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
depend upon your application of Christs righteousness study your need get conviction of sin consider your danger whilesâ—… under guilt understand the intent of Christs sufferings acquaint your self with the tenour of the Covenant of Grace And. Câ—…rist being held forth to you lay hold on him by faith his righteousness being intended for you and proffered unto you make application of it cloathe your selves with it by faith and therein appear with confidence before God pleading for pardon and acceptation 2. Seek imparted righteousness Imputed righteousness is necessary to entitle you to Gods Kingdom imparted righteousness is necessary to qualifie and prepare you for Gods Kingdom This righteousness here is imperfect and cannot be the causa regnandi the cause of reigning yet it is via ad regnum the way to the Kingdom This righteousness is begun in Regeneration and further increased in Sanctification as hath been said 1. You must be regenerate born again if ever you would see the Kingdom of God John 3. 3. Old things must pass away and all things must become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. As a man must be born before he can possess an Earthly Inheritance so a man must be new-born before he can possess the Heavenly Inheritance First you must be Children before you can be Heirs of God you must be Children by adoption and you must be Children by regeneration Labour then after a gracious change in your heart see your need of it apply your selves to God for it beg earnestly that he would by his Spirit be pleased to effect it put your selves under the influence of the Word be ready to yield to the movings and strivings of the Spirit 2. Having shot the Gulph passed thorow the strait gate of Regeneration and obtained the beginning of the work of grace you must endeavour after Sanctification that you may grow up in holiness You must by the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the body and cleanse your selves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God and hereby you will be made meet to be made partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light and an entrance will be administred unto you most assuredly into the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 7. 1. Col. 1. 12. 2 Pet. 1. 11. SECT V. HAving thus given you advice as to the thing to seek the Kingdom and righteousness of God I shall now further advise and exhort you to seek First this Kingdom and Righteousness 1. Seek First that is Timely and before other things 2. Seek First that is Chiefly and above other things 1. Seek First the Kingdom and Righteousness of God that is Timely and before other things Do it now in the time of your Youth in the Morning of your Life so soon as Reason doth begin to dâ—…wn Here I shall give you three motives to stirre you up to do this in the time of your Youth Consider that the time of Youth is 1. The most Acceptable time 2. The most Seasonable time 3. The most Safe time 1. The time of Youth is the most acceptable time 2 Cor. 6. 2. The Apostle speaketh of the day of the Gospel and I may speak it of the day of Youth Behold now is the acceptable time behold now is the day of salvation Any part of the day may be acceptable be sure the beginning of the day is most acceptable God is best pleased with young ones who seek the things which belong to his Kingdom and their salvation that dedicate themselves to his service betimes before Sathan and the World have ravished their Virgin-affections Under the Law God required the First-fruits and First-born for Sacrifice and under the Gospel God requireth the first-fruits and first-born of our time and thoughts and affections The first-fruits under the Law were to be mingled with Oyl and Frankincense which gave forth a sweet savour Lev. 2. 15. when you devote the first of your time and parts and strength to God this is a sweet savour to him God taketh especial notice of and is exceedingly pleased with ea ly seekers and timely services Jer. 2. 2. I remember the kindness of thy youth and the love of thy espousals and Cant. 6. 11. we read of Christ going down into the garden of the Church to see if the Pomegranates budded the buddings and blossoms of Youth are sweet and pleasing to Chrâ—…st the youngest Disciple was Christs beloved Disciple It is recorded for the commendation of Josiah that he did that which was right in the sight of God when he was but eight years old 1 King 22. 1. and of Timothy that from a Childe he had known the Holy Scriptures whereby he became wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. None are like to bring so much glory to God as those that sâ—…ek his Kingdom and Righteousness in their youth and therefore this time is the most acceptable time 1. The grace of young persons is most conspicuous it is like the Morning-blush like the first opening of the Rose like a Diamond set in a Ring of gold early grace hath a sweet fragrancy and glorious lustre in it The beauty of it doth then most shine and the power of it doth then most appear when young ones do deny themselves and take up the Cross and bear the yoak in their youth when young ones do deafen their ears against all enticements unto pleasing sins and break thorow the temptatious they meet withall and with full purpose of heart stick close unto God This doth shew the power of grace and tendeth much to Gods glory 2. The time of young ones is longest which they have to glorifie God when they seek and serve God betimes they may not only escape many pollutions in the World wherewith other youths are defiled to the dishonour of God and the wounding of their own Consciences but they may bring much glory to God in their generations God hath work enough to employ them in all tending to his glory and their good thorowout the whole day of their lives though they should begin in the Morning so soon as they can see and work a whole and long Summers day untill the night and darkness of old decrepid years I might instance in some of the works they are to be employed in they have a pardon to sue out evidences to clear corruptions to mortifie graces to get and improve a treasure to lay up temptations to resist relations to fill so many duties to perform to God to Man They may finde more work than time Eternity-work is begun in this life Now look as a Master who driveth a great trade is best pleased with those servants who rise most early and are most diligent in his business so God who hath so much work for his people is best pleased with young persons who seek him early and diligently 3. The Strength of young persons to serve God with is the greatest 1 Joh. 2. 14. I have written unto you young men because you
are cast to the bottom of the waters but they must be cast upwards into Heaven into that within the Vail whither the Lord Jesus Christ the fore-runner is for us entred to prepare Mansions for us Let your hope of Heaven be strong and lively 5. Young men labour for strong Joy if your hopes be strong and well grounded you may thence have strong consolation Heb. 6. 18 That which discourageth many young men and women from putting their feet into the waies of God is the apprehensions which they have that should they engage in this way they must bid farewell to all mirth and chearfulness to all delights and pleasures and make tears and sorrows their companions which they are loth to do at least too soon whatever necessity they see there is of being religious Whereas although grief and sorrow be needful to sinners at their first engagement in the waies of God to imbitter sin and prepare them for the more ready closure with Jesus Christ and a mixture of sorrow is needful after because of the mixture of sin in their lives and the better to ballance and temper the spirit yet the Lord doth call his people to higher delights and pleasures in his waies than can be found in the waies of sin God doth not require that his people should lay aside all delights but change their sinful delights for those that are spiritual and heavenly God giveth them leave to rejoyce and he commandeth them to rejoyce not in waies of sin he forbiddeth the pleasures of sin which are but for a season not excessively in the creature though moderately and subordinately they may but they may and ought to rejoyce in himself Read what Solomon saith to young men Eccles. 11. 9. Rejâ—…yce O young man in thy youth and let thine heart cheer thee in the daies of thy youth and walk in the waies of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Young men you may rejoyce and be cheerful in your youthful daies but if your joyes be in the waies of your heart and in the sight of your eyes if your joyes be in the waies of sin in the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes if it be in satisfying the desires of your flesh and pleasing your senses unto the dishonour and displeasing of God know that God will bring you into judgement and then all your sinful sensual delights wil be turned into bitterness and terrour but you may be cheerful in the waies of God and if you are reconciled unto God through his Son and have an interest in his favour if you are renewed after his Image and have a Title to his Kingdom you have reason to rejoyce more than any wicked persons in their greatest outward prosperity Shall the slaves of Satan rejoyce and have not the children of God more grounds Shall the wicked rejoyce that are dancing upon the brink of Hell and are ready every moment to tumble into the burning lake and should not you rejoyce that are come to the borders of the heavenly Canaan and live in hopes of the glory of the New Jerusalem Rejoyce in the Lord continually Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies and again I say rejoyce And rejoyce in the Lord greatly Strong joy will be your strength it will be a means to quicken all your affections towards God and make you shine brightly in the sphere where the Lord hath placed you Thus I have shewed in what you should be strong SECT II. 2. THE second thing is to shew To what you should be strong There are four things unto which you should labour to be strong 1. To do 2. To suffer 3. To fight 4. To die 1. Young men labour for strength to do you have many things to do great things to do necessary things to do and difficult things to do I am not now speaking of the works of your particular callings which require strength of body but I am speaking of the works of your general calling as Christians which do more immediately concern Gods glory and your own salvation such as treasuring up a stock of saving truths making your peace with God getting your hearts broken for sin closing with and living by faith upon Jesus Christ getting your hearts furnished with every grace living in the powerful exercise of it denying your selves mortifying the deeds of the body laying out your selves time and talents for the glory of your Master standing daily upon your watch improving the means of grace worshipping God and seeking him diligently in publick family closet making it your business to be religious laying up your treasure in Heaven and labouring to get your heart more loosened from â—…hings below and raised and fixed upon things above â—…hese and the like things are the works which the Lord requireth of you all all other employments are of an inferiour nature These things you must do â—…ere or you will not have opportunity for them â—…ereafter These things you must do or you are unone for ever and since they are hard works to â—…esh and blood therefore you had need to get much â—…rength to enable you hereunto I do not mean â—…xternal strength but internal spiritual strength â—…eak sickly men cannot endure hard labour you must â—…e strong that you may work for the Lord that you â—…ay work for eternity 2. Young Men labour for strength to suffer I mean to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ. If you would be Christs Disciples you must take up his Cross and follow him Math. 10. 24. and sometimes his Cross is very weighty It is not a weak shoulder that can bear an heavy burden and it is not a weak Christian that can bear an heavy Cross that can endure weighty and pressing afflictions You must therefore get much strength great strength that you may suffer great things for the sake of Christ otherwise you will shrink when you are put upon the tryall you will be offended when sore persecutions do arise for the Word The Apostle prayeth for the Colossians chap. 1. 11. that the Lord would strengthen them with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness Young ones look for sufferings reckon upon them and make full account of them before-hand and prepare for sufferings get on winter Garments against winter seasons I mean suffering graces against suffering times Get strength for sufferings labour to be strengthened with all might according to Gods glorious power unto all patiencâ—… and long-suffering with joyfulness Get strength to endure much and to endure long and to endurâ—… not only with patience but also with chearfulness looking upon it not only as your duty when called to suffer for Christ but as the greatest honour thaâ—… can be conferred upon you in this life and as thaâ—… which will work for you an exceeding and eternâ—… weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 3.