276 Ä PRESERVATIVE FROM SIN AND FOLLI's Scripture. tt Dent. xxxii. 29. 0 that theywere wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter eod ! Lam, i. 9. She remembered not her last end, therefore she came down wonderfully, and she had no comforter. Heb. ix. 27. It is appointed for all men once to die, and after death the judg- ment. Luke xxi. 56. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be ac. couotcd worthy to escape all these things, and to stand, before the Son of man. Rom. nie. 10. We must all stand before thejudgment-seat of Christ's - PART IV. Having finished ouraccount of the sins of which children and youth are danger, we come now to consider what are the follies and frailties Which are hid- dent to many or all of them. Some of these indeed are owing to a particular natural temper, and for want of more correct and rational education, but others belong to the whole rice of mankind in their youngest years, and are. sometimes called the vices of youth. In the mention of these frailties and follies, which can hardly be called sips, unless indulged to excess, "it is not to be expected that particular scriptures should be cited to expose or forbid them : for the holy scriptures are not so 'much written to reprove our frailties, as to secure us from things which are plainly cri- 'minal andsinful. Yet it mustbe confessed there are several hints -scattered up and down in the word of God to correct these follies, and to guard against them t. because where they are allowed and encouraged they have a sinful tendency, and may bring dishonour on the profession of religion. They may be comprehended under these following heads, viz. 1. Humour- some behaviour. 2. Peevishness. 3. Impatience. 4. Selfishness. 5. Unclean- liness. 6. Heedlessness. 7. Rashness. 6. Fickleness. 9. Profuseness: 10. A talkativeor tattling humour. 68. Q. How do you describe the first of thesefollies or frailties, viz. a Itumouysometemper and behaviour ? A. A humoursome temper is whenI, bave a great fondness for little and inconsiderable things, or a great dislikd and aversion to them, but still without reason : when 1 am much pleased or much displeased with trifles, or things that have neither good nor hurt in them, and can do me neither good nor hurt : as for instance, when I must havemy meat upon such a particular plate, or my drink out of a cup orglass ofsuch a fashion, or else 1 can neither eat nor drink: when every part of'-my gar. ments mustbemade to ahair's breadth of such a form, or else I cannot wear them : when the coversof my book must be of such a particular colour, or else Icannot read orlearn in it: or when I takeupon me tosay, I hate the sight of such athing, merely because it does not strikemy fancyright; or when I heap odious names upon things that are innocent and good in themselves¡ merelybecause they donot happen to please me. Reasonagainst this folly. Because our desires and our aversions or dislikes ought to be governed by reason, and not be given up to the mere wantonnessof fancy, which bath no rules nor bounds. 69. Q. What is the second vice of children, namely, peevishness ? A. It isan uneasy temper and carriage, which is the natural consequent, if not apart of the former folly : for if I am humourous without reason, I shalloften be froward and peevish where there is no just cause. If mere fancy and self -will govern.me, I shall, be often vexed and angry with those who are round about me, because theydonot humour my unreasonable fancies, though they act never so much by the rulesof reason themselves. Reason against thisvice. By the indulgence of this froward temper, I shall not only give perpetualvexation to myself, and trouble to all that are about me, but I. shall render myself unbeloved by all, and my behaviour will be intolerable in any family or any company. 70. Q. What is impatience, or the third vice of children ! A. There are four special instances of it. 71. Q. What is the first instance ? A. 1. There is impatience under pain orsickness ; as, when I amfistful againstall about me because I do not feel myself well.
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