Words to Give to the Young Man Knowledge and Discretion, Title page – To the reader

Words to Give to the Young Man Knowledge and Discretion · Title page – To the reader

foreign VVORDS To give to the Young-man KNOWLEDG AND DISCRETION.

OR, The Law of Kindneſs in the Tongue of a Father to his Son.

By Francis Fuller, M. A.

foreign.

Vox audita perit,

Litera ſcripta manet.

Prov. 13. 1. A wiſe Son heareth his Father's Inſtruction.

London, Printed by J. P. for Obed Smith, Bookſeller in Daventry in Northamptonſhire. 1685.

To my SON.

Dear Son,

A Little while ſince we parted with our Dear Sam, never to ſee each other more until the glorious Day of the Reſurrection. Thoſe ſmart Expreſſions that frequently drop'd from him (beyond any that I ever yet knew of his Age) were no ſmall joy to me while he liv'd, in hope that he might have been eminently uſeful when grown up to Years, and ſhapen'd by Education, and will make him live to me, tho dead, without carrying any of his Aſhes about me (as Iphicrates did of his dead Son) to perpetuate his Memory. I hope you will not eaſily forget him who was (as you uſually ſaid) ſo lovely in your Eye, and ſo much beloved by you, much leſs his latter end; (there was that in it worthy of your remembrance) and leaſt of all your own Death, ſo much confirm'd by his; he came laſt into the World, but is firſt gone out; as of the two Diſciples that ran to the Sepulchre, the youngeſt came there firſt, but the other followed after him.

I made an Epiſtle Dedicatory long before he died, that contained ſomething relating to you both; but ſhould I publiſh it, it might appear as great a miſtake in the exceſs to dedicate an Epiſtle to two Sons, when but one is living, as that of Apollonius was in the defect, when he ſaluted Decimus by the name of Quintus, and to my ſelf an act of Cruelty, Mezentius-like, thus to tye the Living to the Dead; therefore have reſolved not to do it.

The time of my Continuance in this World cannot be long, yours may be longer, but it is beſt not to think ſo; and therefore do all the good you can. Theſe following Directions are given in order to it, and may, if diligently obſerv'd, aſſiſt you in it.

I would not be as a Mercury's Statue, to direct only, and not move; nor as the Crab in the Fable, that advis'd her young ones to go forward, whilſt ſhe her ſelf went backward; therefore deſire to carry them about me, with Antoninus foreignhis Title things, for my ſelf, and to be a Practicer of what to you I am an Inſtructer; that I may ſay to you, as Gideon to his Souldiers, Look on me, and do likewiſe: and hope that will reach Indè paſco, undè paſcor, Inde tibi appono undè ego nivo.your Heart that comes from the Heart of

Bath, December 8. 1682. Your Affectionate Father, Francis Fuller.

TO

Inhabitants in the City of Briſtol, and near to it.

CHildren are Parents in a new Edition, and who but they ſhould endeavour to prevent the Errata, and who (under God) better may, being always with them in their Minority, and having a Power over them.

They are parts of themſelves, therefore ſhould be as much concern'd for their Welfare as for their own.

They are committed to their care, and they as Truſtees thereby oblig'd, not only to reſtore them upon demand, but better than when receiv'd.

They are begot in their own ſinful likeneſs, and derive that from them which inclines and diſpoſes them to all Evil; therefore it ought to be matter of their Sorrow, that it is ſo, and no leſs of their care (ſo far as they can) to prevent it: Did they behold the filth on their Souls that they bring with them into the World, they would ſee as much cauſe for Sorrow as Joy, and more to mourn over them, while dead in Si… than when dead in Nature: a… would they conſider how far they have been inſtrumental to it, they would ſee as much reaſon to prevent the miſery that attends it.

Had they contributed nothing to it, yet the hazard and danger of their periſhing being great, as great fear ſhould poſſeſs them, leſt they ſhould periſh, and as great care that they may not.

The Heathens knew nothing of this; yet many of them made it their firſt and principal care, to provide Inſtructers for their Children in Principles of Learning, and Rules of Life, wiſely preventing Nature by their Diſcipline, accompanying their increaſe of Years with a growth of Vertue, that they might become men, and good together: and what a ſhame will it be if the Pagan World afford better Parents and Children than the Chriſtian.

What at firſt was principally deſign'd for the good of my Children (viz. my two Sons born in Briſtol) is now dedicated to you for the uſe of yours; that I judg'd neceſſary as oblig'd by Duty, and this not improper ſince ye are all in a married ſtate, and have Children. It was calculated for my Meridian, but will ſerve yours: and that it may, is the ſincere deſire of

Your Obliged Friend and Servant, F. Fuller.

TO THE READER.

SOlomon ſays, Fools hate Inſtruction; viz. not natural, but moral Fools, (for, Fools in Solomon's Dialect are the Wicked in David's) They, through Impotency, cannot receive it; theſe, through Obſtinacy, will not. To want Inſtruction is a miſery; to reject it, a ſin; to neglect it, is the ſin of Parents; not to receive it, the ſin of Children; they by inſtructing, ſecure themſelves; and no leſs theſe, by harkening to it. Happy thoſe Parents whoſe Hearts are ſo far turned to their Children as to do it; but more happy, whoſe Childrens hearts are ſo far turn'd to God as to receive it. If this ſhall contribute any thing to either, it will then be as much the Joy, as it is now the Deſire of

Your Friend, F. F.