* Serious Truths seriously delivered are not indeed very agreeable to the reigning Genius of Gallantry and Pleasure, so much in fashion, and so tenderly indulged. But as there is a Time to be allowed for the innocent Pleasures of Mirth and Diversion, so the Hours that are employ'd in the more ftudious Contemplation of Wisdom and Virtue, are naturally produetive of that sort of Pleasure which is above all other the most solid, satisfactory, and durable. Of this, Sir, your own delightful Experience may give you a Proof. Of this every knowing and unprejudicd Person is so far fensible, that he cannot easily dislike a sincere and impartial Representation of the true State of Things, ef pecially where there are great Dangers and -- Difficulties to be avoided or conquered, great Advantages to be improved, and immenfe Rewards to be won or lost, all which require Care and Conduct, Courage and Industry, and will never be slighted or supinely neglected by faga- . cious, noble, and generous Minds. If you shall be pleased to reflect a little on the laborious and hazardous Archievments of ancient Heroes recorded in History when they have only aim'd at Secular Glory, or on thofe of our own. Times nearer in view; if you recollect ' with what Sweat and Toil, with how many perilous Expeditions and Fatigues of Camps, with what Tharp and bloody Conflicts many : Young Young Gentlemen of our own Nation have of late Years eagerly pursued Military Fame, and such Temporary Felicities, as the favour of their Prince, and the Applause of their Country, you will certainly be willing to take some Pains, and use the serious Application of your Powers and Faculties for overcoming more formidable, because Spiritual Enemies, for procuring the Favour of Almighty God, and obtaining a far more exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory. We may remember, that neither the Heat of Spain, nor the Cold of Germany, nor the ill Temperature of any foreign Climate, nor the Scarcity of Provisions, nor the Strength of the Enemy, nor the Face of any Danger, could rebate the Courage of our brave Captains, after it was once inflam’d by the Esteem they had of the Merit and Distinctions of the Field, and their Ambition to augment the Lustre of their honourable Profession, tho' when it rises highest and shines brightest 'tis but sublunary and fading. Why then should any Difficulties, Trials, or Dangers, since to Divine Grace none of them are insuperable, discourage any Christians, of what Rank or Quality soever, from fighting under the Banner of their Lord and Saviour, who will confer infinitely better Rewards on all his faithful Soldiers and Servants. In this greatest and highest Warfare there are many illustrious Examples of renowned Worthies that have triumphantly march’d- before you, fome of which the Second Chapter of this · Effay Essay offers to your Confideration. God grant you may constantly and unweariedly follow the noble Patterns they have set you, until you your self, as well as they, shall give a bright Example to a degenerate Age, and render your self as eminently conspicuous in relifting and conquering all that is opposite to Piety and Virtue as any of them ever were. These are the Hopes, Wishes, and Prayers of him who is with all Respect, vii CONTENTS The Happiness of those Young Gentlemen and Ladies who . are distinguished from others by the truest Honour and No- The Unbappiness of those that degenerate from the Virtue of Early Piety as much the Concern of the Young Gentry as of any The Design of this Elay, and the Things it treats of, f. xiv The Reasons that moved the Author to write and publish it, Of the Difficulties and Temptations to which the F P. I Whether a rich, honourable, and prosperous, or a poor and mean Condition, be most exposed to Temptations ? The Dangers of both compared together, and those of the former State Depon to be more numerous and considerable, p. 3. The Temptations arising from corrupt Nature and evil Customs, as great obstacles to obe Young Gentry in the Practice of Re- The Temptations from the World and the Devil commonly ; greater, and more dangerous to them than to others, . p. 8 Their Dangers from the Flatteries of the Men of the World, Their Dangers from the plentiful Enjoyment of the Things of The Poffibility of overcoming the greatest Dificulties and Temptitions to which any young Persons of Ni Allurements of the World can hinder the Rich and Great from living a holy Life, if they vigorously resist them, and and daily implore the Divine Grace to enable them to perfe- This evinced from the Promise of God's Spirit made to ali Men, of what Rank Soever, that petition for it, . p. 19 This further proved from the Examples of those who amidst the Charms of Worldly Grandeur have firmly maintained their The Reasons why so large a Colle&ion is here made of such Many Examp'es of this fort extracted from the sacred History, Some choice Instances of this kird which our own Nation has produced in the excellent Lives of divers young Princes, No- blemen, Gentlemen, and Ladies, who have been eminently re. ligious, notwithstanding the Affluence of their Earthly Enjoy- The E X AMPLES of .. : Queen Mary II. and her Sister Queen Ann, our present most Prince Henry, the Eldest Son of King James I. p. 37 Edward Earl of Darby, one of the Ministers of State to Queen Jobn Lord Harrington, in the Reign of K. James. I. p. 40' Simon Lord Digby, who died at Coles-bill in Warwickshire 16855 p. 31 Mr. George Herbert, of the Family of the Earls of Pembroke, Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston, who lived in the Reign of King |