty is, to
lay it before their common Maſter; as
their head and umpire, and to ſubmit
to his judgment; and it is his duty to
judge
ز
OLD 1
227
.
AND YOUNG.
judge and remove their differences e-
qually and impartially.
to
the OLD and
ADVICE
YOUNG
fince age
IT may be thought unneceſſary to of-
fer any
advice to theſe of Old age ;
itſelf ſhould be a fufficient and
powerful motive to prevail with them
to prepare for their diffolution and
leaving of this world : but, alas! does
not daily experience teach us the con-
trary ! and give us many inſtances of
perſons, who, in place of reforming,
as they grow in years, perſiſt and conti-
nue in their finful and vicious lives,
without abandoning any one vice-where-
of their decrepit age is capable! yea,
oftentimes it happens, that their cor-
ruptſinful luſts and paſſions are ſtrength-
ened and do increaſe with their years !
The worldly, covetous, and ambiti-
ous man never leaves his avarice and
thirſt after power, till he is fummoned
with the approaches of death : the
drunkard and intenperate continues in
his
228
ADVICE TO THE
his intemperance ſo long as his ſenſes
and ſenſual appetite remains with him:
the proud, malicious, and revengeful
never part with theſe their darling paſ-
ſions, till ſuch time as by fickneſs, and
thereafter by death, they die with them:
the unjuſt and oppreſſive never leave
off their injuſtice and oppreſſion, till
they are out of a capacity of injuring.
And thus they continue in doing, not-
withſtanding, by the courſe of nature,
they muſt be made certain, that within
a little time they muſt leave this world,
and make their appearance before the
tribunal of ALMIGHTY GOD, and our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the
JUDGE of all mankind; and muſt there
account for the whole of their conduct
and behaviour while in this world, and
according to the deeds done by them,
whether good or bad, receive the ir-
reverſible ſentence of eternal rewards
or puniſhments.
Let me here call upon them to con-
ſider in time, what they are a-doing;
by the courſe of nature they muſt foon
leave. this world, with all its enjoy-
ments, and enter into another, of eter-
nal
OLD AND YOUNG.
229
nal duration, to be for ever happy or
miſerable, according as they have lived
in this: ſhould not this awaken them ?
does not their eternal intereſts call loud-
ly upon them to ſequeſtrate themſelves
from this world ; to dedicate the remain-
ing part of their ſhort lives to God and
his ſervice, in a ſincere and hearty re-
pentance, for the ſins of their paſt mif-
pent life, in endeavouring after a lively
exerciſe of faith in Jeſus Chriſt, their
crucified Redeemer; that in and thro'
the merits of his death they may have
their peace made
up
with their offend-
ed God, and obtain his pardoning mer-
cy of all their ſins and miſcarriages ;
that, before their diffolution, they may
have a well-grounded hope of eternal
happineſs ?
For enforcing this advice, let me
ſuppoſe any one ſo mad and unreaſon-
able, that for a minute's pleaſure of any
kind, in this life, he ſhould choice to
enjoy it, though it was to be followed
with great pains and agonies, during the
whole of their life; would not ſuch an
one be juſtly thought to have acted the
part
of a madman, for the ſake of a mi-
U
nute's
230
ADVICE TO THE
nute's pleaſure, to ſuffer a long life of
uninterrupted pain and trouble ? but the
caſe ſuppoſed is not equal in madneſs,
when compared with the folly of the
moſt part of men, who, for the ſake of
the pleaſures of this life, and of world-
ly enjoyments, will riſk, yea are con-
tented, not only to forgoe and forfeit
eternal happineſs in the next, but, in
place thereof, are willing to endure e-
ternal torments and miſery ; but, that
the Aged ſhould continue in that fren-
zy and madneſs, when, in the courſe of
nature, their diſſolution is at hand,
muſt appear to be aſtoniſhing and great
infatuation ; and it muſt be acknowled-
ged, that there is no proportion betwixt
a minute and the longeſt life here, in
compariſon of the diſtance betwixt that
longeſt life and eternity.
It is great folly for the Youngeſt to
delay their preparation for death, in
hopes of having their life lengthened,
and of having ſufficiency of time be-
fore their hand to repent and reform ;
for the riſk they run is great, ſince dai-
ly experience teaches us, that the
Youngeſt cannot promiſe to themſelves
one
1
1
OLD AND YOUNG.
231
one minute of life, and are frequently
removed by death in their youth: but,
for the old to put off and delay their
preparation, time after time, is the height
of madneſs, and may be well called a
judicial infatuation ; yea, many there
are, who put off all ſerious thoughts a-
bout a future ſtate, or making any pre-
paration for it, till they are ſeized with
fickneſs, and on their death-bed; whoſe
ſtate and condition is, of all others, moſt
to be pitied ! let them conſider what
reaſon they have to expect mercy from
God, or his grace to repent'; or that
their death-bed repentance will be ac-
cepted of by him, againſt whom, du-
ring the whole courſe of their lives, they
have lived in open rebellion, and in
contempt of his laws and authority : be-
ſides, let them conſider, that the time
of fickneſs is the moſt unſeaſonable
time for ſuch an important work; for :
then it is, that from the indiſpoſition
of the body the ſpirit is very unfit for
performing ſpiritual exerciſes; and it
ſeldom fails, but that, according to the
temper and tenor of life, ſo is the man-
ner of death; for inſtance, the man
who
U 2
232
ADVICE TO THE
who, during this whole life, has been
actuated by a worldly temper, will, in
his laſt moments, while he continues
in his reaſon, be more ſolicitous in ſet-
tling his worldly affairs, than to em-
ploy his thoughts about what is to hap-
pen about his precious ſoul that is quick-
ly to leave him, and ſeparate from the
tabernacle of the body.
As for you that are Young, be plea-
ſed to conſider, that it is of the greateſt
conſequence to you, with reſpect both
to time and eternity, that you early be-
gin upon a life of religion and virtue ;
for, by ſo doing, and inuring yourſelves
to a virtuous and religious courſe of
life, you will find both eaſe and plea-
ſure in the perſeverance of it : for, ac-
cording to the impreſſions that are ear-
ly made upon the mind, and habits that
are then contracted, does depend, in a
great meaſure, the after conduct of the
whole life: and therefore, it greatly
concerns the Young, early to accuſtom
themſelves in the practice of every thing
that is good and commendable ; on the
contrary, to ſhun and avoid every thing
that is vicious and immoral.
IN
1
OLD AND YOUNG.
233
A
ز
In the firſt place, great care is to
be taken, to impreſs your minds with
true notions and right principles of God,
religion, virtue, and morality, which
is a fundamental point for governing
aright the life and practice ; for, where
there is a looſeneſs or error in point of
principles, How is it poſſible but that
the life muſt be conformable thereto ?
and the diffolute, impious, and perverſe
lives among the Youth of this preſent
age (an evil not enough to be regreted!)
I reckon it to be owing, in a great
meaſure, to their looſe and miſtaken
principles.
The forming aright the temper and
diſpoſition of the mind, and conſequent-
ly the right government of the after
life and practice, very much depends
upon a right government in youth;
therefore, it is of the laſt conſequence,
to be very cautious and circumſpect in
that period of age : the more ſtill, that
it is attended with many dangers and
ſtrong temptations ; for then it is that
natural corruption is in full vigour, the
paſſions and affections ſtrong and ve-
hement, and, if looſe reins are given
U 3
to
234
ADVICE TO THE
A
to them, will inevitably bring them to
miſery and ruin ; for, by giving way
to their firſt aſſaults, they gradually in-
creaſe in their ſtrength; and vicious and
wrong habits are contracted, which,
without great difficulty, are never af-
terwards to be ſhaken off, but conti-
nue with them during their whole
life.
It is their great duty and intereſt,
then, while Young, to keep a ſtrict
guard and watch over themſelves ; to
reſiſt the very firſt motions and begin-
nings of corruption ; not to ſuffer them
to proceed to deeds and actions, and,
which is worſe, by repeating of them
to proceed to habits: and the beſt pre-
ſervative of their innocence is to follow
the counſel of the wiſe Solomon, to re-
member their Creator in the days of their
youth; to live in the daily practice of
devotion, and duty to God, and with
fervent and initant prayers to implore
daily for divine grace, and the aſſiſtance
of his holy Spirit to guide and conduct
them in the whole of their behaviour,
particularly to ſtrengthen them, to re-
fiſt and overcome all dangers and tem-
ptations
OLD AND YOUNG.
235
ptations from the devil, the world, and
the fleſh: to which I will add, to be
careful in the choice of their company,
by aſſociating themſelves with the good,
and ſhunning the company of the bad,
whoſe manners are of an infectious na-
ture, eſpecially for catching of the
Young.
THE
THE
CONCLUSION.
I
Shall conclude the few preceeding
Advices by calling on them to
whom they are addreſſed, and on all o-
thers, of whatever rank and condition
Providence has placed them into, to
reflect and conſider with themſelves, for
what end they were created, and ſent
into this world, and for their conduct
therein endued with reaſon and ration-
al faculties.
The very light of nature and reaſon,
as well as revelation, teaches us, that
the chief and principal buſineſs of our
ſhort life here, ſhould be to love, ſerve,
worſhip, and obey God Almighty our
Creator, Preferver, and bountiful Be-
nefactor; and, to the utmoſt of our
power, in every thing, to pleaſe him,
and to avoid the doing, or omitting to
do, what may offend him.
Let it be further conſidered, that
this life is the time of our trial and
pro-
bation ;
238 THE CONCLUSION.
bation; that we are here ſtrangers and
pilgrims, travelling a little time through
a wilderneſs, into another world, where
we are to live and remain for eternity,
and that either in a ſtate of unfpeakable
joy and felicity, or of unconceivable
torments and miſery; which great and
moft important events depend ſolely
upon our conduct and behaviour in this
life, which is our feed-time, as the o-
ther is that of our harveſt; therefore,
according as we here fow, will we reap
hereafter.
This conſideration alone, as it is a
certain truth, and profeſſedly believed
by all, methinks, ſhould be a motive
fufficient to prevail with every thinking
perſon to apply himſelf, with the ut-
moſt care and diligence, in this ſhort
and uncertain life, to live according to
the dictates and precepts of reaſon and
religion; to advance, all he can, the glo-
ry and honour of God, the good and
intereſt of religion and his generation;
and to work out, and that without de-
lay, his own ſalvation with fear and
trembling; to beſtow the chief of his
time, labour and pains, in ſecuring to
himſelf
THE CONCLUSION.
239
himſelf peace with God; and, for that
end, earneſtly to labour after an inter-
eſt in our Lord and SAVIOUR JESUS
Christ: and by thus living, as an
expectant of heaven, he may leave this
world with a well-grounded hope of
enjoying a bleſſed and happy eternity.
THERE is only one rule for conduct-
ing life here, which is common to all
forts and conditions of men, from which
no exemption or abatement is pleadable,
on account of any particular rank or
condition, in which, by God's provi-
dence, our lot is caſt, the rich, the
poor, high and low, the bond, the free,
and all others, are to live and be go-
verned by the ſame common meaſure of
wiſdom and religion, which chiefly con-
fiſts in the inward diſpoſition of heart
and mind, without having any depend-
ence upon external and outward world-
ly circumſtances : for inſtance, the poor
man, who from his low worldly cir-
cumſtances has nothing to give in cha-
rity for ſupplying the wants of the in-
digent, yet may be of a more charitable
diſpoſition than the man of riches; and,
ſo far as is within his power, may per-
form
240
THE CONCLUSION.
form all acts of charity, fympathy, good
will and friendſhip, towards his neigh-
bour; and, when in diſtreſs, will thew
him pity and compaſſion, by affording
him all the relief he can; and, when
he can do no more, will not fail to put
up
his
prayers to God in his behalf.
If we thus live in the view of eterni-
ty, is it not the height of madneſs and
of judicial infatuation, for any to prefer
time's things to theſe of eternity ; to
make choice of a ſhort life of fin and
pleaſure here, though to be followed
with everlaſting pains and miſery here-
after, rather than a life of religion and
virtue, to be rewarded with unſpeak-
able, eternal joys and felicity!
For enforcing this argument a little
further, let me ſuppoſe that it was put
in the choice of one, to enjoy for the
ſpace of one hour, yea, of a day, his
moſt darling pleaſure, but to be follow-
ed for the future with conſtant and rack-
ing pains during the courſe of a long
life; would he not be juſtly thought a
madman, that would chuſe to purchaſe
ſo ſhort a pleaſure at ſuch a price? but
the caſe ſuppoſed comes infinitely ſhort
of
THE CONCLUSION.
241
of the folly of him, who in his choice,
prefers things temporal, to theſe of e-
ternity; and who, for the enjoyment of
worldly ſenſual pleaſures, will forego,
not only joys heavenly and eternal, but,
for the ſake of theſe, will bring on him-
felf torments unconceivable and ever-
laſting :-and none can doubt, but that
the difference betwixt a minute's time,
and the longeſt life here, is nothing,
in compariſon of the immenſe difference
there is betwixt the longeſt of lives here,
and eternity.
REASON teaches us to preſs and la-
bour after things, according to their in-
trinſic worth and value ; and according-
ly we conduct ourſelves, with reſpect
to our worldly and temporal concerns :.
for inſtance, who will not toil and la-
bour, without begrudging any pains for
attaining a temporal crown; yea, for
attaining things here of a much infe-
rior value, be it of riches, honours,
eaſe, or of any other pleaſure? and do
we not ſee the generality of mankind
indefatigable in their purſuits after theſe
things ? but, alas ! how careleſs and
indifferent are the moſt part of men a-
x
bout
3
242
THE CONCLUSION.
bout the one thing needful, the more
important concerns of their immortal
fouls and eternity! let me here adviſe
all ſuch, to keep always founding in
their ears, that remarkable ſaying of
our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST,
WHAT WILL IT PROFIT THEE, O
MAN! THOUGH THOU SHOU LDST
GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE
THY SOUL? OR WHAT CANST THOU
GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR THY SOUL ?
If the diſtant view of the future e-
ternal life will not prevail, let me back
my advices with the preſent rewards
that attend the virtuous and religious
life here ; and, on the other hand,
with the immediate pains and puniſh-
ments that accompany the vicious and
finful one. What inward peace and
tranquillity of mind, which is a conti-
nual feaſt, health of body, ſoundneſs of
judgment, and free exerciſe of reaſon,
is the ſober, religious, and virtuous per-
ſon poffefſed of! whereas, the very
reverſe of theſe valuable bleſſings is the
portion of the impious and wicked :
what diſturbances, vexation, and diſ-
quiet doth our paſſions, fleſhly luſts, and
ſentual defires, when not reſtrained,
create
}
THE CONCLUSION.
243
create to ourſelves and others! whereas,
on the other hand, when ſubdued and
governed by reaſon and religion, much
peace, good order, and calmneſs of fpi-
rit from thence doth ariſe, to the great
benefit of ourſelves and of the ſociety
we belong to.
May God Almighty give his blef-
ſing to theſe Advices ! which, though
delivered in weakneſs, yet are with a
ſincere good intention.
}
F I N I S.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
3 9015 05989 1864
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