it Which made the Prophet cry out so earnestly to some insolent and over-daring spirits in his time Now therefore be ye not mockers lest your bonds be made strong He that hath not so much Reverence as to spare Religion from reproaching that not Humanity as to forbear godly persons from deriding them let him yet have so much Wisdom so much Pity as to spare himself It was the setled and unalterable description which David long ago gave of a godly man a man likely to dwell in the Tabernacle of the Lord In whose eyes a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. The Image of God should be exceeding lovely his grace highly honourable wherever we find it though but in the meanest of his people What we discern of weakness not yet removed not yet healed may be pitied but must not be scorned Where Religion is wantonly scoffed at without doors in others It is to be feared and more than feared it is neglected enough and wretchedly trodden under foot at home 2. Not one given to foolish gaming Oh! no It is not for him that comes into the world a Child of wrath born in sin it is not for him whose very Condition and Religion if he seriously bethinks himself of either call aloud unto him for tears and dayly repentance It is not for him who hath no more but these few and frail daies wherein to provide for that solemn thing Eternity or else lie down with everlasting burnings It is not for such an one to become a vain gamester He hath other things matters of greater weight and moment which will call for his time and utmost care he is scarce at leisure to trifle with unmanly games Ingenuous divertions where they are wisely chosen harmlesly and seldom used timely and willingly parted with might possibly be winked at Both body and mind may sometimes modestly beg their remedy And let them have it so they take it but as a remedy and make it not worse than the disease Generous actions Religion is not so Stoical as to condemn them They are commanded they shall be commended Whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are lovely if there be any vertue if there be any praise we have free leave and are invited to address our selves unto them And happy is that young man whose hopeful disposition presseth early as David into the Camp and even longeth to employ it self in such noble undertakings He that passeth by shall bless him in the name of the Lord and say Go on and prosper But effeminate games can claim no kindred neither can they expect that they should ever be recorded in Letters of Gold or mentioned in the Congregation of the Lord like Mordecay's good services unto honour No no They are as Alexander wittily said in Plutarch neither true Iest nor good Earnest Neither fair Play nor sober Work But of a far sadder nature when such serious things as Estates and the welfare of whole Families are unnaturally thrown away upon idle and foolish Dice They are too commonly seeming sports real vexations Actaeons hounds kept for pleasure but in a short space devour their Mâ—ster the deflouring of the mind the gratifying of Satan the unhinging of the whole man from things of nobler worth toward God or toward our Country Experience hath too often stood with tears in her eyes and even wept in the sight of all men over these things complaining what you account the pastime of particular persons I must lament as the danger of thousands as that sore evil which unworthily softens and corrupts the Spirit of Nations into degeneracy and sloath opening the gates to any enemies inviting and letting in the Trojan horse of all calamity Thus with the Roman Emperour we greedily take the Cup because it is pleasant but it proves poyson and in conclusion our death These things please not so much one way but they wound as much another Whosoever seems here to win all are sure to go away great losers The Gamester alwaies rashly stakes and too commonly plaies away his dear immortal soul in his games 3. Not a Sabbath breaker Oh no He that dares be so bold on the Lords day will not stick to be fâ—â— worse upon another Where a Sabbath of so few hours becomes wearisome to us on Earth Good Lord what would that man do with an everlasting Sabbath in Heaven It becomes the true Disciple to awake and arise early that morning To awake as the Apostle saies out of sin unto righteousness and to put himselfe in remembrance that this is the day of his Saviours Resurrection the flower of time a Princess amongst all other daies the day for his solemn avouching of his Religion in the sight of God Angels and Men that this is the day wherein the Lord hath appointed to speak with him and hear from him wherein to give him â— meeting about the great affairs of his Soul He dares not neglect so blessed an opportunity he knows not whether he shall ever live till another Sabbath comes about He saies within himself as in the Primitive times I am a Christian and dare not omit the due observing of this day Oh the sad ruins of thousands for the controversie of violated Sabbathsâ— Persons Families Countries have died under it For Gods sake even for Gods sake let the terrour of the Lord in the remembrance of such sad Judgements perswade you And charge your selves afresh every Sabbath morning with what solemness you possibly can not to speak your own words not to think your own thoughts but thoughts meet for a Sabbath and settle your selves heartily to sanctifie this day of the Lord. Where the religious care of these choice Seasons dies it is too too commonly and sadly seen little goodness little loveliness little of the true fear of God there lives 4. Not one given to vain speech Oh! no The sober Young Man finds a field large enough to walk in to refresh himself and others with harmless discourse he desires not to break the hedge or run over to speak with sin He understand those words which are but Cyphers as to sense may be Figures of too great number as to sin He hears there may be and often are whole slouds of words in bulk where there are scarce the least drops of good reason or wisdom to be found in them And it makes him still the more cautious that he opens not his lips at any time foolishly He judges speech should be a Lecture of wisdome to the hearers The matter alwaies weighty the manner of expression ingenuous and comely without which he concludes with the great Philosopher Speech about vain things when all is done will be but vain and worthless He chooseth to have his discourse rather of things than of persons Sometimes of Vertue and the amiableness of that Sometimes of the great Works and Providence of
broken up in a tragick amazement The end of that mirth is coming fast enough and it will be heaviness The sore of your Conscience will shortly gâ—ngrene if it be not timely dressed and bound up in the Balsom of Christs blood The World will quickly fail you and be as worthless dust under your feet Your Friends now so dear to you and you to them shall suddenly go their way to their long home and leave you to follow their cold clay as Mourners to their Grave And that which knâ—cks still nearer at your door your life it self is continually spending upon the quick stock the oyl hourly consuming in the Lamp and your pleasing guest so dearly desired to stay with you tied up by an higher hand to a very short space of time allowed only as a way faring man to visit you and must be you never so unwilling hasten on his journey quit his lodgings anâ— be gone again fâ—om you Think not that you shall escâ—pe that you shall be excused because young the dead shall stand the small as well as the great before the Lord. And your death is already upon its march towards you and shall arrest you it may be at unawares telling you ripe or unripe the Sickle must now be put in and you cut up and carried before the Lord. Oh Young Man what wilt thou do in that solemn day Then will grace be needed then will the necessity and worth of it be better understood than now it is Prepare oh prepare to meet thy God Now it may be thy Conscience is not yet setled upon its lees or seared through long custome in sinning which yet it too soon may be Thy Heart is yet as the heart of Iosiah tender and even melting within thee As yet the World with its distracting cares is not crept in to hinder or overcharge thee Hitherto the holy Spirit of grace even striveth with thee Dost thou know indeed Or hast thou seriously considered what this season is what all these things mean and at what pass thy present condition stands Oh be perswaded to use means in time before the disease get too strong an head Physitians tell us on the one hand Of all Physick that is the hopeful Physick that is timely taken And experience tells us as sadly on the other hand it is hard hard indeed to turn out sin when it hath been once suffered to settle and strengthen it self by long connivance and entertainment Oh! let not time wait all the day long in vain upon thee oh let not the Spirit of the Lord as in the daies of the old world strive in vain with thee Whomsoever thou deniest deny not God any thing that he asks thee whatsoever thou refusest refuse not Heaven God is graciously willing with it thy soul may be everlastingly happy by it Return return and live It is well worthy of observation that in the Hebrew the same word that signifies a Chosen person is commonly used throughout the Scripture to signifie also a Young person It seems the Lâ—rd woulâ— have young people a choice people Oh! translate you this Hebraism into English and shew your selves a chosen generation a peculiar people Children as is said in Daniel that may be able to stand before the Lord and King of the whole earth Let others if they needs will be as dross worthless dross which no man values in which no man takes delight But as for you aspire after nobler things Oh! strive for your parts to be as so many vessels of Gold for the praise and service of your Creator Where are now those Isaacks that meditate while they are young Those Iacobs that prize and seek the heavenly blessing betimes Where are now those Solomons that study to know and serve the God of their Fathers Those Obadiahs that fear the Lord from their youth Where are now those Hebrew children that ask their Parents as those in the Law whaâ— mean the Sabbaths and Ordinances of the Lord that they may also keep them Or where shall we now find those Sons of wisdom that being enticed by sinners consent not but refrain their feet from evil courses and keep themselves from the paths of the Destrover Me thinks you should often call to mind the Example of Samuel who ministred and served before the Lord while he was yet but a child You cannot forget the good carriage of those children which so affectionately sung Hosannahs unto Christ. We can truly tell you for your encouragement the Lord ordaineth the Lord accepteth praise out of the mouths of babes and children Whoever quencheth them God will not despise them These are the young mans looking-glasses the young mans patterns and presidents that he should imitate and copy out Oh! let not the memory of such die while you live preserve them alive in your gracious carriage and coâ—versation Neither are other Examples wanting Did you but read the life of that Iosiah of his age King Edward the sixth that Phoenix of his time Prâ—nce Henry that truly noble Lord the young Lord Harrington with many others who blossomed as the Almond tree betimes whose holy and vertuous conversations whose sweet and gracious expressions should be the young mans peculiar study and delight Did you I say but read these or wash your morning thoughts in the serious remembrance of them as that noble Roman chose to wash his hands every morning in that Basin wherein he had the Picture of vertuous Cato in sight afresh before him for his imitation It would even provoke you to be in love with all goodness for their sakes You would even sit down and weep as the Emperour did at the sight of Alexanders Tombe to think how far others have gone in their early years heavenward and you so backward so far yet behind Oh! that you would make it henceforth the real Motto of your youth which was once the Swan-like Song of the dying Martyr None but Christ None but Christ. CHAP. II. The Young Mans Case and Concernments as they now lie before him stated and offered to his consideration YOu have more particularly two great Concerns lying now upon your hand which had need both of them be seriously thought upon and duly provided for before you slip any longer time The one is the wise ordering and improvement of this present life which is commonly spoyled in youth and scarce ever recovered in riper years The other the religious providing for a better which no man can be too diligent in He that is truly faithful in either will be in some measure conscionable in both These hath God joyned together and happy is that man who hath learnt to give each its due and through a well led life with men on earth to pass to a better with God himself hereafter in heaven It will be your wisdome to understand aright the good consistency of both these together That so you may neither on the one hand think hardly of religion
and destruction from the Almighty upon the Children of Men. A day that all are enough warned of a day that few duly provide for This is that day that shall decide that great Case which hath so long depended that shall resolve that Question of all Questions which to this hour hovers and passes to and â—ro so thoughtfully in all mens minds Then shall the Lord shew who is holy and who are his This is that day wherein the World to its utter astonishment as Iosephs Brethren troubled at the unexpected â—ight of one so little looked for so little delighted in shall yet once again hear and see more of Christ That the residue oâ— the great work of Redemption might be finished and the Kingdom delivered up according to the earnest longing of the whole Creation in the fulness of its glory to the Father This is once more that day wherein grace and grace alone shall find favour in the eyes of God Hypocrisie shall then shelter none Estates shall then buy off none It is the just Judge of the whole Earth who sitteth then upon our trials and a righteous judgement according as every mans Case shall then be sound he will impartially pass None can here plead ignorance oâ— say they heard not of it Enoch the seventh from Adam so long ago prophesied of this so openly that who would might understand it Behold he cometh with ten thousand of his Saints We cannot make our selves strangers to it The blind and the deaf both heard and saw it The poor Heathen awaked as amazed men and said one to another This World will one day have a tragick end and we shall all be certainly judged for what we now do Their Philosophers they freely yielded it Their Sybils and Poets dayly sung of it And all flesh may now without further thought or doubt sit down and confess with the Apostle 〈◊〉 We know we must all none excepâ—ted appear before the judgement seat of Christ in the solemnest case that ever was tried to receive of him according to the things done in the body whether they be good or whether they be evil 2 Cor. 5.10 Oh Young Man Young Man how often hast thou seriously thought of this day A day wherein these eyes of thine shall see Christ himself coming in the clouds with great power and glory from the brightness of whose presence Heaven and Earth shall be ready to flee away Then shalt thou see thâ—se Royal Officers of State the Angels of Heaven so numerously up and down amongst us attending their Masters business summoning the Graves of the Earth calling to the Waters of the Sea to deliver up their dead almost now forgotten that have been so long since committed to them Then shalt thou hear the shrill voice of the last Trumpet sounding that solemn Call to all Flesh Arise ye dead and come unto judgement Oh how loth will the Sinner be to rise at the ringing of this Watch-bell How little heart will he have to put on his old cloaths of sinful Flesh and appear in them before the Lord How loth to meet with his body in so sad a place upon so sad an occasion that they may now together as joyless Companions receive the bitter wages of all their former sins Then shall you see the Prophets Vision dry bones live indeed then shall the dead awake from their Long sleep the Father with the Son the Poor with the Rich and go to receive every one their several Sentence from the Lord. Then must the Sun be content to be darkned and the Moon to the amazement of all beholders shall become as bloud Then must the Stars like withered leaves fall from their places The Flouds roaring the Earth flaming the Elements melting the Heavens like a Scrowl of Parchment passing away and almost all Flesh shreeking and crying out In vain have we flattered our selves in vain have we put far from us the evil day Notwithstanding all our lothness it is come even the day of his wrath and who can stand before him Then comes forth the definitive Sentence from the Judge's own lips to the godly on the right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared so long by me desired so affectionately by you Enter ye now at length once for ever into the joy of your Lord. Then also comes forth that heart-wounding Condemnation on the left hand Depart from me ye Cursed go go cursed ye are and shall now to your own everlasting smart feel it far from any rayes of blessedness shining upon you shall your place henceforth be and your condition as far from rest or ease Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Then shall that slighted word Eternity trampled so much under foot now be found and felt a ponderous thing indeed This oh this shall make the night of Sinners sorrow so doleful to him there shall never never never more arise or shine any day upon him Never so many aking hearts never so many pale faces seen together since the World began Then shall the stout hearted be spoiled and he that knew not how to brook the feâ—r of the Almighty here on earth his spirits shall then fail him apace his heart shall thenceforth meditate terrour and his own tongue confess his punishment is now become greater than he knows either how to avoid or how possibly to bear This great day is to the pious young man the Memorial of all Memorials a cogent and constraining argument to bring him into Gods Vineyard As the Apostle calls it the terrour of the Lord and he is willing it should perswade him He goes up to his Watch-tower he concludes with himself what ever lies neglected this day must be timely provided for and he prepareth unfainedly as he is able for it 1. He first spreadeth his hands toward heaven and draweth with much humility toward God Having been so exceeding sinful hitherto he is loth to be false or further dilingenuous now He freely confesses guilty And what could easily enough be proved against him if he should go about to deny it he filially acknowledgeth passing sentence upon himself as one whom God for his manifold and hainous sins most righteously might condemn Yet still hoping the Lord will give him the benefit of his reading and the blessed favour of that sweet Scripture He that judgeth himself shall not be judged of the Lord. 2. He then beforehand entreats the Judge himself for the Lord in his stupendious mercy allows it to become his Advocate He dares not indeed trust his Case in any meaner hands He now putteth the very hopes of his life in his Saviours righteousness saying That and that alone is the righteousness that can answer for him in times to come 3. He lastly resolves to set the straightest steps to take the greatest heed to his whole Conversation doing those things
ye ambitious of his Honour but I must say Be ye imitatâ—rs of his Industry Accounting with yourselves as the Father piously of old that labour is the honourable Schoole of Vertue wherein your proficiency would soon appear to all Such an one Solomon at a great distance foresees what advancement he would soon come to Seest thou a man diligent in his business he shall stand before Kings he shall not stand before mean persons These things are and most justly may be the Young Mans Lecture they walk with him they talk with him Wherever he goes he is still pondering of them He considers his outward man and observes godly diligence inherits a blessing while negligence goes cloathed in rags He considers his inward man and fears if time be carelesly lost here Eternity of happiness will very hardly be found hereafter He that labours not painfully in hiâ— Calling both Spiritual and Civil here on Earth his heart is not right in the sight of God his own Conscience will tell him he hath no lot nor parâ— in that rest which remains for the people of God in Heâ—ven CHAP. VII Affirmative Characters what the vertuous Young Man is and ought to be YOu have now received some Negative Characters and description of the Young Person that is worthy of commendation and love indeed That we might plainly understand what he is not what he ought not to be And oh that you likewise may cordially hate the work of them that thus turn aside and for your parts unfainedly meditate a better course of life We will now look to the right hand Affirmatively and consider what the vertuous Young Person is and ought to be in whole heart are the waies of God We might almost make our boâ—st here and say in some measure as in the Psalms Grace is poured into his lips and he is much fairer than the common Race of the Children of men He is one whose mind is richly inlayed like the Kings Daughter all glorious within curiously wrought by the hand of the Spirit There may you find the Prophets Vision Ierusalem pourtraied upon a tyle Much of the very glory of Heaven it self drawn upon his tender soul His heart is as a living Temple for the Holy Ghost His thoughts and affections as perfumed Odours aspiring and ascending continually as pillars of Incense heaven-ward He cometh forth out of the purple morning of his youth as the Bridegroom out of his Chamber as the Sun out of the dawning East and rejoyceth to run the Godly Race More particularly 1. He is one that chooseth the fear of the Lord with his whole heart For he knoweth it is to God he stands or it is to God he falls Others are vain others are profane but so dares not he because of the fear of the Lord. He believes the Scripture and accounts it no burden no sadning but a Jewel well worth his carefullest preserving and laying up The fear of the Lord is his treasure Wherever this is wanting he reckons that place an habitation of Dragons undesirable unsafe for any man to live in And Abraham said Surely the fear of God is not in this place and they will stay me He hath heard all true wisdome wherever it is may be found out and known by this This is its first and great principle The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom This is to him as the due ballast to the Ship which makes the Vessel indeed loome somewhat deeper but keeps it from tossing too lightly upon the uncertain waters It composeth his whole Conversation to great sobriety and stedfastness There is a sleighty sort of profession too frequently up and down the world in these last daies without much mixture of this weighty grace in it But he easily concludes that mans Religion will soon prove as salt that hath lost its savour and quickly go out into some stinch Oh! what shipwrack of faith and all good conscience must needs follow there where the heart stands in no awe of God The Father long ago gave over that man as an hopeless Patient He will soon be out of his way in point of conversation that sets light by the true fear of God in point of affection It is a sad note but it is a true one That man that will not fear God willingly shall be made though little to his comfort to do it by force What most would seem to refuse none shall be able to exclude That dread of God which they flee from shall pursue them and overtake them between the straits God will be we never so loath be feared of all But woe be to that man who having refused filial feâ—re as a grace is constrained to lie under the scourgings of a judicial trembling as his torment for ever and ever The Lord preserve you from it But now it is still a note as comfortable on the other hand to every true Child of God that accepts his gracious fear chearfully the Lord will himself become their shelter and City of refuge that their hearts may quietly return to their rest and need no more be amazed at any terrour outwardly God would not have his dear people fear the fears of others Only let us sanctifie the Lord of Hosts iâ— our hearts and he shall be for a Sanctuary unto us The case is truly weighty on both sides The serious Young Person takes it up goes with it into the Sanctuary and there weighs it before the Lord and at length comes forth cordially contented that the just fear of God should be to him as to the Patriarks of old the great Badge and Cognizance of his Religion 2. He is one to whom the Lord Iesus Christ is exceeding precious He loves his Father he loves his Mother but still saies Jesus Christ alone he and none but he can be my Saviour He could herein even break forth into an holy triumph and begin with the Father to sing the Songs of the Lamb The Saviour is born oh glorifie the Lord. He hath appeared on Earth be ye henceforth lift up ye everlasting Gates The Bridegroom is shortly returning again oh light your Lamps and go out to meet him Sing to the Lord in the joy of this salvation Oh! let all the earth praise the Lord. The Iron though senseless willingly moves toward the Loadstone and is loth to part any more from it Christ is his Load-stone and his heart is even constrained and drawn out with great affection after him If the presence of the Sun be that which alone makes day to the dark world The enjoyment of Christ is more to him the light of life that makes a day of grace the chief of his comforts his heaven his all He could say wiâ—h pious Suenes in the midst of the greatest discouragements I will follow my Saviour in liberty and bondage in prosperity and adversity in life and death Whilest the smallest thread of life
only now which may be fairly responsible and abound to his good account then And so he waits till the Lord shall please to call for him In this posture he watches day and night left the spirit of slumber which is faln upon these last daies should at any time overtake him And wishes that all men had also the ear of the Learned to hear as the Father of old the voice of the last Trumpet sounding continually from heaven unto them He sadly sees indeed what is doing or rather every where misdoing in the World Some contending too unkindly too unnaturally too unbecoming Christians each with other as if Christ were now divided and Religion contrary to its own sweet nature setting up a fiery standard and the Professors of it to the amazement of all beholders transported into a spirit of inhumane fury every man against his Neighbour Which makes him cry out with the Poet Oh Friends is it possible that heavenly minds should harbour such earthly passions He sees others panting as eagerly after the very dust of the earth to the apparent hazard of what is infinitely more worth Heaven and Everlasting happiness So that the very Child might too justly upbraid them in the words of the Philosopher See see how they grasp after Earth to the loss the utter loss of Heaven it self He sees in conclusion almost all men too near the words of the Psalmist Walking in a vain shaddow But he for his part thinks himself highly calleâ— of God to another temper of heart a far better course of life And therefore pitcheth upon this one request as that which of all other most concerns him Oh let me be found of thee my Lord at that day in peace 11. He is onee that aims to make his every-day Conversation a just Copy and Pattern of his whole life He considers how â—itly the day resembles life seeming indeed but an Epitomy 〈◊〉 Abridgement and lesser Map of it And therefore he awakes in the Morning with the chearful remembrance of God He delights also to rise as early â— that he might gain some fresh persumed and previous thoughts before oâ— her affairs crowd in upon him â— accounting it very unbecoming and the open Symptom of an ignoble hopeless disposition To fold the arms to any longer sleep when God brings in so fair so bright a Lamp as the rayes of the Sun for us to rise by He enters the day with Prayer and Reading seeking to interest the Lord and take fresh counsel from his Word for all the following occasions of the day He goes forth from chance to his Calling endeavouring painfully and patiently to undergo the service and evils of the day with an unbroken mind He sets down in the Evening and Pythagoras-like makes up the accounts of the day now past He commends his Soul to God at night as one ready to take his leave of the World to whom it would be no surprize though his bidding good night should be his parting with his Friends indeed his undressing his putting off all things here his Bed his Grave his sleep a sleeping with his Fathers till the sweet Morning of the Resurrection when he might awake satisfied in Gods likeness and see the Sun of righteousness shining upon him indeed Thus with the Rose he lifts up his face toward the Sun in the Morning perfumes the ambient air with a fragrant odour all the day And still with the Rose vails up his head at night with a fresh dew from heaven resting and lodging upon him So sweet a life so dayly a death oh how familiar how welcome and easie would they make death it self as a friend of long acquaintance and before-hand provided for when ever iâ— comes indeed 13. Lastly and more comprehensively He is one whose growth is an intire growth of the minâ— within as well as of the body without In Vertue as well as in Stature It is his dayly care and prayer that he may grow in wisdom and savour with God and Man He esteems it the beauty of his Youth to be truly respectful to the Aged Nature presented it as â— matter of high concern to the blind Heathens and the Lord himself hatâ— more expresly required it at our hands Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and fear thy God I am the Lord. God scarce takes himself to be duly feared where this is neglected He is one who foresees his Parents shortly giving up their places and leaving him as the branch of their hope to succeed therein He takes it to be his just debt both to them and to himself to be what his Name in the holy Language well suggesteth to him The wise builder up of the Family when they are gone The strength the stay and ornament of it that it may live and become a Famimily of some praise and honour amongst the thousands of Israel He is one that takes care to naturalize himself betimes to vertuous habits of diligence and goodness watching and declining the very occasions and first entertainments of Vice Left Nature should be wooed and too easily carried away by such had Suiters and evil courses like the Sons of Zervia in a little process of time become too hard for him He is one that walketh chearfully in his station is merry and sinneth not pleasant but not frothy Serious but not melancholy One that by sweetness of nature and disposition one that by meekness of carriage and conversation renders himself lovely to all His Parents shall look upon him with comfort and say My Child my heart rejoyceth even mine because thou hast chosen the waies of Wisdom His Neighbours shall enquire after him and propounding him as an example to their own Families shall even bless the breasts which gave him suck and account that Parent happy who hath such Arrows in his Quiver he may speak with his adversary in the gate And now such oh such for Piety and Vertue are you desired to be Whom all that know you may esteem and Sirname according to that old yet honourable phrase The love and delight of mankind CHAP. VIII The Necessity and great Advantagiousness of true Grace in any Condition whatsoever PUt the Case as impartially as you can yet nearer your selves and see what great what real advantages the grace of God might yield unto you in whatever capacity or condition God shall set you First If you be born of mean Parents and poor The meanness of your condition will plainly need and the grace of God will readily yield you much refreshment The Ancients have long ago justly concluded whatever verdict men may piss There is no man properly poor dishonourably poor but he that is pior in Grace and Knowledge You have it may be no house on Earth You have the more need of a Mansion in Heaven Scarce so much as Cloaths for
are willing as others also â—re to be of it and so they conclude without further troubling themselves that all will be well I write not this to upbraid any but may and must freely say thus much to all The truest Religion falsely taken up will be but as the Arke to the Philistims it may encrease our torments but will never save our souls If we shall climb up to Religion some other way and not by the true door if we shall crowd into profession without a wedding garment the time is coming we shall be found out and our own conscience which have thus lied to the Holy Ghost shall even fail within us and leave us speechless at the Bar of God as those that have not the least excuse for themselves There is a time Dear Youths your own consciences cannot but tell you so wherein Religion must be first embraced on Earth if ever you desire glory or happiness in Heaven Now he that begins amiss is like to make but very bad work ever after Things once mislearned are exceeding hardly unlearnt And truly where one takes up the profession of the Name of God sincerely and upon Gospel terms it may be feared there are too many who receive it unworthily and to their own condemnation Some lose their souls while they seek with the blinded Iews to establish their own righteousness Other hearing Religion much commended and seeing somewhat of amiableness and beauty in it they hastily catch up some flashy heady ceremonial or remote opinion as best pleaseth them and think they have enough and so never regard to know what sound conversion and true communion with God meaneth all their daies Others again and herein I am more particularly speaking to your caso the Lord grant you may truly lay it to heart others I say as Children and Servants to satisfie the desires and counsel of their religious Parents and Friends yield and do those things outwardly which they bear no true affection unto inwardly Oh wretched hypocrisie at the same time seemingly to stand in some fear of Man but none of God Well whosoever can deceive men no man can mock the Lord. His eyes are eyes of fire and all men shall know that he searcheth the heart and trieth the reins Where Spiritual things are Carnally undertaken the evils that too necessarily ensue thereupon are exceeding many The fruit of the whole undertaking is inevitably lost The Duty that seems offered is not at all discharged The Comforts the dear comforts of Godliness are all lockt up as mercies peculiarly reserved for sincere and better hearts The Profession that is thus made will quickly decay and die in disgrace The heart can never hold out long in that which is but personated and so little delighted in Only the evil and guilt of the miscarriage that will still remain and must be elsewhere answered for So little shall any maâ— gain that goes to build upon the sands The further he goes the more he wanders and will sadly find at last He that begins not duly with Christ as the Author can scarce expect to find him in the end the Finisher or â—â—owner of his faith Yet notwithstanding all this what just cause of sorrow may it be to all sober hearts to consider What harâ— and unkind usage what disingenuous and careless handling that sacred thinâ— Religion in most Ages meets withal from the hands of a froward carnaâ— World Well take you this Item with you all your daies whatever you do in the matters of Religion do it heartily reverently Gospelly and humbly as in the sight of God the all-seeing the jealous God Where God sees he cannot be cordially believed or feared take outward shews who will they are of little value in the account of God These saies the Father are but worthless leaves we must still demand and call for real Fruits If the Lord asks or accepts any thing it must justly be the best we have Give me thine heart my Son Now the Lord himself direct you and give you a right entrance into his right waies with that kindliness of Repentance that truth of Faith that soundness of Conversation that you may not run in vain losing the things you seem to have wrought but may in the end happily obtain the crown of life Happy is that man that can truly say the Foundation stone is thus laid the Top stone shall also in Gods good time be as certainly vouchsafed with those gladsome shoutings to the God of such great and unexpected mercies Grace Grace Seventhly Take heed yet once more in the last place if God hath enkindled any heavenly affections in you now that you lose not your first love afterward The kindness of your youth it is dear it is lovely in the sight of God Christ looked upon the young man in the Gospel and loved him God sees and takes it well that it is in your hearts while you are young to enquire after him These first ripe grapes I might reverently say as in the Prophet they are the fruits that his righteous soul desireth Oh! let not your present convictions your present willingness your present delight in the good Word of God in the sweet Sabbaths of God in the dear people of God Oh! let not all this verdant hopefulness of your youth vanish as a morning cloud or like the early dew I give you this particular warning because miscarriages are so sadly frequent in all Ages of this nature And because I further know Satan will come to winnow you With this temptation if you live you may assure your selves he will assault you with it I have been too forward too zealous too careful for Religion while I was young I will even spare my self now Thus are the first daies of many Professors sadly clouded with lukewarmness formality wordly policy and earthly mindedness ere they die But I hope you will not dare so to do True motion is alwaies most intense the nearer it comes unto its Center And if you be truly aiming for Heaven you will dayly renew your strength and be loth to slacken your pace when it groweth nearest night Relapses in nature Physitians tell us are very sore Relapses in Profession are still far sorer How oh how shall such be ever renewed again unto repentance Dear Youths your thoughts are yet green your years hitherto but little experienced You have scarce yet known how bitter and evil a thing it is to forsake the fountain of living waters and God grant you never may But are you willing to believe what God shall testifie in this matter Then may you soon understand the Backslider though but in heart shall quickly have gall and wormwood enough in his Cup He shall be filled saies the Lord with his own waies Or are you further desirous to hear what Experience hath also to testifie in this weighty case Then may the horrour of Iudas the despairing groans of Spira become your warning They
pray know It is no less than Life or Death that now stands before you waiting for your Yea or Nay It is so small or inferiour matter of little moment of light consequence that you are now to give your answer in It is Heaven it is Eternal life I need say no more it is your own happiness for ever and ever how can you turn your backs upon it Yea further know there have been those among the poor Heathens that never durst think thus lightly of sin as you do They alwaies held it the greatest evil and the sorrows of it the heaviest sorrows in the whole world There have been tender hearted Ninevites that have come to God at one call and gladly closed with their own mercy And there yet are at this day how backward soever you may be thousands filially returning as the Prodigal with tears of joy to their Fathers house longing for him and welcome to him going where there is what they and you likewise want Bread of life and change of Rayment that you might be cloathed Oh why should you stand out against such sweet mercy and harden your selves so unnaturally to your own destruction You might yet further know though it will be sad enough to know it there is never a Companion of yours with whom you have now sinned but shall be ready to witness against you Never a leaf in all your Bible but shall be enough to condemn you Ministers Parents Friends and Foes shall all come forth against you And oh how cutting will it be to be made a spectacle of scorn to God to Angels and to Men How wounding to thy astonished heart to become an everlasting By word upbraided of all pitied of none It is the condition will they say that he hath long ago deserved and let him bear it This as an holy man rightly observed will make thy load and burden heavy indeed Yea God himself who here hath wooed and so often so long even waited to be gracious shall then set every sin in order before you and make your guilty Consciences with everlasting blushings to own them Then saies the Father shall it be said in the audience of Heaven and Earth Behold the man and all that ever he did let it be had in everlasting remembrance whether it be good or whether it be evil Then shall your selves also look back upon that dear Salvation that you have negligently lost that wretched misery that you have wilfully brought upon your selves and sinke down with heart-breaking sighs and horrour at the Bar of Christ. Then may you be ready to take your last leave of all comfort and say Farewell my day of Grace which is now gone and never more to shine upon such a wretch as I am Come in all ye my hainous sins and the bitter remembrance of you The Lord hath sent you to stand as adversaries of terrour round about me Sting as so many fiery Serpents in this bosome of mine and spare not Oh! that you might have leave to make an utter end and rid me out of all my pain Oh how will the tears trickle down to see the Lord so gracious so loving to others and yet so justly severe and full of indignation towards you To see those that prayed while you slept that so willingly kept the Lords Sabbaths while you as constantly profaned them to see those that â—â—isely redeemed that time which you so lavishly wasted to see those very persons so well known to you it may be your near acquaintance in the Kingdom of God and your selves shut out Then though never till then will the heart that hath held out as long as ever it could begin to falter and fail Then shall the lips break forth with that righteous acknowledgment I am undone undone for ever and my destruction is of my self Oh my dear Friends my bowels even yearn for you Hast thou but one blessing oh my Father bless our Young People even them also that they may turn to thee and live But I cannot thus leave you My Errand I confess is now even done but your duty henceforth to be taken up and still carefully carried on I may justly say of this whole Letter as once the Roman Oratour well said to his Son It will be of more or less service to you as you make it truly practicable in the sequel of your life Counsel stored by us in Books and neglected in life it is like the coâ— vetous mans bags of Gold which lie wholly dead and no good use made of them Suffer me then once more for greater sureness sake to rehearse my Message again unto you It is you Dear Youths to whom I am as the Father affectionately said in this Paper to apply my self It is you who have yet seen but the third hour of the day with whom the Message whether it lives or whether it dies must now be finally left You are desired in the higest Name that can be used in the Name of the great and most glorious God who made the Heavens and the Earth and gave you that breath you breathe between your Nostrils You are desired in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who freely shed his precious bloud in a readiness to redeem and cleanse you from all your sins You are desired in this great and dreadful Name and by all the respect you bear unto it to remember your Creator in the daies of your Youth You are desired to strive to enter in at the straight Gate You â—â—e desired to accept the richest the greâ—â—est gift that God himself ever bâ—stows upon any his own dear Son You are desired to be kind to your own Souls and to lay up a good foundation agâ—inst times to come You are desired to come and live with God for ever Dear Youths what do you purpose to do in this great matter These are not Requests to be slighted these are not Requests to be denied Such a capacity for mercy how would the damned prize it oh let not the living set light by iâ— This short moment how meanly soever you may think of it once wretchedly lost and an Age will not recover Eternity it self as long as it is will never restore the like advantages to your souls again And now are you oh are you at length willing to go about this blessed work and become happy for ever if there may be yet any hope in Israel concerning your case Behold the arms of Mercy are open ready to imbrace you whatever is past how unkind how hainous soever God is ready to forgive willing to forget it He calls Heaven and Earth to record if you miscarry let the blame lie where it ought it shall not be his As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that he turn from his wicked way and live Turn ye oh now unweariedly doth the Lord renew his call turn ye from
Sweet truth to me c. 5. What means my trembling heart To be thus shie of death My life and I sha'nt part Though I resign my breath Sweet truth to me c. 6. Then welcome harmless grave By thee to Heaven I 'll go My Lord his Death shall save Me from the flames below Sweet truth to me I shall arise And with these eyes My Saviour see Heaven When shall I come and appear before God Psalm 42.2 First Part. 1. SWeet place sweet place alone The Court of God Most High The Heav'n of Heav'ns the Throne Of spotless Majesty Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with thee To see thy face 2. The stranger homeward bends And sigheth for his rest Heav'n is my home my Friends Lodge there in Abrahams breast Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with thee To see thy face 3. Earth's but a sorry Tent Pitch'd for a few frail daies A short-leas'd Tenement Heav'n's still my song my praise Oh happy place c. 4. These lower rooms these here Thou dost with Roses pave And 〈◊〉 with Chrystal clear But Heav'n oh Heav'n I crave Oh happy place c. 5. No tears from any eyes Drop in that holy Quire But death it self there dies And sighs themselves expire Oh happy place c. 6. There should temptations cease My frailties there should end There should I rest in peace In th' arms of my best Friend Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with thee To see thy face Second Part. 1. Ierusalem on high My Song and City is My home when ere I die The Center of my bliss Oh happy place c. 2. Thy Walls sweet City thine With Pearls are garnished Thy Gates with praises shine Thy Streets with Gold are spred Oh happy place c. 3. No Sun by day thines there Nor Moon by silent night Oh! no these needless are The Lamb 's the Cities light Oh happy place c. 4. There dwels my Lord my King Judg'd here unfit to live There Angels to him sing And lowly homage give Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with thee To see thy face 5. The Patriarchs of old There from their travels ' cease The Prophets there behold Their long'd-for Prince of peace Oh happy place c. 6. The Lamb's Apostles there I might with joy behold The Harpers I might hear Harping on Harps of Gold Oh happy place c. 7. The bleeding Martyrs they Within those Courts are found Cloathed in pure array Their seats with glory crown'd Oh happy place c. 8. Ah me ah me that I In Kedars Tents here stay No place like this on high Thither Lord guide my way Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with theâ— To see thy face FINIS * 〈◊〉 Sâ—gâ—s Buling †Pâ—eâ—itia citra puâ—â—ilitatem ad 〈◊〉 is â—◠〈◊〉 habituâ— sequaâ— Eâ—asm Câ—ne de pu les * Euâ—â—ciâ— felix proâ—eâ—ies in qua Parentes renovati ut quasi secundo vivere incipiant qui alioqui statim desicerâ—nt Calvin Lam. 3.22 * Ecclesiâ—e nomine armamini contra Eâ—clesiam dimicatis Aug. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pax omaâ—um benedictionum sigillum obsigâ—atio est Abaib * Catilinam quocuâ—que in populo videas quocuâ—quâ— sub aâ—e sâ—d aec Brutus crit Bruti nec aâ—â—culus usquam Juv. * Omnes qui patriâ—m coâ—serva â—at aâ—â—uveriâ—t auxerint certus â—is iâ— coelo ac definitus locus ubi beâ—ti 〈◊〉 sempiterno fraâ—â—ntur hiac pâ—oâ—eci huc reveituntur Cicero in Somn. Scip. * Quis non vita etiam suâ redimeret sub motum istud infinitum dissidiâ— scandalum Mart. Bue. †Bella geri placuit mullos babitura triumphos Pares aquilae pila nâ—â—antia pilis Luc. * Hi wotus 〈◊〉 atque iâ—â—c certamina 〈◊〉 pulveris exiguâ—â—acta compressa quiescant V. â— Gâ—â— * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nar. de Alex. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Veritas potens superabit †Cognori per gratiam D. i quid sit habere pro certá normá salutis verbum Dei quid sit humana somma placitaque sequi Cyrillus nupeâ—us Const. Patriar vide Hottinger in vita ejus * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Eph. 4.15 * Quid facit â—s pectors Christianoruis lupovum sâ—ritas Cyp. * Paâ— optima vâ—rum quas nobis na 〈◊〉 dedi Sâ—llius * Verior cujusque fama e domo emanat Bacon fidel Ser. †Ego te non Catilinae genui sed patriae Fulvius â—â—lio suo * Lubens jam morior quandequidem talem reliquero filium Anto. dict * Theodosius Impe. necessiâ— a â—obis taâ—â—us sed 〈◊〉 totus elquit â—nim libeos suos in â—uibus d◠〈…〉 igâ—osâ—re Hist vitae Theod. â—mper Pro. 20.11 Sit virilis â—etas jure fructiosior erit tamen juveâ—tus iâ—terim amaâ—ilio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Muâ—idus hic est via vadâ—m ad mundum suturum Majemonides * Ulâ—m mode lâ—â—tuâ— es nunc inâ—â—c properandas acri singendus â—ine siâ—e rota Persius * 〈◊〉 10.15 * Primiti◠〈…〉 primitie â—oetatis Dâ—o sâ—â—rae * Direvam da 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 modo Timeâ—â—â—â—niâ— re me cito exaâ—dires â—ito sanâ—ss Aug. Câ—n †Transibit volupt as manebit reatus momentanâ—um quod delectat aeternâ—m quod cruciat * Pro. 14.13 * Festinat eâ—im decurrere veloâ— slosculus agustae â—â—â—seraeque breâ—â—ssirea 〈◊〉 fortie Juven * Quicquid moves a principio move Hip. †Aegre reprehendas quod sinis coâ—suescere Hier. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 juvenus a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 selegit quasi ad oâ—â—â—s operas selectâ—s Buxtâ—â—f 1 The world into which we are come what that is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inimicus veste amici tectus Buxtorf Flo. Heb. * 1 Joh. 2.16 Ambitiosus hoâ—os opes saeda voluptas Haec tria 〈◊〉 trino numine mundus hâ—bet Mantuan †Qua terra 〈◊〉 sera regnat Eviâ—nys In factâ—us jurasse 〈◊〉 Ovid. Melior â—st hora una refrigerit in mundo futuro quam tota â—ita mundi hujus Pirke Abhoth * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 〈◊〉 â—nd for which wâ—â—r they are †〈…〉 â—gnimur â—ersius * John 17.4 * Hi quibus in solo vâ—vendâ— causa palato 〈…〉 †Exciâ—mur â—a melioâ— magniâ—â—dine rerum Salust 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 †Atque assigâ—t humi divinae particulam aurae Horat. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mens â—ominis est eâ—us ala Chrysost 3. The way and means by which to attain those ends * Isa. 66.5 †Joh. 14.6 Ambulare vis Ego sum via â—alli noâ— viz Ego sum veritas moâ—i non vis Ego sum vita Aug. * 2 Cor. 6.14 15. * Joh. 3.3 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Herod †Vis consilâ—â— expers 〈…〉 Horat * Prov. 5.12 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menander Counsel propounded twofold 1 More principal in reference to