how late is it before they begin to inftruct them in the Holy Profeffion they have chofen for them, and whatever elfe is taught, this is taught them very fparingly, and only by the by, at fpare times a little, when they have nothing else to do. The Main is ftill to make them good Plowmen, or Cunning Tradefmen, or well-bred Gentlemen, or to furnish their Heads with fuch Learning as may fit them for fome of the Learned Profeffions; and these things they endeavour to bring them in Love with, by fuch Motives and Arguments as are all drawn from the Things of this VVorld, which therefore they muft firft teach to love, and have an high Efteem for: They make them first fond of Honour and Greatnefs, or of Riches and Plenty, or of the Pleasures of a Gentleman's Life, and then they perfuade them for the fake of these to undergo the Pains and Trouble of Learning. But how few labour firft, to bring them in Love with God, and the Joys of Heaven, and the Excellency and Divine Pleafures of a vertuous and religious Life; and perfuade them above all things to learn perfectly the Things of God, and the way of ferving him. If they be at all instructed in thefe Things, it is only at fome few odd times, and that which fhould be their main Bufinefs, and taught them before, and with all other Things, which it is fit to teach them, is only taught them now and then a little, as if it were the leaft Concernment of their Lives. How little Care do young People take, when they come to have fome Understanding of the Obligations they are under to live Religioufly, to improve themselves in the Knowledge and Practice of the Things belonging to it? We find here any picknot

ing

ing or choofing of fuch Perfons for their Companions, as they may gain moft Knowledge by, in this only necessary Profeffion, nor any Trouble of Mind or Shame to lay behind others, or to be outdone by them in the Exercife of Godliness and Vertue. Here's no Holy Emulation to go before others, and to be Examples to them, or Guides in the way to Life eternal. Nay, we are apt to think very well of our felves if we be not with the hindmost of all, or if we can see any worfe Proficients than our felves. We have little Ambition to excel, or to go foremost in the way of Religion; and it may be too truly faid of us, what we read. Heb. 5. 10. When for the Time ye ought to be Teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God.

2. The Children of this World fhew their Wisdom in contriving and projecting for themfelves, and forecafting their Bufinefs, and drawing up before hand a Scheme, and Platform of it in their Thoughts. As they have their End, whatever it is, always in their Eye; fo endeavour they to lay the whole way to it, as open and plain before them, as 'tis poffible, and forethink what they have to do in every place, and in every season, and one fhall rarely find them at a Lofs what to do upon any Occafion; they are hardly ever at a stand, or have their Bufinefs to confider and to contrive when it fhould be done. One fhall hardly meet with any dull, thick Scull'd Plowman, but he hath fo contrived and methodized his Bufinefs before Hand, that he can at any time lay him down to take his neceffary Reft,without troubling his Head, and breaking his Sleep A 34

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with

with thinking what he hath to do to morrow. He knows what Ground he is to break up, and what to lay down, and what's the fit Seafon for every part of his Work; and what Rent he is to provide for his Landlord against the Day, and by what means to make it up, and all his Affairs are fo well timed, and every thing done in its Season, that he can without hindring of any necessary Bufinefs, enjoy the Opportunity of every Market and Fair, when the Day comes. And now how little of this Prudent Forecast and Contrivance iş difcernable among the Children of Light? How few of us have well weighed in our Minds the great Business that we have here to go through with, and to dispatch before we go out of this World; or forelaid all things fo, as to be ready for every Duty in its proper Seafon, and to do as much good in the World as time and opportunity will admit; Alafs, we most of us live Extempore, having all to contrive and confider of when it fhould have been done; and Death over-takes us er'e we have throughly confidered how we are to live, and we hardly think of any thing we have to do, till we can do nothing. We have hardly fo much Wisdom as to forecaft our Business fo, that God may have one Day in seven for his folemn worship, or that he may have every day in our Family, a Morning and Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and Praife. So little fhew we of our Wisdom in contriving our Bufinefs for a bleffed Eternity.

3. The Men of this World are very vigilant, watching for all the Advantages they can poffibly lay hold on to promote their Designs. And they

arc

are very quick fighted in fpying out every thing. that may be of any advantage to them. A good Purchase, or a Fair Booty, or Market for their Purpose shall not eafily escape them, they are always lying in wait for the Prey, and will not let flip an Opportunity that is put into his Hand. their How doth the Adulterer watch for a fit Opportunity of fulfilling his Luft? How doth the ambitious Person wait like a Slave at Court for Honour? What Hearkening and Listening after the Death or Sickness of any one, who by leaving the World, may, we hope, make room for us to fucceed in his Preferment? What obferving is there of the Humours of fuch Men as may be Instruments of our Advancement, and what Flatteries or Briberies are used to make them our Friends? How ready are we in Bargaining or Trading to spy out either the neceffity or ignorance of a Chapman, and to ferve our felves of it? Thus in every thing do we fhew our watchfulnefs about the Affairs of this Life? But in relation to the great Concerns of our Souls, and of another World, we are like Men asleep, and can hardly watch one Hour; we let the best opportunities flip away from us, and feem but very little concern'd for it.

4. The Children of this World are very circumfpect, and wary in the management of their Affairs. As they are vigilant, and feldom fleep away a good Market; fo are they, when they have their Eyes turning every way to difcover any inconvenience, any Impediment that lieth in their way, and ufe a great deal of care and Caution to fhun every thing that may be any hinderance

hinderance to them, or make it more difficult to come by what they feek after. This is indeed a very neceffary piece of Wisdom, which if one do not ufe, he may lose his Labour and his Hope, after he hath taken a great deal of Pains, and promifed himself good fuccefs, and fuch Wisdom well becometh the Children of Light, who are warned to walk circumfpectly, not as Fools, but as Wife. But how few fee we fo behave themfelves, as if they had never heard of such a warning? The Men of the World will not be perfuaded to fit Talking or Playing away the Time, when they think they may by that. mifs their Gain, their Preferment, their Pleasure, whatever it be. Nay, you can hardly perfuade fuch an one to use a fhort Prayer in his Family, or spend an Hour in the publick Worship of God at Church, or now and then to fit down and read fome fmall Portion of Scripture for his Inftruction and Direction in his Duty, left his Bufinefs fhould be thereby hinder'd; yea, tho' they be fuch as love Company, and delight to fit Tippling and prating in an Ale-houfe, yet one fhall very hardly tempt them into that beloved place, when they go about the main Bufinefs that they have chofen for themselves; left when they are once in, and engaged in Company, they should forget themselves, and ftay too long, and fo lose the Opportunity they were going to lay hold on. But the Children of Light are not half fo cautious, but spend a great deal of their time very vainly, which well improved, might have brought them in great Advantages. They are eafily tempted to waste thofe precious Hours in idle Chat, and Impertinent Vifits, and Childish Sports and Recreations