The Youngmans Guide in his way to HEAVEN OR A CABINET of Rich Jewels left and Bequeathed to all Young Persons by the Reverend Mr. John Shrenock B. D. Who dyed in the flower of his Age lying but seven days on his Death bed during which space of time he wrought this Sermon desiring it might be Preached at his Funeral and published for the benefit of all persons both young and old With his last Prayers Licensed and Entred according to order Printed for J. Conyers at the Black Raven in Hol 〈…〉 Church and Thâ—â—â—â—â— Inn 2. Chron. 34.2 Whilst he was yet young he began to seek after the God of David his Father THis whole Chaper with the next arâ— nothing but a recital of the Acts of good King Josiah he was a holy and good King as any we read of in the book of God and this is a commendation of him that he sought the Lord God betimes he was good when almost all were bad were turned into Idolatry He in the twelfth year of his Reign began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places and the Groves the Carved Images and Molten Images and they brake down the Altar of Baal in his presence ver 3 4. And when he had destroyed all the Idolâ— Worship he set up the worship of the true God and repaired the house of the Lord Great was his hatred to Idolatry as you may read at large in the remaining part of the Chapter And as of all examples the best ought to be followed and imitated so I here present you with a most excellent pattern and that is of good King Josiah Whilst he was yet young he sought the Lord God From which words we shall shew you that it the duty of young men and young women to seek the Lord in their youth and to be really good betimes Reason 1. Because youth is the fittest time Remember thy Creator in the days of thy Youth saith Solomon Eccles 12.1 Not a few sparâ— hours as one well notes but days every daâ— working it must be in the days of thy youtâ— before the evil day comes that is before agâ— and sickness seise on thee and thou be madâ— unfit for so great a work The 2 Reason is because youth is a chusing time Oh when thou art a chusing a fit objecâ— for thy eye or heart oh then think upon God and consider if he be not the best choice 〈◊〉 shall shew you those excellencies that are in God and Christ that thou shouldest chuse him above all others 1. Are you poor he is rich art thou naked Christ hath white Raiment to cloath thee arâ— thou spiritually blind he hath an eye-salve to enlighten thee art thou in great straits hâ— hath wisdom to counsel thee art thou unrighteous unholy he will give holiness and sanctification to thee art thou an hungry oâ— thirsty he will be the bread of life and feeâ— thee and wine to satisfie thy thirsty soul arâ— thou sick he will be thy Physician in a word he will be All and in all to thee thou shalâ— want nothing that is good for thee Thus having chosen Christ to be thine thou hast goâ— the pearl of great price the richest Jewel that that cannot be overvalu'd therefore oh young men get Christ and make him your choice and you have all that can be desired Secondly young women let me intreat you to make the same choice that Mary did Lu. 10.42 But one thing is needful Mary hath chosen the good part that shall not be taken from her she had chosen Christ she had got a saving interest in Christ which is this one thing necessary Plutarch writes of Hannibal that when he could have taken the great City of Rome he would not and when he would he could not so many in their young years when they might have mercy and grace would not and in their old Age when they would have Christ pardon peace and Heaven they cannot Thirdly it was the commendation of Josiah that he served the Lord betimes And Timothy that he know the Scriptures from a Child And Obediah that he feared the Lord from his Youth 1 Kings 8.12 Again Remember thy Creator presently instantly for thou knowest not whether thou shall ever attain to age thou know'st not what a day may bring forth therefore remember to know him to love him to desire delight to depend upon him to get an interest in him and to live unto him remembring to walk with him First remember the Father to know him and to be inwardly acquainted with him Secondly remember the Son to believe and trust in him to imbrace him and give up thy self wholly unto him Remember the holy Spirit so as to hear and obey his Voice and feel his Presence and to experience his Influence and thus thou oughtest to remember thy Creator Saith Seneca though Death be before the old Man's face yet he may be as near the young Man's back Man's life is but a shadow that soon passeth away and St. Austin doubteth which to call it A dying life or living death Alas how many youngmen when God calls for the Primrose of their youth and vigor put him off with the trembling joynts of Old age Never had youth better opprotunities of being good than now in these golden Sun-shining days of the Gospel wherein God and Christ and the holy Spirit are offer'd in the Gospel to sinners nay the greatest of sinners that will come in and submit to the Scepter of Christ and be saved Oh young man nay all persons remember in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace before they be hid from thy eyes and thou go hence be no more seen Remember that God will not always strive with thee Gen. 6. by his holy spirit God gives every man and woman a day of grace and if thou improve not that thou maiest be undone for ever therefore consider Reader seriously on these things Oh consider young Men young Women all persons in general that this is the acceptable time this is thy day of grace even this day that is before thee now or never The Ancients saith Erasmus paint Time with an hairy Forehead but bald behind to signifie that whilst a man hath opportunity before him he may lay hold of it but if he suffer it to slip away he cannot pull it back again 4. Consider of this young men young women you are equally concern'd Now in the flower of your days remember your Creator and having begun well continue in well doing knowing your Labour shall not be vain in the Lord pray and pray earnestly to him for grace and his holy spirit to mortifie your corrupt lusts and affections you have a great many enemies the Flesh the World and the Devil and against these must thou be always striving and keeping a strict watch or thou wilt be overcome I shall endeavour to set before thee some of those sins that daily attend youth
Almighty God Consider of it before it be too late for how dost thou know O thou filthy Swearer and Blasphemer of Gods name in thy cursed and filthy Oaths wishing God to damn thee but he may take thee at thy word and send thee to Hell there to abide to Eternity Matth. 12 34. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh So then if thy words are prophane thy heart is polluted if it were a pure Fountain it would not bring forth such bitter streams of filthiness if thou did bless God in thy heart thou wouldst not blaspheme with thy tongue James 3.10 Oaths are nothing but Badges of a vile and wicked person even such as are scuâ— of Ale-houses Taverns and filthy Prisons as unseemly evil in the most notorious Villains and High-way-men much more in any that pretend the least spark of Grace Remember that God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain Ex. 20. He that maketh no conscience of small Oaths will not stick at great Ones But some may object and say I have been so accustomed to Swear that I cannot leave it know this that if thou canst not alter thy custom by Repentance God can and will alter it by punishment and therefore let all Men Women and Children leave this sin as they tender the salvation of their immortal Souls and rebuke it boldly in all Persons guilty of it Saith St. Chrysostom Youth is hard to be ruled easie to be drawn away apt to be deceived and and stands in need of very violent Reins Saith Cornelius A Lapide The Ancients did use to paint Youth like a young man naked with a veil over his face his right hand bound behind him and his left hand loose and Time behind him pulling one thread out of his Veil every day intimating that youngmen are void of Knowledge and blind and unfit to do good ready to do evil till time by little and little makes them wiser Consider of this O young man that the least Dram of Pleasure brings thee abundance of grief and though thy paths seem to be strewed with Rose Buds of Delight and Pleasure yet bitterness will be the end There are many other sins that attend Youth Ignorance Falshood Impatiency under reproof a trifling Spirit Prodigality Drunkenness and taking Gods name in vain which sins I would intreat thee O young man to avoid as thou tendernest the good of thy immor-soul and as thou expectest Heaven and Happiness for ever leave and loath these Sins as thou wouldest a Toad or Serpent I shall refer thee for thy further satisfaction to an excellent sheet Intituled A timely Warning to Drunkards Swearers and blasphemers of Gods holy Name and other lewd Livers Again I shall speak a few words to Young men 1. As a Child under tuition of thy parentâ— 2. As a Prentice under tuition of a Master â— As a child in the first place be diligent to servâ— God hear the word preached read the Scriptures diligently and other good Books be surâ— to pray to God morning and evening according to the example of holy David if thou can not pray buy a Book of Godly prayers till God shall enable thee to pray without a Book Be sure to reverence respect and honour thy Parents with all dutifulness and gentle behaviour as a Child of God ought to do I shall not be large in this but refer thee tâ— an excellent sheet named Mr. Baxters direction for Family Duties containing the duty of parentâ— to children children to parents Masters to Servants and servants to masters Secondly a word to thee as an Apprentice oâ— Servant First be faithful and honest in that calling that God hath called thee to giving respect to thy master and mistress obey theâ— in all their lawful commands hear the advice of S. Paul Servants be obedient to your masters in singleness of heart Eph 6 avoiding all â—â—fering and making away thy masters goods read the pattern of a good servant in that oâ— Joseph Gen. 30. he was so just that his master committed all his goods into his possession and he missed nothing afterward God raised him up to be the second person in the Kingdom I have read of an Italian Poet who brings in a proper Young man Rich and Potent thus discoursing with Death in the habit of a Mower with a Sythe in his hand cutting down the life of Man for all flesh is grass Isa 40. and wilt thou not spare any Person saith the young man I spare none saith Death Man's life is but a Day a short day a Winters day oftentimes the Sun goes down upon a Man before it be well up your day is short and your work is great and your Journey is long and therefore you should rise early and set forwards towards Heaven betimes as that Man doth that hath a long Journey to go on a Winters day every days experience tells us that a young Mans Life is as much a vapour as the Old and as much uncertain Again young Men and young VVomen if you would be really good in the next place make sure of your Conversion for without Conversion there is no salvation Except you be born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 3.3 St. Austins Conversion was on this wise He heard a voice from Heaven saying take up and Read and in opening the New Testament he fell upon the place of Romans 13.13.14 Let us walk honestly as in the day not in Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envy but put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the flesh to obey it 〈◊〉 the Lust thereof The Scripture so wroughâ— upon him as it was the means of his conversioâ— St. Cyprian was converted by reading the firâ—â— Chapter of Jonah Junius was converted by reading the first chapt of John the Evangelist I have read of Paphnutius that he converted two Famous Strumpets Thais and Ephron with this Scripture Argument That God seetâ— all things in the dark when the doors are fast thâ— windows shut and the Curtains drawn I have read of a poor Man that perswaded a young Scholar from reading Poetry and to fall upon reading the Scriptures which he did and before he had read out Genesis it pleased God to work a change in his heart and turâ— him to the Lord in the 20th year of his Age. Many more Examples might be produced to exctie young Persons to the Study of the Scriptures thou dost not know but it may have the same influence on thy hard heart to softeâ— it and thy proud spirits to humble them anâ— your sinful natures to change them and yoâ— may by the operation of the spirit be converted and saved by them Again further consider O all young personâ— if in the spring and morning of your days yoâ— do not bring forth fruits to God it is verâ— much if you do ever for death-bed Repeâ—tance is rarely true for those that stop
thâ—â— ears to Gods early calls he will shut his ears to their late Prayers It is a great honour to a man when he is old that he can date his conversion from the morning of his youth It was Abrahams honour that he died in a good old age so St. Paul's that he was aged in years and grace and St. John had those Divine revelations when he was aged in years and grace I say that God doth make large discoveries of himself to aged Christians Polycarpus could say when he was old Many years have I served my Master Christ and hitherto he hath dealt well by me By this you may see as in a glass plainly the honour of being an old disciple of Christ Let me exhort you young Men and young Women in the words of that antient and faithful Servant of Jesus Christ T. Brooks saith he As you love your precious souls and as you would scape Hell and come to Heaven and as you would be happy in life and blessed in death and glorious after death don't spend any more of your precious time in drinking and drabbing in Carding and Dicing do not trifle away your time don't Swear away your time don't Whore away your time don't Lye away your time but begin to be good betimes because Time is a Talent that God will reckon with you for Again consider in the next place Oh young men and women how near you are to the ocean of Eternity there is not a step you step nor a breath you draw nor moment of time you live but hath an influence on Eternity O the goldâ—â— Sands will be quickly run out Oh what a 〈◊〉 thing is your life but a span a dream a wiâ— a shadow a post swifter than a post Job 7. â— Remember that you are all going to your long 〈◊〉 to the house of Eternity yet man doth not â—â—â—cern how his precious time doth fly from hâ—â— as the shadow on a Dial passeth on from 〈◊〉 hour to another though its speedy motioâ— not discern'd so man passeth from infancy childhood and from childhood to youth 〈◊〉 from youth to middle age and so to old aâ—â— and to the grave and how few are there tâ— take notice of it yea in a moment we shall 〈◊〉 down into the grave and come up no mâ—â— How these Meditations much trouble a Persâ—â— King that having took a view of his vast Arâ— wept to think that within an hundred yeâ— not one of them would be left alive Oh young men tremble to consider that yâ—â— are on the very brink of Death and Eternâ—â— upon the borders of Heaven or the mouth 〈◊〉 Hell and as soon as death hath shut your eyâ—â— you shall see and know what you shall be 〈◊〉 ever for you are almost within the dreadâ—â— noise of the Milstone of Gods wrath and 〈◊〉 ratling of fiery Chains of the prisoners of Heâ—â— Oh dolorous out-cries and roaring of the dâ—â—ned in Hell crying out One and all Oh wâ— evil and grievous evil and bitter a thing i◠〈◊〉 which we would not believe till we came to this disâ—al place of torment There you may hear those â—ursed tormented sinners crying out in the veâ—y anguish of their spirits Oh when the Lord of â—lory was at the door knocking we would not let 〈◊〉 in and now is Hells Mouth shut upon us for â—ver There the filthy Swearer Lyer and â—lasphemer of Gods holy Name that did tear â—nd rend the Name of their Creator and â—wear by the blood of their Redeemer are â—ere with scorching tongues to bewail that â—hey should take the Name of God in vain There the impudent and swinish Drunkard that â—ad too often with his pleasant Cups and sparkâ—ng Wine and cursing Companions here in â—he Agony of his soul does wish that he had been â—ober and temperate so that he might not have â—asted the bitter wine of Gods wrath the dregs of which he is made to drink for ever Psalm 75.8 There the filthy Adulterers and cursed Harlots â—urning in their Hellish lust crying out Oh â—hat we had been chast sober and modest and â—hat our eyes had been blind and never had â—nown the face of man or woman so we had â—scaped the vengeance of eternal fire There â—â—e shall hear the vile Atheist wishing that he had believed the Ministers of Christ but alas â—ow it is too late And likewise the Worldâ—ing choaked with Silver and Gold There â—he cowardly back-slider in heart shall wish that he had never know the way of God 〈◊〉 that he had been faithful unto death But you that are the Servants of God anâ— mourners in Sion Lift up your heads for your Redemption draws nigh and know that you are coâ—â— within the hearing of the Heavenly Songs Eternâ—â— Triumphs and Hallelujahs of the Saints and Glorious Angels in your Fathers house where there 〈◊〉 fulness of Joy and Pleasure for evermore Psalâ— 16.11 St. Jerom used to say That whether he 〈◊〉 or drink I hear the voice sound in my ear Arise 〈◊〉 dead and come to Judgment To conclude Oh let the thoughts of thingâ— to come be much upon your spirits every nighâ— when thou goest to bed and every morning have some serious thoughts of Death and Eternity let it be by the Pen of a Diamond writâ—â—â— on your hearts Death that grim Porter wiâ—â— open the Gates of Glory to every Believer anâ— let them into their Fathers house Whoso thâ—â— is wise will observe these things he shall see thâ— salvation of the Lord. Stars are poor books and oftentimes do miss This book of Stars lights to eternal bliss â—hall insert some Forms of Prayer for the benefit of such young Persons as shall stand in need of them A Morning Prayer for Youth O Eternal most Great most Gracious and ever Blessed Lord God thou art a great God â—â—d greatly to be feared and reverenced of all 〈◊〉 draw nigh unto thee thou art a Spirit and â—ou wilt be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth 〈◊〉 of such worshippers wilt thou be found thus â—â—king thee we beseech thee to pour down upon our â—arts the spirits of Supplication and Prayer so 〈◊〉 to seek thee aright and offer up an acceptable â—â—â—vice in and through the merits of our Blessed â—â—viour and Redeemer Jesus Christ and through â—â—e assistance of thy holy spirit of truth and let thy â—â—ly word be a Lanthorn to my feet and a light â—â—to my paths to lead me in the wayes of Truth â—nd Holiness that I may obtain everlasting Hapâ—â—ness through the merits of my Blessed Saviour â—nd Redeemer Christ Jesus O Lord pardon my manfold sins and transgressions wherewith I have transâ—ressed against thee in thought word and deed specially the sins and frailty of my youth O Lord â—hey have been many and great and by reason â—hereof I have merited thy wrath and Eternal Damnation But O Lord in the midst of judgment â—emember mercy spare me spare me O Lord God for thy loving kindness sake