VECAV.IY. I lhould little r<joycc, if any ncccffity had caft you upon this refuge: for I hate anc A grieve 10 think that any dcfperatc mind fhould make Divinity but a fhift, and di!ho nourrhis Miftrclfe by being forfakcn ofthe world. This bath bccnc thcdriftofyou education : 10 this you wore borne, and dedicated in a dirrC! courfc. I doewillingly incouragc you, bur not without many cautions. Enter not into fo great a fcrvicc, without much fore-fight. When your hand isattheplough, it is toolatctolookc back. Bcthinke your fclf ferioufly ofthe weight ofthis charge: and let your holy defire be allayed, with fome trembling. It is a foolifh rafhncffe ofyoung heads, when they arc in Godschairc, towonder how they came thither, and toforget the awfulndfc ofthat place, in the confidence of their owne ftrengtb ; which is ever fo much leffc,as iris more efteemcd. I commend nouhc way-warp excufcs of 0111{ts,nor the peremptory unwillingnclfe of Ammoniw,and Frier TbDm.u, whomaimed thcmfclvcs B that they might be wilfully uncapable. Betwixt both rhcfc there is humble modcfty, & religiousfear/ulncs,cafily to be noted in thofcwhom the Church honors with the name ofher Fathers,worthy your imitation,wherein yet you fhall need no prcfidcnts ifyon well confiderwhat worth ofparts, what ftriC!ne!fcofcarriage,what weight of offices,God cxpct:ls in this vocation.Know firft,that in this place there will be more holinclfe required ofyou, then in the ordinary ftation ofa Chriftian: for whereas beforeyou were but as a common line, now God fets you fora coppy of fant:lifica. tion unto others, wherein every fault is both notable, and dangerous. Here is looked for a fctled acquaintance with God,and experience both ofthe proceedings of grace and ofthe offers and rcpulfcs of tcntations; which in vainc we fhall hope to manage in other hearrs,ifwchavcnot found in ourowne. Tofprakcbyaimc,orrotoofrc- c pentance, ofcontrition, of the degrees ofregeneration, and faith, is both harlh, and feldomc when not unprofitable.We truft thofc Phyfitians beft,which have tried the vertwe of their drugs, cftccming not of thofc which have oncly borrowed oftheir bookcs. Here will be cxpeC!cd a free and abfolutc government ofaffcClions, that you can fo ftccrc yourownc vclfcll, as not to be tranfported with fury, with fclfc-lovc, with immoderation of plcafures, of cares, ofdcfires, with cxcclfc ofpaffions ; in all which, fo muft youdemcaoe your felfc,as one that thinks he is noman ofthc world butof God; as one too good(by his double calling)forthat, which is dtherrhc fclici. ty,or impotency ofbcafts.Herc muft be conrinuall and inward excrcifc ofmortification, and fcvcre Chriflianity, whereby the heart is held indue awe, and the wcakc flames ofthe fpirit quickned, the afhcs ofour dulncffc blowne off; a praC!ice neccf- D fary in him, whofc devotion muft fer many hearts on fire: Here muft be wifdomc, and inoffcnfivcneffc ofcarriage, as ofone that goes ever under monitors, and that knowcs other mens indiffcrencies arc his evils. Noman had fuch need to keep a ftriC! mcanc . Scttingafide contempt, even in obfervation,behold, wee arcmade agazing llockc to the world, to Angcls,to men. The very failc ofyour cftatc muft bee m&derared; which ifit bearc too high (as fcldomc) it incurrcs the ccnfurc of profufion and Epicurifme; if too low, ofa bafcand unbofceming canhlinclfc; your hand may not be too clofc for others nccd,nor too open for your owne; your converfation may nor be rough and fullcn, nor over-familiar and fawning; wheri:ofthcone breeds a conceit ofpridc,and ftrangcnclfc;the othcr,contempt; nor loofcly merry, nor Cyni· cally unfociablc; not contentious in fmall injuries; in great, not hnrtfullypaticnr, to E the Church: yourattire (for whither doe not ccnfures reach!) not youthfully wanton;not, in th<fc ycarcs affeC!cdly ancient, butgrave and comely, like the mind, like the behaviour ofthewearer; your gcfturc like your habit, neither favoring ofgiddic ' lightneffc, nor ovcrly infolcncc,nor wantQDncffc, nor,dull ncglcC! ofyour fclfe; bur fuch as may befccmc a mortified mine!, full ofworthyJfpirits: your fpccch like your gcfturc, not !currilou!, notdctraC!ing, not idle, nor boafting, notrotten, not percmptoric; bur honeft, mildc, fruitfull, favourie, and fuch as may both argue and workc grace: your deliberations mature1your refolutions well grounded; your devices fage and holy.Whereinlet me advifcyou,to walkc evcrin tbe beaten road of theChurch; not to run out into finglc paradoxes, And ifyou meet at any time with private conccits that fccmc more probable, lufpeC!rhcm and your fclfc; and ifthey can win you to
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