Advice to an Only Child, Title page – To the reader
ADVICE To an Only CHILD: OR, Excellent Council TO ALL Young Perſons.
Containing, The Summ and Subſtance of Experimental and Practical Divinity.
WRITTEN By an Eminent and Judicious Divine, for the Private Uſe of an only Child, now made Publick for the Benefit of all.
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt, at the Bible and Three Crowns, at the lower end of Cheapſide, near Mercers Chapel. 1693.
THE Epiſtle to the Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
THIS precious Pearl of ſeaſonable Advice providentially put firſt into my Hand, and now into thine, is of great worth, and the rate thereof is inhanced both from the worthineſs of the Authour, and the neceſſity of the ſubject matter, the manner of handling it, and the great End and Deſign of it: The Authour was a Maſter in Iſrael, a Star of the firſt Magnitude, firſt placed in an high elevation to influence Candidates for the Miniſtry in the Academical Orb, thence tranſlated by the Miniſterial Function into an Eccleſiaſtical Station, where he was a burning and ſhining light, till Eclipſed with the reſt of his ejected Brethren, but moved very regularly and profitably in a narrower and obſcurer Sphear, till at laſt he diſappeared to us, but ſhines bright in the Firmament of Glory: his exquiſite pains, of the Stone, with his invincible Patience and Magnanimity would make a volume: his perſonal excellencies, as a Schollar, as a Miniſter, as a Chriſtian, were beyond the vulgar rate: and 'tis pity the World is bleſſed with no more of his learned labours, poliſhed with his own hand, and ſquared by this Maſter Builder for adorning the Houſe of God: but his Modeſty concealed ſomething of what our zeal for publick good hath here preſented to the Reader in its naked dreſs as writ by his own Hand.
As for the Matter, it is thoſe [Magnalia Dei,] the Doctrine according to Godlineſs the weighty things of Law and Goſpel, Covenanting with God, the Life of Faith, of Holineſs, as in Gods preſence, acting of love to God, Chriſt, Ʋniverſal Obedience, circumſpect walking, dying daily, Repentance, delighting in God, and his Ways, thankfulneſs, Prayer, &c. you may find in this Treatiſe an excellent Encyclopoedia or Ʋniverſal Scheme of Practical Divinity: coucht in a few words, in a plain method laid before the Eyes of the intelligent Reader.
The manner of managing this uſeful tractate is pleaſant and taking, and adds a peculiar Accent and Emphaſis to it, ſuch a ſmooth ſtile, ſuch pat and proper ſimilitudes, and delightful alluſions, that it will chain the Readers Eye to proceed in reading, and may perhaps charm his affections to embrace the contents thereof:Prov. 25 11. It is as Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver, i. e. Golden Apples appearing through Net-work of Silver, or Pourtrayed on Silver Tables, very delightful, and grateful to the Eye, ſo may theſe words *Heb. on the Wheel. v. 12.fitly ſpoken be to Youth: and (as in the next verſe) as an Earing of Gold, and Ornament of fine Gold, ſo may this wiſe Reprover be upon an obedient Ear: happy is the Teacher that mixeth pleaſant and profitable.
The Deſign, (I am ſure) is high and noble, to plant Grace in young Perſons, and to breed and feed a nurſery of Plants of Renown, to ſtock the Church and World with a ſpringing up generation, in the room of old trees tranſplanted into a better ſoil; that may fill up vacancies and do God ſervice in after-times: Amongſt the reſt of Solomons ſumptuous preparations of coſtly Ornaments for his pleaſures, that was not the leaſt which he mentions, Eccleſ. 2.6. I made me pools of Water, to water therewith the Wood that bringeth forth Trees: this was an Artificial mean of nouriſhing Fruit-trees, in want of natural diſtillings of Rain from the Clouds, which ſometimes was rare and ſcant: and 'tis worth obſerving, that the word rendered [Pools] is the ſame with Bleſſing in Hebrew either becauſe in thoſe hot Countreys they were eſteemed great bleſſings,foreign Piſcina à foreign benedicit. or becauſe they were filled with Rain which is the great Bleſſing of God. Such Pools, as this ſmall Treatiſe, are ſignal Bleſſings in themſelves, may they be alſo ſeconded with the Heavenly Dew of Divine Benediction, what a Wood or Forreſt of Fruit-bearing Trees may we ſee flouriſhing in the Orchard of Gods Church? It's true Men may do ſomething, yet not all. The beſt humane cultivating bows the Trees but to an outward compliance, Divine Grace only plants them in Chriſt, and plants Grace in their Hearts.2 Kin. 12.2. 2 Chron. 24.1…, 22. The Pupil Joaſh was hopeful whileſt his Reverend Tutour Jehojada inſtructed [or beſprinkled] him, but after his Death diſcovered the rottenneſs of his hypocritical Heart. God will demonſtrate a vaſt difference, betwixt the Efficient cauſe and ſubordinate means, therefore ſome miſcarry under Religious Education: but ſome prove well, to incourage Parents and Masters in their duty: Divine Benediction with paternal instruction hath done great things. Let Abraham command his Children, God undertakes they ſhall keep the way of the Lord:Gen. 18, 19. The Rain alſo filleth the Pools ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 84 foreign. Benedictionibus amicietur Doctor, or Benedictionem dabit Legiſlator, the Eternal Majeſty will make their Pools of Water great Bleſſings to Men.
Did Parents Conſcientiouſly in ſtru… Children, they would in Gods time diſcern the Bleſſed effects thereof: Reverend Mr. Baxter thinks, Religious Education would be ſo Bleſſed by God for Converſion, that publick Miniſtry would be chiefly uſeful for Edification: Tis true, Grace comes not by Succeſſion, yet oft in Succeſſion; the Covenant is with the Godly and their Seed; and ſurely it's not an inſignificant Cypher: As God delights to run along the line of Goſpel Covenant, ſo he uſually bleſſeth his own Inſtitutions with Goſpel Grace: Let Parents do Duty, and leave their iſſue to God: Our Children have Souls as well as Bodies, both muſt be cared for, nature obligeth unto nurture, Grace regulates it, God alone makes it efficacious,Job 11, 12. Corrupt Nature leaves Children not a whit better, than a wild Aſſes Colt, an habit of Sinning makes them a wild Aſs, uſed to the Wilderneſs that ſnuffeth up the wind at her pleaſure,Jer. 2.24. in her occaſion who can turn her away? Education muſt be as guide and bridle, to teach and tame theſe frolick Youths: But alas, moſt Parents caſt the Reins in Childrens Necks, and leave them to their wanton ways, till at laſt they get the Bits between the Teeth, and kick off the Rider, and ramble in forbidden paths, till they are impounded in a Priſon, or an Halter here, and in the Dungeon of Hell hereafter: Solomon ſaith, The Rod and Reproof give Wiſdom,Prov 29.15. but a Child left to himſelf, bringeth his Mother to ſhame: Is not Crying here, better than Roaring in Eternal Torments? Even Heathen Seneca could ſay, [Diſciplina ſevera firmat ingenia, & apta reddit magnis conatibus] is it not pitty ſuch ingenious youths ſhould be loſt, for want of Inſtruction and Correction? Let Parents and Governours Tremble, leſt the Blood of Relations Souls ſhould lye at their Door, and both be Tormented for wilful neglects: Even Heathens had great care of Childrens Education, it was actionable in the Law-Courts among the Romans to neglect this, yea, if the Son was Debauched, the Father was ſued, ſince it was ſuppoſed the Sons Miſcarriage was through the Fathers Default: But that might be a miſtake: Yet God that ſees all things, and whoſe Judgment is always according to truth, will Commence a Suit againſt, and Condemn the careleſs Parent: Lord, when will Parents have as much care of their Childrens Souls as Bodies? Yea, expreſs as much tenderneſs to a Child, as to a Beaſt! You labour hard to provide for them Food and Rayment, to put them into callings, that they may live like Men in the World and are their Souls of no Worth? Is there not another World worth thinking of, looking after? Have you not many helps the Bible, Catechiſmes, good Books, Miniſters to Move, Admoniſh and inſtruct you in training up your Children? Do you not promiſe to do this for them at their Baptiſm? Could you be content to ſee a Maſtiff Dog drag away your Child, pull out his Entrals, & feed upon him, and not ſtir a foot, ſpeak a word to reſcue him? O miſerable parents! O Cruel Tygers! Worſe than Sea monſters,Lam. 4…. that draw out the Breaſts, they give ſuck to their young ones, and have not you a word to ſpeak, not a breath to breathe in Prayer, not a Hand to reach out to them, to pluck them from this Gerberus, this Dog of Hell? Oh where's Grace, yea, where is Nature! The Lord pitty theſe mercileſs Parents: For ſhame learn your Duty, and do it, and take this Book for an help.
And you that are Children, if Parents neglected their Duty, do not you neglect God and your Souls: They lookt no further than your Preferment in the World; but do you look after an Everlaſting Happineſs in the other World: Some commended Patricius, Auguſtines Father, for Educating his Son a Scholar, who became ſo Famous a Father in the Church; Alas ſaid he, my Father ſought only to make me a Rhetorician, not a Chriſtian, for he was an Heathen: But whatever your Parents Trained you up for, Law or Phyſick, or a Trade, Study Chriſtianity: If thy Parents were Carnal, Lament it, Act Faith in Chriſt, to get Guilt taken off thy Fathers Houſe, and double thy Diligence for thy own Soul, and for thy Seed: If thy Parents were godly, devoted thee to God, ſet thee a good Example, inſtructed, prayed for thee: O make much of the Covenant of Parents, plead it, embrace it, and ſee thy Heart and Life be Squared by it: Elſe thy Priviledges will be a Teſtimony againſt thee another Day: … …ſhop of Millain … that in the primitive … or white Gar… was put upon the party Baptized; and the Miniſter …, take this white and immaculate Veſtment, and ſee thou king it forth without Spot at the Judgment Seat of Chriſt: Withal, he tells of one Elpidophorus being Baptized, afterwards proving a prophane Wretch, the Miniſter produced this Garment, ſaying, This Linnen ſhall … thee at Chriſts coming, which is witneſs of thy …tacy: You young people, make a great account, that you were made Chriſtians in Baptiſm, and indeed it ſtands in good ſtead in your Infant-State, by vertue of your Parents Covenant, but being grown up, you ſtand upon your own Legs, and muſt perſonally renew your Baptiſmal Covenant, or expect no benefit by it: Baptiſm will not ſave you, without the Anſwer of a good Conſcience:1 Pet. 3.21. Tit. 3.…. The lover of Regeneration will not avail to Adult Perſons, without the renewing of the Holy Ghoſt: You muſt be born again of water, and of the Spirit, or you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God:Joh. 3.5. To which Auſtin Subſcribes, ſaying [Nihil profuit Simoni Mago viſibilis Baptiſmus cui Sanctificatio inviſibilis deſit] you know Simon Magus was in the Gall of Bitterneſs, and Bond of Iniquity,Act. 8.13.22. though he was Baptized: You are to thank God for External Priviledges, and Religious Education, they are Signal Mercies, not common to all; Bucholzer thankt God that he was Bred up under Melancthon, Mr. Whately under Mr. Dod, yea, a Plato, that he was Pupil to Socrates: But reſt not here, be not ſatisfied except the unfeigned faith dwell in thee,2 Tim 1.5. alſo that was in thy pious Aunceſtors: Mind their Godly Examples, and do not contradict them: A King of Poland was wont to carry the Picture of his Renowned Father in a …ate of God about his Neck, when he went about any notable Exploit, kiſſing it, he ſaid, God grant I may … nothing Remiſſely … of ſo … you …,Heb. 6.12. who through Faith and patience, do now inherit the promiſes, … to be …piſh, imitators of their outward Acts, but ſee you have the ſame Spirit of Faith, Love, fear of God, Repentance, and n…w Obedience: Think you hear your Dying Parents charging you, (as Mr. Bol… did his Children) that … of you dare to meet them at the great Day, without a Wedding Garment: To this … attend daily at a … Miniſtry, examine your Conſciences by the Word of God, pray much in Secret, be Humble and D…cible, Diſdain not to learn Catechiſms, watch againſt Occaſions of Sin got into, and improve Chriſtian Society, keep Conſcience void of Offence towards God and Man: Read, Meditate on, labour to and ſtand and practice Scripture Truths and Rules: Study to do all the good you can, and be uſeful in your Generation.
But I ſhall detain you no longre in the Porch, I humbly deſire you to Read and Study this enſuing Treatiſe, which though ſhort, is yet Pithy, Accurate, and Sententious, and will like a Clew, lead thee through the Labyrinths and Meanders of the World: Omit the reading of it, and thou are a loſer, read it ſlightly, and thou gaineſt no good, contradict it at thy peril, theſe Sheets will riſe up in Judgment againſt thee another Day: My earneſt Prayer ſhall follow this and other Soul-helps, that the God of all Grace would ſtamp his own Bleſſed Image on the Souls of the Riſing Generation, awake their Conſciences, inlighten their Minds, renew their Natures, ſubdue their Wills, raiſe their Affections to Heavenly Objects, that they may fill up our vacancies when our Heads are laid in the Silent Duſt; and may ſee better Ways, and have better Heads, to improve all Occurrences to better purpoſe, than we that are now going off the Stage: And thus, good Reader, I take leave, wiſhing thee much content and Advantage in peruſing this ſweet Poſy of Spiritual Flowers, gathered out of the Scripture Garden: As
That Soul-Friend, and Servant in Chriſt, O. H.