than a Congregation of Christ How few hereby find a Wife as Solomon speaketh Prov. 18. 22. that is to the end God instituted them but seeking money as a HELP-MEET to them get a Woman with the World and the Devil with her unawares as Eve when the mouth of the Deceiver to a bitter day perhaps a Saphira helping by hypocrisie to save their earthly Estates and lose their Souls Herein Parents add to their prayer for Childrens Conversion their pains to effect their Perdition as one that prayeth a fire may go out adding fuel thereto so are these provisions for Lust under prayer for Life Did not Solomon King of Israel sin by these things yet among many Nations was there no King like him who was beloved of his God and God made him King over all Israel Neh. 13. 26. Nevertheless even him did outlandish-women cause to sin But lastly How doth neglect of Parents instruction of families or ill example therein before their Childden either in pride covetousness wrath lightness or other ill carriage unbecoming profession in Parents expose their observant Children and make fruitless and frivolous their performances amongst them when they shall discern them to fulfil Tit. 1. 16. before them Beware therefore of this above all that you lay not a stumbling example before them but that in simplicity and godly sincerity you shew them your good conversation in Christ filling up faithfully every relation in secret according to your open profession that they be not stumbled by finding the contrary for O the wound which Christ anâ— Truth and souls have received by eminent lâ—â— gifted Professors of contrary conversations 〈◊〉 little have either the lusts or Inhabitants 〈◊〉 world fallen before them How would Abraham be ashamed of such Children who so have shamed their profession in their opportunities Heb. 11. 15. wherein else they might have shined to the conviction and conversion of many Mat. 5. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 16. O tender Parents for the Lords sake then and for the sake of the soules under your charge pray for your own return to the attaining again the holy Examples of Fathers in Christ that they who dwell under your shadow may revive as the Corn and grow as the Vine the sent whereof shal be as the Wine of Lebanon Hos. 14. 7. That your Children and Servants may bless you in the name of the Lord and add not to their corrupt Nature any of these hazards aforesaid under your education in the sence whereof and how many poor Children lately may have been carried Christless thither and like sheep layd into the grave whose Parents thought it time enough perhaps to teach them soul-concernments at leisure this earnest of encouragement to poor endeavours for the souls of Children is published in love which its hoped by your acceptance and help may provoke very many to the salvation of souls And a special double Note is placed in the Margent pointing to the sick-bed lamentation of â—â—â—s little one for the loss of first convictions in 〈◊〉 most harmless manner of trifling away his 〈◊〉 with his most innocent School-fellows choaking for a season the tender Seed in his soul the reviving whereof by especial grace in an acceptable season stood him in so much stead as you will see in the face of Death and Iudgment whereunto none of his great natural parts nor School-attainments durst approach Be pleased to peruse it therefore and improve it unto the most special care of your Childrens eternal welfare and pursue your frequent prayers for their conversion in the paths thereof so as by all means to promote and by no means to betray your prayers that the account of them may not be with grief but joy which is the earnest prayer indeed of Your and your Childrens wel-wisher in the Gospel of Christ I. V. In Commemoration of our Friend and School-fellow the truly virtuous and Religious Youth CALEB VERNON An ELEGY CALEB Ah peerless Caleb art thou dead No no thou art not but thy soul is fled To Heaven thy better part shall never dye But shall survive yes and thy memory Shall ever live and though thy life expire Yet shal all those that knew thee thee admire And honour thy remembrance Worthy youth Whose chiefest love was Piety and Truth Who tho so young and tender yet didst chase Away the thoughts of sin and didst embrace Sincerity and with an upright heart Didst God 's Commands to chuse the better part A second Timothy I well may stile thee Of which true title none can ere beguile thee Which thou deserv'st and hast an ample share In his perfections although so rare I' th Scriptures from a child he knowledg had And stuck close to the good shuning the bad Even so didst thou whose chief sole delight Was for to serve the Lord thy God in spight Of all the opposition which was made By Satans instruments to make to fade Thy hot love t'wards thy Lord fervent zeal Unto good works which no vain thing could steal He in the graces of his Parents dear Enjoy'd a very large and ample share So thou the virtues of thy Father and Thy gracious mother at the second hand Deriv'st A rare example he did prove Others for to provoke his God to love So thou a holy pattern didst appear Although so young while that thou livest here And though th' art dead thy soul doth sore on high Death wher 's thy sting Grave wher 's thy victory Caleb blest Child the Victory is thine Who like an other Sun in Heaven dost shine O Child belov'd of God admir'd of men For all thy virtues and thy graces when Shall we again thy like behold whose Spirit A beautious Crown of Glory dost inherit O wonder of our iron age wh'ast left Something of which the world can't be bereft Let us lament our losse whilst he above Sings holy praises to the God of Love W. D. Another AH cruel Death that no one dost regard But unto all entreaties still art hard It is thy sting that makes so many grieve 'Cause mortals of their lives thou dost bereave It is thy deadly Spear that doth divide Poor Children from their Parents thou dost guide Thy piercing Iavlin to the mortals heart Thou strik'st ev'n Youth it self by thy keen Dart. Couldst thou not stop thy hand O greedy Death But with thy mighty stroak must stop his breath Who in his youthful dayes did flourish much O Death why didst thou rob the world of such A Iewel which with few I might compare One that in time might been the Son and Heir Of Learning one beyond his age endu'd Wisdom and Virtue were by him pursu'd O Death couldst thou not execute thy rage On other men that feeble be with age Or on some other youth in whom such rare And virtuous qualities did not appear But must so soon deprive us of a Iewel Oh envious Death What i' st makes thee so cruel Such a most pretious Iem all ought to
THE Compleat SCHOLLER OR A Relation of the Life and Latter-End especially of CALEB VERNON Who dyed in the Lord on the 29th of of the ninth month 1665. Aged twelve years and six months Commending to Youth the most Excellent Knowledge of CHRIST JESUS the Lord. Psal. 34. 11. Come ye Children hearken to me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Phil. 3. 8. Yea doubtless and I account all things but loss for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. Psal. 8. 2. Out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine Enemies that thou maist still the Enemy and the Avenger London Printed for the Author 1666. The PREFACE to Parents of Children Tender Parents AFter the death of my late dear and precious little one I looked into what he had left and found a little Legacy of Grace from God for you and yours left by him besides what was lost through the too great carelesness of such as were about him in his sickness but these reliques at last were faithfully set down for you yours in writing from his mouth which being of value in my conscience and those I converse with who were Witnesses thereof I durst not detain whoever are so full as to despise them hoping the distribution hereof will be to the refreshment of every hungry soul. I intended at first to have sent them with an Epistle directed to your Children themselves and to his School-fellows especially who commend his harmless conversation amongst them before his effectual calling of God in Christ Iesus had so overlaid through Grace all those endowments begetting deep abasements for School-slightiness amongst the most sober sort to his becoming wholly as it were another new creature since their acquaintance with him But upon more serious consideration of the trust committed to me knowing I must be accountable I have for my own security and clearing as Paul Acts 20. 26 27. thought it meet to commend it to your managing and improvement faithfully towards their eternal good estate praying you to discharge your trust herein on the behalf of your little ones and see that none of them play it away by means of your slightiness lest you weep with them at the last knowing that you also must give an account of this and them to God as committed to your charge And I beseech you beware that herein neither love to this World nor any thing in this World either the riches or honour or wisdom c. thereof nor any weakness in the ensuing Treatise either in the esteem of that wisdom in You or real shortness in the Publisher thereof may make you afraid your Children should follow God so fully after the example herein lest it come against you as the Lord hath said the Queen of the South and Men of Nineveh shall against some too like this Generation How far it may concern your selves to become as little children in the sence of 1 Cor. 14. 20 and Mat. 18. 3. like the little subject of thâ—â— discourse I leave to your consciences who shaâ—â— vouchsafe to reade it over humbly and weigh it uprightly in the wisdom which is from above but sure I am such bowels of mercy to your poor Children as be get most sollicitude for the souls of them which remain from the Pestilence before the woful day come will prove most profitable when all earthly promotions will stand them in no stead but may be bewailed to have hurt the possessors of them Beware therefore lest your want of wisdom herein expose your tender vessels newly lanched into the sea of this sinful world and richly laden with variety of Natures endowments to miscarriage in their great voyage Heaven-wards for want of your skilful steerage of them amongst those Rocks and Sands on which so many have suffered shipwrack to their utter undoing through their over-bold adventure thereby against such fair warnings as Prov. 4. 14 15. Luke 8. 14. 1 Joh. 2. 15 16. Isa. 5. 12. I will therefore only set up a Sea-mark to warn you of four or five least seen through self-love on which multitudes have early been split and bulged fulfilling the Word of the Lord 1 Tim. 6. 9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition Towards which those Parents prove unhappy Pilots who are 1. Inordinately fond of Children in minority 2. Vainly inconsiderate in the Schooling of them 3. Unconscionably worldly in disposing them to outward Callings 4. Earthly-minded or ambitious in bestowing them in Marriages 5. Negligent in Family-duty or of ill conversation in the use thereof to the stumbling their Children by bad example Indeed most of these have been the sin and shame of Professing-Parents and the spoil of their poor Childrens souls and my hope of good times lies much in the expectation of a Spirit of Holiness upon Children to give them escape from the sin of their fathers few of whom I fear will live to inherit the Good they look for through such spoyl this world hath made in their spirit as declares too plainly they have supposed as 1 Tim. 6. 5. that Gain is Godliness what-ever they say or profess to the contrary And the most reformed Fathers will humbly accept it as great favour from the Lord after such provocation if they find Grace in return to the Prayer Psal. 90. 16. and the fulfilling Psal. 45. 16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children c. O therefore that Children may enter into more peculiar obligation to Christ as the Lord with heartiest Hosanna's in the highest in sence of being redeemed in this evil-day as the Scriptures speak from the vain conversation received by tradition from their Parents 1 Pet. 1. 18. and follow Christ soveraignly Rev. 1. 4. Learning of him in all their subjection to Parents the holy limits laid down Eph. 6. 1. that they obey always only in the Lord that is as they command according to Christ whom all are to hear in the highest Mat. 17. 5. as they would walk well-pleasing to God for I fear many Parents who make great profession are grown very vain first towards Children in minority so fondly affecting them to their hurt as if with all their baubles they were made to be but Apes and Baubles to Childish Parents for their present pleasure instead of discharging faithfully their great trust for their immortal souls in their minority by wisely nurturing them in the fear of the Lord timely inclining their tender years towards God as they would not make themselves sport so long and so far with the first fruits of their Childrens folly in the witty office of stubborn natures wilfulness and sinful speech as by delight therein to expose the Child to such self-willedness that at last through the Parents fondness they cannot endure the Child should undergo a moments smart though never so necessary to
preserve either body or spirit from sickness or sin For hence the discerning Child perhaps is fitted through Satan more early for such Companions abroad as were MEETING-MOCKERS and smarted together at Bethel of old under the great Fathers displeasure for want of timely discharge of earthly Parents duty towards restraining them 2 King 2. 23 24. Yea though they may be restrained from this through their Parents profession yet other inordinate affection in neglect of the Lord doth often fulfil the threatning Ezek. 24. 25. against Professors fondness in the lives of their little ones Let not tender Parents therefore look lightly over such Scriptures as these Prov. 22. 6. 15. ch 29. 15 19. and ch 23. 13 14. Eph. 6. 4. But if Children be wisely steered by tender Parents through this danger in minority and grow up soberly by degrees under their care and now fit for School how vainly inconsiderate Parents become what they learn there or by whom they are taught that word Luke 16. 8. in this may be for a Lamentation How do the Children of this world grow stricter in their care lest their Children at Schools should unawares learn the excellent knowledge of Christ than Professors are lest their Children at School should learn the vileness of this world O the heart-greived complaint of this Scholler on his sick-bed over School-pastimes choaking for a season his first serious convictions wherein yet he was not long nor at large nor an associat ever with any deboist but with the most sober youths And what tender sense had he before his sickness of the Name of God blasphemed in the continued upholding and preferring of Heathen Authors by Christian Schoolmasters wherein Heaven and Hell are turned into fictions to the hazarding Professors Children to setled Atheism or unsetled profession of Christ the Eternal Iudgment and Glory to come but how did the soul of this little one in need of favour and dread of wrath in hopes towards Heaven and fear of Hell tremble hereat I desire to remember with self-abasement and exceeding joy for the Angel of the Covenant who met with him saying This is the Way walk in it But how alas are our Daughters also brought up by professing-Parents as if they would have them attain the cursed commendation of Herodias Daughter Mat. 14. 6. rather than in the education and adorning Psal. 45. 13 14. become truly lovely to Christ v. 10. How many O how many like Micha's Mother Judg. 17. 4. are at greatest cost for snares to their Childrens souls How did the pride of our new-blown Gentry under great profession bud and blossom in the vanities foregoing before their fall as before Israels Ezek. 7. 10. and it were to be wished that abused fulness were not lusted after again by any already under smart for it unsensible of their sin But if Children die in the midst of these delights or the Plague take them in paths so contrary to the expectation of the Lord Isa. 22. 13 14. then how few Parents thus preparing them for spoyl before speak a word of their singing dancing stately tripping mantling and mincing attainments or any of that vain tribe of their trinkets and trumperies recounted by the Spirit more particularly Isa. 3. 16 18 19 20 21 22 23. about the most modish uses whereof perhaps yet they spent more circumspection and anger at their Childrens dulness than about their sin and soul-neglects to the last When conscience also upbraiding the visited Children in the words of Rom. 6. 21. What profit had you then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed for the end of those things is death Then perhaps they too late begin to teach the Child untimely to take up some words of God or Christ or Heaven or Faith or Repentance little thought of before and to apply a promise out of the path to uphold them in hopes of rest from Him whom they rejected for rule whilst they could enjoy their vanity and flatter themselves in the Child 's good estate though never so doubtful especially having the approbation of any easie Prophet they have set up for themselves as Ezek. 44. 8. in the case But why Parents why is not that Learning on which only you dare lay stress in Plagues and in death which is so certain to you and your children yet in a time so uncertain both to you and them preferred in life as the great Lesson commended and commanded by the Master Mat. 6. 33. chap. 11. 29. who must judge us at the last day according to what he hath taught us and we may not so easily trifle away Joh. 12. 48. Be considerate then Parents in your Childrens Schooling lest the door should be shut and they as the foolish Virgins when they can be vain no longer are willing to learn what may be hid from their eyes But if Shipwrack be not in this danger neither a Rock is in sight and Sands about it that split or suck up many a stately Vessel that saileth too nigh and that is called a CALLING though the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus the Scripture more calls so is seldom so called now by Professors and in this how unconscionable are Parents in the dispose of their Children to their undoing for how little are they bounded by such Commands and Counsel in the case as Titus 3. 14. 1 Cor. 7. 24. How few Children therefore abide with God in their outward Calling and how many with the World the Flesh and the Devil either in the dishonest nature thereof or sinful entrances thereinto vile customs therein or to effect their freedom so called though the very servants of corruption therefore which yet if never so honest in all should be minded to the neglecting the Invitation of the Gospel to Christ becomes as pernicious as open prophaness wherefore he complains of souls so swallowed up in the most lawfull outward callings as the Epidemical means of perdition Luke 14. 18. Mat. 22. 5. How many poor Children herein are instead of being as Samuel lent to the Lord sold to the world by their parents as long as they live deferring soul-concernment till death when they lament too late they had not such a Mother as Samuel and Timothy had in their youth and mourn at the last as Eccl. 12. 1. wishing in the day of wrath when riches profit not that their Parents had lesse indulged their bodies for a moment and more their immortall souls Yet Fourthly If this be escaped the earthly mind and ambition of Parents in marriage adds a multiplying Cypher as after Ahabs sin so obnoxious before 1 Kings 16. 31. and a Sydonian with silver is now far more esteemed than a daughter of Sion without it or with little less as if the half Language of Ashdod already were intended to be perfected rather than our posterities more compleatness in Christ. O shameful Professors How unlike Rebecca are you herein Gen. 27. 46. Surely Smithfield would better become such your Marriage-Markets
prize I 'm sure they do who 're virtuous and wise We mourn He doth rejoyce Ours is the loss His is the gain He 's free from every cross S. D. Another I. WHat nought but grief what nought but floods of tears Pray tell me why This common Desolation appears That also I May spend a tear I hear with these mine ears A sad reply Weep Rocks weep Mountains for all joys are fled The finest Flower in the Field is dead II. 'T is true we all must die but paled death With his sharp clawes Hath put a period to my dear friends breath But for what causâ— He in his youthful sides his Sithe did sheath I yet must pause Weep Rocks weep Mountains for all joy is fled The finest flower in the field is dead III. Me thinks sweet Philomel begins to sing Her mournful notâ— And prest with sorrow hangs her little wing Whilest that her throâ—â— Proclaims her sorrow look how every thing With grief is smoâ—â— Weep Rocks c. IV. When ere his person came into my sight Me thought my eye Was ravisht with a suddain sweet delight His modesty Was a fit copy any one might write After him by But weep O Rocks for all our joyes are â—led The finest Flower in the Field is dead V. Me thinks the new-blown flowers hang their head And oft bemoan Their hapless lot because their Friend is dead They deeply groan And sigh the sight of which might draw indeed Tears from a stone Weep Rocks c. VI. Learning and Piety Virtue and Wit His portion was Learning he had beyond his years but yet Alas alas Deformed Death no notice took of it But crackt his glass Weep Rocks c. VII He saw the vanity of earthly things Therefore made haste Unto the Kingdom of the King of kings That he might taste The blessed joyes that Heaven with it brings That nought can blast Weep Rocks c. N. P. An ACROSTICK CAleb hath now attain'd the promis'd Land After his journy through the Wilderness Living he tasted of its Clusters and Espied its beauty which tongue can't express Blest soul he rests now after much distress Val'rous though small he was for he hid find Entrance tho death did at the entrance stand Resisting him his God strengthned his mind Now he 's victorious and enjoys the Land Ocoward Death thou set'st upon a Child Nor could'st thou conquer but by it wast foy'd S. P. ANAGRAM CALEB VERNON Once Venerable ALL earthly glory posts away with speed What Once was Venerable now is dead W. D. CALEB VERNON Cure None able ALL help in Man is vain where shall I flee who 'l Cure None able Lord I flee to thee S. P. CALEB VERNON No Rule can be DEath varies oft No certain Rule can be He strikes Old Age Youth Manhood Infancy S. P. EPITAPH HE is inter'd whose soul now fled away Once took a Lease of this small house of clay She had not long her house inhabited Before she was to her Redeemer wed She brought forth Children who do now inherit Her Husbands wealth the graces of the Spirit When as she saw her family increase She did repent that she had tan'e a Lease House-room was scant therefore she sought about To find a larger habitation out Her Husband did a Mansion prepare An heavenly Mansion very large and fair Thither she did her houshould goods remove And now she 's left this House and dwels above She with her Cottage twelve years was content And now tho worms dwell in 't doth not lament S. P. Job 19. 25 26 27. For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth And though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold and not another though my reins be consumed within me THE Life and latter End OF Caleb Vernon CALEB was born in the Inns at Dublin in Ireland Anno 1653. and called by that name by agreement betwixt his Parents seriously with desire he might follow God fully being both then very sensible of Professors defection This Child was brought up with them at least six years before he was sent to School he was of very great capacity but exceeding shame-fac'd and small of stature and so timerous that his Parents could scarce trust him abroad out of their sight Howbeit he profited so under their care as to read the Bible distinctly at Four years old and by six became very apt in places of Scripture the Theory thereof and moral regard thereunto exactly observant of his Parents with ambition to serve and please them in love He had his share early in afflictions for being put to School when he was but seven years old at Hillington he deeply resented the troubles on many good people at that time and being visited with a violent Ague there he began first to have a deep sence of death questioning whether he should be saved but recovering that sickness came to see his Father then prisoner in New gate for the worship of God according to the Gospel of Christ and sick at the same time which was thought to affect the Child together with the fears of Souldiers in the way that the night he arrived at London he fell sick again in which sickness further convictions of his undone condition by nature seized more on him and his elder Brother who then fell sick also but both of them with their Father recovering went to the waters at Epsam where his Father finding his practice in Physick as much as he desired to be imployed in the Lord taking away his youngest Son there was disposed to retirement and abode there all the Summer after a short time sent him with his brother again to School taking for the â—est of his family Lodgings at Ewel all Winter supposing he might be less obâ—oxious than at popular Meetings in London and lived there in his practice peaceably A School-Master coming to live in that Village he brought his Sons thither also determining to settle there for his Life and to that end bought a piece of Ground with intention to plant it and build which when a malitious Chyrurgion too notorious for all open prophaness observed to impair his Practice he secretly with his Father-in-Law and Allies of debauched dispositions by slanders of many sorts to the Justices sought his disturbance Whereupon the said Vernon being civilly sent for by the Justices repaired to some of the chief and gave so good satisfaction of his peaceable deportment in his calling and the falshood of their various reports as he received an ingenious account of the slanderers and forgers of them with assurance of safety in the like case if attempted for the future which was his encouragement to go on in building for the conveniency of his Family there And though this confederacy in vain attempted his disturbance with the Bishop and