bitterly crying out thus My sins are greater than I can bear I doubt God will not forgive them telling her Father I am in unbelief and I cannot believe Yet she was drawn out to pray many times in those words of Psal 25. For thy names sake O Lord pardon my sin for it is great Thus she lay oft mourning for sin and said I had rather have Christ than health She would repeat many promises of Gods Mercy and Grace but said she could not believe When she had been complaining that she was not prepared her Father opening the Bible his eyes first fixed upon these words in Psal 10. 17. Lord thou wilt prepare the heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear and he bid her take notice of the Lords providence therein ordering the opening of the Book and his eyes to pitch on these words The next day when she was mourning for sin he opening it again his eyes fixed on those words in Maâ—th 5. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted He bid her observe that Providence of also But as yet her time was not come and she still mourned under her unbelief The next day being then the 24th of the 6th month 1661. he praying that morning with his godly Family as his usual way hath been for many years to pray with them and read the Scriptures or Catâ—chise them daily morning and evening Behold and see what gracious incouragement the Lord gave him in his Service as he was praying to this effect That we might not look for any thing in us to rest in or trust unto for our Justitfication to stand righteous before God but only in Jesus Christ alone who died for our sins at Jerusalem and rose again for our Justification Whilst he was praying to that effect the Lord raised her Soul up to believe as she told her Father when Prayer was ended Now I believe in Christ and I am not afraid of Death After this she said I had rather die than sin against God Since that time she hath continued quiet in mind as one that hath peace with God As for this young Child I have been comforted in seeing her and hearing her answer some Questions propounded to her five years ago Her Father saith that since she was five years old he remembred not that either a Lie or an Oath hath ever come out of her mouth neither would she have wronged any to the value of a Pin. Henry Jessey Here ends the first part Here follows now some of the Fruits of Mr. Abraham Chear's spare hours improvement whilst a Prisoner Made and directed to some he was nearly related to and dearly affected Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth 1. SWeet Children Wisdom you invites to hearken to her Voice She offers to you rare delights Most worthy of your choice Eternal blessings in his wayes You shall be sure to find Oh! therefore in your youthful dayes your great Creator mind 2. The joy that other pleasure brings with vanities abound â—ay when in straits they take them wings vexations they are found Your very Vitals thus decayes and torments leave behind Oh! therefore in your youthful days your Great Creator mind 3. They may affect depraved sense while they subject your Reason They say to conscience get you hence and fear it for a season But though a kind of sottish ease you hereby seem to find I beg you in your youthfull dayes your Great Creator mind 4. The dreadful danger heed I pray of such strange wayes at length When you have sin'd your time away and wasted all your strength Be sure in chains of darkness these your hands and seet will bind Oh! therefore in your youthful days your Great Creator mind 5. Observe how poor mortal men their precious seasons spend To satisfie those lusts but then must perish in the end This saving Counsel would you please upon your heart to bind Oh! in your early yourthful dayes your Great Creator mind 6. Upon a World vain toylsome foul a journey now you enter The welfare of your living Soul you dangerously adventure If as the isâ—ue of your wayes yoâ—ve happiness design'd Oh! in your early youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 7. Friends parents all who you affect observe your budding spring Your prosperous Summer they expect a fruitful Crop will bring A witness in this age to raise to Grace of every kind Oh! then in these your youthful dayes your Greatâ— Creator mind 8. Young Isaack's who lift up their eyes and meditate in Fields Young Jacob's who the Blessing prize this age but seldome yeelds Few Samuel's leaving their playes to Temple Work resign'd Few do as these in youthful dayes their Great Creator mind 9. How precious Obodiah's bâ— that feared God in youth How seldome Timothy's we see â—erst in the Word of Truth Few Babes and Sucklings publish praise th' Avengers Rage to bind Oh! then in these your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 10. Few tender-hearted youths as was Josiah Judah's King Hoâ—annah in the high'st alas how seldom Children Sing Youth 's rarely ask for Zion's wayes they 'd rather pleasure find But oh in these your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 11. What Children Pulse and Water chuse continually to eat Rather then Conscience should accuse for tasting Royal Meat Would you not bow a King to please though tortures were behind Oh! then in these your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 12. Those worthy Mirrors of thier Age obtain'd a precious Name Their living Patern should engage your souls to do the same And though in this strait narrow way you few Companions find The rather in your youthful day your Great Creator mind 13. How worthy Christ is could you learn to claim your Flower and Prime And how well pleasing 't is discern to dedicate your time You pleasantly would make essayes to get your Souls enclin'd And gladly in your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 14. This Garland wreath'd of youthful flowers to Jesus you would bring This Morn made up of Golden Hours you would present the King You 'd humbly bow without delayes Grace in his sight to find And gladly now and all your dayes your Great Creator mind More of Mr. Chear's Verses Written to a young Virgin Anno 1663. Sweet Child When I bethink what need there is of care For precious souls to save themselves from snare That Satan as a subtil Fouler layes To take and keep them captive all their dayes In youthfâ—l folly and in sensual rest To keep them off from being truly blest What strange devices he hath to expel Their thoughts of Judgment Death of Heaven or Hell And minding what engagâ—ments on me lie To you and others Christ to testifie This Song I thought you now and then might sing If God would follow it to mind to bring Your state by Nature and the Gospel Path To set you free from everlasting Wrath. If morn by morn you in this Glass
mire among the pots you might my visage see Grace But now though mixt with waves and spots fair as the Moon I be Glory My raised Glory shall at last The Suns bright Beams out-shine How could eternal life be plac't Refl on Souls so black as mine 35. Nature Within the Region once I sate of Death's dark dreadful Shade Grace In Light 's Dominion now of late to sit down I am made Glory A throne of glorious Life at length reserv'd in Promise lies Lord lead thy worm from strength to strength Refl such precious Grace to prize For young Joseph Branch 1. THe names that Holy men of old did on their Children set Some mysteries tended to unfold some teachings to beget Some works of God in ancient dayes were to remembrance brought Or some instructions for their wayes was thus kept in their thought 2. This way our wanton age disgusts our names have other ends The rich thus gratifie their Lusts the poor thus please their Friends Yet sometimes Providence is known tradition to out-reach That names at unawares bestown some Gospel truths do preach 3. And what should hinder but I might such lessons learn in mine Did Parents teach me and the light of grace upon me shine Of Holy Josâ—ph I might learn a fruitful Bough to be And Christ the Branch I might discern a living Root to me 4 Alas A brasch by nature now of a wild Vine I be Of the degenerated Bough of thee wild-Olive-tree My root is rottenness like dust my blossoms will ascend My grapes are Sodom's pride and lust to death my clusters tend 5. Can pricking Bryar or grieving thorn good grapes in clusters bear Are figgs upon the Thistle born will any seek them there A root of bitterness can nought but gall and wormwood bring No wholsome water can be brought from a corrupted spring 6. â—anured nature forth may bring a lovely Branch to sight With leaves and blossoms of the Spring and shades of great delight But if no fruit it doth afford as Christ expects to find The Figg-tree dry'd or Jonas-Gourd my dreadful state do mind What once fair Branches may I spy of fruit and leaves bereft Who living may be said to dye to men and burning left What great appearance once they made with cost were dig'd and drest They yielded an increasing shade and promis'd with the best 8. ut like the Ivy hardly known on other Branches hung Their Root was properly their own though to the rind they clung But now the Fan and Axe are brought to purge and cast away Such fruitless figg-trees come to nought such empty Vines decay 9 True the Vine-dresser yet intreats that digg'd or dung'd they be If precepts promises or threats may better them or me But to our root the axe is put If no good fruit be found This is the sentence down them cut why cumber they the ground 10 Instruction I should learn from hence How vile a branch I be Unless in a new-cov'nant sense a death shall pass on me Unless from Adam I be cut as standing in the law And by a new ingrafture put Christs life and sap to draw 11 Might I in that true Vine be found a branch that bides alive And from that root and plant-renown'd might fat and fruit derive Like Joseph's would my fruitful-Bough by Well and Wall be sent Nay though the Archers griev'd me now my Bow would bide in bent 12. Then in the schorching years of drought when moisture others want I should retain both leaves and blowth and flourish like a plant Till planted by the Crystal brooks in Paradice I be Where Gods fruit-ripening shining looks shall still be fixt on me Verses sent by an unknown Hand to Captain Sampson Lark in Exon-Prison with a Respond DIversion breeds delight delight prepares for action action is the â—each of cares When one from t'other in this wise proceed Then of Diversion sometime you have need Cares only sinful actions must expell Which none but lawful actions can do well And lawful actions breed a chast delight Which flows from good diversion when its right It lawful actions shoot out sinful care And chast delight doth for such acts prepare And good Diversion breeds such chast delight Have at the mark Sure this will hit the white Though you are mostly known to me by fame Yet I 'le make bold to descant on your name Names to the things sometimes do well agree As in your name whoever will may see When this agreement shall to light be brought All men will say your name is not for nought Lark is your name and Larks most sweetly sing When they are mounted highest on the wing Your towring Soul sometimes mounts up on high And sings its sweetest notes above the sky The Lark seeds clean and can no filth abide To Common-prayer should you a month be ty'd I am perswaded I may safely say You 'ld live on that as well as Larks by Hay The Lark's a Princely Dish though small to sight The Pestle of a Lark is worth a Kite One Hour's discourse with you more gain affords Then years acquaintance with some greater Birds But there 's a season when Larks may be caught A month in which the silly Bird doth dote And then the Fowlers use to set their Gin They leave their stall their lure the glass wherein The Birds behold a false though glistering Sun And tempted by it to the lure do come And to it play which when the Fowler sees He makes no doubt but such a Lark is his The cunning Fowlers they have set their gin Good Sir beware least they should draw you in Should you be caught they 'l make a stall of you To tice in others as they use to do Sir keep aloft and stoop not to their glass Lest what I do but hint should com to pass I wish the Proverb may in this prove true Till the sky falls they 'l ne'r catch such as you I am no Poet nor a Poet's Son As you may guess by what I now have done Yet pray accept what I in love do send Although it come from Your concealed friend Respond DUll Genius rouze for shame awaken Heark What mourning melody salutes the Lark What meetred musick what Seraphick straines What curious warblings eccho through the plains The singer to retirement is diposed No name nor Character must be disclosed The strâ—in transcends vail'd in some shady bush The Gold-bill'd Black-bird or the dapple Thrush Outvies the Nightingal or turtles voice The notion's ravishing th'anointing's choice Some Zions singer in a sable coat Stop cease thus guessing Hark attend his note His quick intelligence on Eagle's wings Yields Piercing insight through terrestrial things He sees and smiles at mens phanatick rage In cloistering unshorn Sampson in a Cage Besides the vain attempts to clip the wing Or to inhibit Birds inspir'd to sing But here he 's out mistaking he admires Lark's worth in act which is but in desires He spies the
Me God hath from great plagues at hand In greater Mercy taken Friends do not grieve then that by me this wretched worlds forsaken Here to be left might mercie be But greater Mercy taken In dust I sleep now freed from tears But shortly shall awaken And shall be when my Christ appears In greater Mercy taken Ye might have one day wept to see Me sigh as one forsaken But now Triumph that Christ hath me To Greater Mercy taken Margaret Trenick Anagram Mark retreating The blessed subject of this mournful verse Transcends my skill her praises to reherse The lively grace which in her youth did shine Reflects convictions on this Soul of mine How short of her I am in patient waiting And how unskil'd aright to make retreating This age of deep revolt from truths profest Made sad impressions on her heaven-born brest Such as bespoke her griev'd in heart to see Gods name blasphem'd by seeming Saints to be This broke her sleep and mixt with tears her eating To mark the madness of this times retreating It s true she talkt not much made little noise Her closet-Friend she chose should hear her voice But her whole walk with God and man bewray'd Heart full to matter Though not much she said For hers and others Souls her heart was beating To mark the steps and issues of retreating She chose to walk a mournful softly pace Weeping while waiting for her Father's face Sharp sickness seal'd home love but seaz'd her life Once a choice Virgin Then a faithful Wife Both life and death this Anagram repeating Behold the uprights end but mark retreating Margaret Trenick Anagram King rare matter A Dialogue betwixt a Querist and her Answer Querist Dear heart while living Grace did much appear In thy slow speaking who wert quick to hear But more when death did thy crackt piâ—cher break Thy lamp shines brightest thou dead dost speak In this I acquiesce yet fain would know Why wert so mute why too good speech so slow Answer The Tempter on my Temper might prevail Some needful teaching sometimes to conceal Pretending ease yet brought no solid rest The fire increasing in my panting brest Which rais'd rebukes convictions griefs so high As found no vent but through a weeping eye Quest Was 't all and only thy temptations then Thou wert so mute among the Sons of men So scarcely sociable so retir'd As made converse with thee not much desir'd Thy lips allow'd thy heart so little vent That few could fathom what thy musing meant Ans Nay sometimes reasoning of a higher kind Did that way Byass my poor pausing mind I view'd and wept on a 〈◊〉 age That talkt 〈…〉 a staâ—ely stage But so reproacht it by unworthy walking As made me dread their fellowship in talking Quest But why among the Sâ—â—nts thy dear delight Wert so reserved if not silent quite Their gracioâ—â— speeches drop as generous wine yet might have been more spic'd warm'd by thine 'T is wisdoms way these waters deep to draw By frequent speakings yet with holy awe Ans Besides the Tâ—mpter's wiles I oft bethought How â—gnorant I was what need be taught How â—ittle I could speak to others gain How I had spoke already much in vain Then begg'd a bridle on my lips might be Lest I should speak what was not wrought in me Querist It 's true their talk involves both guilt and dangers Who boast of grace whereto they are but strangers But all who rightly knew thy Soul could say Ther 's precious treasure though a straightned way Nay when death seiz'd thee and thy strength was spent What glorious matter prest to have a vent Ans I must confess though forth I could not bring My heart conceiv'd rare matter for the King But my conceits were shatter'd short and bare Of such high matter heavenly-Royal rare I could not speak what I was apprehending Until my clouds my streights sighs were ending Margaret Trenick Anagram Make not Grace retire IF this Saint's name inverted thus affords Such choice variety of teaching words What would her nature her new nature yield Had we traversed that sweet-smelling field But since with gravity it was inclos'd Not seeking entrance most its profit los'd Such bosome friends as did that key acquire Found deeply graven Make not grace retire Above the rest her yoak-fellow is left To wail with bitterness as one bereft Of a choice Jewel whose rare vertues lay In Bosome-strengthnings through Christs hated-hated-way Her heavenly arguments in secret dropt His fainting soul hath oft with Courage propt When he ran hazards still did her desire Keep conscience tender Make not grace retire Consult not wife and children would she say Though we beg with you in the kings-high-Kings-high-way Beâ—ray not any truth what'ere 't would get you Desert no station where the Lord hath set you Great sufferings rather choose then little on A little spark may dreadful flames begin Set soveraign pleasure in dominion higher Though nature startle Make not grace retire Such words of wisdom dropt in gracious cools Speak louder than the cry that reigns with fools When husband slept the pantings of her breast In frequent travail held her eyes from rest For clearer sealings of her father's love For Sion's showrs and shinings from above She durst not grieve the spirit quench his fire Not make the least true grace of his retire At last she best appear'd on fiery tests When bonds her Husband Death her self arrests When stript of strength being forc't her husband left her Of all three sons her father had bereft her When friends stood trembling grace such beams did dart As rais'd with triumph fil'd with joy her heart These first fruits of the Kingdom set her higher Than that the tempter should make grace retire Sweet Soul She now a glorious rest obtains From all her outward pangs her inward paines Relation dues she long'd so to perform As griev'd to leave him in this dismal storm They cease to bind her These cares ended are To be with Jesus she finds better fare To such rare patterns might my soul aspire Not grieving Christ Not making grace retire An Epitaph GIve heed Spectators In this grave 's invol'd A costly Cabinet to be dissolv'd With wondrous wisdom richly rarely wrought And by great exercises aptly brought To lodge subserve and openly to tender An heavenly Jewel this age rich to render But it s new workmanship in worth did rise it To such vast value this world could not prize it They'd foils indeed to shade it wisely set And on its outside some distempers met On which the world did with contempt insist Till their enriching maket-time they mist So little knows this crooked generation Their things for Peace or dayes of Visitation Like them of old cry Barrabas set free Dispatch the Heir the vineyard ours shall be But the great owner marks not jealous eyes This age's aptitude to slight despise And scorn his renders of the richest gem Crown-Jewels nay the royal diadem And vext
Comeliness I want Thy Beauty may I have I shall be fair beyond compare Though cripled to my Grave And if above it all To Christ I married be My living Springs Oh king of Kings Will still run fresh in thee Vpon a Bible sent as a Token to a young Virgin wherein the worth of the holy Scripture is minded WHile I was musing what was 〈◊〉 unto your hands to send That of your Souls eternal rest my care I might commend The Holy Scriptures I bethought oft tendring to your heart That your affections might be brought to choose the better part There you may read what guilt of sin into the World you brought And since what filthiness hath bin in Word in Deed in Thought How God's long-suffering sins have prest as sheaves do press a Cart And nothing else can make you blest but Mary's better part That God hath holy jealous eyes the Scriptures do unfold By which heart-secrets he espies yet cannot sin behold Through shades of Death and darkest night these piercing Beams do dart He looks on nothing with delight but on that better part With flaming fire you also read a Judgment day design'd Where every idle Thought and Deed Must righteous Sentence find There Kings stand naked Death hath harl'd their Robes and Crowns apart Then but too late they 'l give the World for Mary's better part Then to have Jesus Christ ones own will be admired Grace To stand with boldness at the Throne and see the Father's Face To sit on Thrones when Christ shall say Ye wicked ones depart But come ye blessed in my day ye chose the better Part. The tenders of his Grace so rich here Jesus doth display He scarlet-sinners doth beseech his Gospel to obey To let sins settered Captives free and heal the broken heart He begs them on his bended knee to chuse the better part Deep Myst'ries of eternal Love hid from the Saints of old To Babes and Sucklings from above these Scriptures do unfold Not in the words of frothy Wits or humane terms of art But such simplicity as fits the Spirit 's better part The glory of the Father's Face the burning Law declares The beauty of Christ's precious Grace the Gospel here prepares Both Grace and Glory here unite to heal sins deadly smart The spirit and the Bride invite to chuse this better part The blessed truths display'd herein all your dear pleasures make It s sharp rebukes of every sin as healing Balsom take For though convictions to the flesh so bitter seem and tart Yet is their issue to refresh and heal the better part Oh! then upon this Word of Truth place high and great esteem This point of Wisdom learn in youth your precious time redeem To know Christ's from a strangers Voice account the highest Art Your richest treasure is your choâ—ce of Mary's better part A Poetical Meditation wherein the Vsefulness Excellency and several perfections of the holy Scriptures are briefly hinted perform'd by J. C. but turn'd into more familiar verse for the use of Children by Abr. Chear AMong thy glorious gifts Lord thou thy Word hast given Precious and pure sweet holy sure To guide me hence to heaven Here I abound with straits Wants and necessities There I have store heapt running o're With plenteous rich supplies Temptations here abound With terrors dangers fears These petty Hels thy Word expels And all my passage clears When Satan fiercely shoots His fiery darts at me Then Lord they Word is shield and Sword Me saves and makes them flee The present world commends Its Objects fresh and fair But yet thy Word doth that afford Which proves more precious Ware When fleshly lusts intice To their alluring pleasure To rare delights thy Word invites More choice in weight and measure The Errors of the Times Their cheating Wares display But Scripture sayes shun Errors wayes My Rule shall guide your way When by the Tempter's Wiles I tempted am to sin By thy Words Art hid in my heart Both field and Prize I win Nay though I foiled be And sin defile my Soul Thy Word can cleanse these noisome Dens And sins best strength controul An unbelieving heart Do I till now inherit Lord thy Word hath Pow'r to work Faith By thy most Holy Spirit If this be my Disease An hard and stony heart Thy Word thus deals first kills then heals And cures me by this smart Will not my frozen heart With Gospel Grace comply Thy Royal Law this heart can thaw And cause a weeping eye Doth lofty towring thoughts Puff up my tempted Breast Thy word brings low the proudest Foe Less makes me than the least Do muttering thoughts arise Grudge murmur or repine Thy Rod and Word teach patience Lord And still these thoughts of mine Am I tongue-ty'd in Prayer And know not what to say Thy Word inspires praying desires Tell 's how and what to Pray When like a lost sheep I In darkness err and stray Thy word 's a Light most clear and bright And guides me in my way A simple fool I be And destitute of eyes Thy word 's a Rule Master and School To make its Schollars wise I see my self undone Distressed naked poor Thy Words infold a Mine of Gold Rich pearls and precious store By sinful nature I And God are still at odds Thy Word my Soul converteth whole From Satan's Will to Gods Do troubles from without And floods of inward grief My Soul torment thy Word is lent With Joy and Soul relief Or is my Soul perplext With reasonings doubts and fears Thy Word of Grace resolves the case My cloudy Judgment clears Or do despairing thoughts My tempted Soul o'rtake Thy word doth give me hopes to live For Christ my Saviour's sake When floods and multitudes Of troubled thoughts me press I call to mind thy word and find Its joyes my Soul refresh Though in this vale of tears I thirst faint hunger Pine Thy word me feeds in these my ne Its Bread and Milk and Wine Or am I weakned out And cannot walk alone Thy word then is strength to my knees And staff to lean upon And though in scorn and pain Forsook and poor I be Thy word alone hath all in one Health Wealth Friends all to me Thus though my pained Soul Be sick and wounded sore With grievous sin which doth begin To fester more and more Thy word directs me where My healing may be had And doth me guide to Christ's pierc'd side For Balme of Gilead Nay though no life at all Nor quickning there remain Thy word is good and liveing Food Which fetcheth life again And if I would desire A Life that lasts for ever The Scripture shows whence water flows To drink and perish never Blest be the Lord my God Who evermore provides And filleth full my empty Soul With Food that still abides My Soul O bless the Lord Who bounteously hath given Strength light guide way lest thou shouldst stray In this thy way to Heaven This Holy Book of God
These Sentences these Lines Each Word and Letter to me are better Than Pearls and Golden Mines 'T is Heaven it self transcrib'd And Glory lively pen'd God's truth no doubt was copied out When he this Gift did send It 's Truth brought forth to light God did hereby intend Man's word should fall Heaven Earth and all But this should never end Dear Soul admiring stand At that blest hand and Quill That did produce for sinners use Th' eternal Sovereign Will Astonished admire The Author too and when Thou canst not raise sufficient praise With wondring say Amen To my Cousin John H. SWeet John I send you here A Song by heart to learn Not it to say as Parrots may But wisely to discern Oh! lay it deep to heart And mind it well I pray God grant you Grace to grow apace In virtue day by day As yet a Child you be And childish Toyes do please you But you 'l complain they all are vain When ever Grace shall seize you Nay When Convictions come In Gospel-Power and Truth You 'l surely cry Ah wretch am I Thus to have spent my youth Childhood and Youth were spent In things not to be nam'd Alas whaâ— praise was in those dayes Whereof I 'm now asham'd Dear John then lay to heart This needful timely hint Before the day of which you 'l say What pleasure have I in 't Begin to mind the Lord Who form'd you out of dust And did you raise to shew his praise Him love and fear you must In things that are of earth Spend not your youthful strength Its joyes and cares are all but snares To mischief you at length Where Christ in glory sits Place there your prime delight Let things above have all your love Your time care mind and might John Christ's fore-runner mind From whom you have your name Though from his birth liv'd mean on earth A shining Light became He chose a Desart life Fed hard was coorse attir'd He left the sport of Herod's Court Though he was there admir'd Sin he reprov'd in all And kept true witness clear He never sought himself in ought That Christ might more appear Another John you find The lov'd Disciple nam'd Who lean'd for rest on Jesus Breast With Gospel-love inflam'd To every Truth of Christ A witness bold he bear Though an Exile in Patmos-Isle Choice Visions he had there A Pattern if they be To you in word and deed Jehovah's eye will make supply To whatsoe're you need To my Cousin Sam. B. DEar Cousin Sam my pretty Lam this Song to you I send Whatever play aside you lay learn this from end to end With God begin take heed of sin know Jesus out of hand Betimes you must flee youthful lust Its first assaults withstand Spend not your dayes in wanton playes Though naughty boyes intice They first begin with little sin but end in deadly vice If naughty Boyes allure with Toyes to sin or lies to tell Then tell them plain you tempt in vain such wayes go down to Hell God's holy Eye our faults do spy and will to Judgment call us We must fear God more than the Rod or ought that can befall us How oft have I been like to die yea Death is alwayes near Chuse whom you will to follow still I Christ must love and fear Fathers best Boy and Mothers joy I then shall surely be And that that 's best of all the rest God will provide for me To my Cousin W. L. DEar Child although my Father's Will in Prison me hath bound Through uprightness and patience still my comforts here are found The presence of a gracious God doth this a Pallace make It makes the bitter of the Rod be sweet for Jesus sake But Oh! when guilt brings any here in Fetters to be bound Because of God they had no fear but were in evil found To such it is a dreadful place here guilt to judgment binds them Where if they don't repent apace Death Wrath and Vengeance finds them Of you dear Child with carefulness my heart hath many a thought Least you through youthful wantonness to greater sins be brought And so by adding sin to sin you wast your time and strength And when your judgment doth begin in vain you mourn at length I charge you then in any sort your great Creator mind Spend not your youthful dayes in sport that cannot be regain'd Avoid those rude and wicked Boyes that make a mock of sin Love not their playes and sinful Toyes to fear the Lord begin Keep close to School read Scriptures oft in private learn to pray Your Gospel-grounds keep still in thought Your Parents both obey Your Brethren love and teach them good a Christian learn to be Then God will give you clothes and food and you 'l be dear to me To my Kinsman A. L. MY pretty Child remember well you must your wayes amend For wicked Children go to Hell that way their courses tend But heark to me if you to be the Child of God desire The broad and open road must flee which multitudes admire Sâ—rive every day to mend you way learn Christ while you are young Take constant heed to every deed heart feet hands and tongue You may be quickly sick and die and put into the Grave From whence to judgment you must fly and righteous Sentence have Learn then to fear while you live here with Christ your time imploy Labour to live and die as one that leaves the World with joy My strength in cries I shall imploy that God will bless your youth I can have nothing like this joy My Children walk in truth To my youngest Kinsman R. L. MY little Cousin if you 'l be your Uncles dearest Boy You must take heed of every deed that would your Soul destroy You must not curse nor fight nor steal nor spend your time in games Nor make a lie what e're you aile nor call ungodly names With wicked Children do not play for such to Hell will go The Devils Children sin all day but you must not do so Begin I pray to learn that way that doth to Heaven tend O learn a little day by day which leadeth to that end For God and good men love such Boyes and will them good things give Father and Mother will rejoyce and I in comfort live Another to a Child insisting on Psal 119. 9. SInce I am naturally bent to take delight in Songs A Friend from Prison one hath sent that to my Soul belongs Which when I sing he doth intreat I would not mind my play But frequently with weight repeat How may I cleanse my way It is the use of such as I to Dance and Play and sing Or else to lie and rail and cry for will in every thing Why should our wantonness be crost or pleasures night and day We fear no danger to be loft what need we cleanse our way Should we our jovial play-mates shun when we return from Schools Should we not fight and