WORDS OF ADVICE TO Young Men. DELIVERED IN TWO SERMONS At Two Conventions of YOUNG MEN The one Decemb. 25. 1666. The other Decemb. 25. 1667. By THOMAS VINCENT sometime Minister of Maudlins Milk-street London Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me and those that seek me Early shall finde me Psal. 119. 9. Wherewith shall a Young Man cleanse his way By taking heed thereto according to thy Word LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst 1668. TO THE Youth of the City of LONDON THE Lord having given me so great room in so many of your hearts I am the more encouraged to put these few words of Advice into your hands Upon your request they were preached in your Ears and it is for your benefit that they are now presented to your Eyes Vox audita perit litera scripta manet That which you only hear you may quickly forget and so the words with the sound perish in the Air when written especially printed words abide and may bring to your remembrance the things which you have heard long ago But if you would have these words in these sheets abide indeed with you better than if they were engraven upon a rock and written with a Pen of Iron and point of a Diamond you must get them transcribed and reprinted I mean upon your hearts Your hearts as yet in a great measure are a rasa tabula like a fair table or white sheet of Paper in which little is written Do not furrow the Table with Conscience-wounding sins do not blot and besmear the Paper with the defilements of Lust But get the Law of God engraven upon the Table of your hearts and the Counsels of the most High given you out of his Word written upon the white sheet within you It is true the youngest of you are defiled with Original sin and are grown more foul with Actual transgressions which none of you can in whole excuse your selves from however for the present you may be free from the more gross pollutions of the World and not arrived to that degree and height of wickedness which the audacious sinners of this vicious Age have attained unto But if you would get the Word written in your hearts it will both make you clean and keep you clean Psal. 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word And v. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my hearâ—… that I may not sin against thee Dear Youths my love is great unto your Souls and my desires are earnest after your salvation it rejoyceth my heart to see so many of your faces in my Auditory here it will more rejoyce me if I may see all those faces in Heaven at last and truly I hope that many of you will be my Crown and Glory in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ therefore it is that I preach therefore I have written these Words of Advice unto you the chief heads of which are 1. That you would seek First the Kingdom of God where alone your chief happiness doth lye as the End 2. That you would seek the Righteousness of God which is in his Son that it might be imputed unto you for your Justification and that it might be imparted unto you for your Renovation and Sanctification as the necessary Means to attain this End without which there is no possibility of admittance for you into the Kingdom of God 3. That having obtained Grace in the truth of it you would labour to grow in Grace and to be strong therein that you might be enabled both to do and suffer whatever God calleth you unto 4. That you would get acquainted with the Word of God and endeavour that it may abide and dwell in you richly as the choicest of all Treasures 5. That you would labour to overcome the Wicked one and all his temptations whereby he would draw you unto sin especially those sins which in Youth you are most inclinable unto Beloved young men you live in the dregs of times in a wicked and debauched generation take heed of following a multitude to do evil save your selves from their sins as you desire God should save you from their punishments Come out from amongst them if you cannot in regard of your place be sure to do it in regard of your course and practice refrain too familiar converse with the wicked and profane let your Companions be such as fear the Lord walk in the way of Good Men take that course as the most do that seem to be most serious and to have their faces towards Heaven I have endeavoured to answer and remove the chief prejudices which are raised to discourage and divert from this way You may safely and confidently venture into it and walk in it and you will finde whatever the oppositions and discouragements be therein the end of it to be peace and happiness The Lord grant that this Book may be a Means to keep you from sin and help you forward in the way to Heaven which is the desire and prayer of Your faithfull Monitor and dear Lover of your Souls T. Vincent WORDS of ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN. MATTH 6. 33. But seek ye First the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you THESE words are part of our Saviours Sermon upon the Mount in which he spake with so much authority that the people were astonished at his doctrine for never man spake as he spake The subject of this Sermon is many excellent Promises Precepts Directions Cautions Exhortations backed with Motives and Arguments very needfull for the promotion of Holiness in Heart and Life 1. Our Saviour gives several promises of blessedness both here and hereafter to quicken his Disciples in their endeavours after some choice Graces and qualifications of minde and to incourage them against the outward persecution which for his sake they might meet withall in the world chap. 5. from vers 2. to 15. 2. He directs them how they should behave themselves as Ministers and his Disciples by the similitudes of Salt Light a City set upon a hill unto which they had or should have a conformity from vers 15. to v. 17. 3. He declares the immutability and purity of the Moral Law vindicating it from the corrupt and false glosses of the Pharisees and explaining it in its spiritual reach and meaning 4. He warns them against Hypocrisie in their Religious Services pressing them in their Alms Prayers Fasts to approve the â—…r hearts to God who seeth in secret that they might receive an open reward chap. 6. from v. 1. to v. 19. 5. He exhorts them to lay up for themselves Treasures in Heaven and not to be solicitous about the Provisions of this Life which Exhortation he backeth with six Arguments The first is drawn from the safety of Heavenly Treasures being removed beyond the reach of rust and moth and thies The second from the uncertainty of earthly Treasures which are in
they cannot cast your Souls into the Prison of Hell 2. Though they may take away your civil liberty yet they cannot take away your spiritual liberty and priviledges they may shut friends out from seeing you but they cannot shut you out of the presence of God nor keep you from the Throne of grace 3. In reference unto Life 1. That though men may destroy the Body yet they cannot destroy the Soul and 2. you must dye as was shown before and you cannot die upon a better score unto which I may adde that I believe none in the world dye with more peace and joy than those that dye for the testimony of Jesus and of a good Conscience My dear young ones labour thus to overcome all the prejudices of the wicked one whereby he would keep you from coming into the wayes of God and yielding obedience unto the Gospel that is the First SECT VI. 2. LAbour to overcome the Temptations of the Wicked one whereby he would draw you to the commission of sin Sin in its own nature is so black and odious that if your eyes were but opened to see what dishonour it reflecteth upon the pure and holy God and how it defileth your own Souls once made after the image of God you could not choose but loath and abhorr it and with hatred you would flye from it as from a Pestilential disease or venemous Serpent and no arguments would perswade you to commit it or give it any room or harbour in your hearts therefore the wicked one doth use the greatest art and cunning to paint and colour over sin with fair glosses that the monstrous nature and deadly poyson of it might be hid from your eyes and knowledge And as God hath his methods in the conversion of young ones and useth many arguments by his Ministers and Spirit to perswade them unto the practice of Religion So Satan hath his methods and arguments to draw away young ones from God unto the commission of sin and continuance therein 1. The first work of God upon young Converts is Illumination of the Understanding he opens their eyes to see their sin and misery the way of salvation by Christ the beauty and excellency of holiness so on the contrary Sathan the wicked one called the God of this World doth endeavour to blind the eyes of young ones to keep them in the dark that the light of the glorious Gospel might not shine upon them to discover either their sin or their Saviour and he endeavoureth to stir up in them a hatred of the light that so they might sin without reproof or controul 2. The second work of God upon young Converts is Contrition he awakens their Consciences filleth them with fears and terrours through apprehension of his anger and the dreadfull wrath that hangs over them and they know not how soon may fall down upon them and sink them into the lowest Hell for their sin that hereby they being terrified may apply themselves without any delay unto the Lord Jesus Christ the only Saviour of mankind So on the contrary the wicked one doth labour to still and calm and quiet the Consciences of young ones under the guilt of their sins to lull them fast asleep and keep them from all disturbances from an unquiet Conscience which if awakened would plead the cause of God against sin 3. A third work of God upon young Converts is a powerfull bending and enclining the Will to embrace Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Advocate and to resign up it self in full complyance with his will in every thing So the wicked one doth endeavour to 〈◊〉 the wills of young ones against Christ and the Law of God he doth what he can to corrupt and deprâ—…ve it and to draw it unto a full bent and resolution for sin 4. A fourth work of God upon young Converts is upon their heart and affections whereby he draweth them and engageth them for himself So on the contrary the wicked one is very busie in tampering with the affections of young ones and as God doth use arguments in effecting a gracious change upon young Converts so the wicked one doth use arguments to perswade them unto the practice of siÅ„ which arguments are his temptations Young men labour to overcome the Temptations of the Wicked one and that I may help you herein I shall 1. Set before you as in a glass the chief Temptations whereby the wicked one doth draw young men unto sin and endeavour to arm you against those Temptations that you may overcome 2. Caution you against the particular sins of Youth which the wicked one would draw you unto and then shut up my Discourse with a word of Encouragement 1. Concerning the Temptations whereby the wicked one doth endeavour to draw Young men unto sin And here I shall speak of the Five most ordinary Temptations whereby young ones are drawn unto sin 1. By the delight and pleasure of sin 2. By the glory and repute of sin 3. By the utility and advantage of sin 4. By the pretended smallness of sin 5. By the hopes of future repentance 1. The first Temptation whereby the wicked one draweth young men unto the commission of sin is by the delight and pleasure of it and here he is very cunning in the management of this temptation that it may take effect 1. He laboureth to hide from the eyes of young men those pure spiritual and more excellent pleasures those heavenly ravishing and far transcendent delights and joyes which are to be found in God both here and chiefly hereafter perswading them that the wayes of God are irksome and unpleasant which is furthered by their own experience they finde them to be so to them upon a little tryall for want of a spiritual appetite to relish that reall sweetness which is in them for as Angels cannot relish carnal pleasures because they have no carnal senses so neither can carnal persons relish spiritual pleasures because they have no spiritual senses 2. He laboureth to hide from them the sting and bitterness of sin the sorrow and vexation which it will certainly produce in the conclusion he covereth the hook out of their sight laboureth to divert their thoughts from all serious considerations of the gall and wormwood that is in the bottom of the cup. 3. He represents the delights of sin as most sweet and satisfying as present and at hand and easie to be had without difficulty and labour and sometimes as secret too which no mortal eye can take notice of 4. He joyneth in with the lusts of their hearts with which he hath a secret correspondence and proposeth such objects unto them as are most suitable and desireable It is by the pleasure and delight of sin that most young men are bewitched and perswaded to the commission of it It was by the pleasantness of the forbidden fruit that this Old Serpent enticed our first Parents to eat thereof and hereby it is that he doth entice
Written Word of God the Scriptures abide in you The Book of the Holy Scriptures is the most excellent Book that ever was written It is the Book of God If an Angel should write a book I believe you would get and study such a book were you capable of understanding it much more should you study the Scripture which is of Divine Inspiration This is Gods Book and his only written Book there are not many Books of God to burden your memory you may read it over many times in your Life it is translated into your Mother-tongue that you may read it and it is written for the most part in a plain easie style that you may understand it and it is full of most excellent matter The Matter of the Word is 1. Doctrinal 2. Historical 3. Prophetical 4. Preceptive 5. Promissory In all the Word of God is most excellent 1. The Doctrine of the Word of God is most excellent In the Word you have the highest Doctrines concerning God his one Nature in thrâ—…e Persons concerning Christ his two Natures in one Person concerning the Church the mystical union of Christ the head and all Believers his members concerning mans Redemption by Christs death concerning the way of mans salvation by the Covenant of Grace and the like Look into all the writings of Philosophers and the wisest Heathâ—…ns that ever wrote who have had the greatest learning and largest understanding of things and you shall finde no Doctrine they have taught to be in the least comparable with the Doctrine of the Scriptures What are all the Arts and Sciences in the World what are the most subtle speculations the most accurate and rational discourses concerning the secrets and mysteries of Nature in which the most knowing have been puzzled and fallen short of a full understanding in comparison with the Doctrine of the Word and the mysteries of the Kingdom of God which are revealed in the Scriptures 2. The History of the Word is most excellent In the Word you have the History of the Creation the history of the Old World the history of the Flood the history of the burning of Sodom and Gomorrha with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven the history of Gods calling Abraham and the Patriarchs the history of Gods bringing the Children of Israel out of Egypt with many signs and wonders through the Red Sea and Wilderness into the Land of Promise the history of the Jewish Paedagogy and Gods various dealings with his Church before Christ came but especially you have the history of Christ his birth his life his works his death his resurrection his ascension his session and intercession at the right hand of God the history of the first plantation of the Gentile Church by the Apostles their preaching and success and the like Look into all the Historians which have written and where shall you finde such an history as is in the Scriptures Surely there is no history like to the history of the Bible for antiquity for certainty no history in which you have such concernment as in this history you may read of the memorable acts of some great Princes and famous Captains which may yield some pleasure to your fancy but you are never the better or the worse for what hath been done by these men so many years ago but you are concerned in the history of the Church in the history of Christ the Saviour of the World your salvation and happiness doth depend upon his birth and death and resurrection and appearance in Heaven to intercede for you 3. The Prophesie of the Word is most excellent not to say any thing of Prophesies already fulfilled concerning the children of Israel in the Old Testament concerning the First appearance of Jesus Christ foretold long before In the Word you have Prophesie concerning the calling of the Jewes the destruction of Antichrist the bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles which yet we are in expectation of Especially you have prophecy of the end of the World of the conclusion of Time and of what God will do with the children of men when Time and all the by-us-visible-place shall be no more You have prophecy of the second most glorious appearance of Jesus Christ to Judgement of the Punishment which shall be inflicted upon all the ungodly in Hell of the Reward which shall be given unto the righteous in Heaven This is a great and most sure and most excellent Prophecy Some men have taken upon them to foretell future things and have been foully mistaken and what they have foretold have been but of small moment in comparison This Prophecy of the Word is most sure because the Prophecy of God who knoweth all future things insomuch as he is omniscient and all things depend upon his decree And these things he hath foretold are of the greatest weight of any other things which he hath made known before-hand to us that we might prepare for that which is asar off 4. The Precepts of the Word are most excellent It would be too large to discourse of the Precepts in the Moral Law and the sweet commands of the Gospel where you have such admirable rules for the government of the thoughts heart affections speech behaviour and whole conversation as are not to be found in the Books of the most exact Moralist that ever wrote 5. The Promises of the Word are most excellent Promises of all temporal things needfull Promises of spiritual favours promises of eternal happiness promises suitable to all our wants promises precious of things of the greatest value Promises free without condition of merit Promises sure of a God who is most powerful and most faithful The matter then of this Word of God is most excellent therefore young ones be perswaded to study this Word let this Word of God abide in you 1. Labour to get this Word of God 2. Labour to keep this Word of God 1. Labour to get this Word of God 1. To get it into your minds 2. To get it into your hearts 1. Get the Word of God into your minds so as to understand it so as to believe it And that you may do so I would advise you to take a right method herein that you would begin with the Principles of Religion One that would have a good understanding in the Tongues must first learn the Grammar One that would attain knowledge in the Art and Sciences must begin first with the Principles the Rudiments and Elements of them And so one that would attain a good understanding in the Word of God must begin with the Principles of Religion which are collected together in the most easie way to understand in Catechisms where you have the great fundamental truths of Religion which are necessary to be known believed and practised in order unto salvation set down by way of question and answer And because some Catechisms are very deficient in giving clear light and some are very full I shall above all commend to you the
Catechism of the Assembly of Divines where all the heads of Religion are proved out of the Scripture which is the fountain and foundation of all and I would have you first to learn the shorter Catechism exactly with the proofs then proceed to the larger Catechism and consession of faith and as you go along labour to understand the meaning of every thing you learn and not only to get a notional understanding but also a spiritual discerning and to mingle these great truths with faith to receive and believe what you finde proved by the Scripture to be the Word of God and therefore most firmly to assent to them For this end you must look up to the Lord and make your prayer to him that he would give you his Spirit to teach and lead you into all truth Besides learning Catechisms you must keep a constant course of reading some portion of Scripture every day and labour to carry about with you something of the Word in your minds which you may entertain your thoughts withall when you get them off from other business 2. Get the Word of God into your hearts endeavour that your hearts may be aâ—…ected with the Word let not only your minds receive light by it but also your hearts receive warmth by it Imitate David in his affections to the Word which you may read especially in the 119. Psalm in his prizing the Word v. 71. The Law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver In his love to the Word v. 97. O how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day In his desires v. 82. My eyes fail for thy Word saying When wilt thou comfort me And v. 20. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgements at all times In his hope v. 81. My soul fainteth for thy salvation but I hope in thy Word In his delight v. 162. I rejoyce at thy Word as one that findeth great spoil 2. Labour to keep the Word of God let the Word of God abide in you do as David Psal. 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee And take Solomons advice and encouragement Prov. 4. 20 21 22. My Son attend unto my words and encline thine ear unto my sayings Let them not depart from thine eyes keep them in the midst of thine heart for they are life to those that find them and health to all their flesh There are three things in the Word which you should especially keep 1. The Truths of the Word 2. The Commandments of the Word 3. The Promises of the Word 1. Keep the Truths of the Word buy the Truth whatever pains it cost you but never sell the Truth whatever you may get by it Seek for the Truth as for silver and dig for it as for hidden treasures And having found it keep it as a treasure do not part with it upon any terms If you make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience you will make shipwrack of your souls upon the rocks of perdition and destruction and be drowned in the Ocean of Gods wrath Therefore you must earnestly contend for the Faith that is the Doctrine of Faith the Truths of the Word once delivered unto the Saints Jude 4. You will have attempts made upon you by the Agents of Hell by the Instruments of the Devil to rob you of the Truth and to give you damnable errours instead of soul saving Truths But as you desire the salvation of your souls hold fast the Truths of the Word get on the girdle of Truth let the loyns of your mind be girt about with the Truth Ephes. 6. 14. Let not the Truth hang loose in your minds lest it be snatched away from you but get the Truth girt get it fastned and fixed get it rooted and riveted that you may not be wavering like a wave of the Sea tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine labour for a mind established in the Truths of the Word 2. Keep the Commandments of the Word labour that your hearts may be cast into the mould of this Word get the Law written upon the Tables of your heart as with a Pen of Iron and point of a Diamond and let your life be a fair Copy of the Law let the Precepts of the Word be exemplified in your conversations let all men know what God requireth by your obedience shine as lights in the places where you live that others seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 3. Keep the Promises of the Word look upon the Promises as your great Christian charter as your choice treasure as your store-house where are laid up the most rich provisions Acquaint your selves with the Promises of the Word and apply them lay up the Promises in your heart and make use of them daily plead them at the Throne of Grace fetch supplies from them feed upon them live upon them delight your selves in them go to them for strength when weak for recovery when sick for quickening when dull for softning when hard for enlargement when straitned for succour when tempted for cordials when fainting for comforts when troubled Thus for your second duty Young men labour that the Word of God may abide in you SECT V. 3. YOung men labour to overcome the wicked one By the wicked one we are to understand the Devil who is called the wicked one by way of eminency because the Devil was the first wicked one and is the most wicked one and is the cause of all or most of the wickedness in the world he drew our first Parents unto the first sin and he hath a hand in the greatest sins that are committed by their Posterity and therefore all the wicked are called the children of the Devil Joh. 8. 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do Then this wicked one is overcome when his temptations to sin are resisted and repelled Young men labour to overcome the wicked one The Devil is very busie about young men 1. To prejudice them against Gospel obedience 2. To draw them into the commission of sin I shall give you advice how you may overcome the wicked one's prejudices and how you may overcome the wicked one's temptations 1. The wicked one would prejudice you and so keep you from the obedience of the Gospel and here his prejudices which he would raise in the minds of young men are 1. Against Professours 2. Against the Profession of the Gospel 1. The wicked one doth endeavour to raise prejudices against the Professours of the Gospel in young and tender minds to keep them from Gospel-obedience by representing Professours unto them 1. As rude and illiterate 2. As foolish and unwise 3. As proud and singular 4. As factious and rebellious 5. As hypocritical and wicked 1. The wicked one doth represent the Professours of the Gospel to young ones as rude
and illiterate that it was first preached by ignorant and unlearned Fisher-men and since entertained by none but such that the greatest Scholars and most learned Doctors in the world reject and slight it If the Gospel were so elegible would it not be more entertained by the learned Who can judge so well of the worth thereof as they That you may overcome this prejudice know 1. That the Gospel began to be preached by the Lord Jesus Christ the wisdom of the Father who had more knowledge than all the Doctors and learned men in the world who came down from Heaven to reveal the Gospel unto men and was the greatest Prophet that ever lived upon the face of the earth 2. That the Apostles though Fisher-men at the first and illiterate in regard of humane learning yet that they received from Jesus Christ extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost whereby they attained more knowledge than all the writings of men could teach them and that the Doctrine both of Christ and which they preached was confirmed by many miracles whereby it is manifest that it came from God 3. That there have been and at this day are many learned men which have and do receive the Gospel I might give instance in many learned Fathers who had knowledge in all sort of learning and by their writings have given evidence to the world that they were zealous defenders of the faith of the Gospel and all along unto this day there are as learned men as any in the world who are Ministers of the Gospel 4. That if many learned men do slight the Goâ—…pel it is through Gods just judgement upon them who lean to their own understanding whom he giveth up to a reprobate mind as not needing their learning to defend his Truths 5. That if the greatest number of Professours are ignorant and unlearned in regard of humane learning yet they have divine learning they are not skill'd in the writings of men but they have skill in the Scriptures they are not taught by men but they are taught by the Spirit of God they do not understand the mysteries of nature but they understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven Unto which I might add that it is for Gods glory to make choice of such persons who will give him the whole praise of their instruction and salvation 2. The wicked one doth represent the Professours of the Gospel as foolish and unwise that it is for want of cunning that they do not take any course to thrive in the world that it is for want of wit they deny themselves the profits and pleasures and dignities which they might have in a sinful way That you may overcome this prejudice know 1. That the wicked of the world are the veryest fools and above all others the most unwise Are they not fools that wound themselves by sin that wound their consciences which is worse than wounding their flâ—…sh that run headlong to their own ruines and are the cause of their own eternal destruction Are not they foolish and unwise that endeavour to please their flesh more than to please God that chuse gold before grace Earth before Heaven that when they are capable of salvation and eternal happiness do neglect and refuse it preferring the good things of this life before it which they will certainly and they know not how soon they may be deprived of 2. That sincere Professours of Religion have above all others the greatest wisdom None are so wise as those that make their peace with God that get their feet out of Satans snare that flee from the wrath to come that chuse God for their portion that deny themselves some sensual satisfactions that they may obtain eternal pleasures Those are the most wise that are wise unto salvation that have the wit to thrive in grace that make provision for eternity 3. The wicked one doth represent Professours as proud and singular that they are a company of self-conceited persons that think themselves wiser than the whole world besides that they affect singularity and are needlesly precise and make the way to Heaven narrower than it is That you may overcome this prejudice know 1. That sincere Professours of all others are the most humble persons they have the highest esteem of God but they have the lowest esteem of themselves Indeed they have high designs they are very ambitious they cannot be content with earthly riches and honours but they must be Kings and Princes they are ambitious of being made Sons and Daughters of God and Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven this is a lawful ambition but yet withall they retain the lowest thoughts of themselves and look upon themselves as unworthy of the least mercy 2. That sincere Professours are indeed singular and precise but they do not affect more than what God doth command and more than what is necessary unto salvation they do not make the way narrower than God hath made it Our Saviour telleth us that strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few there be that finde it Mat. 7. 14. They dare not blot that verse out of the Bible lest God should blot their names out of his Book they dare not do as the most do lest they go to the same place of endless misery whither the most are hastening they know they must be singular otherwise they cannot be sincere they must walk in the narrow way and strive to enter in at the strait gate or else they shall never be admitted into the New Jerusalem 4. The wicked one doth represent Professors as factious and rebellious That they are a company of seditious and lawless persons that they are disobedient to the Civil Magistrate whom God hath set over them That you may overcome this prejudice know 1. That none are more obedient unto the Civil Magistrate in lawful commands than sincere Professors because they know if in such things they disobey man they do more displease God and therefore that this calumny of the Devil which was the false accusation of our Saviour that he â—…orbad to pay tribute to Caesar. 2. That indeed when the Civil Magistrate doth command any thing unlawful and repugnant to the Law of God that then they think they are bound to obey God their supream King rather than any man living on the earth then they chuse rather to displease the greatest man than to wound their own consciences 3. That if when unlawful things are commandeâ—… by the Civil Magistrate though they cannot they dare not obey actively yet they will obey passively by submitting mâ—…ekly and patiently unto the penalties of their Laws for their supposed crimes 5. The wicked one doth represent Professors as hypocritical and wicked that they make a fair shew but they have rotten hearts that they are all a company of hypocrites and secretly wicked and would not stick at any sin upon occasion more than others who make no profession which he would induce
most difficult things are the most excellent things Pulchra quae difficilia though it bâ—… a difficult way it is the way of God not the way 〈◊〉 the Devil it is a clean way not the way of wickedness it is the way to the Crown to the Kingdom not the Road that leadeth to Hell and therefore 2. That it is a necessary way it is necessary thaâ—… you come into this way if you would be happy you would escape eternal misery 3. That the difficulty is not from the way bâ—… from your selves from your own lusts which aâ—… the weights that hang about you and maketh the way to seem difficult and tedious to you lay aside those weights and the sin that doth easily beset you and you may not only walk but run with easiness in this race Heb. 12. 12. 4. That though it be a difficult way to flesh and blood yet it is easie with God to help you and he hath promised to help you to write his Law in your hearts to remove your natural enmity and indisposition and to give you suitableness of spirit to his Law and to cause you to walk in his Statutes and keep his Judgements and do them Jer. 31. 34. Ezek. 36. 27. 5. That the greatest difficulty is at the first when you have accustomed your necks to his yoak and your backs to his burden you will acknowledge that his yoak is easie and his burden is light 3. The wickâ—…d one doth represent the way that Professors walk in as an unpleasant way he would perswade young onâ—…s that they must never look for a pleasant hour any more if they will be religious that thâ—…ir laughter must be turned into weeping and their joy into heaviness that there is required so much repenting and mourning that they will never endure it To overcome this prejudice of the wicked one know 1. That indeed you must repent of sin if you would be saved and your sorrow in some measure must last so long as your lives last because of the lasting of sin 2. That you must mourn for sin here or else you must burn for sin in Hell where you will mourn without measure without end and to no purpose 3. That you cannot avoid sorrow if you should continue in the way of sin pride crossed the world failing afflictions unexpected coming upon you which are born with chearfulness by the children of God may be heart-breaking to you one time or other you will have sorrows in a sinfull course and is it not better to have godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation than the sorrow of the world and lust which worketh death and destruction 4. That if you can obtain a kindly sorrow for sin which is a sweet melting of the heart with the sense of Gods love you will find more pleasure to your inward man than ever you did in all the delights of sin 5. That you are not required in this way to throw away all your comforts in your creature-enjoyments but only to deny your selves the excess and inordinacy which where it is taken breeds more bitterness in the disappointment than ever it yielded sweetness unto any You may take a subordinate comfort in friends and habitation and food and the like and herein more reall comfort through the sweetning of these things with Gods blessing and love than ever you could finde in these things before 6. That though your sinfull delights must be denyed yet God hath promised other delights in exchange he will give you spiritual delights If you walk closely and strictly and do not wound your selves by your sins you may have such sweet peace and refreshing joyes in the light of Gods countenance and sense of Gods love in communion with God here in his Ordinances and in hopes of the beatifical vision and full fruition of him in glory hereafter in heaven as have never entered into the heart of natural men to conceive 7. Whatever sorrow you have for sin now and whatever griefs for afflictions which in this life you are exposed unto yet consider that it is but for a little while Yet a little while and these sorrowes will be turned into joyes weeping may endure for ae night but joy cometh in the morning Psal. 30. 5. and if you sow in tears you shall reap in joy if you go forth weeping bearing precious seed you shall doubtless return again rejoycing bringing your sheaves with you Psal. 126. 5 6. at least when you come to heaven you shall have rest in the New Jerusalem all tears shall be wiped away from your eyes when you enter into your Masters joy then all sorrow shall come forth and depart sorrow and sighing shall flee away and never return more your joy in Heaven will be full and eternall and should the unpleasantness of the way discourage you from coming into it 4. The wicked one doth represent the way of the Gospel which Professors walk in as a reproachfull way he would discourage young ones from this way by the scorns and divisions they are like to meet with that they shall be scoffed at and reproached by their companions To overcome this prejudice of the wicked one know 1. That they are the most vile and contemptible persons in the World that reproach and deride Gods people and it is as ridiculous a thing for them to do it as to laugh at the shining of the Sun It is as if black deformed crooked persons should laugh and deride at those who are most fair and beautifull and therefore their reproaches and derisions are not in the least to be valued 2. That such as are reproached for Religion by men are most highly honoured by God and Christ he esteems them as the most excellent persons here and he will own and crown them in the face of the world at the last day 5. And lastly the wicked one doth represent the way that Professors walk in as a dangerous way he would perswade young ones if they come into this way they will run themselves upon great hazards and dangers they may lose their Estate they may lose their Liberty they may lose their Life To overcome this prejudice of the wicked one know 1. In reference to Estate which you may lose if you should lose Estate which you ought to reckon upon in the way of God 1. Possibly you may not keep your Estate in a way of sin some lusts may be as expensive to you as others Consciences are unto them and if 2. You have less of the world you may not have the less comfort if the stream fail you may fetch comfort from the Fountain 3. None can take away the treasure of grace in your heart nor deprive you of the treasure of gloâ—…y in heaven and whatever you lose of wealth for Christs sake will have an abundant recompence in that which is of an higher nature 2. In reference to Liberty 1. That though men may cast your Bodies into a Prison on Earth yet