The Last ADVICE OF Mr. BEN. ALEXANDER late Minister of West-Markham in the County of Nottingham To His CHILDREN In Two Parts The Contents follow Prov. 24.21 My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and Meddle not with them that are given to change London Printed for Nath. Ekins at the Gun in S. Pauls Church-yard 1659. The CONTENTS OF This BOOK In the first Part. A Preface to Page 3. A Catechisticall Dialogue to p. 13. A Godly Form of Prayer to p. 26. In the second Part. Generall and Particular Advice 1 In Religion from p. 29. to p. 43. 2 Opinion to p. 48. 3 Morality to p. 60. 4 Government to p. 65. 5 Study to p. 72. 6 Mariage to p. 75. The ADVICE OF Mr. Benjamin Alexander To his CHILDREN IT was great joy which S. John 3. Epistle of John v. 4. had when he heard that Gaius and his Children did walk in the truth and if it be a part of the glory of Heaven to know what is done on earth my glory should be exceeding glorious to know that you my Children did so But whether I know it or know it not if ye do so ye are certain of the crown of glory This which I have left you concerneth you first as you stand to God secondly to men thirdly to your selves the Lord bless you these and allother helps of piety to you that you may be glorious through holiness here and in holinesse hereafter Your loving Father Ben. Alexander August 2. 1658. The first part Sarah I pray thee Brother let us sit under yonder green tree Ben. I will sister for it is pleasant weather But why wilt thou go to day S. Because I am now at leisure and would speak to thee in private B. Let us go S. Pray tell me one thing Brother B. Doubt not Sister I will if I can S. I have seen my Father oft times on his knees in the hall and sometimes in the parlour what doth he mean by that B. My Father goeth then to prayers S. To pray what is that B. It is a duty S. Is there a duty due to any but my Father and Mother B. Yea Sister that there is S. To whom B. To God S. What is he B. A Spirit S. A Spirit what is that B. A spirit is an intelligent substance without body or bodily qualities S. What is God then B. God is a Spirit most holy most wise eternall and infinite in whom we live move and have our being S. How many Gods are there B. But one in essence but three in persons viz. Father Son and holy Ghost S. How shal I come to know him B. Three waies S. Which are they B. By his works about us his word unto us his workings in us S. What is his word B. That which we call Scripture S. How came that to us B. God breathed it into men who spake as they were inspired by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost S. What men were they B. Enoch Moses the Prophets Evangelists Apostles c. S. What are his works B. The Creation of the world and all the things therein as Sun Moon Cloud Earth Sea and his Powerfull and wise Providence in upholding and ordering all things till the end come S. What are his Workings B. Light Love Feare and all affections acts of Conscience Faith and all Graces S. But why doth my Father Pray B. That God would forgive our sins and give all things necessary for life and godliness S. What is sin B. Sin is the transgression of the Law S. And have I any sin B. Yea Sister and I also for we were born in sin and are thereby enemies to God and all goodness and subject to sicknesses crosses and losses in this life yea we must die also and without the speciall Grace of God are cast away for ever and ever S. Thou tellest me a strange thing how cometh this to pass B. By Adams sin in whose loynes we were and so are liable to these punishments S. What did Adam do B. He disobeyed the Commands of God in eating the fruit which he had forbidden S. How is that proved good Brother B. See Rom. 5.12 By one man sin entered into the World and death by him and so death passed over all men for that all have sinned S. Is there any more Scripture for it B. Yea Sister S. Which are they B. Read Psal 1.51.5 I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive and Epes 2.3 we are by nature the children of wrath even as others S. Alas Brother what case are we then in B. In the state of damnation and God may cast us into hell S. Hell what is that B. The place of torments by fire and brimstone where is weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth S. These are torments the Lord deliver us from them is there a way to escape them B. Yea Sister S. How B. By the Son of God S. Who is he that I may know him B. Jesus Christ of whom you read in the Bible S. Is it he of whom I read in my Psalter that was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried rose again the third day and shall come in the end of the world to Judge the quick and the dead B. Yea Sister the very same S. What is he that I may see him B. He is in heaven thou canst not see him yet S. How then shall I know him B. By mixing faith with thy reading of the Gospel S. What is Faith B. Faith is the gift of God by which he giveth a mind to believe in Jesus Christ and a full perswasion settled that what he did suffered in life or death as it was sufficient so it was efficacious for my salvation S. And is there nothing but this Faith required B. Faith alone doth save us but this Faith never goeth alone but it worketh by love S. Which is the Rule of love B. The ten Commandements S. What is the summe of the Commandements B. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and thy neighbour as thy selfe S. Faith then is a perfect jewell how shall I finde it B. The Word begets it Sacraments confirme it Prayer encreaseth it S. And will this bring me to Heaven B. Yea if you persevere to the end S. But you told me I must die how then can I go to Life B. Death is the doore to Life S. Doth my soul die B. No that goeth to God that gave it S. Then my body onely stayeth in the grave B. Yea. S. How shall that rise B. According to the Scripture by the Power of God S. When B. In the Resurrection of the last day when they which have done good shall go into everlasting life but hypocrites and unbelievers to eternall fire S. Will you help me to Pray B. Yea Sister S. I thank you Brother how then must I pray The Prayer O Most
greater value then many sparrowes Now Lord we blesse thy good name for all thy Mercies and blessings for deliverance from dangers seen and unseen for continuance in prosperity for food and raiment for life health peace plenty and prosperity for family blessings and personall favours we blesse thee that we are born in the pale of thy Church where there is the dew of Heaven and fatness of the Earth the meanes of Grace plentifully vouchsafed unto us O helpe us to walke worthy of these thy goings out to us and teach us the right use of all thy providence Accompany us holy Father with thy Gracious presence order us from day to day be not far from us but guide us by thy spirit till thou shalt translate us to thy Glory all which we crave from thee not for any worthiness that is in us but only for thy Son our Saviours sake to whom with thy self and Spirit be given all Glory and thanksgiving now and for ever Amen The second Part. Containing GENERALL And PARTICULAR ADVICE Touching Religion Opinion Morality Government Study Mariage The second Part. Containing GENERALL And PARTICULAR ADVICE Touching Religion Opinion Morality Government Duty Mariage RELIGION 1. QUestion not the least way whether there be a God or not neiâ—her be curious concerning him Non nunquam de Dâ—vera loqui periculum est And God is rather known 〈◊〉 what he is not then what he 〈◊〉 2. Quarrel not in thâ— least manner with the Mysteries of Religion as the Trâ—nitie the Generation of thâ—â— Son the Profession of thâ— Holy Ghost but bring 〈◊〉 humble minde with thee and go not without thâ— guide of Faith and frequeâ—â— Prayer 3. Thou art by Professiâ—â— a Christian therefore sit dowâ— and cast with thy selfe thaâ— thou art to Love Things thou Seest not Believe Things thou Knowest not Apprehend Things thou Reachest not 4. Though the Spirit of God worketh a full perswasion in the heart concerning the things of God yet outward Arguments are necessary for that which gave Thomas the Apostle an assurance of the Truth of Christ was his sensery Reach hither thy finger John 2.27 5. Let your Prayers be frequent and among your premeditated Petitions remember to Pray that God would not lead thee into Temptation for in these last dayes the shorter Satans reigne the sharper is his rage 6. Oppose not any Truth and be not like the Sea Pie that cannot rise except it be by rising against the winde 7. In matters of doubt mingle Charity with your Judgement and temper your zeale with discretion 8. Where there are many Sects of Religion take great heed what thou doest for nothing is so hard and chargeable to keep as a good Conscience 9. Remember this speech of one that said a good Religion may be made of the Papists Charity the Puritans Words and the Protestants Faith 10. Read the Bible often and with Reverence in doubtfull matters Consult the Church in the purest Ages thereof which is the Pillar and ground of Truth and the Gates of Hell shall not prevaile against thee 11. Let your judgement be content rather to wade where you finde footeing then to swim in sence of Scripture in the one you shall know your grounds in the other you will foote in uncertainties or have but a sandy foundation 12. Despise not Profession of Holinesse but take heed how you trust it the Coat of Christ is more worne then the practise of him Keep thy Conscience free and cleare and let thy Conversation shew it that if dirt be cast at thee it may not stick upon thy Reputation 14. Have a care of your Carriage in the World for no action will please which cometh from one whose Person and Profession is distasted 15. If thy Teacher be wicked looke well to thy selfe for the Teachers error is the Peoples tryall 16. Preaching doth lift up Christ more highly then Reading like spice bruised or pounded so is the Word of more sweet savour when it is Preached 17. Milke in the brest of the Mother is farr better then Milke in the sucking-bottle so Sermons with lively actions are farr more edifying then the same Repeated 18. Prayer is a most prevailing Duty use it continually by your selves but Sollemnly twice a day 19. Take heed of pride and let the joynts of your conversation be oyled with Humility 20. One bended knee will bend many hearts but pride is an unwining quality making thee to be scorned of thy betters hated by thy equalls feared by thy inferiours and beloved of no body 21. Avoid sin as to thy self and consent not to it in others for t is all one to hold the sack and to fill it 22 In all your losses crosses sicknesses set Gods Glory before thine eyes without much contemplation of thy particular condition our Saviour gave the giftes of Miracles to his Apostles to cure others yet could not or did not cure their own weaknesse as St. Paul Timothy 1 Tim. 5.28 nor his own 2 Cor. 1.8 23. Let not dangers or difficulties cause thee to neglect Religion all weather is faire to a willing mind 24. Curious questions in Schoole-Divinity do whet the wit and sharpen the braine but dulls Faith and proves an Enemy to soule-edification 25. Ascube not to thine own endeavours for Divine providence doth act more vigorously then humane prudence 26. Let not the errors of thy Teachers cause thee to imitate their vices they have Treasure in earthen vessells 2 Cor. 4.7 and he that will prove a pitcher of clay to be a pot of gold takes great paines to small purpose 27. Be not much wedded to your own opinion but consult with men of knowledge and Religion and then be firme and fixed like the Axle-tree though the wheeles oft time run forward or backward 28. You may serve or beare office under them that have ascended to the Throne by blood-shed for there were some in Nero's house Phil. 4.22 and in Herods also Acts 13.1 and other instances in Scripture 29. Duells are an invention of the Devill and against Piety and Religion if thou overcomest thou loosest and gainest a stinge of Conscience scarce to be pulled out again 30. As a man that lieth uneasie is subject to turning and tossing so a man unconstant in his Principles is soon moved to change 31. In times of change men account of the Institution of the Church as old Coyne not much better then counters but slight not thou wholsome Doctrine because of the Generall blemish it lieth under 32. Reverence Antiquity but conclude it not infallible yet take her word sooner then any particular learning Doctrine being much cleared by experience 33. If God blesse thy basket be charitable though man be unthankfull for God will have some to be so the better to reserve requitall to himselfe 34. Marke this when the Common Wealth fadeth the Church flourisheth not one side of the face will not smile when the other frownes 35. 'T is a vanity to use Pomps at
glorious and gracious Lord God the great Creator of Heaven and earth and the wise Disposer of all things which thou hast made for thine own glory and for the good and welfare of all thy servants we the most unworthiest of all thy servants do desire to prostrate our selves before thy divine Majesty under an humble acknowledgement of thy goodnesse thy grace thy truth and faithfulnesse thy many mercies renewed and continued every day to us and our great unworthinesse of the least of any of them We are not worthy of the crumbs that fall from thy Table not onely because we were born in sin but because we have lived in sin and have daily added to our sins by the vanity of our thoughts words and actions and the unsutablenesse of the whole man to all thy commands we are ignorant of them yea we have digged to our selves Cisterns that will hold no water we have doubted of thy promises and distrusted therein thy Covenants broken thy Lawes polluted thy Ordinances profaned thy Sabbaths abused thy mercies slighted thy judgments sinned against the light of our own Consciences against Grace received against the motions of thy holy Spirit against Heaven and in thy sight and we are not worthy to be called thy Children and therfore most justly mayst thou poure down thy displeasure upon us and empty the vials of thy wrath upon us and ours making our lives bitter unto us by diseases and manifold crosses and deny us the fruition of thy self in glory hereafter and yet thou art just in all thy wayes and holy in all thy works for this we abhor our selves and condemn our selves oh let us escapâ— the condemnation of thee our God O enter not into judgement with us for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified our only Hope is on the Merits of Jesus Christ thy beloved Son our Saviour of whom thou spakest from thy Excellent Glory this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased in him O Lord be well pleased with us and signe thy good pleasure unto us by a full and free Pardon of all our sins Lord 't is a great Request we begg of thee and more then such sinners as we are can hope for to receive from thee but it was a great Price which was paid for us not by corruptible things as silver and gold but the most Precious blood of thine own Son we tender up to thee Lord Jesus Christ upon the Altar of a believing soule O receive him for us thou laid'st upon him the iniquities of us all that we through his stripes might be healed magnifie thy mercies towards us sinners and thy Grace by passing by our transgressions and Lord Seale up thy Pardon by giving thy holy Spirit unto us in more inlarged fullnesse and let him comfort us and beare witness to our spirits that we are thine and thou art ours that being delivered from the bondage of sin we may cry out Abba Father O let thy Spirit bring gracious answeres to our soules desires plead the cause of our soules shed abroad the love of thy selfe in our hearts leading us into all necessary truths guiding us by Grace here that we may come oâ— Glory hereafter And as we desire Pardon of sins so we pray thee subdue our sins mortifie those corruptions that dwell in us and oft times do tyrannize over us and bring us to subjection to the Law of sin making us most wretched creatures O let it pittie thee to see Satan rule over us who takes us captive according to his will bruise his power limit his malice shorten his chaine divide his Kingdom hasten his finall doome and condemnation O let no Lord Rule over us but thy selfe for thou art our only God and we will worship thee And good Father lead us not into temptation deliver us from the evill thereof strengthen us against them sanctifie us under them and let us finde the sufficiency of thy Grace under them to make us conquerors through Jesus Christ O make sin loathsome to us helpe us to looke upon sin as thou dost looke upon it to Judge it and condemne it give us a sight of it in thy favour a sorrow for it and a resolution against it and hold us up by the Power of thy Spirit through Faith to Salvation Helpe us to derive our Joy from Heaven and our comforts from above the cloudes and to lay up our treasure above the sun where the moth and the thiefe cannot eat thorough and steale Make good thy Covenant to us in giving us a new heart and renewing our spirit in us let the Scepter of Christ sway over the whole man our understandings wills affections bringing all to obedience of the Law of Christ Remember thy whole Church what promises thou hast for Jewes and Gentiles in thy good time make out to them bring in the out-cast of Israel and all from the high-wayes that so thy house may be full O let the Nations be thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth be thy possession Remember and blesse these Nations wherein we live O Lord keep up England from falling from thee let it not languish nor decay in Godlinesse and let not the wantonnesse under the meanes of Grace in it procure the want of Grace in it thou hast divided us bring us together again O Pardon the sins of our Nation and helpe us to keep our selves free from the pollution thereof thou art a God of order O settle order in thy Church and unity among thy Saints let such as do erre out of ignorance learne knowledge and such as have sinned against knowledge finde Repentance endue the Magistrates with the knowledge of thy Spirit of Grace and wisdom as well as with Power that we may live a peaceable and quiet life under them in all godlinesse and honesty O let thy Ministers be cloathed with holinesse write it on their brest let them shine by holinesse of life as well as by Doctrine and Crown all their Labours with a Garland of soules And remove not O Father thy Candlestick from us for our unworthinesse of it and our unthankfullnesse for it but Pardon our unprofitablenesse under it and teach us to profit more and more And O Lord comfort all the children of affliction speake peace to the wounded and troubled spirit binde up the broken hearted powre in wine and oyle into their maladies that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce convert our enemies and make our wayes so to please thee that our very enemies may be at peace with us blesse our Relations in consanguinity affinity and Christian friendship that as there is a communion of Saints so we maystudy to edifie one another in love and piety by words and workes And good Father set us higher than our crosses and temporall afflictions in this life helpe us to cast our care upon thee who hath promised to care for us and thou that regardest sparrowes tellest us we are of far