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
danger of being corrupted and stoln v. 19. 20 The third from the inconsistency of the true love of God with the over-eager love of things here below Ye cannot love God and Mammon v. 24. The fourth from the assurance they might have that the Lord would without their carking care provide as much of these things as he saw needfull for them and that by their experience 1. Of Gods goodness to themselves in things of a far greater moment namely in giving them life which was more than meat and in giving them bodies which was more than raiment v. 15. 2. Of Gods goodness to creatures of far lâ—…ss dignity namely his feeding the Fowls and cloathing the Lillies v. 26. The fifth from their inability to procure these things by their anxious thoughts about them v. 27. The sixth because hereby they did sinfully conform unto the Gentilâ—…s and Heathens v. 32. And then at last our Saviour directs how to obtain these earthly things without such sollicitousness namely by the seeking first of heavenly things as in the Text But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you In which words there are two parts 1. An Exhortation But seek ye First the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness 2. An argument to enforce it and all these things shall be added unto you In the Exhortation there is 1. The Duty seek ye the Kingdom of God and his righteousness 2. The Season or Order in this word First Seek ye first c. In the Argument which is a Promise there is 1. The Things premised these things temporal things such as food raiment and whatever is needfull for the body whereof our Saviour had been speaking 2. The fullness of the Promise All these things nothing shall be wanting 3. The manner of conveyance they shall be added unto you they shall be cast in as appurtenances and over-plus SECT I. I Shall speak only to the former part of the words namely the Exhortation whence we may observe Doct. That it is the great duty of all the Children of men to seek first the Kingdom and Righteousness of God In handling of which point I shall shew 1. What we are to understand by the Kingdom and Righteousness of God 2. What it is to seek this Kingdom and Righteousness 3. What is implyed in this word First 4. That all the Children of men ought First to seek the Kingdom and Righteousness of God 5. Apply 1. What are we to understand by the Kingdom and Righteousness of God There is a three-fold Kingdom of God 1. The Kingdom of his Power 1 Chron. 29. 11. Thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as head above All. 2. The Kingdom of his Grace Luk. 17. 21. The Kingdom of God is within you 3. The Kingdom of his Glory Joh. 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God The Kingdom of Gods Power be sure is not here spoken of some understand hereby the Kingdom of his Grace But I rather think that in this place the Kingdom of God is to be taken for the Kingdom of his Glory where the chief and perfect happiness of men doth lye which our Saviour would have them to seek and not be sollicitous about earthly things which are so empty and transitory And I the rather conceive that it is to be taken for the Kingdom of Glory because the Kingdom of Grace which is the way to Glory is included in the next word namely the righteousness of God as Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace c. There is a twofold righteousness of God 1. That righteousness which is imputed to us whereby we are justified called the righteousness of God by Faith Phil. 3. 9. 2. That righteousness which is wrought in us begun in regeneration when we are renewed after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 24. and in the work of Sanctification is more and more increased and augmented whereby we grow in our spiritual stature untill we come to a perfect man to be perfectly righteous even as Christ Is righteous The Object then which we are to seek is the Kingdom of God the Crown of glory which God hath layd up for his people the Happiness of Heaven as the End and the righteousness of God reconciliation to him through the imputation of his Sons rightcousness and conformity to him through the working inherent righteousness in us by the operation of his Spirit as the way to this Kingdom and necessary means to attain this end 2. The second thing is to shew what it is to seek the Kingdom and Righteousness of God and here two things are implyed 1. A diligent Enquiry after these things 2. A diligent endeavour in the use of means to obtain them 1. A diligent enquiry after these things and that both after the things and after the means such as seek after this kingdom and righteousness they first inform themselves in the nature worth and need which they have of these things and then diligently inquire how they may get a part and iâ—…terest in them First they enquire who will shew us the chief good We see that the Creatures cannot yield us satisfaction we cannot finde any perfect and compleat happiness upon the Earth where shall we finde it And being informed by the Word and Ordinances that God is the chief good that his favour is better than life and that in his righteousness there is the beginning of true happiness and in his Kingdom there is perfection of happiness that in his presence there is fulness and eternity of joy and blessedness and that whilest they remain under the guilt and power of sin they are under the Curse and before they obtain his righteousness and a title to his Kingdom they are in a lost estate their condition for the present is miserable and they are exposed every moment to be thrown into the dark and deep dungeon of Hell where they shall be most horribly and eternally tormented they further being convinced of sin and awakened with the fear of punishment earnestly enquire how they may be delivered from the estate of sin and misery and be brought into a state of salvation as the Jaylour Act. 16. 30. Sirs what must I do to be saved And being told that Christ only can save them from sin and wrath to come they enquire how they may get an interest in Christ and share in his righteousness and being told of the Happiness in the Zion which is above they enquire how they may get a title to the Kingdom of Heaven and ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward as the Church Jer. 50. 5. Such as seek the Kingdom of God to purpose they set their faces towards the heavenly Jerusalem their hearts are set upon it they are resolved to get it whatever it cost them they ask
damnation of Hell But if you will turn your feet into the narrow path and walk in the way of Obedience which is the beginning of wisdom if you will seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness you have a promise that God will provide for you whatever is needfull for you of temporal things and in the end he will give you the Eternal Inheritance Let me press upon you dear young Men the advice of the Text to seek first the Kingdom and righteousness of God seek the Kingdom of God as the end and seek the Righteousness of God as the way and means SECT IV. I. FIrst seek the Kingdom of God Here is a Kingdom proffered to you not an Earthly Kingdom but the Kingdom of Heaven here is a Crown set before you not a Crown of Gold but that which is infinitely more precious a Crown of Glory As mean as you are you may be all Princes Sons and Heirs of the King of Heaven if you will look and seek after it Some Youths have aspiring mindes like the Eagles they sore aloft and would set their nests among the starrs as Obad. 4. you cannot aspire to a greater dignity than to get a title to the Kingdom of God here you may mount as high as you will in your aim without sin and attain an eternal Habitation and Mansion above the Stars even in the Palace of Heaven Some young men have covetous desires after the World and they will spare no labour in seeking after earthly riches and an Inheritance here below Let me entreat you to covet earnestly the bâ—…st riches do not endeavour so much to hoard up riches as to lay up treasâ—…res I mean treasures in Heaven which neither moâ—… nor rust can corrupt nor thieves break thorow and steal Mat. 6. 20. Get a title to the Inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled and sadeth not away which Jesus Christ hath purchased and prepared Some young men addict themselves to the pleasures of the flesh they are very jovial and frolick in their youth walking in the wayes of their heart and in the sight of their eyes and very desirous of carnal delights and sensual satisfactions here are delights and pleasures before you of a higher and purer nature more reall and substantial more durable and lasting The wayâ—…s of God are wayes of pleasantness But Oh what Joyes are there laid up in store what delights are there in Heaven in the immediate vision and full fruition of God the chief good O seek the Kingdom of God where there are full and everlasting pleasures And if you would get a title to this Kingdom of God and at length possession of it you must 1. Study the vanity and emptiness of all things here below hearken to Reason which will tell you so because these things are unsuitable unproportionable uncertain of a fading and perishing nature Believe the report of the Word concerning the World and all things therein Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher all is vanity Eccl. 1. 1. read that book throughout Take the experience of others who have tryed the world and after the fullest and most desireable enjoyment of these things have come off with dissatisfaction Think how dangerous it will be for you to try Let the Rocks which others have split themselves upon be a warning to you to steer your course another way Never look for never seek happiness in the World believe me it is not there to be found And therefore do not lay up your treasure on Earth 2. Look into the Word where life and immortality is brought to light where the glory and happiness of Heaven and the things which God hath there prepared for them that love him are in some measure revealed Look into the Gospel which like a Prospective-glass will give you some view of the glory which is above there you may perceive that Heaven is a place of rest of peace of light of joy of perfect and eternal happiness By the Word you may understand what happiness is prepared for the Body how gloriously that will shine even like the Sun and be made like Christs most beautifull and glorious body at the Resurrection There you may understand what glory will be put upon the Soul what shining garments of Holiness it will be cloathed withall and what Joyes of the Master it will be filled with 3. Compare Earth and Heaven together in the ballance and see which doth outweigh whether the exceeding and eternal weight of glory be not more ponderous than all the glory and happiness which the world can give which indeed is not so much as the dust of the ballance to compare with it And having made diligent enquiry and seriously considered and compared both these then make your choice the time of your Youth is the choosing time renounâ—…e the World and make choice of this Kingdom of God for your portion and Inheritance and be â—…o tented to stay for your chief happiness till you come forth of the World take not that for your portion which will so soon be spent but choose that which will be both satisfying and everlasting though you stay some time before you come to the full possession of it 4. Apply the Promises of Eternal Life 1 Joh. 2. 24. This is the promise which he hath promised even eternal life Titus 1. 2. In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye hath promised Build upon these and the like Promises they are a firm footing and ground for Faith which will not fail 5. Apply your selves unto Jesus Christ in whom all the Promises are yea and amen who hath purchased this Kingdom and hath taken possession of it and alone can give you title and admission 6. Be earnest for this at the Throne of Grace that whatever God givâ—…s he would not deny you his Kingdom that he would not put you off with the world for your portion that you may not have your good things only in this life urge the promises of eternal life thew him his hand-writing plead the merit and mediation of his Son resolve to take no denyal press in at the door strive to get in at the strait gate endeavour to take Heaven by violence of which more by and by 7. Get those qualifications which are needfull to fit you for this Kingdom which are included in this Word Righteousness And that is the second thing I would press you unto II. If you would seek Gods Kingdom so as to obtain you must also seek Gods Rightâ—…ousness Seek imputed righteousness the guilt of sin must be removed before it is possible for any to have admission into the Kingdom of God You all are guilty of sin God is offended his Justice must be satisfied you are insufficient being finite Christ hath made it in your stead his righteousness is perfect there must be an imputation hereof unto you if you would obtain remission of sins and an inheritance among the people of God Your salvation doth
are cast to the bottom of the waters but they must be cast upwards into Heaven into that within the Vail whither the Lord Jesus Christ the fore-runner is for us entred to prepare Mansions for us Let your hope of Heaven be strong and lively 5. Young men labour for strong Joy if your hopes be strong and well grounded you may thence have strong consolation Heb. 6. 18 That which discourageth many young men and women from putting their feet into the waies of God is the apprehensions which they have that should they engage in this way they must bid farewell to all mirth and chearfulness to all delights and pleasures and make tears and sorrows their companions which they are loth to do at least too soon whatever necessity they see there is of being religious Whereas although grief and sorrow be needful to sinners at their first engagement in the waies of God to imbitter sin and prepare them for the more ready closure with Jesus Christ and a mixture of sorrow is needful after because of the mixture of sin in their lives and the better to ballance and temper the spirit yet the Lord doth call his people to higher delights and pleasures in his waies than can be found in the waies of sin God doth not require that his people should lay aside all delights but change their sinful delights for those that are spiritual and heavenly God giveth them leave to rejoyce and he commandeth them to rejoyce not in waies of sin he forbiddeth the pleasures of sin which are but for a season not excessively in the creature though moderately and subordinately they may but they may and ought to rejoyce in himself Read what Solomon saith to young men Eccles. 11. 9. Rejâ—…yce O young man in thy youth and let thine heart cheer thee in the daies of thy youth and walk in the waies of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Young men you may rejoyce and be cheerful in your youthful daies but if your joyes be in the waies of your heart and in the sight of your eyes if your joyes be in the waies of sin in the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes if it be in satisfying the desires of your flesh and pleasing your senses unto the dishonour and displeasing of God know that God will bring you into judgement and then all your sinful sensual delights wil be turned into bitterness and terrour but you may be cheerful in the waies of God and if you are reconciled unto God through his Son and have an interest in his favour if you are renewed after his Image and have a Title to his Kingdom you have reason to rejoyce more than any wicked persons in their greatest outward prosperity Shall the slaves of Satan rejoyce and have not the children of God more grounds Shall the wicked rejoyce that are dancing upon the brink of Hell and are ready every moment to tumble into the burning lake and should not you rejoyce that are come to the borders of the heavenly Canaan and live in hopes of the glory of the New Jerusalem Rejoyce in the Lord continually Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies and again I say rejoyce And rejoyce in the Lord greatly Strong joy will be your strength it will be a means to quicken all your affections towards God and make you shine brightly in the sphere where the Lord hath placed you Thus I have shewed in what you should be strong SECT II. 2. THE second thing is to shew To what you should be strong There are four things unto which you should labour to be strong 1. To do 2. To suffer 3. To fight 4. To die 1. Young men labour for strength to do you have many things to do great things to do necessary things to do and difficult things to do I am not now speaking of the works of your particular callings which require strength of body but I am speaking of the works of your general calling as Christians which do more immediately concern Gods glory and your own salvation such as treasuring up a stock of saving truths making your peace with God getting your hearts broken for sin closing with and living by faith upon Jesus Christ getting your hearts furnished with every grace living in the powerful exercise of it denying your selves mortifying the deeds of the body laying out your selves time and talents for the glory of your Master standing daily upon your watch improving the means of grace worshipping God and seeking him diligently in publick family closet making it your business to be religious laying up your treasure in Heaven and labouring to get your heart more loosened from â—…hings below and raised and fixed upon things above â—…hese and the like things are the works which the Lord requireth of you all all other employments are of an inferiour nature These things you must do â—…ere or you will not have opportunity for them â—…ereafter These things you must do or you are unone for ever and since they are hard works to â—…esh and blood therefore you had need to get much â—…rength to enable you hereunto I do not mean â—…xternal strength but internal spiritual strength â—…eak sickly men cannot endure hard labour you must â—…e strong that you may work for the Lord that you â—…ay work for eternity 2. Young Men labour for strength to suffer I mean to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ. If you would be Christs Disciples you must take up his Cross and follow him Math. 10. 24. and sometimes his Cross is very weighty It is not a weak shoulder that can bear an heavy burden and it is not a weak Christian that can bear an heavy Cross that can endure weighty and pressing afflictions You must therefore get much strength great strength that you may suffer great things for the sake of Christ otherwise you will shrink when you are put upon the tryall you will be offended when sore persecutions do arise for the Word The Apostle prayeth for the Colossians chap. 1. 11. that the Lord would strengthen them with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness Young ones look for sufferings reckon upon them and make full account of them before-hand and prepare for sufferings get on winter Garments against winter seasons I mean suffering graces against suffering times Get strength for sufferings labour to be strengthened with all might according to Gods glorious power unto all patiencâ—… and long-suffering with joyfulness Get strength to endure much and to endure long and to endurâ—… not only with patience but also with chearfulness looking upon it not only as your duty when called to suffer for Christ but as the greatest honour thaâ—… can be conferred upon you in this life and as thaâ—… which will work for you an exceeding and eternâ—… weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 3.
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
crackling of thorns under a pot it soon vanisheth away and will quickly end in disgrace in shame and confusion 4. That sin is matter of the greatest shame in the world as it dishonoureth God defileth the soul blotteth the name enslaveth the whole man unto the black Prince of darkness and will bring upon such as live in the practice of it contempt and scorn at the appearance of Jesus Christ. 3. The third Temptation whereby the wicked one doth draw young men unto the commission of iâ—… is â—…y the utility and advantage of it He perswadeth them that such and such sins will bring in much profit and 〈◊〉 unto them and so joyning in with the dust of covetousness and worldly-mindedness he draweth them unto sin Hereby it was that Achan was tempted to take the silver and gold and Babylonish garment which God had expresly forbidden Josh. 7. 21. Hereby it was that Gehâ—…zi was tempâ—…ed to take the Talents and change of rayment of Naamâ—… which his Master had refused 2 King 5. 20 23. Hereby Ahab was tempted to permit the cuting off of Naboth for his Vineyard 1 King 21. 4 5 c Hereby Judas was tempted to betray his Master for thirty pieces of silver Mâ—…th 26. 15. Hereby Demas was tempted to forsake the Truth and cleave to this present world 2 Tim. 4. 10. And here the wicked one doth represent a great conveniency to themselves and families in getting earthly gainâ—… whatever sin they commit to effect it And he doth sometimes perswade them of a necessity of these gains that they cannot live without them and a necessity of such and such sins as lying over-reaching oppression and the like without which they could not thrive But young men take heed of being overcome by the wicked one here of being taken with the bait of profit and worldly advantage Consider 1. What the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 6. 10 11. They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown them in perdition and destruction For the love of money is the root of all evil which while some have coâ—…eted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves thorow with many sorrows And then think with your selves whether there be a conveniency in unlawful gains Is it convenient to be entangled and drowned Is it convenient to make shiowrack of faith and to make shipwrack of the soul Is it convenient to wound the conscience with guilt and pierce the heart with many sorrows Are these things the attendants of sin by this temptation more gainful or more hurtful Is it convâ—…nient to steal a Cloak which is infected with the Plague and will bring death almost as soon as warmth Is it convenient to gain any thing which shall be mingled with Gods curse a far worse evil than that of the Plague Consider is there nothing lost by sinful gains What think you of the favour of God which is bâ—…tter than life of the peace of conscience which is a continual feast of grace here and glory hereafter the choicest treasures Can any sinful gain our-ballance that which is lost by sin 2. Moreover as to the plea of necessity consider that most of those necessities which the worldlings suppose they have of these things are created nâ—…ties created by themselves but fancied necessities they are necessities only to satisfie the lust not for the stay and support of life Nature craveth but very little for necessity what necâ—…ssity is there of getting so much to lay out upon superfluities what need so much to lay up for posterity and would not the Lord supply necessities if you kept within the bounds of duty and cast your care upon him hath not he given the life and would not he givâ—… meat hath not he given the body and would not he give rayment doth not he take care of irrational creatures and would not he take care of you hath not he promised and is he not faithful But what necessity is there of sin to get the good things of this life Duty is necessary to all but sin is never necessary to any There is one thing necessary to get an interest in Christ and lay up the treasure in Heaven but it is not necessary to commit any sin to get provisions for the body and family yea it is dangerous and destructive Sin whatever necessity is pretended will bring ruine and damnation upon such as live in the practice of it Better starve the body than damn the soul better the body should drop presently into the pit of the grave through want than that the soul should drop into the pit of Hell through sin A man had better be without meat or drink without house or friend yea he had better lose his life a thousand times if it were possible than to live in the practice of any known sin though all these might be preserved hereby because the gain of all these yea of the whole world cannot countervail the loss of the soul Matth. 16. 26. But who can plead such necessity as this for sin 4. The fourth Temptation whereby the wicked one doth draw young men unto the commission of sin is by the pretended smalness of it As Lot said of Zoar Is it not a little one they are but small faults if it were blasphemy or murder or adultery or drunkenness or the like heinous sins there might be more scruple but they are but little sins small ones and not many a little wantonness lying and the like But dear young men be not overcome by the pretence of the smalness of sin considering 1. That no sin is little or small in its own nature Though some sins have more venome in them than others yet all are of a poisonous nature Some sins are greater but all are great all are the breaches of the Law of the great the infinite Majesty of Heaven and Earth and that which hath an infinite object cannot be small Est eadem ratio rotundi in nummulo exiguo quae est in magno there is the same reason of roundness in a small piece of money as in the greatest and there is the same reason of sin in small sins that there is in the most heinous because it is committed against the same Law of the same God See Jam. 2. 10 11. Whâ—…soever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all For he that said Do not commit adultery said also Do not kill Now if thou commit no adultery yet if thou kill thou art become a transgressor of the Law Though you should refrain some sins yet if you venture to commit others though they be less sins and allow your selves therein you break the Law of the same God and are under the guilt and power of sin and as equally liable to the punishment of sin as those which live in the practice of those which are most notorious And let me tell you