394. 395. He delighted much in broad and obscene wit, and hiss'd at any thing too deep for him. His memory, sieve like, would neither retain the flower, nor part with the bran. 396. He had seen but the out-side of the world, and men; and conceiv'd of 'em according to their apparent glitter. 397. He was always wanting what he had not, and grew sick on't when he had it; the levity of youth continually pushing him from one vain desire to another, in a regular vicissitude, and succession of craving and satiety. 398. 399. 400. .401. He was rash and inconsiderate, neither consulting the reason or nature of things; but wholly abandon'd himself to the transports of passion and appetite. He lov'd and hated with the same inflammation; and when the heat was over, was cool enough to friends and enemies. Father. Some fops measure their deserts by the bulk of their estates: Others pretend to good breeding, from being well dress'd and equipag'd; and assert a claim to brains, for their accuracy in modes and fashions; tho' at the same time their manners are corrupted, and minds infected. Youth being guided by sense, nature, and passion, is indiscreet, hot, outragious, heady, violent, vain, H 402. 403. inconstant, and unsettled: For the sense being easily tired with the enjoyment of its objects; and the soul made for something better, not finding satisfaction in things sensible, conceives a fastidiousness of the present, and desire to change. So that considering how ungovernable the passions and sallies of youth are, when licens'd and indulg'd, what swarms of caprices and fancies invest this season of life, which wou'd wither in the embrio, unless enliven'd with wealth, which hatches and fledges the chimeras, it's a real hardship for a young man to be trusted with himself and his estate, before those years that give maturity to his reason and judgment. "How vain is youth, how ripe to be undone, When rich betimes, and made a man too soon." When young Phaetons rule the day, destruction comes before night. 404. Or, in Solomon's words, the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.' But go on. Prov. I. 32. 405. 406. 407. 408. ZANY. Son. ABOUT twelve Flatterer taking up all the money left on the table, whisper'd Youth to slip out and discharge the reckoning, which he did. Soon after in came ZANY the Vintner, with an all's paid, and you're welcome, gentlemen: Will you please to accept of my bottle? By no means, quoth FLATTERER, unless you'll score it, for it's the 'squire's birth-day, and he shall treat to night. Therefore, come ZANY, a bumper, his health, and then a song. 919490A 409. ZANY drinks, and sings, If any so wise is That wine he despises, Let him drink small beer and be sober. He shall droop like the trees in October. But be sure, over night If this dog do you bite, You take it henceforth for a warning, Soon as out of your bed, To settle your head, Take a hair of his tail in the morning. 410. Then squire began to talk of ginets, barbs, coursers, hunters, galloways, stallions, phillies, &c. describing the hollows above their brows, their champers, narrils, mouths, necks, manes, withers, backs, cruppers, bellies, fore-feet, hinder-legs, muscles, hams, pasterns, joints, hoofs, coats, colours, &c. After which he gave us an inventory of his terriers, hounds, spaniels, setting-dogs, water-dogs, blood-hounds, fox-hounds, grey-hounds, buckhounds, whelps, and puppies; describing the width of their nostrils, length of their heads, and snouts, how short their ears, and thighs were, how truss'd their reins, and strait their hams, &c. entertaining us with the history of each of their pedigree, with all the exactness of a Welch herald. - After which ZANY mimic'd a gifted brother, which brought the clergy upon the table. And One mislik'd our doctor's last Sunday's text, another his method, a third his style, a fourth his voice, a fifth his memory; there he was too elaborate, here too loose; that point he might have enlarg'd, contracted this; he might have been plainer here, shew'd more learning there; that observation was obvious, that exposition forc'd, that proof impertinent, that illustration common, that exhortation needless, that reproof unseasonable; such an argument he rather escap'd than defeated; that solution was more intricate than the question; there he whipp'd himself with the knot he just before had ty'd, &c. Father. O the infinite wisdom of the Son of God! in ordaining and establishing PASTORS-To nstruct us in his name.-To administer to us his holy sacraments. To reconcile us unto himself fter our fall.-To form every day new believers, nd even new pastors, that so the church may be reserv'd throughout all ages. |