A Book for Beginners, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Advices to all Young perſons.
I. IT is of the greateſt conſequence, to begin well. And therefore at your firſt ſetting out into the World, take a ſpecial care, leſt you contract any evil habit; eſpecially of Idleneſs, the bane of Youth: and leſt you entertain any prejudices againſt things, before you be able to judge; as we ſee too many have done againſt the Common Prayers of the Church; which they abhorr they know not why, merely from an early diſguſt they took to them, before they could diſtinguiſh between good and evil.
II. And check your deſire of Pleaſure, which now above all other times will intice you: and of Novelty alſo, which is comprehended in the youthfull Luſts, as we render the words, ſpoken of in 2 Tim. II. 22. unto which mankind is ſtrangely prone in their inconſiderate age, loathing ancient forms, and craving new entertainment for their fancies.
III. Avoid Harlots, as you would the Plague: remembring the repeated cautions and admonitions, which the Wiſe man gives to his Son about this matter. Reade them ſeriouſly, II. Prov. 18, 19. V. Prov. 3, 4, 5. VII. the whole Chapter: and follow his counſels, leſt thou mourn at the laſt, when thy fleſh and thy body are conſumed, ſaying, How have I hated inſtruction, and my heart deſpiſed reproof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to them that inſtructed me?
IV. In order to Chaſtity▪ be exactly temperate in meat and drink. Drink no wine; which will adde fire to fire: ſtudy hard; or uſe your ſelves to labour, and watchings: avoid all provocations to your carnal appetite.
V. Take heed what Friendſhips you contract: for Youth is prone to familiarity, and thereby drawn eaſily into ill company.
VI. Reverence your Elders, XIX. Levit. 32. 1 Pet. V. 5, 6. particularly your Tutors and Guardians, who are in ſtead of Parents. Which Reverence is to be expreſſed not merely by your outward Behaviour, and in your Language; but in deſiring their Advice, harkening to their Counſels, enterpriſing nothing without their Direction, and ſubmitting to their Reprehenſion.
VII. In order to which, be ſober-minded, as S. Paul exhorts you II. Tit. 6. Whereby he means either Seriouſneſs, and the ſtudy of Diſcretion; or Humility and Modeſty. Which Modeſty is an exceeding great ornament of Youth; an indication alſo of a good Mind, and a hopefull bloſſom of excellent fruit; as one of the Ancients ſpeaks. But it doth not conſiſt merely in your Looks; but in your low opinion of your ſelves, ſenſe of your imprudence and weakneſs, and in a humble attention to the opinions and counſels of your Elders.
VIII. Finally, remember that Youth is like the Spring-time, which will ſoon be over; and if you onelyonly play in it, and take no care to ſow good ſeeds of Wiſedom and Piety, you will loſe the opportunity of making proviſion for a happy life.
Of this you are in great danger; becauſe there is nothing to which young men are more prone, then to ſquander away their time. Be ſerious therefore and conſiderate, that you may not be undone by the folly of Youth: which, as Solomon notes, inclines men ſo eagerly to follow their own humour in every thing, that they do not love to have any check in their mirth and jollity.
That which will check them moſt is the thoughts of the future, eſpecially the remembrance (as he there obſerves, XI. Eccles. 9.) of the account they muſt make. And therefore I conclude with that advice,
Rejoyce, O young man, in thy youth, &c. But know that for all theſe things God will bring thee into judgment.