drop of the riuer at such a time or houre shal returne into the Ocean or the returning of such a man vnto the earth shal be at such a determinate speciall time or age No our returning is vncertaine onely then being as a drop of a great Riuer let euery man commit the same to God and endeuour as he came salt with originall corruption from the earth or Ocean so to walke in Gods wayes and the way of this life that hee may returne fresh and purged by Christs blood to the Ocean of the graue and so drinke of that fresh springing riuer which proceedeth from the midst of the throne of God in that heauenly new Ierusalem for euer Our whole life is limitted but to 80. yeares and in one of these as in a poisonable cup or dish of meate death surely lurketh of all then if thou shouldest taste and drinke knowing this wouldst thou not suspect euery one diuide againe euery yeare in 12. moneths thou knowest not in what month or parcell of meate the poison of death lieth euery moneth againe in so many weekes and euery weeke in so many daies yea euery day also in so many houres in which houre or moment thereof sleeping or waking canst thou secure thy selfe from this secret vncertaine poyson suspect then all and liue so alwaies as to die alwaies night or day being prouided and being neuer so yong remember thou knowest not but the poison may bee in the first drop of the cup and yeare of thy youth as well as in the dreg or last dish of olde age when thou art first set at the table of the carefull banquet of life the sword of death is so soone hanged in a small haire aboue thy neck suspect then the same at euery morsell that it fall not heauily vnawares vpon thee but euer haue an eye vpwards thou knowest not if it will fall at thy first sitting downe more then at thy last rising vp as it euer threatneth then so bee thou euer prepared and in time seeke to redresse thy waies Mans breath is in his nosthrels which is the life or combination of soule and body whose dissolution is death Be thou neuer so young then nor so strong when thou letteth out the same thou knowest not certainely if euer thou shalt draw it in againe Let therfore thy soule breath vnto God and thy desire be to walke in his waies and to redresse thine owne All flesh is as the grasse of the field now greene and presently blasted whilest thou art then as the greene plant in thy tender youth expect euer and suspect this withering blast of Death whose sythe shall send thee with withered age alike to the graue and in the short inconstant way of this life walke in his way who is true and eternall life This life is a swift post running fast vnto death whose certaine steps thou canst not marke nor obserue Let thy soule then begin with him in thy first youth and of the contrary run swiftly vnto life and in the way of life which is Iesus Christ. Our life is a dreame now present and presently gone wherein who lieth longest and is most pleased commonly being awaked riseth faintest and most sorrowful Doe not assure thy selfe therefore of the length thereof but suspect the shortnesse in it there is no solide trueth nor rest apprehend therefore in the beginning thereof and in thy youth let thy soule wake and walke in the way of trueth Iesus Christ in whom true rest is onely to be found Pythagoras the Philosopher did set out the double course of this our life by the letter Y. expressing thereby with Christ the double way thereof the one whereof hath a straight passage narrow gate at the first and fewe they are that enter in thereat but in the end there is great comfort and rest for it leadeth vnto eternall happinesse and saluation The other wide large at the beginning whereat many doe enter but in the end they finde great trouble and straightnesse for it leadeth vnto eternall miserie and destruction Both these waies are set before the eyes of euery young man as Biuium Herculis or as life and death to choose This narrow way which leadeth vnto eternall life and saluation in the which euery yong man should walke in the pilgrimage of this life redresse his own waies of youth according therunto is Iesus Christ himselfe I am the way the veritie and life aad no man commeth to the Father but by me Our walking in him and with him must be in righteousnesse and holinesse of life being holy as he is holy The gate of this way is narrow and the passage straight for the liberties of flesh and blood must bee restrained our affections bridled and the whole man captiuated vnder the yoake of the obedience of Iesus Christ. And as through many tentations hee entred into the kingdome of heauen so wee must the same way follow him denying our selues with our crosses taken vp till wee come to the end of our way which is true life and eternall saluation The other broad way which leadeth to destruction and whereat many doe enter is sinne and Satan who is that deceiuing way vnto eternall death which euery yong man should abhorre and flie to enter thereat neuer so little or walke therein neuer so few footesteps in youth The walking in him and with him as hee is an vncleane spirit must be in the impurity and impietie of all sinne and filthinesse The gate of this damnable way in the beginning is broad the passage easie but the end is vtter perdition and straightnesse Where in following Christ wee must subiect the flesh vnto the Spirit they who follow him must abandon subiect and banish Gods cleane Spirit out of their hearts and be subiects and slaues themselues to the libertine concupiscence of the flesh and the vncleane licentious lusts and affections thereof They must refuse the light yoake of the obedience of Iesus Christ to follow him to life take on the heauy yoake of al kind of sinne that may presse downe their soules to the lowest hells and follow Sathan their way and guide vnto eternall torments of fire and brimstone for as hee is a condemned spirit himselfe so the end of the way wherein he leadeth captiuated soules vnder his heauy yoake of slauerie and sinne is death and eternal condemnation for the reward of sinne is death Therefore let euery young man beholding these two waies choose that which leadeth vnto a glorified eternall life in heauen by a sanctified life for a time on earth and walke with and in him who is the resurrection and the life to all them that are saued If thy walking heretofore hath beene in the by-waies of sinne and that broad way of Sathan giuing liberty and full head to thy youthly affections and lusts of the flesh Seeke how to redresse these thy waies hereafter striue violently to enter in at that straight way
A YONG MANS INQVISITION OR TRIALL Whereby all young men as of all ages may know how to redresse and direct their waies according to Gods word and if they bee in the way of life to saluation or in the way of death to condemnation Together with a godly and most comfortable Meditation and Praier ioyned thereunto GALAT. 5. 25. If we liue in the spirit let vs also walke in the spirit By William Guilde AT LONDON Printed by R. Raworth for Iohn Bache and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-head Pallace 1608. To the most worthy and zealous of Gods trueth the Senate and Citie of Aberdene together with the painefull and faithfull Pastours of the same all grace and peace from aboue constancie in the puritie of the trueth ioy of Gods spirit here and eternall ioy glorie and happinesse with the same spirit in the world to come Amen HIpponicus the Sonne of Hippias a citizen of Athens hauing decreed and appointed to erect and dedicate a certaine Image vnto his natiue soile as a testimony and manifestation of his ardent loue dutifull affection and gratitude towardes the same was counselled and importunately perswaded by his friends and kinsfolks who did heare of his immutable determination thereunto to giue out the same to be framed made by Polycletus an excelleÌ„t grauer of Images in those times but he greatly disassenting from their opinion and reiecting their importunate perswasions answered them that in doing so he should exhibit to the eyes of Athens an image or representation rather of the excellent Art of Polycletus the Image maker then according to his intention the image manifestation of his owne loue regard and affection that likewise it might bee that Athens so should rather respect the one then perceiue so well or regard the other and therefore hee had decreed to manifest his own affection or heart by his owne hand perswading himselfe that the whole to wit the manifestation howsoeuer as his loue manifested proceeding both from himselfe would bee more acceptable to his Athenians then the exact arte of expert Polycletus and that not hauing great occasion to fixe their eyes onely vpon the exquisite worke of the image or representation to say who wrought it they would onely behold the ardent affection represented of him who dedicated the same So likewise with Hipponicus after long and earnest wishing of an occasion whereby I might in some sort also manifest and testifie my dutifull affection regard remembrance and gratitude which I owe to the Athens of my birth education as a small riuer returning to his Ocean I haue decreed to erect and dedicate vnto the same as an image and plainer manifestation of my loue being a young man my selfe this image and representation of a godly and Christian young man trying his waies and by earnest inquiring in consolatioÌ„ with God shewing whereby or how to redresse the same to wit in taking heede thereto according to Gods word vnto the which examplar I wish that euery yong man may as he should coÌ„forme himselfe being inuaded or neuer so little stung with the poisonable serpentine lusts of youth whereof this wildernesse is so ful he may vnto this image erected in Gods word lift vp his eyes thereby therein beholding his dutie and the safetie of his soule which with Hipponicus I perswade my selfe likewise that it shall be so in loue accepted of my natiue Athens and Athenians as in loue and a testimonie of my loue I dedicate the same vnto them In the framing whereof albeit the exact arte of Polycletus be wanting and is not to bee expected yet with him without any suspecting of the contrarie I doe assure and perswade my selfe that the loue of the Dedicatour with his intention to manifest testifie hereby the same will bee more respected and weighed in the ballance of reciprocall loue which couereth many infirmities then the Image thereof dedicated or manner of testification howsoeuer In the which assurance and perswasion I doe rest repose secure satisfie my selfe desiring withall and earnestly wishing that the almightie God of Israel who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth may euer bee the watch-man and wall of the Citie with the sâ—nne of his loue and sincere trueth of his Sonne that hee may euer shine in and vpon it that the Candlesticke thereof may neuer bee remoued nor the Chariots and Horsemen thereof taken away but his blessings may bee vpon his people externally internally eternally Amen William Guilde TO THE THREE Right worshipfull Brethren Sir Iohn Sheffeeld Knight Master Edward and Master William Sheffeeld sonnes to the truely noble and right honourable the Lord Sheffeeld Lord President of Yorke and one of his Maiesties most honourable order of the Garter all encrease of true vertue honour and happinesse here and eternall felicitie with Christ for euer hereafter IT is said of Apelles a most cunning Painter that after he had painted and appointed any peece of worke to be exhibited to a publike view in any open place vsed to lurke priuily behinde the same himselfe to heare the diuers and dissonant opinions censures which the passâ—rs by vsed and did pronounce of his picture and willing to satisfie their curious captious natures withall vsed to excuse himselfe by vnder writing so Apelles faciebat not fecit If Apelles therefore in his age sole and most expert in his arte vsed neuer to expone any picture to publike view without shrowding himselfe as it were both with his boâ—â—d and this forenamed excuse from the captious tongues of the multitude verily the vse of patronage in these our daies wherein so many of carping Zoilus taxing Momus liueth is not onely customable but also altogether necessarie who verifieth the Prouerbe Quot capita tot senteÌ„tiae quaÌ„ varia ora tam varia Iudicia and are busie to be pulling out the mote out of their neighbors eies not coÌ„sulting with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nosce te ipsum to take the beame first oâ—t of their owne Therfore it is right Worshipfull Trinarie that leauing the Viper to the file hos ardeliones 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet this time I haue presumed to shrowd and couer this little Treatise vnder the sheild of your beneuolence and fauour offering and dedicating these small and vnworthy labours of a young man concerning a young mans direction in his life according to Gods word with the hands and heart of all humility dutie and affection to you the yong branches and happy of-spring of so noble a stocke whose roote so to fasten establish in the land wherein hee liueth with honour and in the land of the liuing for euer that the worme of his enemies may neuer preuaile to make any of the least of his branches to wither or decay but they may euer spread and more and more flourish in all godlinesse honour blessednesse I pray almighty God to the glory of his name his Churches comfort and the
name written which no man knoweth sauing he that receiueth it He that ouercommeth shall bee clothed in white aray and I will not put out his name out of the Booke of life but I will confesse his name before my Father and before his Angels Lo◠many rewards diuers recompences great liberality vnspeakeable mercy and infinite matter of comfort and encouragement in thy youth to walke in this narrow way that in age thy ouercomming may bee fulfilled and finished Christ who promiseth hee is the way that cannot erre walke in him hee is the trueth that cannot deceiue walke by himselfe and hee is the life that hath swallowed vp death walke therefore to him make him wholly thy whole way and wholly holily insist and persist in him redressing all thy owne waies according to his Be importunate with Moses that the Lorde would shew himselfe vnto thee wrestle with Iacob for the blessing that thou maiest preuaile with God and by his grace he may preserue direct thee in all thy waies◠according to his own way striue to enter in at the straight gate as Christ the way cōmandeth thee pray with Paul 7. times yea 70. times 7. times and be instant that his grace may suffice thee with the widow weary the Iudge of al flesh that iust willing Iudge to heare thee and grant thee thy desire with the poore Samaritane woman begge earnestly at Christ to cure thy owne sicke soule to redresse thy waies to direct thee in his and to giue thee of the childrens bread that hid Manna to eate The kingdome of heauen and end of the straight way suffereth violence inferre violence therefore to enter in at the same neither delay any time Iacob was desired by Ioseph to make his iourney speedily to come to the kingdome of Egypt where hee was second person Iesus Christ our brother whom we sold by our sinnes desireth and willeth euery young man to make his iourney speedily likewise in the right way to come to the kingdome of heauen where he is the second person also Iacob except that he had made haste to get the blessing of his father hee had beene in perill to loose it for presently as hee went out from the presence of his father his brother Esau came in so except thou make speed in thy youth to obtaine the blessing of God thy heauenly Father by redressing thy wayes and walking in his thou art in great perill to loose the same this narrow and strait gate of grace is opened before thy eyes then striue that thou maist enter in thereat bee not slow then but make speede in thy way here lest hereafter with the foolish Virgins thou call and knocke at the gate of glorie but bee not admitted to that Ioy say not in thy youth with sluggard Pro. 6. 10. Yet a slumber and vnfolding of hands but vp and walke with Iesus Christ in the way of godlinesse at the first call according to the rule of Gods word purge redresse thy wayes when that cloudy pillar warneth thee to goe forward goe and walke hauing it before thy eyes in the way of holinesse and when it warneth thee to stay then stay thy course in repressing thy affections brideling thy lusts and their precipitate course redressing thy wayes restrayning the liberties of the flesh conforming thy will to Gods will and walking in a strait and narrow way of life follow young Abell who walked innocently and holily before God offering the first fruits of his flocke as thou must of thy youth to the Lord and not the broad way of Cain in murther wrath and despising of God or of Lamech in vaunting and bragging of thy strength in youth to commit sinne as many yong men do Follow godly Noah in the strait way of holines and of curbing the liberties of the flesh who in that generall corruption of time was onely found iust and found fauour in Gods eyes when the rest drinking and eating taking of those whom they liked best reioycing and walking in the broad way of iniquitie and libertie of the flesh were destroyed with all flesh in that generall Deluge Follow iust Lot in this true way who remained onely vndefiled with the filthie lusts of the Sodomites and in vprightnesse of conuersation walked onely before GOD afflicting his soule euery day for their abominations and eschued the broad way of their vncleannesse whoring oppression drunkennesse c. wherewith yong old was infected and cryed downe from heauen feareful destruction vpon them Follow Abraham who obeyed and beleeued God godly Izaak who in his youth was diligently occupied in prayer in the field and liued chastly in the feare of God vntil a lawful wife was prouided for him Follow plaine Iacob who esteemed Gods blessing better then all the world and did cast all his care vpon God as the Apostle commandeth and serued in a painefull seruice long and truely without sleep in the cold frost of the night and burning heat of the day also suffered many iniuries and euer rewarded good for euill Follow yong vpright Ioseph who beeing greatly tempted to enter in that broad way of liberty and lust by his mistresse refused to commit that vild sinne of adultery with her and chose to walke on in the strait path of holinesse he walked so wisely that he found fauour in all mens eyes and was loued greatly for his gentle and courteous behauiour and at last was promoted by Gods prouidence to be the second person in all Egypt after his straitnesse in prison there Follow faithfull Moses enter in at this strait gate with him who chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God walking in the narrow way then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season walking in the broad way esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt the reason is for hee had respect vnto the recompence of the reward the end of this narrow way Israel whom hee did leade went out of Egypt to Canaan the land of their rest thorow much straitnesse and a narrow passage as the true Israel of God must go out from the Egypt of this world to that spirituall Canaan the land of their eternal rest Follow couragious Ioshua who went thorow a narrow passage ouer Iorden vnto the land of Canaan with Gods Arke before him by many battels ouercame and obtayned the same as thou must by many battels betwixt the flesh the spirit obtaine that eternal Canaan walking towards it in a narrowe passage and hauing Gods worde continually before the eyes of thy heart to redresse and conforme thy wayes according thereunto Yong Dauid after he was elected king of Israel hee walked in this narrow path thorow many tentations to draw him from Gods feare and seruice and thorow much straitnesse before he came to the possession of the kingdome as after thy election to that euerlasting kingdome of heauen in this world during that Prince of darkenesse raigne thou
it and them with reuerent and dutifull estimation laying it vp in their hearts practising the same in their life and conuersation by redressing their wais according therunto they may be crowned immortall and glorious Kings in the world to come and raigne with Christ Iesus eternally world without end For who esteemeth of it esteemeth of God his worde and himselfe being all one as who contemneth it to heare or doe the same contemneth God to heare or obey him who receiueth it and the Preachers thereof receiueth Christ as himselfe testifieth and who reiecteth it or them reiecteth Iesus Christ and the mercy benefites and loue of the Father offered in him willingly and wilfully giuing ouer themselues to darkenes to the Prince of darknes and to the condemnation of and with the Prince of darkenesse for euer Finally to conclude seeing the excellencie of Gods word is such and the estimation thereof and reuerence in our hearts should bee such wee may perceiue the great iniquity and fearefull offence of all those who keepe the same secret and hide from Gods people lest they finding this iewel with the wise merchant should onely cleaue vnto it and hide it vp in their hearts and soules it is life therefore they from whom it is hid walke in the shadow of death it is light therefore they to whom it shineth not walke in feareful darknesse it is the foode phisicke of the sicke soule of a sinner onely therefore they who know it not nor wil not know it must starue and die eternally it is our directer and counseller to whom then it is hid they wander astray in the paths of foolishnesse Except this seede be sowen how can we bring forth good fruit in a true faith to a ioyfull haruest it is the power of God to saluation to all them who beleeue and by faith wee are made members of Iesus Christ but how can wee beleeue except wee heare for faith commeth by hearing and how can we heare it except it bee preached Therefore who taketh away diligent preaching they take away carefull hearing and who taketh away hearing they take away the faith in so farre as in them lieth and so sheweth themselues plainely to bee enemies of Iesus Christ and of his crosse By it wee are digged about the rootes planted and watered and made fruitfull vines and sweete fig-trees in Gods garden and vineyard therefore who taketh away the same maketh God in his wrath to put to the axe to the roote of the tree to cut it down and cast it being barren and vnfruitfull into eternall fire being so slow and backward when wee are often inuited to come to Gods house banquet how much slower shall wee be without the hearing of the inuitation of Gods worde Wee are too barren ground euen when that raine and dew falleth vpon our soules but how much barrenner shall wee be and lesse fructifie when it doeth not fall Happy for euer is that Kingdome or Citie that retaineth the same in the pure sinceritie thereof without addition diminution mixture or amission as thrise woful is the same that retaineth not the same so The most fearefull threatning wherewith Christ Iesus that Alpha and Omega threatneth any of the seauen Churches is that of the Church of Ephesus I will come against thee shortly and will remooue thy Candlesticke out of his place except thou amend The most fearefull famine that euer came vpon any Land Kingdome Citie or soule is the famine of the word of God when the staffe of the heauenly bread thereof is broken This plague or the report thereof may make euery eare to tingle for where it is it is neuer alone but with it is the infectious plague of the pestilence of sinne suffocating euery soule vnto death eternall not taking men out of worldly miserie to eternall ioy as the bodily plague doth many but from their temporall ioy in sinne vnto eternall miserie of punishment And euer with it or after also followeth the sharp and seuere deuouring sworde of Gods fierce wrath and consuming hoat displeasure It is a fearefull thing when the watch or watchman of Gods word in the head of the Tower is dumbe when there is no barking about the sheepe how can the sheepe be safe It is a wofull thing to see godly Samuel remoued from Saul that he dares not speake Gods word plainely but must tarie at home all his life and mourne onely for Saul and his doings when hee is compelled to answere God how can I goe for if Saul heare he will kill me It is wofull to see Ieroboam the King put out his hand and bid take holde of the Prophet of God because at the commandement of the Lord hee cried against the Altar of Bethel It is fearefull to heare that the Lords true Prophets must be hid in caues and feede on bread and water being dumbe when Eliah knoweth none but himselfe left alone to plead Gods cause boldly and must bee faine to flee from place to place in great necessitie from the presence of Ahab and his false Prophets because he spake Gods word truely therefore hee must bee called a troubler of Israel and the estate It is lamentable to see that Michaiah for not speaking of pleasant things as the false Prophets of Ahab did shall bee beaten by Zidkiiah a false deceiuing and flattering spirit and sent to the prison house by the King to eate and drinke the bread and water of affliction to see bloody Iehoram send for the head of Elisha in his wrath or Herod for the head of Iohn the Baptist for speaking the word of God freely because Vriiah prophecied the trueth in the name of the Lord to be sent for by Iâ—hoiakim the King and beheaded likewise Ieremiah for speaking of that whereof God commanded him not to keepe a word backe to bee apprehended by the Priests and people and to be censured worthy to die the death to see Daniel cast in the Lions den and the three children in the fierie furnace for professing the seruice of the Lord their God is it not a woful thing to see Iesus Christ persecuted daily for proclaiming the will of his Father and that ioyfull yeare of Iubile for the freedome of mens soules to see Steuen stoned to death for the testimony of Iesus Peter and Iohn imprisoned for the preaching of the Gospel freely and with threatning commanded that they preach no more to see the Apostles beaten and oftentimes incarcerated Paul stoned smitten apprehended bound c. The beloued Apostle of Iesus Christ exiled to an I le Patmos and Gods seruants the bearers of this glorious iewell of his word by manifolde waies to be troubled onely for the testimonie of the trueth and of a good conscience which the itching eares of these last times cannot abide to heare albeit they shoulde most desire the same For where Gods word is not preached the people perisheth as testifieth the Preacher And the chiefe cause that Gods word