Compassionate Counsel to All Young Men, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Counsel to Young Students of the Law in London.
GOD hath made much use of honest Lawyers, as the instruments of our safety, and of the just and orderly Government of the Land.
1. They are not bred up in meer idleness and Luxury, as too many are of higher Birth, but in such diligent Study as improveth their understandings, and keepeth them from that debauchery which Idleness and fulness cherish.
2. And their Studies and Callings make it their interest, as to know, so also to maintain the Laws; and that is to maintain propriety, just Liberty and Order, and so to preserve justice and the common peace (except in Countries that have pernicious Laws) Injustice in Judges and Lawyers is like Heresie, ungodliness and persecution in Pastors of the Church; clean contrary to their very Calling and Profession; but more easily and commonly seen and hated, because it is against the well known interest of mankind. Shame therefore and common hatred of the unjust, is here a great restraint of evil.
But bad men, for all this, will do badly, and turn even the Rules of Justice to Oppression, to serve the Wills and Lusts of those that can promote them, that by them they may serve their own. Therefore that Young men, that Study the Law, may prove wise and honest, is of great importance to the common good, as well as to their own.
I. And here first I warn all such to take heed of the sins of sensuality. Alas! London doth so abound with Temptations, that without Grace and wise Resolution you are unsafe. There are so many sensual, proud, and ungodly young men ready to entice you, so many Play Houses, Taverns, and Filthy Houses to entertain you, that if you go without Grace and Wit, the Flesh and the Devil, will soon precipitate you into the slavery of brutish Flesh. And then you forfeit Gods favour and protection, and he may leave you to more sin and misery, or to grow up to be the Servants of Oppression, the Enemies of Piety, and the Plagues of the Commonwealth.
II. Study hard; for Idleness never made good Lawyers, nor very useful men.
III. Abhorre and avoid ill Company, especially of two sorts.
1. Those that would entice you to the places, and practises, aforesaid, of voluptuousness.
2. Those that being themselves deceived would deceive you, against Religion and your Salvation. Its too well known that such persons in London are not rare, though the danger by them is not known enough. Even those that are so unchristian and inhumane, as to prate against the Christian Faith, the Truth, the Authority or sufficiency of the Sacred Scripture, the Life to come, the Souls immortality, if not also against the Government and Providence of God, will yet talk as confidently, as if they were in their wits, yea and were the greatest wits among us. For my part I could never yet get one man of them soberly to joyn with me in a fair disquisition of the Truth, and follow it on till we came to see the just conclusion: Commonly they will fly from me, and refuse disputes, or turn all to some rambling rant or jest, or when they are stated, be gone and go no further, and come no more.
Young unfurnished heads are unfit to dispute with the Devil or any such Messengers of his. A Pest house is not more dangerous to you. But if they have perplexed you, desire some well studied Minister of Christ, either to meet them, or to resolve your doubts. And if you will read what I have written on that subject, you may find enough to resolve, if it be justly received, viz.
1. In my Reasons for the Christian Religion.
2. In my Vnreasonableness of Infidelity.
3. In my Life of Faith.
4. In More Reasons for the Christian Religion.
And avoid also the snares of those that would draw you into uncharitable Factions, on pretense of right Religion, to hate, or censure, or fly from all that are not just of their Sect and way; especially the proud faction of Church-Tyrants, that on pretence of Order and Piety, would set up a lifeless Image of Formality, and burn, banish, silence, or persecute all that are not for Domination, and Usurpation, and Worldly interest.
IV. Let not rising and riches be the chief end of your Studies, but to serve God in the just service of your King and Country, to promote justice, and do good in the World.
V. Live in the familiarity of the most useful men of your Profession, that is, the wise and the most conscionable; and choose those Pastors for your best helpers in Religion, who keep closest to Gods word, and warp not after any dangerous singularities, or worldly preferments, or unpeaceable tearing impositions on their Brethren; and that live as they Preach in Love, Peace and Holiness, as men that set their Hearts and Hopes on future Blessedness; and labour for the Churches Edification and Concord, and the saving mens Souls.