SOLOMON, Who had a very Virtuous Education, and was Honour'd with Sin­gular Communion with God in his Youth, was inspired by the Holy Ghost (in his Infinite Love to the Souls of Men) to write this Book of Proverbs for the Instruction of Youth; as he tells us in the beginning of the Book ( Prov. 1. 4.) To teach the Young Man Knowledge and Discretion: That is, to shew them how blessed it is to be Religious betimes, and to Embrace those Principles of Wisdom and Virtue, which all that despise them in their Youth come to la­ment in their Age; crying out in the Bitterness of their Spirit at last, How have I hated Instruction, and my Heart despised Reproof! Prov. 5. 12.

WE are therefore, to Consider this Wise Prince as a Tutor to Youth in this Chapter, and we see, he begins it like a Grave Catechist to his [Page vi] [...] [Page 1] [...] [Page 2] Children; My Son, attend unto my Wisdom, and bow thine Ear to my Ʋnderstanding. (Ver. 1.) In which he intimates, That since he spake to them from the Bowels of a Father, and in the Wisdom of God, all Young Persons (however conceited of their own Wit, and addicted to their own Will, as Youth is apt to be) ought to submit, and bow their Minds and Hearts to his Divine and Fatherly Instructions. And know­ing the Unsteadiness of Youth in Virtuous Pur­poses, to Engage them more firmly herein, he shews them in the Sequel of the Chapter; to what a Deplorable Condition such Young Per­sons usually come, who slight the Counsels of their Parents and Friends; and run into those Excesses, to which their Youthful Lusts prompt them. He instances in the Lust of Ʋncleanness, and insists upon it throughout the greatest part of this Chapter; disswading young People from it, with all the Argument and Earnestness, that the Matter can be prest: Shewing, that it is a Deep Pit, in which People bury their All at once. It being a Vice that blinds the Mind, op­presses the Conscience, hardens the Heart, and gives such an Arbitrary Power to the Sensual Faculties, as over-bears all that's Good. And he tells them, that tho' the beginning of such sinful Ways seems Smooth as Oyl, and Sweet as Honey, (which is all that can be said for them) yet they appear in the End as bitter as Wormwood, and sharp as a two edged Sword; being the direct Road to Hell, and to Eternal Weeping and Wailing. For, as the poor wandring Youth [Page 3] hates Instruction, and will not bear Restraint, but counts those his Enemies who shew him his Dan­ger, and admonish him to do better, he comes at last to that dreadful Case foretold in the Text, viz. to be abandoned of God, and in a great measure forsaken of the Spirit of Light and Ʋnder­standing, and so he dies without Instruction, and in the greatness of his Folly, he goes astray. The Holy Ghost says here, it shall be so with him; intimating, that this is the usual End of such a Vicious and Profligate Youth, he comes most commonly to this Tragical Exit and Conclu­sion: Namely, to dye as wretchedly as he lived, and to go off his Stage of Vice and Vanity, in Horror and Confusion.

THIS is the dreadfulest Thing under the Sun. To die without the Knowledge of God, and his Son Jesus Christ, which is Life Eternal! to be given up to the Spirits of Darkness! and to be led Captive in their Chains, and hoodwink'd by their Delusions, 'till he comes to be involv'd and immers'd in their Torments! This is the Depth of the Misery of Man.

WHAT Parent will not find their Bowels pained, to consider this as the Case of any of their Children? You could not bear it, to see a Lion or a Bear snatch up a Child of yours in its Devouring Mouth, and carry it off as its Prey▪ You cannot bear the very Thoughts of the De­vil's Appearance in some Horrible Shape, and carrying away your Child in a Visible Manner, before your Eyes: Yet, alas! how many Parents permit the Devil (that Roaring and Devouring [Page 4] Lion, as St. Peter calls him) to seize their Chil­in a way as certain and as terrible, tho▪ not so Visible.

THEY hear their Children blaspheming God, and offending him daily, grosly and familiarly; by the suggestion of the Devil (which demon­strates them to be under his Power and Ma­nagement) yet some laugh at all this, and there are but few that are duely concern'd about it. How few are effectually awaken'd to teach their Chil­dren their Catechism and the Holy Scriptures, that they may gird them with that Sword of the Spirit, whereby they may defend themselves from the malicious Fury of Apostate Spirits? How few are concern'd to teach their Children, the Way to Eternal Bliss, thro' a Converting Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; that they may not thro' the Greatness of their Folly, and Grossness of their Ignorance go astray; and plunge themselves into the Pit of Eternal Misery?

WHERE there is this pernicious Neglect of Catechizing in Parents, and such as have the Over-sight of Youth, it is an Error which is sel­dom corrected by Sermons afterwards; because they know not the very Terms and Language of the Holy Scriptures, nor the first Rudiments and Principles of Christian Doctrine. And thus, alas! the Text comes to be dreadfully exempli­fied; They die without Instruction: They knew not the Lord and Saviour of Men in his saving Offices, and are ignorant of their own sinful and perishing Condition, and of the Terms on [Page 5] which Salvation is offer'd them; and so, they live and die in destructive Ignorance, and go astray from the Fold of the True Shepherd, and fall a Prey into the Mouth of Him, that lies in wait to devour.

THIS is, methinks, one of the most moving Cases that one can think of, and calls the loud­est for Christian Compassion; and therefore I shall further Explain it in the Following Observa­tions.

1. ALL Persons are born in a State of Igno­rance and Darkness as to Spiritual Things, be­ing without the due Knowledge of God, and having no suitable Concernment about the Things which belong to their Everlasting Hap­piness. The Text supposes, that all Young Per­sons need Instruction, and that 'tis the Dreadfulest Thing in the World to die without it.

2. Good Instruction in Youth is God's appoint­ed Means, to bring People to the saving Know­ledge of himself, and the Attainment of Salva­tion. The whole Design of this Book verifies this, and 'tis exprest in a multitude of places throughout it.

3. The Neglect of Early Instruction and good Education, is the Ruine of many a Person in both Worlds. They live viciously, and die despe­rately; they pass from the Errors and Works of Darkness, to the place of Utter and Eternal Darkness. They die without Instruction, and go astray, and perish in their Ignorance and Folly.

I. LET us in the first place Consider that which I first Observed, Namely, That all Per­sons are born in a State of Ignorance and Dark­ness, as to Spiritual Things, being without the due Knowledge of God and the Way of Salva­tion. The Text supposes, that all Young Per­sons need Instruction, and that it is the dreadfulest Thing in the World to dye without it: And consequently, that Pious Instruction is the most seasonable Blessing that can come to any one in his Youth.

'TIS well Observ'd by Zophar, one of Job's Friends (Job 11. 12.) that Man is born as the Wild Ass's Colt, utterly Rude and Unuseful, except it be brought up to Hand, by a very Early and Careful Management; and then it is of great Use and Advantage to us. And we see it plainly so in our Children. If they are left to themselves they are rude, froward, stubborn, wanton, undutiful and unmannerly. Like a ne­glected Garden, which brings forth Weeds of it self; but needs great Care and Pains to store it with useful Plants.

THERE is, Alas! a general Corruption of Humane Nature, ever since the Apostacy of our first Parents. We our selves also (saith the Apostle) were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serv­ing divers Lusts and Pleasures. (Tit. 3. 3.) 'till the Love of God his Saviour appear'd to him by Di­vine Illumination. And so it is with us all 'till the Grace of God makes us better. For God is the Father of Lights, and the Author of every good [Page 7] and perfect Gift, (Jam. 1. 17.) and we are di­rected to Ask spiritual Wisdom and Ʋnderstanding of him. (Ver. 5.)

IF any doubt of this, Let him Consider, whence it is, that such a Reasonable Creature as Man, should delight in Things so Unfit and Im­proper as all the Ways of Vice are? Whence is it, that Children need no Teacher to lead them to Lying, Pride and Stubbornness? Whereas they need much Instruction and Correction too, mingl'd with many Promises and Allurements; to bring them to that which is Good and Vertu­ous? Yea, whence is it, that all Men do not Naturally delight in God above all other Ob­jects, since He is undeniably the Best and most Excellent of Beings? These are Demonstrations of the Corruption of Man, and of the Necessity of Spiritual Regeneration by the Spirit of God; bringing him to love and delight in God, in the sincerity of his Soul, e're he can be fit for Hea­ven, and the nearer Presence of God. Our Blessed Saviour hath delivered this with a double Asseveration ( John 3. 5.) Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Except a Man be born again of Water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. The Spirit of Wisdom must clear up his Under­standing, and the Spirit of Holiness must mor­tifie his vile Affections and Passions, and turn the Bent and Vigor of his Heart towards God as his Chiefest Good; or he will not be fit for the Divine State and Work of Heaven, but will be barr'd out of it by the Nature and Consti­tution of that All Pure and God-like State.

AND this our Natural State of Spiritual Ig­norance is too gross, and too deep to be removed and remedied by the best Light that Natural Phi­losophy and Humane Art and Study can supply us withal, We need a Light from Heaven, and Wisdom from Above, to make us Wise unto Salva­tion. For, When in the Wisdom of God (saith St. Paul concerning the conceited Greek Learn­ing, which was then in great Vogue and Esteem) the World by Wisdom knew not God: That is, (I conceive); when God in his Infinite Wisdom saw, that all the Humane Wisdom and Learning in the World, would never bring them to the just and saving Knowledge of himself, as a Righ­teous God; yet pardoning and justifying a peni­tent Sinner. It then pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching, (or by that plain but powerful Preach­ing of the Gospel, which the Philosophers and Ora­tors of those times accounted foolish) to save them that believe.

MEN have indeed by the Light of Nature some Knowledge, That there is a God and a Life to come. But how imperfect this Knowledge is, we see by the many absurd Opinions and barbarous Customs of all those Heathen Countries, which are not bless'd with the Knowledge of the Gospel. They frame to themselves most unworthy notions of God, they know not how to worship or serve him aright; they have no Apprehension of the only way of being reconciled to God, by the Blood of his Son, nor of becoming Good through the Sancti­fication of this Spirit. Yea, we find some of them profess'd Votaries to the Devil, and doing Sa­crifice [Page 9] to their worst Enemy by the most un­natural Murders and Barbarities. Hence the Apostle concludes concerning the unregenerate Part of Mankind, that they Walk in the Vanity of their Minds, having their Ʋnderstanding darken­ed; being alienated from the Life of God, thro' the Ignorance that is in them, Eph. 4. 18.

WE may from all this assuredly discern, what sort of Lives such Children are like to live; who are not well Instructed, Catechized and Govern'd in their Youth. That which is born of the Flesh is flesh, saith our Blessed Saviour, (John 3. 6.) Carnal Principles will produce nothing better than a Carnal Life. So then, since Children have none but bad Principles and Inclinations of themselves; what can we ex­pect from them, but the greatest Lewdness and the blackest Impieties; except thro' the Grace of God, and the Care of others, they are bet­ter principled? Especially if we consider, How busie and crafty the Devil will always be, to prompt them to all Wickedness; whilst alas! the poor Child is utterly Ignorant of his Devices. So that a Youth without Instruction will be like a benighted Traveller, walking alone in the midst of unknown Pits and Precipices; 'tis a Thousand to one, but he falls into some of them to his utter Ruine.

BUT it is God's Will that it should be other­wise, and it should be the Care of all that love and fear God, to bring up their Children in the Knowledge and Service of their Creator, in the Days of their Youth; that they may shun the dreadful [Page 10] Case of the Text, which leads me to the Second Observation. viz.

II. THAT good Instruction in Youth is God's appointed Means, to bring People to the Sa­ving Knowledge of Himself; and the Attain­ment of Eternal Life. God is pleased to call to Young People in the beginning of this Chap­ter, to bow their Ear to Good Instruction, that they come not to the Dreadful End, foreshewn in the End of the Chapter.

INDEED, the Time of Youth is the most proper Time in Nature for good Instruction. Children are apt to catch at every Thing they hear, and to retain it, and repeat it. Their Faculties are fresh and vigorous; and they per­ceive themselves void of Knowledge, and are greedy to take Information, and soft and ca­pable of any Impression. They are also void of those Prejudices against Truth and Virtue, which they are afterwards likely to take up. And they are not now capable of such bodily Labour, as is apt to hinder their Learning in their more Adult Years. On all these Ac­counts, the Time of Youth is the fittest of any for good Instruction; and the properest Season to plant the Principles of Religion. And that chiefly, because 'tis God's Time, and must there­fore of Necessity be the fittest and best. The Commandments of God do often bind this Duty very awfully, on the Consciences both of Parents to teach their Children; and upon Chil­dren to mind the Instruction of their Parents and Tutors. Parents are required to Train up [Page 11] their Children in the Way that they should go; (Prov. 22. 6.) and Children are required to Obey their Parents in the Lord. (Eph. 6. 1.) Parents are to Bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. (Eph. 6. 4.) And Children are com­manded to Keep the Commandment of their Father, and not to forsake the Law of their Mother, (Prov. 6. 20.)

AND these Injunctions are enforced by the highest Promises and Threatnings. The Apo­stle tells us, that the Fifth Commandment is the First Commandment with Promise; That it may be well with thee, and that thou mayst live long on the Earth. (Eph. 6. 2, 3.) And on the contrary, it is threatned; That The Eye that mocketh his Father, or despiseth to obey his Mother, the Ra­vens of the Vallies shall pick it out, and the young Eagles shall cat it. (Prov. 30. 17.) And suita­bly to all this, we find the Mother and Grand­mother of Timothy, commended by the Spirit of God, for instructing their Child in the Scrip­tures; and Timothy is commended for his Pro­ficiency, suitable to his Education. As we read in St. Paul's Epistles to him.

AND be it here Observed, That if any one is not taught to Read, and to know his Catechism in his Youth; 'tis a Thousand to One, whether ever he learns either of these afterwards. The Sensless Pride of an Ignorant Person, is apt to disdain Instruction in these Things afterwards; and they are utterly ashamed, to acknowledge themselves ignorant of that, in which they perceive, many little Children able to be their Tutors. So that we cannot be too ur­gent [Page 12] with all Parents, and such as have the Management of Children, that they begin early to instruct them in the Scriptures and in their Catochisms; and that they take Care that they learn to read betimes, that they may of them­selves, Draw water out of the Wells of Salvation. For it is a most deplorable and moving Case, that God should send us a Book from Heaven, concerning our Eternal Salvation; and that any among us should say, as those ( Isa. 29. 12.) I cannot read it, for I am not learned: Tis written in unknown Characters as to me, because I was never taught to read. We many times now hear, such Ignorant Persons blaming their Pa­rents for neglecting them in their Youth; when they come to perceive the want of such Learn­ing, as they might have attained in their Youth; and tis to be feared, that too many such Pa­rents, will hear the more doleful Accusations and Curses of their wretched Children, in their Torments hereafter. Where it may probably be said by many a Person, had my Parents taught me better, I might have escaped these Everlasting Burnings. This leads me to my Third Observation. viz.

III. THAT the Neglect of Good Education and Early Instruction, is the Ruine of many a Person in both Worlds. 'They are brought up negligently▪ they live viciously, and▪ dye des­perately. This was so sadly verify'd in the Case of Eli's Sons, (1 Sam. 3.) that tis enough to terrifie every sensible Person out of such Ne­glect. His Sons were first Children of Darkness, [Page 13] then Sons of Belial, and then Sons of Perdition. And thus, alas! it usually fares with Uncor­rected, Ungovern'd and Uncatechiz'd Children; as it will further appear in the five following Particulars; which demonstrate the dismal Case of Ignorant and Undisciplin'd Youth.

(1.) THEY cannot live as Christians, if they know not the Fundamentals of the Christian Religion. A Man can act no better than his Principles dictate to him. And such as are not taught the Principles of the Christian Religion, are never like to have them. An express Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is necessary to the Sal­vation of a Christian, ( Mar. 16. 16.) He that believeth not shall be damned. But how can they Believe on him, of whom they have not heard? How can they come to know the Person, the Offices, the Covenant, the Sacraments, and the Will of our Lord and Saviour; except they learn it by the Instruction of their Parents and Friends, out of their Bibles and Catechisms? 'Tis true, the Foundation of the Sacred Morals of our Re­ligion is laid in Nature it self, and the Equity, Fit­ness and Reasonableness of them is discernable by Natural Light. For, Why of your selves judge ye not that which is right? Says our Blessed Lord, ( Luke 12. 57.) But then, the Light of Nature is so dim and faint, that it will soon be obscured and overlaid by sinful Customs; and if the Light which is in Men be darkness, how gross is that Darkness! (Mat 6. 23.) How extravagantly vicious will those Affections and Passions be, which have no Light by which they may steer; and no good Principles from [Page 14] which they may act? Such uncatechized Chil­dren, I say, cannot be good Christians; yea, they usually prove the worst of Men. For,

(2.) For want of being grounded in the Es­sentials of Christian Doctrine, they are easily misled into any Error or Heresie. It may be Observed, that there. was scarce ever any foolish Opinion started, but the vain Author found some, as vain as himself to follow him in it. As in the Case of Mahomet, Mugleton and others. And it can be nothing but Ignorance, that is the Mo­ther of such Devotion: The Ignorant catch at any thing. And hence proceed those Unhappy Divisions and Parties that are among us; which is in a great measure owing to the want of due Catechizing. The Enemy sowed Tares, whilst those were asleep, that should have sown better Grain.

(3.) These Undisciplin'd and Uncatechized Persons usually prove ill Members of the State; and the very Pest of the Neighbourhood, in which they live. One may indeed call them, the very Vermine of the Publick Body. Hence come those Swarms of idle, pilfering and purloining People, of which we hear daily Complaints, and feel the dismal Effects. Some of which are so crafty in their Devices, and so harden'd in their Wickedness, that they seem to be the very Black Guard of the Prince of Darkness; and a fruitful Nursery of a sort of People, which fill the Goals and load the Gallows. A very sad, but a very great Truth.

(4.) These Untaught and Uneducated People are they, who chiefly bring a Reproach on our [Page 15] Religion, and the Church of Christ amongst us. They live like Infidels in a Christian Land: And many of them being bred up to no Employment at Home, are forc'd by their Necessities to seek their Bread▪ abroad; and so they carry our Shame, together with their Villanies, into Forreign Parts. And many Forreigners take up a Prejudice against our Nation, and against our Religion, by what they see and suffer from these Profligates; which has proved a great Bar to the Progress of the Christian Religion.

(5.) THAT which is yet the most dreadful Thought of all, is, That the God that made them will reject them at the last. They are a People of no Ʋnderstanding (saith the Prophet Isaiah) therefore he that made them will not have Mercy upon them, and he that formed them will shew them no Favour. (Isa. 27. 11.) They bear the Image and Superscription of their Father, the Prince of Darkness; and will be adjudged to him by the just Judgment of him, In whom there is no Darkness at all. They have long lived in De­fiance and Enmity to him, that came to be the Light and Life of the World; they hated the Light of the Gospel, and the Guidance of his Holy Spi­rit; they have pleased themselves with the Delu­sions of the Devil, and therefore they fall a Prey to him; as Apostates from their Creator: And as they loved Darkness more than Light, they must inevitably take their Portion in Eternal Darkness: For, They die without Instruction, and go astray from God, and his Beatifick Presence.

O Dreadful End, of such as are neglected▪ in [Page 16] reformed! Enough to create Horror in every Soul that considers it. Who is there, that has any thing of the Spirit of Christ in him, that would not think a great part of his Care, Pains and Estate well laid out, if he may but be Instrumen­tal to save some few; yea, but one single Person, from this Eternal Ruine? And that I may en­cline every one that hears me, to take this mo­ving and mournful Case into Consideration, I now come to apply what has been said.

SINCE the Case of gross Ignorance is thus dreadful and deplorable, We may see,

Infer. 1. To how Divine and Blessed a State the Holy Gospel of our Lord tends to lead us! It comes to retrieve us from the destructive Dark­ness of Sin and Satan; to knock off the Fetters of the Prince of Darkness, who had led us Captive at his Will; and to translate us to the Light and Liberty of the Sons of God. We may better spare the Light of the Sun, than that of the Gos­pel; for this is the Light of our Souls, and the Foundation of our Hope, and the Dawning of Everlasting Light. Here we have perfect Truth, infinite Mercy, safe Directions, and strong Con­solations. We may challenge all the Philosophy that ever appear'd in the Word, to give us so much Divinity, as we can view in one Chapter of the New Testament; and we are sure that all the Riches of the whole World are not of such Value, as one of the Promises of that Blessed Book. O that it were more frequently in our Hands, more deep in our Hearts, and more le­gible in our Lives.

Infer. 2. SINCE the Case of gross Ignorance is thus dreadful, what a constraining Argument is this to all Parents and Governours of Youth; to be very Early, very Conscientious and Industri­ous in Catechizing and Instructing their Children. One would think, that it were enough to drive Parents to Distraction, to think of any dying Child of theirs, as going to Eternal Misery, for want of due Instruction. If any Parents should starve their Children, by denying them necessary Food when they have Plenty of it by them; the whole Neighbourhood would cry Shame on such a dete­stable Barbarity, and count them worthy of Death for it: And surely the Destruction of an Immortal Soul, will one Day appear as hateful and as Criminal. So that the Ease of their own Minds and Consciences, ought to quicken Parents to this Duty; and besides, they cannot reasonably expect any Comfort in their Children, nor Duty from them, if they be not well instructed. We must carefully cultivate and manure our Fields, if we would reap a comfortable Hanvest; other­wise they will produce nothing but Weeds and Thorns to offend and wound us.

Infer. 3. SINCE the Case of gross Ignorance and the want of Education is thus pernicious; What greater Charity can we shew to Humane Nature, than to contribute towards the Instructi­on of those; who will otherwise very probably die without it? Solomon tells us, that Instruction is rather to be chosen then Silver, and Knowledge rather than choice Gold, (Prov. 8. 10.) From which it fol­lows, [Page 18] That such as educate their Children well are greater Friends to them than such as leave them a Temporal Estate. For indeed, an Estate bequeathed to such, as have neither Knowledge to use it well, nor Principles to do good with it; is like a Sword in the Hand of a Madman, with which he will be likely to do much harm to him­self and others. Whereas on the other Hand, Good Manners and Christian Behaviour recom­mends the meanest Person to all that know him; and that Good Providence which orders all things, will not leave them destitute of outward Necessa­ries, Who seek the Kingdom of God in the first place. (Mat. 6. 33.)

I cannot therefore, without Praise to God, turn my Eyes towards those many Children before us; who at once adorn the House of God, and shew forth the Honour of those Persons, by whose Care and Charity they are brought to Christian Educa­tion. Praised be God, who put so worthy a De­sign into the Minds of Men, and who has enlarged the Hearts of any to contribute generously to­wards it. This gives us some Hopes of the Con­tinuance of God's Mercies to us, especially that Mercy of Mercies his Holy Gospel. We hope, the next Generation will prize it more, and practise it better than this has done; That it may be well with them, and with their Children.

THIS should prompt us, yea, bring us under a sort of Necessity; to put forth our selves to the utmost to advance the Good Education of Chil­dren, and to promote Christian Knowledge in all others that want it; which we may do these three Ways.

First, BY personal Conference: Taking Pains to instruct those Children, and other Ignorant People, with whom we converse, in the Know­ledge of the Great Things of God's Law; and es­pecially in those practical and necessary Truths, in which the Essentials of our Holy Religion consist. Christians are to be as Salt, to all that keep Com­pany with them, to season them with the Savour of Christian Doctrine. This does indeed, prin­cipally concern Ministers, who are to be Burning and Shining Lights in their Generation; whose particular Visits to the Houses of their People, and personal Enquiry into their State and Man­ner of Life; is of very great Use to the Advance­ment of Religion in Families, and to excite that Christian Affection to their Minister; which will make his Instructions the more effectual upon them.

Secondly, ANOTHER Way of advancing Spi­ritual Instruction is, by giving and dispersing good Books abroad in the World, especially to poor Families. This may in some Cases do more good than personal Discourse, in that a good Book abides with the Person to whom it's given; and will lye before his Eyes at all Seasons, and per­haps some Affliction or some other good Provi­dence, may be a means to awaken and soften his Heart; and make it fit to receive Instruction, and to prize a Book of Devotion. And blessed be God, we have many Honourable and Reverend Per­sons happily engaged in this Excellent Work; which we must acknowledge to be one of the [Page 20] best of Charities. And in this, those that are Wealthy will do well to consider, the Deplorable Case of our Plantations; in which most Christian Work, a very Pious and Re­verend Dr. Bray. Person has adventured his All, with a sort of Apostolick Charity to the Souls of Men. In this Noble Design, all that really love our Blessed Saviour and his Gospel, cannot but pray to God to prosper him. Surely 'tis time for such as love the Kingdom of God, and repeat the Se­cond Petition of the Lord's Prayer, ( Thy King­dom come) to set themselves in good earnest, to retrench the Encroachments of the Prince of Dark­ness.

Thirdly, WE may be instrumental to promote the Instruction of others, by contributing, ac­cording to our Ability, towards the maintainance of poor Children at School; who may otherwise, thro' the Poverty of their Parents, be too likely to Dye without Instruction. And blessed be God, who hath so far enclined the Hearts of many Per­sons to consider this; that there are now in and about this City, about a Thousand poor Children taught to read, and instructed in their Catechisms; and brought up to other Things, which tend to make them useful in their Generation; thro' the Christian Charity of Well-disposed Persons. A most Excellent Work, towards which, all that duely know the Gospel, cannot but be Glad to contribute, that they may share the in vast Blessings that attend it.

I am confident I need not tell you, that Chri­stian Charity is necessary to a Christian Life; since [Page 21] the Apostle tells us, that all our other Works tho' never so splendid, will avail us nothing without Cha­rity (1 Cor. 13.). And indeed, there are so many Commands in the Gospel which require it, and so many Promises which enforce it, that we must quit our Christian Faith if we renounce this Christian Grace.

SUPPOSING therefore, that your Christian Breasts glow with Charitable Affections and Dis­positions; you have only two Things to look to in the Exercise of your Charity: Namely, First, That you give to a good Design: And, Secondly, That you deliver it to such Hands, as will faith­fully employ it according to your Intention.

1. AS to the First, Contribution towards the Teaching of Children to read, and to the In­structing them in the Principles of Religion and Virtue; is one of the most Extensive, Good De­sings, that we can readily think of. For In­stance,

(1.) YOU'LL hereby prevent much Wicked­ness in the World. You'll be likely to bring those Lips to praise God, who might otherwise blas­pheme his Holy Name. You may hereby diminish, and we hope in the Progress of it, thin the King­dom of Satan, and increase and greaten the Num­ber of the Flock of Christ.

(2.) HEREBY, you take the likeliest Way to make the meaner sort of People useful in their Generation. Such as perhaps might otherwise have robb'd or injur'd you, may thro' Christian Instruction become a faithful Servant to you, or an useful Artist by you, or an honest Neighbour [Page 22] near You: Yea, perhaps out of those little Nur­series of Virtue and Good Manners, there may arise some Eminent Citizens, who may themselves be able to relieve others, and to be Benefactors to that place which was so careful of them, and bountiful to them in their Feeble and Helpless State.

(3.) HEREBY, You administer to them in the best sort of Gifts. You become Eyes to the Blind, Knowledge to the Ignorant, Wisdom to the Foolish; and perhaps Salvation to such as might otherwise have perish'd without Instruction. When we see a poor neglected Child groveling in a Dunghill, begging in the Streets, or wal­lowing in Wickedness: Let us Consider, that this poor Creature has an Immortal Soul as well as we; yea, perhaps he has good Natural Parts, and if he were but well Educated, he might be of Great Use in his Generation. However, we are sure he has a Soul for which Christ died; and might share in the infinite Glories of Hea­ven, if due Care were taken of him. O! how can any Christian Bowels but yearn over such a Melting Object?

IT was a particular Case very like to this, that moved the present Divinity-Professor of Halle in Saxony, Dr. Franken; to compassionate the Ignorance of poor People, and by his Exhor­tations and Interest to procure the Erecting of a Colledge, for the Maintainance and Instruction of about a hundred poor Children. But I must pass on to what remains.

(4.) AS by this Charity, you'll have many Prayers put up to Heaven for you; so what­ever [Page 23] Good they are brought to do thro' this their Virtuous Education, will in a great mea­sure redound to your Account. For, Such as turn many to Righteousness, will shine as the Stars for Ever and Ever. (Dan. 12. 3.)

2. THIS clears the First Point, Namely, The Goodness of the Design. And now as to the Second, Namely, Your being sure that what you give, is faithfully disposed of according to your Charitable Intention. Your own Eyes see it, in those Comely Classes of Youth before You; and your Ears have heard the Proof of their Instruction, in the principal Doctrines of our Holy Religion. In which they give a good Example to other Youth, in the Exactness and Audibleness of their Answers, in their devout Behaviour, and their Melodious Singing of Psalms; in which, I pray God incline all our Children to follow them.

AND this minds me of an Act of Charity, in which Every One may contribute towards the Advancement of these Christian Designs; Namely, In Hearty Prayer for God's Blessing upon them. In this, the poorest Person that is, may be a Benefactor. And Oh! May we all be Earnest in Prayer to God, that it may please him to Fill the Earth with the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, as the Waters cover the Sea. That, as in the Sea, there is no Gap or Discontinu­ance of the Expanded Waters; so there may be no Ignorance of Christian Doctrine upon Earth; and so, no Ground whereon to Erect the Kingdom of Darkness. But that All Peo­ple [Page 24] may know the Lord from the least to the greatest; from the Child that is coming into the World, to the Old Man that is going out of it; that so, none may incur the Dread­ful Doom of the Text; that is, To dye with­out Instruction; and go astray from God and his Kingdom. Which God Almighty grant for the Sake of Jesus Christ, who died to Turn us from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God.

Amen.