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FATHER.
If wilful men will wilfully run on,
And break thro' all the laws of God and man,
It is no Chriſtian argument that you
For friendſhip's ſake, ſhould ſin and periſh too.
SON.
Perhaps I feaſt as other gallants may,
Perhaps with wine I paſs my time away;
With ſuch delights my ſenſes ſhall be cloy'd,
Why were they ſent if not to be enjoy'd!
FATHER.
My ſon, theſe things are as bleſſings ſent
Purely for man's refreſhing nouriſhment;
But if in any wiſe they are abus'd,
How can you think the ſin can be excus'd,
Thy lawleſs mirth diſturbs my quiet reſt,
My aged heart lies bleeding in my breaſt,
To the ſad deſtruction of my Son;
Why will you thus to diſmal ruin run?
Why will you not bad company forſake?
Why will you not my Christian counſel take?
Why will you ſin and ſlight the means of grace?
Return, return, whilſt thou haſt time and ſpace.
SON.
Father ſhould I your awful will obey, [ſay,
And quite forſake my friends, what would they
Not one of them but will ſcoff, I am ſure,
For ſerious men they never could endure.
