are strong Marvellous is the strength and power of grace in some young ones who have been sanctified betimes whereby they have been enabled to do him some notable service in the world In youth as the Body is most strong and active so the Soul is most vigorous and lively and therâ—…fore most fit to be employed by the Lord. Seâ—…k then Gods Kingdom and Righteousness in the time of Youth because this is the most acceptable time God is best pleased therewith 2. The time of youth is the most seasonable time There is a time for all things saith Solomon Eccl. 5. 1. The time of youth is the most sâ—…asonable time to seek the Kingdom of God There are four things requisite in seeking Gods Kingdom to all such as would obtain it 1. The Breaking of the heart for sin 2. The Breaking of the heart from sin 3. The Opening of the heart to Christ. 4. The Furnishing of the heart with Grace The time of Youth is most seasonable for all 1. You must get your heart broken for sin if ever you would enter into the Kingdom of Heaven you must mourn for sin here or weep for sin for ever you must sowe in tears if you would reap in joy The time of youth is most seasonable for this your sorrow is like to be loss heavy and more kindly The heart hath a natural hardness but if it hath got a contracted hardness it will with more difficulty be broken if ever it be broken Custom in sin will take away sense of sin and if you continue in the practice of sin you will feel a senselesness and stupidity grow upon your spirit and Conscience more tender and timorous at first by degrees will grow feared as with a hot Iron and be past feeling Bring your hearts therefore now under the hammer of the Word that they may be broken the longer you deferre the harder you will finde it to repent 2. You must get your hearts broken from sin you must turn from your evil wayes otherwise iniquity will be your ruine The longer you continue in sin the harder it will be to leave sin custom will be a second nature to you the changing whereof will be like changing the skin of the Aethiopian and taking away the spots of the Leopard When sin is rooted and riveted in you if so be you should turn from it it will be with unexpressible tearings and divulsions of spirit It is a hard thing to irradicate old habits which at first in the tender years may be done with more ease Therefore Dear young ones labour to get sin rooted out of your hearts betimes Get sin mortified before it hath got too much life and strength oppose sin before it hath got too much head and power which you may do with more facility and success 3. You must open your hearts and give entertainment unto Christ if you ever expect to have the gate of Heaven opened unto you and to be entertained by Christ in his Kingdom Such as shut the door of their hearts against Christ when they are young will finde if Christ doth not withdraw and leave knocking that the door will be faster bolted and barred within against him the longer you hold it out the more will Sathan strengthen the Fort against Christ and more easily beat off whatever assaults are made upon you by the Word and Spirit Christ will come in most willingly to them that open to him presently and the match will quickly be made up if in youth you hearken to the motion Let me beseech you therefore my dearly beloved young ones to open the door to Christ without any further delay by me he standeth now and knocketh for entertainment what answer shall I return that you have harboured lusts there where his lodging should be and would not part with them that you put me off till a further day untill you had a little longer tasted the sweets of sin O take heed of such carriage of heart towards Christ Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit if you be not willing to open to Christ now you will be more unwilling to morrow do it then presently may I be instrumental to joyn the Lord Jesus Christ and you together in marriage receive him into your hearts and accept of him to love honour and obey him and do it heartily and resolvedly and he is yours 4. You must get your hearts furnished with grace if ever you hope to share in the glory of Gods Kingdom Grace is glory in the seed and glory is grace in the flower grace is glory in the root glory is grace in the fruit grace is glory in the first-fruits glory is grace in the harvest You must get the seed sown the root planted or no flower no fruit no harvest is to be expected you must get the Kingdom of Gods grace within you Luk. 17. 21. if ever you would be admitted into the Kingdom of his glory And the time of youth is the most seasonable time for the getting of grace no time like the Spring for setting of this Plant of grace in the heart in the youth the heart is more plyable and like the yielding Wax more ready to receive the impressions of the Spirit 3. The time of youth is the most safe time If you make it your first care to seek the kingdom and righteousness of God you are most likely to finde and be successefull but if you make delayes you run your selves upon great uncertainties there is danger that you will never obtain if you do not seek whilest you are young The danger lyeth in three respects In respect of 1. The Uncertainty of Life 2. The Uncertainty of the Means 3. The Uncertainty of Gods working by the Means 1. In respect of the uncertainty of Life no Age â—…s secure and fenced against the arrowes of Death Some flowers are nipped in the bud some Springs run into the Sea so soon as they arise the thred of Life in some is quickly cut and the Candle blown â—…ut within a while after it is lighted You may dye whilest you are young and if you do not seek Gods kingdom and righteousness now you may not have â—…ime to seek these things at all 2. Your danger is in respect of the uncertainty of the Means of Grace you have now means and opportunities of seeking hereafter you may be deprived of the means if you be not deprived of your lives You have calls now hereafter you may be placed where you shall be out of call you now are planted in a fruitfull soil where the Sun shines and the Dews of the Word do fall if you remain fruitless God may remove you out of his Garden or he may withhold the dews and cause the Sun to retreat into a cloud He may either take away the Means of grace from you or take away you from the Means and if you do not seek and obtain whilest you enjoy the Means are you like to
disappoint and vexation to your selves besides the displeasing of God hereby But let your desires follow your love let them be carried forth chiefly and most strongly towards God and the things which concern his Kingdom and Glory your own peace and salvation Because you lie under the guilt and power of sin without a Christ labour in the first place afâ—…er strong earnâ—…st thirsting desires after Jesus Christ and his Righteousness that you may have your sins pardoned and hearts renewed Cry out None but Christ none but Christ give us a Saviour or else we are lost give us Christ or else we die and perish eternally Let your strong wishes be O that we had an interest in Christ O that our hearts were united and joyned to Christ O for a drop of his blood to sprinkle our consciences O that he would undertake for us that he would be our Advocate to plead for us and reconcile us unto the Father Let your prayers be Lord thou hast given thy Son for us give thy Son to us thou holdest forth thy Son help us to lay hold on him thou callest us to thy Son by thy Word draw us to thy Son by thy Spirit thou hast put thy Son to death for sin and accepted of the sacrifice which he hath offered O that our sins might be forgiven upon his account Let your desires go forth strongly after the favour of God there are many that say Who will shew us any good Lord shew us thy face Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us Desire earnestly with David the presence and communion with God in his Ordinances as Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after to dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord c. And Psal. 42. 1 2. As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my soul thirsteth for God for the Living God when shall I come and appear before God! Many young men have earnest desires after the company of their friends that are of pleasant conversation let your desires be carried forth most earnestly after the company and communion with God in his Ordinances wherein the chiefest pleasure is to be found Therefore prize and desire Ordinances for the sake of God because they are the means of bringing you and God together of joyning your hearts unto the chief good and if you desire the company of men let it be the company of Gods Children who are the excellent of the Earth Labour for strong desires after the Image of God that you may be holy as he is holy after conformity to Christ in his death by dying to sin and readiness to suffer for his sake in his Resurrection by your newness of life Let your dâ—…sires be strong after the Spirit that he might be given to you and abide in you desire every grace of the Spirit in the highest measure and content not your selves with any degree desire the comforts of the Spirit the joyes of the Holy Ghost desire strength for every duty that you might be made use of to glorifie God in your generation that you might be kept from sin rather than from any evil that you might be made victorious over all your spiritual enemies especially let your desires be carried forth with the greatest strength after the Crown of glory the undefiled and never-fading inheritance in Heavâ—…n after the beatifical Vision and full fruition of God in the New Jerusalem the perfection of holiness and happiness which is reserved for hereafter the fulness and eternity of joy in Gods glorious presence and desire the hastening of Christs second appearance that he would come quickly and put you into the possession of that Inheritance which he hath purchased and prepared for you 4. Young men labour for strong Hope Young men usually are big with hope and expectation of some great things in the world they hope for such an â—…state and then that they shall be content such deâ—…ights and sensual enjoyments and then they shall be â—…appy and satisfied but they that are elder and have â—…ad greatest experience finde the world and all â—…hings in it to be empty and vain and their hopes â—…ave been frustrated however being unacquainted â—…ith higher things their hearts are still most irraâ—…ionally set upon the world but I would exhort â—…ou young men to have higher hopes than worldâ—…ings and let your hopes be strong Do not hope for â—…ch in the creature it hath not what you hope for â—…ut let your hope be in God let your expectation be â—…rom him only Do not hope for much here below â—…his is not the place of your rest and happiness but â—…et your great hopes be of things above as your â—…esires should be strong after them so your hopes â—…hould be strong of them Hypocrites have some â—…ind of hopes but they are thin weak hopes like â—…he Spiders web Job 8. 14. which is easily torn in â—…ieces by the wind the wind of affliction doth rend â—…he hopes of Hypocrites from them they have hopes â—…ut such as quickly perish and are cut off Job 13. 14. They are like the giving up the Ghost Job 11. 20. When they give up the Ghost their hopes give up â—…he Ghost they and their hopes perish together beâ—…ause they are groundless and presumptuous Labour â—…herefore for a strong hope such a hope as is well grounded which will end in fruition and never in disappointment and make ashamed Let the object of your hopes be God and the things which are above and let the bottom the foundation of your â—…opes be those two immutable things the Apostle â—…peaketh of Heb. 8. 17 18 19 20. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of Promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oatb that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the Vail whither the fore-runner is for us entred The two immutable things which are the foundation of our hope are Gods Promise and Gods Oath his Promise This is the Promise which he hath promised even eternal life Job 2. 25. His Oath which he sware by himself to Abraham and in him to all his children Surely blessing I will bless thee Heb. 6. 13 14. which doth include eternal blessedness God who cannot lye giveth his Promise and his Oath God who can do whatever he will and will do whatever he hath promised here is a good ground for your hope to build upon let your hope be strong let it be a strong anchor to your soul sure and stedfast and that it may be so it must not be cast downwards like those of ships which
the sins of their Youth 2. That seek the Kingdom and righteousness of God least who seek these things after a sort but it 〈◊〉 by the by they do not make it their business â—…hat seek but it is in a slothfull careless manner â—…hat seek but do not strive to enter in at the streight â—…ate that do not seek heartily diligently chiefly â—…hat seek the things of the world in the first place â—…nd the things of Gods Kingdom afterwards and as â—…ose things will suit with their secular interests â—…nd earthly concernments as if Mammon were to 〈◊〉 preferred before God and Earth were of more â—…orth than Heaven and the Body more excellent than the Soul I might here both speak of the siâ—… of those persons and shew how they dishonour God of the folly of those persons and shew how they arâ—… injurious to themselves But it is the next word 〈◊〉 chiefly intend SECT III. Use 2. OF Advice and that to Young Men to puâ—… in practice the duty of the Text Seeâ—… first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness The chief composition of this Auditory at thiâ—… time being young men and the occasion of this Sermon being the desire of young men I shall therefore address my self wholly unto you that arâ—… young It is a goodly sight to behold so many oâ—… you come together to hear something for your soulâ—… good I had several Texts propounded to my thoughts to speak unto this I thought might be a suitable and seasonable as any Your forwardness to hear maketh me hope you will be forward to obey O that my Doctrine might now drop like the dew and that my words of advice out of the Word oâ—… God might be like the rain falling upon the tendeâ—… grass which causeth it to spring Let it not be likâ—… water falling upon so many rocks which maketâ—… no impression or like rain upon barren ground which bringeth forth briars and thorns instead oâ—… hearbs meet for the Masters use you know thaâ—… such ground is nigh unto cursing and burning Heb. 6. 8. Receive then Dear Youths the word of Advicâ—… which I now give you in the name of my Lord anâ—… Master from whose mouth the Word did first proceed Seek first the Kingdom and righteousnesse of God There is a generation of old ones who are going off the stage of the world and you are comeing on in their room ere long they will lie down in the dust and you not long since did spring out of it they are almost come to their Journeys end and you are setting forth on the way they are even arrived at the Port and you are now putting forth to Sea It is of the greatest concernment in the world to take and follow good advice at the first before you are engaged too farr Here therefore I shall put you in minde that there are two wayes or passages in which all the children of men are travelling the one is the way of sin the other is the path of righteousness The way of sin is broad an open beaten road you may easily know it by the multitude of Travellers it is the course of the world Your Parents when they bring you into the world set you down in this way and many yea most of them go before you in it It appeareth to you the smoothest and fairest way it may seem a delightfull way to you at the first strewed with roses such company such enticements you may have in this way as may render it most desireable if you take Sense and Flesh for your guides and counsellers But let me warn you before-hand that you walk not in this way you will quickly finde the pleasurâ—…s in this way to drop and fade the flowers will wither the Sun will be clouded the delights of sin will vanish and heavy griefs and bitter sorrows and vexation of spirit will succeed and blot out all the sweet relish you have had of unlawfull enjoyments You will finde your selves bereaved and disappointed in that satisfaction and happiness you looked and hoped for it a sinfull course It is a dangerous way there arâ—… unseen snares in it and you will receive secret buâ—… deep and mortal wounds which are beyond the arâ—… of man to cure It is the way which leadeth to destruction Matth. 7. 14. It is the high road to Hell thither it will bring you And if there be some sensual sweetness in the beginning of the way think what bitterness there will be at the end thereof Think how terrible Death will be unto you after a life of sin but think how dreadfull the punishment of Hell will be when you are let thorow the gate of death into that place of extream and dreadfull torment There is another way namely the path of Righteousness the way of Holiness which is narrow and hath a strait gate which you must go thorow if you would get into it namely the gate of Regeneration It is a way that is difficult to finde tedious and irksome at first it is a weeping and sorrowfull way at the entrance few there be that finde it most are discouraged by the narrowness and difficulty of it from putting their feet into it But it is the way of Life it is the way to the Kingdom it is the way of Peace it is the way of God it is the way to Heaven The difficulty is chiefly at the first the sorrows are mostly in the pangs of the New Birth in conflicting for passage thorow the strait gate weepinâ—… may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning Trouble may be your companion for a while but peace and sweetness succeed in its room If you walk steadily you will finde it to be a way of such pleasure and delight as you never did finde or can finde in the way of sin And if there should be clouds and rain and stormy windes of trouble and temptation in the Journey yet the latter end will be Peace be sure there will be rest and happiness in the Kingdom into which death will convey your Souls after they are seperated from your Bodies there you will finde fullness of joy and pleasure for evermore So that you have here Life and Death set before you Heaven and Hell eternal Happiness and eternal Misery the latter at the end of the way of sin and the former at the end of the way of Holiness And which will you choose if you will run with the wicked in the same excess of riot if you will follow the multitude to do evil if you will walk according to the course of the world fulfilling the desires of your flesh and make provision for the satisfaction of its lusts you will be found at last in the number of the children of wrath and the wrath of God will certainly come upon all such Children of disobedience If you will live after the flesh you shall die you shall not escape the stroke of eternal death you cannot avoid the
leave to be a suitor for your love let me beg your Love for God and his dear Son This is the first and great Commandement to love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your minde Matth. 22. 37 38. God commandeth you to love him it is your duty God alloweth you to love him it is your priviledge God doth chiefly require your love My Son give me thy heart If you give any thing every thing you have besides and keep back your heart it will not be accepted And God doth best deserve your love he is the most suitable object for your love other objects will debase your love God will ennoble and dignifie your love you cannot bestow your love better none so amiable as God especially as he represents himself in his Son If you look for greatness he is the most great and glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth If you look for power he is Omnipotent hath done and can do whatever he pleaseth If wisdom hath a beauty in it in your esteem his understanding and wisdom is infinite If truth faithfulness mercy goodness be amiable in your eyes he is truth it self and cannot lye he is full of mercy and kindness he hath most tender bowels he hath riches and treasures of grace and goodness If love be an attractive of love his love is beyond comparison beyond conception there is a heighth in his love which cannot be reached a depth in his love which cannot be fathomed a breadth and length in his love which cannot be comprehended his love is first without any beginning his love is free without our deserving his love is constant without any changing his love is eternal without any ending He is most lovely this should draw forth your love much he is most loving this should draw forth your love more he is love it self 1 Jâ—…h 4. 8. God is love not only hath love but is love he is all beauty and sweetness all goodness and kindness all bowels and love O what an incentive should this be to your love whither are your hearts wandring O gather in all your scattcred affections and fix them upon this most beautiful object place your love upon God now before it be too far engaged to something else from whence it may be very difficult to withdraw love him with all your heart love him truly and love him strongly love him sincerely and love him servently love him supreamly and love him constantly let the fire of your love ascend to him as to its sphere let the stream of your love run to him and lose it self in the Ocean of his goodness where alone it can finde suitableness and satisfaction here you may bathe your selves without fear of drowning here you may expatiate without fear of exceeding here you can never transgress the bounds of love love him strongly whom you can never love too strongly Be strong in love one to another you may love one another and you ought to love one another love is the summ of the Law the first Table is fulfilled in love to God the second Table is fulfilled in love to your neighbour See how the Apostle expresseth it Kom 13. 8 9 10. Owe na man any thing but to love one another for be that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law For this Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness And if there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Love worketh no ill to his neighbour therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law There is a common love which you should bear to all even to the wicked and your enemies which should not only with-hold you from offering any injury unto them or rendring evil for evil but also should put you upon doing good offices for them in reference to their reputation estate relations bodies as the Lord doth put opportunities into your hands and they stand in need of your help You should be pitiful towards the worst in their distress if your enemy hunger you should feed him if he thirst give him drink You should bless them that curse and revile you do good unto them that hate you pray for them that despightfully use you and persecute you You should be loving and courteous in your converse and behaviour towards all men you should grieve at their afflictions rejoyce in their good and be glad of occasions wherein you may shâ—…w a real affection to them you have acquaintance with chiefly you should express your love to their souls in your prayers friendly admonitions hearty counsels you should endeavor to awaken them whom you see sleeping on the brink of the bottomless pit to reduce them that are hastening in the broad way of sin towards their own destruction you should use arguments with them to leave their sins and to close with Jesus Christ especially if any of your relations and â—…eer friends in whom you have interest be in a state of nature you should use all possible endeavours to perswade them to draw in the easie yoke of Christ with your selves Thus you must love all strongly â—…ut you must love them that bear the Image of God â—…pon them that love and fear the Lord most strongâ—…y Your love to the Brethren must be unfeigued â—…are and fervent as the Apostle directs 1 Pet. 1. 22. This will be an evidence to you that you are Dâ—…sciples â—…f Christ Joh. 13. 35. By this shall all men know much â—…ore may yourselves know that ye are my Disciples â—…ye love one another This will be an evidence that ye are passed from death to life 1 John 3. 14. We know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren This will be an evidence that ye are born of God and have a true knowledge of him 1 Joh. 4. 7 8. Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love You should mingle your converse with Gods people with hearty and fervent love which will be pleasing to God sweet to your own spirit and advantagious to them you converse withall You should be made up of love and kindness pass by injuries bear reproaches cover infirmities sympathize with sorrows relieve necessities joy in the good of others as if your own and be ready to do good to all especially to them who are of the houshold of faith This is the second grace you should abound in namely the grace of Love 3. Young men labour for strong desires not after riches and honours and pleasures and friends though these things in their place and order and measure may be desired but if they be desired chiefly if they be desired too strongly the fruit will be not the looked for good and satisfaction but
Young men labour for Strength to fight not with men not with one another you must take heed of a quarrelsome and contentious spirit but get strength to fight with your spiritual enemies which of all enemies are the strongest and most dangerous Young ones you are called to be Souldiers in your most tender years when you engage your selves to be Christs disciples you list your selves under his Banner you wear his Livery and carry his Colours you have need then of strength that you get Victory over your enemies the Devil the Flesh and the World which warr against Christ and warr against your own souls Those that warr with men have need be strong in body and you that are to warr with sin and Sathan and the allurements of this present evil world had need be strong in Spirit You have need of strength to resist strong temptations to subdue strong corruptions and to get the victory over such strong enemies 4. Young men labour for Strength to Dye It is a great thing to dye and hard thing to dye as a Christian it requireth strength to resign up the Soul when sickness and death come which none can escape but you may be called to lay down your Lives for the restimony of Jesus Christ you may be deprived not only of Liberty and Estate and all the comforts of this life but also of Life it self too if you will cleave to Christ and hold fast his Truths this you must prepare for and resolve upon otherwise you do not reckon what it may cost you to be a Christian and you do not accept of Christ upon the terms of the Gospel you have need of great strength to be enabled to dye for the sake of Christ. Thâ—…nk that you may be called to dye for Christ and if you should that this would be the most honourable death that you cannot keep your life long and cannot lose it upon a better account that if at such a time you should seek to save it you would within a while lose not only your natural life some oâ—…her way but lose eternal life and be eternally miserable Thus To what you should be strong SECT III. 3. THe Third thing is to shew In whom you should be strong Negatively you must not be strong in your selves either to do or suffer or fight or die for in your sâ—…lves you are utterly insufficient for any of these things of your selves you can do nothing if you undertake any duty in your own strength you will fail either in the thing or in the manner of performance if you fight in your own strength with your spiritual enemies they will be too hard for you you will be wounded and beaten to the ground If you think to suffer or die for Christ in your own strength you will start aside when you are put upon the tryall You have read of the self-confidence of Peter Deny thee I will dye first and yet he denyed his Master when he was tryed you know not what spirits you are of you are not yet it may be acquainted with the deceitfulness of your own hearts be not self-confident be not strong in your selves But Affirmatively Be strong in the Lord as the Apostle doth exhort Eph. 6. 10. Finally Brethren be strong in the Lord and the power of his might Our Saviour telleth his Disciples Joh. 15. 5. Without me ye can do nothing and they found it to be so therefore the Apostle doth disclaim all self-sufficiency 2 Cor. 3. 3. Yet however weak and nothing as he acknowledgeth himself to be he telleth us Philip. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ strengthening me Let me then direct you to the right fountain of strength apply your selves to the Lord I cryed unto the Lord and he heard me saith David and strengthened me with strength in my soul Psal. 138. 3. Beg of the Lord that he would strengthen you with might by his Spirit in the inner man as Eph. 3. 16. When you feel your strength to fail or decay apply the Promise which God hath made of renewing the spiritual strength Isa. 40. 31. Thus much for the First Duty Young men labour to be strong SECT IV. 2. YOung men labour that the Word of God may abide in you There is a two-fold Word of God 1. The Essential Word which is Christ the Son of God Joh. 1. 1. 1 Joh. 5. 7. 2. The Written Word which is the Scripture 1 Thess. 2. 13. I shall speak concerning the Word of God in both acceptations 1. Let the essential Word of God let Christ abide in you Let Christ abide in your hearts And here are two things I would exhort you unto 1. To get Christ into your hearts 2. To keep Christ in your hearts 1. Labour to get Christ into your hearts young men be perswaded now to receive Jâ—…sus Christ into your hearts The time of your youth is the best time to receive Jesus Christ if you do not receive Christ now it is a great question whether you will ever receive him very few that refuse Christ when they are young ever are perswaded to accept of him afterwards Christ stands now at the door and knocks if any will open to him he will come in Rev. 3. 20. Christ knocks by Judgements by Mercies by Word by Ministers by his Spirit when you feel some secret movings and stirrings upon your spirit to thrust out sin and let in Christ when you have inclinations and perswasions to receive Jesus Christ then Christ is knocking by his Spirit open then the door comply with those motions and give Christ entertainment he is the best inhabitant that ever you received untill Christ be received some base lusts will inhabit your hearts and which is the best Inhabitant judge ye Christ where he inhabiteth doth ennoble Lust doth debase Christ doth beautifie Lust doth deform Christ doth enrich Lust doth impoverish Christ doth purifie Lust doth desile Christ doth cure Lust doth distemper Christ giveth peace and comfort Lust doth bring trouble and is the parent of eternal sorrow and woe O then give entertainment forthwith unto Jesus Christ now you may have him and all in him all with him if you refuse him now you may never have another proffer of him made unto you so long as you live And if you would receive Christ you must part with sin if you would receive him you must lay hold on him by Faith Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believed on his Name 2. Labour to keep Christ in your hearts Seek him seek him diligently till you finde him and having found him hold him keep him carefully when he knocks let him in when he is in keep him there embrace him close in the arms of your Faith and Love bring not in any Inhabitants which may justle him out of his Lodging let Christ abide in you without disturbance 2. Let the
their posterity Dear young men labour to overcome this temptation of the wicked one by the delight and pleasure of sin by taking into your most serious thoughts these few Considerations 1. Consider that all the pleasures of sin are low mean empty thin unsatisfying pleasures they are sensual and brâ—…itish A beast can finde 〈◊〉 pleasure in the most of them than you can do who are capable of higher pleasures these delights may please your sensual appeâ—…te but they cannot satisfie your rational souls they may satiate and glut the senses but they cannot content the heart The Devil and lust may promise full satisfaction and contentment if you will commit such and such sins but they alwaies fall short in the performance I would ask these three questions of the most luxurious persons 1. Whether ever they found so much pleasure in any sin as they expected and desired 2. Whether the choicest of their pleasures have not in a short time brought a weariness and trouble upon their spirits 3. Whether this weariness and trouble hath not been more irksome and grievous to them than their sensual pleasures have been pleasing and delightful yea let me add a fourth If amongst the choicest and chiefest of their delights in which thev finde most sweetness they had but one delight without change and variety whether that delight would not quickly lose its nature and prove a torment to them If they were bound alwaies to eat or continually to drink or without intermission to be alwaies in the act of adultery would not this be more bitter than sweet These pleasures are unsatisfying the soul can be satisfied with nothing beneath the enjoyment of God by whom and for whom it was made 2. Consider the shortness of these pleasures The Apostle calleth them pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11. 25. And as he saith of some meats that they perish in the using Col. 2. 22. so some pleasures they perish in the enjoying the enjoyment of them doth put a period unto them and those that are most durable they quickly flit away as a cloud or vapour which if not blown away by the wind they vanish of their own accord If the stormy wind of outward affliction do not puff out the candle of wicked mens joy yet the daies of old age are drawing on in which they shall say They have no pleasure in them Eccles. 12. 1. Death be sure will sweep them all away there will be no sinful pleasures in the other world 3. Consider the sting of the pleasures of sin which is not in the mouth but in the tail Grief and wounds and piercing sorrows will be the issue of sin Sin hath a far differing aspect in the temptation before it is committed and in the reflection after it is committed especially when they begin to be plagued for it In the temptation sin lookerh fair and beautiful and with a pleasant countenance but in the râ—…flection it is black grizly and terrible Hence it is that wicked men who can delight themselves so much in the fore-thoughts of sin when they are enticed unto it yet cannot endure to look back on sin with fore-thoughts of the account they must give unto God for it Sin though never so pleasant will in a short time produce more bitterness a thousand-fold than ever it did yield sweetness Besides the lashes and stings of conscience which sensualists sometimes have in their secret retirements how are they if any thing awakened at their latter end even utterly consumâ—…d with terrours But O the horrible anguish that will seize upon thâ—…ir spirits so soon as they are separated from their bodies O the tearings that they will feel of the never-dying Worm when they are clapt in the dark dungeon of Hell where they will be under the immediate impression of the wrath of the sin-revenging God! If sensualists did but believe and seriously consider the pains which they must endure in body and soul for ever for their sinful pleasures it would quench their desires after them If the Drunkard did see Dives instead of his bowls and goblets of rich wine begging for a drop of water to cool his tongue surely they would sooner drink poison than drink unto excess Iâ—… filthy fornâ—…cators did but know what dreadful horrour doth now possess and fill the parted souls of those which have lived in that sin surely they would rather take a Toad into their bosomes than embrace the bosome of an Harlot 2. The second Temptation whereby the wicked one draweth young men unto the commission of sin is by the glory and repute of it Not long after our Saviour was baptized he was led into the wilderness and tempted by the wicked one and amongst other temptations this was one the discovery and proffer which he made unto him of the glory of the world if he would fall down and worship him Luk. 4. 5 6 7. And with the proposals of glory and repute in a way of sin he doth perswade young men to the practice thereof in the management of which Temptation 1. He doth represent unto them the waies of God as reproachful the service of God as ridiculous the people of God as the most contemptible persons under the Sun as base ignoble and mean-spirited people hiding the high dignity and honour the Lord hath conferred upon them 2. He covereth the shame and disgrace of sin he doth what he can to hide from their consideration the filthiness and loathsome nature of it and what confusion of face will be the consequent of sin at the last 3. He putteth a glorious attire upon sin and painteth it over with such fair colours and representeth it unto them with such a varnish of brightness and beauty that it seemeth to them very desirable He useth many arts to bring sin into credit and employeth his cursed Agents to commend sin with the highest Elogiums as if it were a noble thing and worthy of great repute to encourage young men by acclamations of bravery of spirit when they aspire to be wicked in a high degree 4. And so fourthly joyning in with the lust of Pride and a desire of esteem he doth provoke them to do any thing which may make for their repute But dear young ones labour to overcome this temptation of the wicked one whereby he would draw you to sin by the glory and repute of it which that you may do consider 1. That sin hath no repute except it be amongst the vilest persons whose esteem thereof doth render it so much the more odious and abominable 2. That the Holiness of God is his most glorious Attribute and therefore sin which is directly opposite hereunto can have no real glory in it therefore sin is the only abominable thing which he hateth therefore he lightly esteemeth he looketh upon afar off he scorneth and despiseth he loatheth and abhorreth all the workers of iniquity 3. That the honour of sin is empty vain windy short transitory like the
crackling of thorns under a pot it soon vanisheth away and will quickly end in disgrace in shame and confusion 4. That sin is matter of the greatest shame in the world as it dishonoureth God defileth the soul blotteth the name enslaveth the whole man unto the black Prince of darkness and will bring upon such as live in the practice of it contempt and scorn at the appearance of Jesus Christ. 3. The third Temptation whereby the wicked one doth draw young men unto the commission of iâ—… is â—…y the utility and advantage of it He perswadeth them that such and such sins will bring in much profit and 〈◊〉 unto them and so joyning in with the dust of covetousness and worldly-mindedness he draweth them unto sin Hereby it was that Achan was tempted to take the silver and gold and Babylonish garment which God had expresly forbidden Josh. 7. 21. Hereby it was that Gehâ—…zi was tempâ—…ed to take the Talents and change of rayment of Naamâ—… which his Master had refused 2 King 5. 20 23. Hereby Ahab was tempted to permit the cuting off of Naboth for his Vineyard 1 King 21. 4 5 c Hereby Judas was tempted to betray his Master for thirty pieces of silver Mâ—…th 26. 15. Hereby Demas was tempted to forsake the Truth and cleave to this present world 2 Tim. 4. 10. And here the wicked one doth represent a great conveniency to themselves and families in getting earthly gainâ—… whatever sin they commit to effect it And he doth sometimes perswade them of a necessity of these gains that they cannot live without them and a necessity of such and such sins as lying over-reaching oppression and the like without which they could not thrive But young men take heed of being overcome by the wicked one here of being taken with the bait of profit and worldly advantage Consider 1. What the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 6. 10 11. They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown them in perdition and destruction For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some have coâ—…eted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves thorow with many sorrows And then think with your selves whether there be a conveniency in unlawful gains Is it convenient to be entangled and drowned Is it convenient to make shiowrack of faith and to make shipwrack of the soul Is it convenient to wound the conscience with guilt and pierce the heart with many sorrows Are these things the attendants of sin by this temptation more gainful or more hurtful Is it convâ—…nient to steal a Cloak which is infected with the Plague and will bring death almost as soon as warmth Is it convenient to gain any thing which shall be mingled with Gods curse a far worse evil than that of the Plague Consider is there nothing lost by sinful gains What think you of the favour of God which is bâ—…tter than life of the peace of conscience which is a continual feast of grace here and glory hereafter the choicest treasures Can any sinful gain our-ballance that which is lost by sin 2. Moreover as to the plea of necessity consider that most of those necessities which the worldlings suppose they have of these things are created nâ—…ties created by themselves but fancied necessities they are necessities only to satisfie the lust not for the stay and support of life Nature craveth but very little for necessity what necâ—…ssity is there of getting so much to lay out upon superfluities what need so much to lay up for posterity and would not the Lord supply necessities if you kept within the bounds of duty and cast your care upon him hath not he given the life and would not he givâ—… meat hath not he given the body and would not he give rayment doth not he take care of irrational creatures and would not he take care of you hath not he promised and is he not faithful But what necessity is there of sin to get the good things of this life Duty is necessary to all but sin is never necessary to any There is one thing necessary to get an interest in Christ and lay up the treasure in Heaven but it is not necessary to commit any sin to get provisions for the body and family yea it is dangerous and destructive Sin whatever necessity is pretended will bring ruine and damnation upon such as live in the practice of it Better starve the body than damn the soul better the body should drop presently into the pit of the grave through want than that the soul should drop into the pit of Hell through sin A man had better be without meat or drink without house or friend yea he had better lose his life a thousand times if it were possible than to live in the practice of any known sin though all these might be preserved hereby because the gain of all these yea of the whole world cannot countervail the loss of the soul Matth. 16. 26. But who can plead such necessity as this for sin 4. The fourth Temptation whereby the wicked one doth draw young men unto the commission of sin is by the pretended smalness of it As Lot said of Zoar Is it not a little one they are but small faults if it were blasphemy or murder or adultery or drunkenness or the like heinous sins there might be more scruple but they are but little sins small ones and not many a little wantonness lying and the like But dear young men be not overcome by the pretence of the smalness of sin considering 1. That no sin is little or small in its own nature Though some sins have more venome in them than others yet all are of a poisonous nature Some sins are greater but all are great all are the breaches of the Law of the great the infinite Majesty of Heaven and Earth and that which hath an infinite object cannot be small Est eadem ratio rotundi in nummulo exiguo quae est in magno there is the same reason of roundness in a small piece of money as in the greatest and there is the same reason of sin in small sins that there is in the most heinous because it is committed against the same Law of the same God See Jam. 2. 10 11. Whâ—…soever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all For he that said Do not commit adultery said also Do not kill Now if thou commit no adultery yet if thou kill thou art become a transgressor of the Law Though you should refrain some sins yet if you venture to commit others though they be less sins and allow your selves therein you break the Law of the same God and are under the guilt and power of sin and as equally liable to the punishment of sin as those which live in the practice of those which are most notorious And let me tell you
one side and him that sweareth on the other side God threatneth to condemn swearers Jam. 5. 12. Above all things swear not lest ye fall into condemnation Take heed of the horrid oaths of the roaring Blades in our times and take heed of more petty oaths of faith and troth take heed also of cursing and taking Gods Name in vain remembring that the Lord will not hold such guiltless 7. Young men take heed of Lying See Eph. 4. 25. Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth You would not speak lyes if the party you spoke them unto did know and could prove them to be lyes the intent of lyes being to cover God knoweth your lyes you cannot cover any thing from him and God being Truth loveth truth and hateth lyes and hath threatned lyars to give them their portion in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21. 8. Take heed of accustoming your selves to this sin of lying whilst you are young it will be hard ever leaving it Whatever advantage you may think to get by a lye I am sure your damage will be greater Whatever credit you may think to get by a lye your dishonour is greater Whatever fault you cover by a lye you do hereby the more aggravate it Whatever kindness you may think to do another by a lye you do your selves a thousand-fold more injury Though you may account lyes but words and words but wind yet for such words you will be condemned and such a wind as one saith is sufficient to blow your souls into Hell 8. Young men take heed of Unfaithfulness You that are Apprentices or Servants take heâ—…d of unfaithfulness to your Masters that you do not wrong and dâ—…fraud them in the least remembring that dreadful threatning that God will be avenged upon all defrauders 1 Thes. 4. 6. They may not know your fraud and deceit but God is privy to it and the vengeance will be fearful which one day he will recompence unto you for this sin Read the duty of servants in this regard Tit. 2. 10. where they are warned against purloining and exhorted to shew all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Be faithful to your Masters as to their estates their money and goods be careful as if they were your own do not wrong them or any else whilst young remembring that you must make restitution as ever you hope for salvation if you be able to do it and be faithful to them as to their counsels do not blaze abroad their secrets do not make known their infirmities serve them with all uprightness and fidelity as if you were to serve Christ himself for indeed he will count it so and hath promised a reward to faithful servants beyond what their Masters can give Eph. 6. 8. Col. 3. 24. 9. Young men take heed of Disobedience Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well pleasing to God Col. 3. 20. For this is the first Commandment with promise Ephes. 6. 2. Servants be obedient unto them which are Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart Ephes. 6. 5 6. Here is a copy of your duty take heed of the contrary sin which the wicked one will be busie to tempt you unto In disobeying Parents and Governours you are disobedient unto God and displease Christ your great Master if they be strangers to Christ you ought to obey them except in those things which are unlawful Young ones that are yet under Governmâ—…nt take heed of disobedience as obedience will be rewarded by Christ so disobedience will be punished by him at his second appearance Be not disobedient to Governours and behave not your selves irreverently towards the aged and gray-headed for you ought to honour the silver-hair 10. Young men take heed of Idleness Do not loiter away your time especially the time of your youth Time is very precious the time of your youth is most precious the choicest and chiesest it is your seed-time your gathering-time you are now more active and fit for employment you may happily spare a month better if you should live beyond fifty years than an hour now your whole time is short the time of your youth will be slipt away quickly manhood and old age will steal on you before you are aware but you â—…ie whilst young You can call no time yours 〈◊〉 the present O how precious is the present hour I think if the damned had but one hour given them how they would esteem and improve it I have heard of a Lady at her death who had mis-spent the â—…ime of her life groaned out in her air breath this sad speech with bitterness and earnestness 〈◊〉 thousand worlds for one quarter of an hour 〈◊〉 Take heed of lavishing away your time in sin and vaâ—…y let not an hour pass without doing something fill up your whole time with duty you may can and drink and sleep but let not the concernments of your body devour too much of your precious time let them not have more of your time than is necessary more than is duty Redeem your time double your diligence remember how much of your time is irrecoverably gone how much of your work is still to do remember how neer you are to eternity when time shall be no more therefore apply your hearts to wisdom and whatever your hands finde to do do it with all your might Take heed of idleness in your particular callings be diligent in your secular imployments the diligent hand maketh rich but the slothful person is brother to him that is a great waster Take heed of idleness of spiritual sloth in your general Callings Take heed of wholly neglecting the duties of Gods Worship either publick or family or closet of neglecting to hear or read or pray and take heed of negligence in these duties there is a curse denounced against such as do the work of the Lord negligently Jer. 48. 10. You must not be slothful if you would be followers of them who through faith and patience have inherited the Promises Heb. 6. 12. 11. Young men take heed of Sabbath-breaking Do not idle away this day as too many young men do in the fields in visits in vain company much less in Taverns or Alehouses in drinking and greater wickedness than all the week besides Value the Sabbath day above all the daies of the week spend it in the duties of Gods immediate Worship you may get something in the shop en the week day you may get more in Gods House and Ordinances on the Lords day spiritual light and life and strength and peace and joy Gods favour Jewels of grace evidences for Heaven are worthy your seeking do not lose such benefits as these by profaning the Sabbath-day by suffering worldly business to entrench