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
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
But diligently and faithfully use all other means first if other considerations do not move you to that Relation This Treatise would swell into too great a bulk should I speak thus largely concerning every sin therefore I shall be more brief in the rest 2. Young men take heed of Drunkenness You are strong in body be not strong to drink unto excess This sin will distemper your body intoxicate your spirit and destroy your soul take heed of it it is one of the fruits of the flesh Gal. 5. 21. and such as commit it cannot have any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven 1 Cor. 6. 10. think of the bitter cup of Gods wrath hereafter which you must drink of if you exceed the measure in your sweet cups here Take heed of frequenting those places I mean Taverns and Alehouses where the temptation doth chiefly lye neither go into those places often neither stay in those places longer than need doth require Take heed of the company of drunkards turn away from them if they tempt you shake them off if they hang upon you choose sober persons for your associates and familiars Take heed of the ungodly practice of drinking Healths a heathenish custom too much in use amongst some loose Christians I might say a hellish custom which the Devil doth put men upon that it might be a shooing-horn to drunkenness You are halt perswaded to be drunk when you are perswaded to drink a health forbear it it is an occasion of much sin 3. Young men take heed of Gluttony especially in these leasure dayes wherein so much time and cost is layed out in Feasts This Gluttony is called by our Saviour sursetting which he warneth his Disciples against Luk. 21. 34. Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and that day overtake you at unawares Here Gluttony and Drunkenness are coupled together as being much of the same nature the one is drinking to excess the other is eating to excess then our Saviour biddeth take heed of overcharging their hearts when the body is overcharged with meat the heart is overcharged the Soul is overcharged as well as the Body and therefore unfit for the service either of God or Man Then he commandeth them to take heed lest at any time they overcharge themselves with such excesses it is not lawfull at any time neither on ordinary dayes neither on extraordinary dayes not on Feasting dayes God alloweth his people to feast but not to gluttonize they may eat for necessity and something for delight but they must never eat unto excess to distemper and discompose themselves for action And lastly he subjoyns an awakening Consideration lest that day overtake them at unawares lest the day of Judgement overtake them if not of the generall Judgement yet of their particular Judgement lest Death should surprize them and the wrath of God should surprize them at unawares and they should be taken away in the act of this sin as Psal. 78. 30 31. Whilest the meat was in their mouths the wrath of God came upon them and slew the fattest of them 4. Young men take heed of Gaming Some sports are lawfull and innocent and needfull at some times for the health of the body but take heed your affections be not set upon any Sports and than you spend not more time in them than is needfull But there are other Games that are useless and hurtfull that are thieves of money and time and unlawfull such as Carding and Dicing which being pure Lottery and Lottery being a sacred thing should not be made use of in Games as I conceive no more than Oaths in common discourse Cards may well be termed the Devils Books and Dice the Devils Game look not into those books though they have no sense in them yet they will strangely bewitch you to spend hours and nights together in turning them over Throw not away your time with the Dye you can never recover what you lose I mean your precious time not to say any thing of the danger you will be in of spending all you have as some who have been worth many thousand pounds at night have not been worth a thousand pence by the morning There is no exercise of the body in thâ—…se Games and I am sure there is a corrupting of the Minde and a loss of the precious time and what plea can you have for such Games Have you no employment for your time Is it not pity that so many golden hours should run waste Be not enticed to this sin by Friends be not perswaded to it by custome if you will do as the most do you must go where the most goe and that is to Hell Think if you lay upon your death bed whether this sin of Gaming would not trouble you and whether those will not have more peace that our of Conscience have forborn to touch a Card or Dye all their life-time 5. Young men take heâ—…d of Quarrelling forbear gaming and you will be out of the occasion of many quarrels Take heed of a contentious spirit In your young blood and strength of body you are apt to have that which the world falsly terms a high spirit and may be ready to offer affronts and injuries to others and be able to bear none but let me tell you that such a spirit is a low base spirit a mean ignoble spirit The high spirit indeed is such a spirit as is most like the Spirit of Christ he who had the most noble soul that ever God created and his Spirit was humble and meek who did injury to none but bore all injuries patiently who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not when he was smitten he did not return blow for blow This was noble Young ones labour to be like unto Jesus Christ in meekness and patient bearing injuries and reproaches Strife and contention comes from beneath and is termed James 3. devilish but meekness and patience cometh down from above and will truly ennoble you a meek and quiet spirit not onâ—…y in women but also in young men is their ornament and before God of great price 1 Pâ—…t 3. 4. 6. Young men take heed of Swearing It is the express command of our Saviour Matth. 5. 34 37. I say unto you Swear not at all c. that is in your ordinary discourse but let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatever is more than these cometh of evil If you will be Christs Disciples you must obey him What advantage can you get by this sin What honour is it to swear What pleasure can you finde in it be sure it will bring damage it provoketh God to punish he hath threatned to curse swearers We read Zach. 5. 2 3. of a flying Roll the length twenty cubits the breadth ten cubits which is interpreted to be the curse that goeth over the face of the Earth to cut off him that stealeth on