made it easie the Current of sin running has made the Channel wider and the opposition less O therefore for the Lords sake begin this day to consider the Devil is grown more impetuous by thy Consent And I can tell thee to day and let the youngest of you observe it That if thou continuest wicked thou wilt be yet more and more so And thou wouldst now blush to think what Wickedness thou wilt hereafter come to As Hazael when it was foretold him by the Prophet what Cruelties he should commit cries out Is thy Servant a Dog 2 King 8. 13. c. Thus I have finished what I intended in the Explication I now come to the Use. First by way of Inference the Lord set it home Some own'd great good on this day twelve-month may more receive good to day The Inferences then are these Inf. 1. How dismal a sight doth this Truth afford us of this World Childhood and Youth is Vanity Ah Lord how true then is it that even the whole World lies in Wickedness 1 Joh. 5. 19. the greater part doth so for Young People are many more than old ones The chief part of Age is Vanity the best part of Time is Vanity Childhood is the time fittest to learn in Youth is the time fittest to act in and yet both these are Vanity Oh how little are heavenly Designs carried on by Young Ones Oh how little is God worshipp'd and serv'd by Young ones How few of them are engag'd in their own true Concerns Dreadful that in Youth we will do nothing and in Age we can do nothing Oh who loves God and is not grieved who loves Souls and is not melted All men come sick into the World and most men grow more diseased by their stay there All come miserable and most help on each others Ruine and encrease their own Oh how many go off the Stage and have reason to wish would to God I had perish'd before I saw the light So like Hell is this present State that i'ts a wonder we are able to take any Delight therein God is serious with pleople in their younger Years and they heed it not Ministers are earnest with young People and they regard it not Ah poor Wretches they think we have nothing to do with them Oh Young Ones help us to mourn to day for I am calling on Men to mourn for you who in your Youth yield your selves up to your Lusts and thereby are injurious to Christ and cruel to your own Souls and will you be unmoved Inf. 2. What Care is incumbent on Parents and Masters in the managing of Young Persons Youth is vain and that bespeaks a suitable carriage O Parents you don't beget Angels but sinful Children you breed up corrupt ones and not perfect ones Few are sanctified in the Womb and therefore you should deal with Children as with deprav'd and corrupt Persons as with them whose Childhood and Youth is Vanity The very Distemper directs Parents and Masters in their duty and carriage towards their Children I shall especially name Parents in my Directions 1. Children are Ignorant Oh therefore take you occasion to instruct them Alas canst thou let thy Children be unacquainted with God and insensible of their own Misery or the way of their escape What must thy Child be inspir'd or it must perish for want of knowledge If it must know pray who is fittest to teach it Upon whom does it lye in point of Duty as it does upon you And who has the Advantage of doing it as thou hast Who is so like to prevail with thy Child as thy self None faithfully dedicates his Child to God in Infancy that will not carefully instruct him when of age to learn 2. Youth have unruly Appetites and therefore don't indulge them Oh that every Parent here had but his Heart open to what I say and I speak it out of pity to the Souls of Young ones 'T is an ill practice in Parents to feed their Child by the cravings of i'ts Lust and not by their own Judgment I will tell you the Mischief of it besides the laying a foundation of distemper in Age it gives the Appetite an ungovernable force Children being alwayes indulg'd in what they crave they cannot deny themselves any thing they desire and by the same rule that they must now eat what and when and drink what and when they will while they are under thy care they will be drunk and Whore c. when they grow in years their Reason cannot bridle it then as thine which ought to guide them neglects to do it now Oh dreadful thing that any Childrens Appetites should come from under their Parents tuition unbridled I look on nothing a greater Reproach to Parents And what 's the ground of all Wickedness in the World more than an Inordinate Appetite yet how few Parents do help to cure it while cureable whereas an Appetite curbed in Childhood would endure a denial in Age. 3. Youth have violent Humours and Selfishness and therefore don 't foolishly gratifie them A Child left to himself brings his Mother to shame Pr. 29. 15. Oh what a Devilish Sight how pleasing to Satan to see Children cocquer'd and Youth indulg'd It 's peevish then all must be done to please it it 's obstinate and it must have it's will it 's revengeful and it must not be check'd this is the way of most Parents And 't is just with God that Child should break your Hearts whose Will you never broke How many poor Creatures will have cause in Hell to curse their Parents Dreadful that they prove the worst Enemies to their Children under a pretence of fondness 4. Youth have many Lusts and are prone to sin therefore be afraid for them and prevent all Occasions Iob knew this Iob 1. 5. He went and offer'd Sacrifice lest his Children should have sin'd and cursed God in their hearts Oh that Parents would consider what brittle Vessels Children be what dry'd tinder Youth is Occasions though small over-rule Young Persons What then Oh then be perswaded to choose the Company of your Children for them see that it be of their own Sex and Virtuous Put them to Trades and such Trades as have the least Snares set them in Families where most Good is to be got and least evil to be catch'd Find them business and fulness of Employ and cut out their time for them Parents learn this Wisdom that your Children have no time for Idleness Marry them as soon as convenient if so be you are not very certain of their Sobriety 5. The Vanity of Youth is deeply rooted therefore be importunate pleaders and sharp Correctors If advice prevail not 't is not an easie thing to cure a Child of it's Vanity or Youth of it's Folly Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a Child the Rod of Correction will drive it far from him Prov. 22. 15. And withhold not correction from thy Child and he shall not dye Prov. 23.
that hangs over it because of the last thirty years too successful Contrivances to debauch the Nation in order to Slavery and Popery might be diverted or at least confined to such as are too far engaged or obstinate to admit a Reformation That every Child and Youth who shall read this Book may as many of you already do thus contribute to my Hopes and Share in the Benefit thereof shall be the Prayer of Your Compassionate Friend Daniel Williams THE CONTENTS THE Context explained to Page 5. Vanity considered as its natural Frailty p. 7 8 9. Vanity in a moral sence in General 10 11 12. Particularly as to eight Sins to which Youth is prone 1. The folly of Youth in the Concerns of Eternity explained and demonstrated from p. 13. to 17. Directions against Folly from p. 18 to 21. 2. The Inconsiderateness of Youth with Directions against it from p. 21. to 24. 3. The Obstinacy of Youth described disswaded from with Directions against it from p. 25 to 33. 4. Anger and violent Passions of youth described disswaded from with Directions from p. 33 to 37. 5. Youths idleness and mispence of time described disswaded from with Directions from p. 37 to 43. 6. The Levity and inordinate Mirth of young people described disswaded from with directions to get Sobriety from pag. 43 to 51. 7. The sin of Lying described disswaded from with Directions against it from p. 51 to 55. 8. Fleshly Lusts viz. Drunkenness Gluttony and Vncleanness described and disswaded from from p. 55 to 57. Directions against Gluttony and Drunkenness from p. 58 to 61. Directions against Vncleanness from p. 61 to 67. The Vanity of Youth as it consists in their living to no valuable purposes demonstrated from p. 68 to 74. The Vanity of Youth as it lives to destructive purposes from p. 74 to 77. An Account how Childhood and Youth became vain where Original Sin is treated of from p. 77 to 82. An Enquiry why Youth continues vain where also the possibility of their healing is spoken to from p. 82 to 90. The Reasons why many young people do grow more vain daily from p. 90 to 92. Inferences from the whole Doctrine 1. The dismal Aspect of the World p. 92 93. 2. Parents and Masters care and pains in the Education of youth urged and directed suitably to the Disease of youth from p. 94 to 97. 3. The reasonableness of youths subjection to the Rebukes and Restraints of Superiours p. 97 98. 4. Attentiveness to Advice needful and fit p. 98 99. Exhortations 1. A serious Examination of the present state of youth whether they are still vain or no urged p. 99 100 2. They are called to admit Directions answerable to their present Condition 1. A Call to young people still vain with Directions and Arguments for their present casting off their Vanity from p. 100 to 110. 2. Advice proper for such young Ones as are serious from p. 110 to 121. A plain youths Catechism from p. 110 to the end Ecclesiast ch 11. v. 10. last clause Childhood and Youth are Vanity THis present Meeting is for the spiritual advantage of you Children and young People Your good we Ministers must intend and it s your Interest and Duty to regard and improve these helps as well as elder Persons for your Souls are are as Immortal as the Aged God hath a right to govern you being you are his Creatures He hath given you a Rule of Life he observeth your Hearts and Carriage with concern Young Ones shall be arraigned at Gods Tribunal and judged by the Rule contained in his Word according to what they have been and done Heaven and Hell are before you one of them will be the eternal dwelling of the youngest in this Assembly and considering that most of Mankind dye when young Heaven and Hell are fuller of Young People than of such as arrived to a greater Age. Do such Considerations affect you ought they not to make me serious and importunate with your Souls And with yours especially because Youth is under great indispositions to all that is serious and saving Oh let us look earnestly for a blessing to him who is the God of the Spirits of all Flesh Numb 16. 23. and therefore is able to impress and manage your Spirits tho' unruly and vain The Author of this Book is Solomon will you regard what a Great Man saith He was King of Israel in its most prosperous State Are a wise Mans dictates to be heeded He was the wisest of meer Men. But above that this Book was the result of great Experience he speaks his feeling as well as his Judgment yea he records these things as a Penitent after great offences and therefore must represent things according to their truth and importance especially since he was inspired by the Infallible Spirit in what he here delivers I shall not look further than the 11th verse to lead you to my Text. 1. There he doth by a sharp Sarcasm reprove the sensual delights of Young People rejoyce O Young Man c. it s such a saying as Christs to his Disciples Sleep on and take your rest Mar. 14. 41. It 's not said by way of approbation but he exposeth the Sensualist by disdain which may affect some People more than a direct Reproof and God for our good condescends to try all ways Surely you that think sensual pleasure the greatest happiness you are capable of will suspect that it is not what it appears to your foolish minds whon God by the Wisest Man doth thus Ironically brand it he loads you with scorn while you fondly please your selves with these poor delights as your only Paradice God keep me from that as my Portion which God accounts my reproach Obj. But may not a Young Man rejoyce Answ. Yes no doubt thou oughtest to delight thy self in the Lord Psal. 37. 4. yea thou mayst delight moderately and holily in Objects of sence but that 's not the rejoycing here exposed The following words explain the nature of this forbidden joy it 's that evil pleasure which thou takest in walking in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes q. d. Oh vile Creature how base art thou become that confinest thy pleasures to and resolvedly wallowest in the delights that come by following the vain imaginations of thy carnal heart and meer gratifying thy sences What a bruit art thou that sportest thy self in a disregard of God and unseen things and valuest the time of Youth only as it fits thee to execute what is sinful and relish what is sensual Is this rejoycing becoming thee as a reasonable Creature made for and suited to things of so far a higher nature Is thy correspondence to the Objects of Faith quite gone art thou so sunk and buried in flesh Is there no spiritual light or love to govern thy desires and pleasures If this be the merry Young Man what an object of contempt is he in all his mirth even in
not to be recalled Will it be comfortable in this World to reflect on wasted Time Grown years will be full of these reflections I might have been a Scholar my Knowledge had been improved I had now been fit to serve my Countrey and benefit my self and Family had I been studious in my Youth I might have understood my Trade been encourag'd in my Calling by others and laid up for my subsistance had I been diligent and industrious in my Youth But those years are spent in Folly and now I am unteachable my Credit is gone ignorance contempt and poverty are my companions Oh foolish I But Oh thou Child Oh thou Youth how much more uncomfortable on a Death-bed and in Eternity will thy idleness and mispent seasons be as they referr to thy Soul I had a teachable time but I dye in ignorance of God and Christ woe is me The seasons of Grace I enjoyed are my torment now because I improved them not I hardened my Heart by neglects in my tender years How have I trifled when I heard Sermons How have I mocked God by my sleepy Prayers How have I undone my own Soul by a foolish remissness in all my seeming labours for it What can I shew for all the years I have lived To what a case have my Sports my Idleness and Vanity reduced me Oh that I could recall my precious Time but that 's impossible Oh that I had profitably employed those mispent seasons that 's as vain a wish Oh then that I had never lived those days which I did not live but sinned away as a sleep or dead in pleasures 1 Tim. 5. 6. Darest thou O young Body for a little present indulgence to thy fleshly sloath entertain thy self hereafter with such Heart-piercing thoughts as these Quest. How shall a Young Person be healed of Idleness and waste of time Answ. 1. In general abhorr sloath and redeem time Prov. 19. 15. Eph. 5. 16. Sloath is a wicked unaptness for action and very unsuitable to an active Soul Time not redeemed is mispent and when it is not applyed to it's proper work it passeth away to no advantage 2. Enquire what is thy present work and be assured that what thou art about is what God would have thee do Col. 3. 23. Every hour hath it's business if what thou art about be not that business meddle not with it but find out what it is thou oughtest to be employed in at that time Conviction of duty is a spur to diligence 3. Still remember that God who is thy Owner hath given thee thy Abilities and that time to do thy present work God calls thee as by Name Use my Talents to this which I have made thy present work in this thou improvest the stock I lent thee in this I will bless thee and protect thee as one pleasing to me for this thou shalt not fail of a Reward Eph. 6. 5 6 7. 4. Excite thy self to do what thou art about with vigour Engage thy strength call up the powers of thy Soul to activity for the sloathful is brother to the waster Prov. 18. 9. Idleness is a degree of omission in the affairs both of Soul and Body for there is much undone that might have been done 5. To this end consider God will call thee to a strict account how thy work hath been performed in that time which God affords thee Tell thy self there 's a time of reckoning for this that I am now a doing or a neglecting The sloathful Servant is in Gods esteem a wicked Servant Mat. 25. 26 and he that hid his Talent must perish as well as he that mispends it The more good that might have been done in such a day will be observed as well as what little hath been done in that day Oh never forget that vacant hours and loytred moments are recorded with him who will not inspect dreamingly what thy slothful Spirit makes no account of 6. Remember that all thy works preparatory for Heaven need an intense Spirit and are confined to a short season It 's proper Advice What thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there is no working in the Grave whither thou art going Time is posting and we had need redeem it because our business is difficult and the consequences great There are great things to be acquired and done before we are meet for Glory There be great oppositions in our Nature and from our Tempers to every degree of that meetness A vile Heart is not easily renewed darling sins are not soon nor easily mortified the necessary Faith Knowledge Love Strength and Joy are hardly come by and the expected services in our generation are slowly proceeded in Haste and eagerness are absolutely needful to such things He that idleth can hope for little and trifling in such matters is little better than downright neglects especially when giving diligence 2 Pet. 1. 10. is as much a Duty as doing any thing He is not upright in the matters of Religion whose deep concern doth not make him industrious because his Judgment never determined for these things as the greatest nor hath his Will resolved the pursuit of them above all others whose idleness declareth his indifferency Therefore oft tell thy remiss Soul This day is past that week is over and shortly time will be at an end and shall I idle as I do How little work is done in past years Dare I loyter still and be surprized whiles my works are so imperfect or can I reckon on greater improvements in the same number of dayes if I be no more intent and industrious than I have been in those To thee is that directed Not slothfull in business fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12. 11. resolve to obey it 7. Be able to give a good account to thy Conscience of the time that 's laid out in sleep and Recreations These are the common wasters of Time by a disregard to their just bounds Many do almost divide their hours between Sleep and recreating Sports Visits and Talk which three fall under this Head of Recreteion It 's an awful Consideration that what are appointed only to fit Men for business should become with many their only business as if they had little else to employ themselves about But know thou Young Man that he who sleeps longer than Health requireth is a Sluggard Prov. 6. 9. And he that lays out more hours in diversions than prepares him for the better discharge of Duty is a mispender of Time Thy Reason should tell thee God would never have given me a Soul endowed with such Abilities for service he had never placed me in a World full of opportunities and calls to Employment He had never so strictly charged me to be diligent and useful if I am able with Comfort to plead my Sleep and Pleasures as the greatest part of my Exercise whiles I lived Attend to these Rules with Care and from this moment Gird up the loins of thy
at the Lords Table or in order to it therefore I call you to make Conscience of that Young People I say make conscience of it I tremble to think how we differ from the Church in former Ages that People now should be so backward to attend the Lords Supper Obj. But some may object Pray how old must we be that come to the Table of the Lord. Answ. I answer He is old enough that can give evidence of his consent to be the Lords and when he can act the Graces that belong to a Sacrament and improve the matter contained therein whenever they can do this age is no obstacle I would not scruple one of fourteen no more than I would one of fifty where there 's a credible Profession of Grace and a competent knowledge of the great Essentials of Religion and a Conversation suited to it Therefore my Friends make Conscience of this great Duty for I am afraid our young Professors remain giddy for want of this and of Pastoral Conduct I fear you want strength for want of this and comfort for want of this and Satan has great advantage against our young Professors because they are not more established and steady than they be Therefore if thon hast given up thy self to be the Lords and if God has enlighten'd thy Mind to understand the great things of the Covenant thou hast a claim and thou oughtest to make it sure thou art old enough to consent to be Christs when thou art fit to give thy self in Marriage 5. Dispose of your selves to the greatest Safety and most Usefulness You that are Servants chuse no Family where God is not worship'd for a curse and a snare is there besides the want of those daily helps which you stand in need of You that are changing your dwellings go to no place where the Gospel is not live not in a Countrey where Christ is a Stranger as to his Institutions You young ones that are about Marrying be sure that Grace be the first thing that you provide for 1 Cor. 7. 39. for God kuows how much easier it is to stifle good beginnings than to conquer riveted custom and it 's much easier to be overcome by a bad Wife than a bad Wife to be converted by a good Husband Know this my Friends he that does not wisely contrive for his Soul as a Man in Danger will rue it sooner or later God is not bound to help us when we run out of his way 6. Reckon upon a world of Troubles and Snares and be still preparing for them Oh young People be every day arming your selves for you may be every day attacqued don 't promise too serene a State on this side Heaven In the world you shall have trouble John 16. 33. Thy Work is a Warfare and holds for Life temptations will assault disappointments and scandals will try the best Men may be a stumbling-block Be fit for every thing and resolved to hold on thy way it 's hard work but Christ hath undertaken to assist thee and Heaven is worth thy labour Oh don't think and act as if you were to have your resting place here where Satan hath so much power and Sin so great an interest 7. Still grow in Grace and usefulness with age Though thou art good for thy time thou art not so good as thou mayst be nor oughtest to be much less so good as you should resolve to be Oh let not age's dulness be reproached by the vigour of your espousals Jer. 2. 2. Take care that time adds to thy Light to thy Love to thy strength and Fruit. Move Heaven-ward as days are prolonged 8. Familiarize the Word as your Instructor and Monitor Which way should a Young Man cleanse his way but by taking heed to the Word Psal. 119. 9. Let the Word be the Man of thy Councel take the Scripture for thy Rule and resolve to live by it Oh Servants look what God makes your Duty in Scripture will that allow you to be idle insolent or wastefull Col. 3. 22. Children see what God makes your Duty to your Parents Eph. 6. 1. and to your other Relations may you be rebellious unkind c the Word is the true measure and light Alas the oldest of us are sure to stumble without the Word what then can young ones do Therefore study the Scriptures more search them and labour in every thing to manage your selves by them Sirs I would have no one here ignorant of a rule proper to most of the Exigences of his Life and let that be still before thy eyes I will give you Young People one Advice that may do you good all your dayes and that 's this I would have you all consider what Temptations you are like to meet with and what are the Duties you are like to be call'd to alwayes have an apt Scripture lodg'd in thy Mind suitable to each of these and resolve to do nothing nor to purpose nothing before thou hast first consulted that Scripture in thy Mind this would be a stated way of avoiding much sin Young people you that are in Christ labour to live to these Rules I shall now conclude I have been plainly telling all of you Childhood and Youth is Vanity You all come such into the World c. are you altered or are you not do you still grow more vain or more serious should God come this day and divide this Assembly and set the Vain on the right hand and the Serious on the left O Child O Young Man on which side wouldst thou be found O put it to your selves what answer canst thou return wilt thou go away and resolve to be as Vain as ever after all that has been said If that be thy resolve would to God thou hadst not been here this Sermon will be a Thorn in thy side for ever But if from what has been said you go away resolving through Grace to be faithful in the practice of all these Directions given you for the Cure of your Vanity If so then thou wilt have cause for ever to bless God for the 25th of December 1690. FINIS A Youths Catechism Quest. WHat art thou Answ. I am a Child endued with Reason who must be in Heaven or in Hell for ever Rom. 2. 9 10. Q. Who made thee A. God made me by whose Power every Creature was made Is. 45. 12. Q. What is the God that made thee A. God is a Spirit perfectly good great wise holy present every where and without beginning or ending Q. How many Gods be there A. There is but one true God Father Son and Spirit 1 Cor. 8. 6. 1 Ioh. 5. 7. Q. What did God make thee for A. God made me to bring him Glory and to be happy in him Rom. 11. 3. Q. Where may you know how to bring Glory to God and to be happy in him A. In my Bible where he declares his Nature and his Will 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. Q. What Condition was Mankind