confirm and strengthen it. And is it not SERM. then a matter of the utmost confequence, XVII. that your natural corruptions (but too ftrong of themfelves) fhould receive no additional enforcement from custom and indulgence, but that whatever weight of power that can give, may be thrown into the scale of virtue? The greater oppofition you receive from fenfe, the more earnestly fhould you ftrive and labour to fubdue it, left by giving way at present, you find it harder afterwards to conquer, when you are brought under the dominion of fin, and enslaved to bodily affections.

Secondly, Let the fame confiderations excite Parents and Mafters, and all others. concerned in the education of youth, to a diligent and faithful difcharge of their duty in this particular. Let them learn from thence to fow the feeds of virtue and religion early in their minds; to root up and deftroy thofe tares the enemy may scatter, and fo to train up the children committed to their care in the way that they should go, that when they are old they may not depart from it. And the rather, because young people, we have feen, are too apt to be heedless of themselves, to be deluded by appearances and biaffed by affection, and. therefore want a prudent Monitor to fet them right, to convince them of their er rors, to inftruct them in their duty, and

put

SERM. put them upon ferious reflection. Their
XVII. tender minds are easy to receive impreffi-

ons; but thofe impreffions once fixed and
grounded in their minds, are not so easily
erafed. They wear not out by time, but
ftrengthen and grow up with them; and
therefore it highly concerns us to provide
that those impreffions may be good which
are fo likely to continue, and that there
may
be no occafion to undo that which
by long habit and cuftom, becomes almoft
a part of their very frame and conftitution.
Great no doubt is their misfortune, whose
ignorance and vices are owing to a careless
education. But the blame or guilt of their
wickedness is not entirely their own; there
is a fhare of guilt for them, who have
contributed to their corruption, by neglect-
ing thofe duties of reproof or counfel,
which the laws of nature or the condition
of their office have bound them to dif-
charge.

Thirdly, If the proper way to fettle the giddinefs and correct the vicious propenfities of youth, be to attend duly to the word of God, we fee from hence the duty of young people to read, and hear, and meditate therein; and of thofe who have the care over them, to excite and ftir them up to a frequent practice of thefe holy duties. It was (in St. Paul's account) a great advantage to Timothy, that from a child be

bad

bad known the holy fcriptures; thofe feriptures, SER M. which were able to make him wife unto fal- XVII. vation. And I know not why our youth fhould reckon that study a dry and an infipid exercife, unless the knowledge of falvation be not worth their fearch, or the means of attaining it may otherwise be known. Let then their Parents, let their Masters, let the Sureties at their baptifm "call upon them diligently to hear fermons," the publick preaching and explanation of the Word.

Befides that, let them excite them to reading in private, and to ferious meditation. Let them bring them to the Bishop for confirmation, that as they receive his benediction, they may in their own perfons folemnly renew the covenant and engagements made in baptifm. Let them excite them early to partake in the holy communion of Chrift's body and blood, and stir them up to the practice of those important duties, which they cannot fail to learn from fuch diligent ftudy of the Word and Will of God. And then they fhall foon perceive the faving efficacy of it, they fhall bring forth fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Whereas it is not to be conceived how They fhould direct their lives after the will of God, who have ever been ftrangers to, and unac-quainted with it. So that they who have

the

SERM. the benefit of revelation, should by all XVII. means perufe it with that modesty and efteem which it deferves, and use all dué methods to understand the real meaning and intention of it, if they defire it should be, as it was defigned, a lantern to their feet and a light unto their paths.

ADDITION for a CHARITY-SCHOOL.

And what a noble example have you here before you, of the great improvements to be made by virtuous education? How are these children taught the Holy Scriptures from their infancy, and inftructed in all the neceffary parts of Chriftian doctrine, whether they be articles of faith or rules of practice? How are they bred up in other useful parts of literature, that as by their principles they are difpofed, fo by their capacity they may be qualified to provide themselves an honeft and comfortable maintenance, without becoming either injurious or burdenfome to others? What benefits may we not expect from fuch dif fufive and extended charity? what comfortable affistance to their indigent relations? what safety and quiet to the publick weal? what honour to the religion they profefs? what improvement to pofterity? A De

A Design so much for the honour of SERM. God, and for the advancement of induf- XVII. try and true piety, fo little chargeable with finifter views, and fo plainly beneficial in its effects, both to private persons and to publick fociety, to the church and to the state, to the present generation and to future ages; I fay, fuch a defign as this, must needs have the approbation of all candid Judges, of all who have the real intereft of religion at heart, and the general improvement of Mankind. It opens a way to take fuch proper care of youth, both by inftructing them in their duty towards God and man, and breeding them to fuch bufinefs as fhall make them useful to fociety; that the whole purport of this discourse has a tendency to recommend it, and I need only exhort you to confider what has been faid, and pray that God would give you understanding in all things. Now to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, be all Honour, Glory, and Praife, world without end. Amen.

1

SER