will which is in heauen Many will say vnto me in that day Lord Lord haue we not by thy name prophesied and by thy name cast out diuells and by thy name done many great workes And then will I professe to them I neuer knew you depart from mee yee that worke iniquitie Whosoeuer then heareth my words and doth the same is like the wise man that buildeth his house vpon a rocke c. Seeing God soweth the seede of his word in our hearts hee looketh for a ripe haruest of good works if he hath planted vs as vines in his vineâ— yard or oliue branches in the stock Christ he looketh that in him wee should bring forth sweete grapes and shew that wee liue in him by bringing forth good and pleasant fruit in him Gal. 5. 25. If we liue in the spirit let vs walke also in the spirit Wee must not like that barren and vnprofitable fig-tree Luk. 13. 7. delay to giue fruite to our Maister from yeare to yeare lest we be cut down and throwne ouer the hedge for euer in his fierce wrath but in our youth and tender age we must bud and bring forth sweete pleasant fruits such as he expecteth Christ Iesus abolished the curse of the Law by his comming but hee came not to take away the Law it selfe and the Prophets but to fulfill them As hee therefore perfitly obeyed Gods Lawe so that there was no sinne at all found in him so must his members here on earth striue in some measure to obey Gods Lawe and to come to that perfection that is here permitted by Gods Spirit to the elect to attaine vnto and that there be no sin found raigning in them For there is none no not one man in this world but sinne is found in him neither was there euer any other waies except Iesus Christ God and man but wee must striue and endeuour by the powerfull operation of Gods sanctifying Spirit assisting vs euery one of vs that if sinne abide in vs and the law of sin bee in our flesh yet that it beare not dominion or ouer-rule ouer vs but that in the spirit wee may haue the law of righteousnesse subiugating and weakening the other daily more and more till at the last by grace both soule and body bee captiuated vnto Christs obedience and take on his yoake that both likewise hereafter may bee in and with Christ victorious and triumphant in glory Amongst Pastours Whosoeuer shall obserue and teach Gods Commandements their reward shall be great they shall be called great in the kingdome of heauen so amongst the hearers and flocke Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it The true Pastour maketh his voice sound like Arons bells before his flocke And the sheepe heare his voyce and hee calleth his owne sheepe by name and leadeth them out And when hee hath sent forth his owne sheepe hee goeth before them and the sheepe follow him for they know his voyce Where to see the necessity of good works doing of Gods word therin we may consider the dutie both of the true Pastours of Christ and of the true sheepe of Christ with both their markes whereby so they may bee easily knowne the one not to bee Woolues in Lambs skins theeues robbers and hirelings the other not to bee sheepe of another Pastour or pasture True Pastours here then must goe before their sheepe first by an incorrupt doctrine or voyce and secondly by the footesteps of an incorrupt conuersation and life Concerning the first Christs charge to Peter is Louest thou me tâ—en feede my flocke So that Pastours loue to Christ is approued before God to their owne conscience and before men by feeding only his flocke the woe of the contrary whereof is set downe plainely Ezek. 24. 2. Wo â—ee to the shepheards of Israel that feede themselues should not the sheepheards feed the flockes Also 2. Tim. 4. 1. Pauls charge to Timothie I charge thee therefore before God and before the Lord Iesus Christ which shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and in his kingdome Preacâ— the word be instant in season and out of season improue rebuke exhort with all long suffering doctrine So here is Christs charge and the Apostle of Christs charge the one to Peter the other to Timothy and so to all Ministers that they should make their flockes heare their voice and sound the same before them For as Iohn was a voice in the wildernesse to prepare the way of the Lord at his first comming in humilitie so they must bee now voices crying in the desart of this world to prepare the way against the Lords second comming in glorie by Repent bringing low euerie high vnhumbled hill and by Beleeue exalting and comforting againe euery low valley and humbled soule in Gods presence so they must loose and binde open and shut set life and death before euery one and Wâ—e bee to them if they preach not the Gospell or therein loue their owne glory and praise of men more then the glory of God seeing the King hath sent them out to call all men to his banquet to eate of the fat calfe God hath made them Angells to cry before that last day Rise dead folke in sinne prepare to come to Iudgement cast off the corruption of the lustes of the flesh put on renouation of the spirit be sanctified in body and soule that in both hereafter you may be also glorified they haue concredit to them the trumpet of Gods voice at whose sound the high and proud walles of the Iericho of euery mans heart must fall and therefore must compasse them blow the trumpets diligently and often They are sent that they should preach the Gospell to the poore heale the â—roken hearted preach deliuerance to the captiues and recouering of sight to the blind that they should set at libertie them that are bruised and that they should preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord. This then is the voyce that they should vtter and this is the voyce the true sheepe should follow and know Concerning the second marke of true Pastours to wit their going also before their flocke in good example and holy life according to their owne voyce doing the same Christs charge likewise to his Apostles is Matt. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heauen The neglect and transgression whereof hee sheweth in the Scribes and Pharisies whose righteousnesse except theirs exceeded hee telleth his Disciples they should neuer enter in the kingdome of heauen Matt. 23. 2. in these wordes saying The Scrbes and Pharisies sit in Moses seate and therefore whatsoeuer they bid you obserue that obserue and doâ— but after their workes doe not for they say and doe not as alas too many such in these our daies doe The Apostlte Paul also Rom. 2. 21. to this effect saith
by resisting that cruell raging Lyon Sathan who daily seeketh how to deuoure our soules and bodies which the Lambe of GOD hath bought to himselfe Let vs by the strength of Gods Spirit redeeme our selues froÌ„ his destroying iawes and in our youth shewe Gods strength in vs and while wee are young men let vs cast off the olde man of sinne and concupiscence of the flesh and put on Iesus Christ the new man walking with him in righteousnesse holinesse of life a glorious garment and blessed companion As Sampson being a young man killed the Philistims the enemies of God and his people so in our youth let vs endeuour by the speciall assistance of Gods grace strength of his powerfull Spirit to kill ouercome and subdue the cruell enemies of God and our owne soules saluation sin and our corrupt affections whom we beare about in our mortall bodies and who dippeth in the platter with vs yet like so many Iudases seeking to betray vs in the hands and power of our malitious and cruel enemie Sathan they giue vs their sweete milke to drinke but for our destruction they make vs sleepe vpon their knees but to abrace our strength and to make God abrace our name out of the booke of life to betray vs trecherously into the hands of our persecuting enemie and to cut off our heads in the midst of our drunken sleepe of sinne yea they sleep with vs as a snake in our bosom to sting vs to eternall death suspect then their venome and theâ—â— deceitfull wicked purpose let them not keep thee vnder the yoake of their slauerie but keepe them vnder thy commandements rule and subjugate thy necke vnder the light and easie yoake of Iesus Christ to obey him in all the powers of thy soule and members of thy body that so here on earth thou maiest be a member of his body militant and suffering in heauen hereafter a glorified triumphant member in eternal ioyes so thou shalt be happy reioyce that euer thou didst suffer the yoake in thy youth Saul Dauid SalomoÌ„ with many others in the Scripture were called to be Kings being yong men but wee in our youth are called to a more ample glorious and permanent a kingdome to bee kings and coheyres with Iesus Christ the onely begotten and welbeloued Sonne of God in that eternall kingdome of his Father which hee hath prepared for vs taken possession himselfe before vs and granted vs here on earth the pledge of his holy Spirit to begin our ioyes and his holy Sacraments as seales of his kingdome who will then deny such a honour in his youth to be a glorious King with Iesus Christ Salomon in his greatest glory was not so gloriously clothed as one of the white Lillies of the field but when thou shalt bee cloathed with the white long robe of the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ crowned with an incorruptible crowne of glory and life in euer-permanent ioyes eternally to remayne to behold the glorious face of the lambe of God associated to the blessed Angels and infinite companies of the glorified spirits Saynts praising continually and extolling his iustice and the infinite mercy and loue of the Lambe before his Throne in light perpetuall in glory vnspeakeable ioyes that cannot be expressed how blessed and happy shall bee thy estate in this kingdome to day thou art called to it yong to morrow thou knowest not if thou shalt enter by the passeouer of death in full possession thereof while then it is offred possesse thy selfe to day with the pledge and rights of it walke in the true way to it that at thy iourneyes end thou mayst be crowned an immortall King procrastinate therefore no time it is a gift and a great gift when God holdeth out his hand in thy youth to offer thee the rights and pledges of his kingdome the sooner thereby to thy greater comfort to possesse thee with them and yet in the meane time thou pull in thy hand from receyuing them vntill thou prooue the diuels slauerie verily when he hath pulled in his hand agayne froÌ„ offering albeit thou neuer so oft put out thine to receyue when thou shalt seeke it thou shalt not find it but as thou refusedst of God in thy youth to be a king and accepted of Sathan to be a slaue as thou refusedst to remaine in thy fathers house and to eate at his table but wandring in a farre countrie yeelded to be a Farmers hyreling and to eate with swine so except Gods extraordinary mercy the beams of his vnsearchable loue shine vpon thee thou maiest expect in age but terrour and fearefull torment of conscience and hereafter to receyue the iust reward and hyre of thy slauery in the bottomlesse sinck and deepe pit of perdition in endlesse and easelesse torments with Sathan thy master In thy youth then accept to be a king of God receyuÌ„e the rights and pledge of the Kingdome in thy heart shew that thou hast them by thy speeches thy workes and an holy life speake the language of the Kingdome learne it dayly more and more which is prayer and praysing of God the kingdome whereof thou art made an heyre is Heauen wilt thou know thy selfe and make others also know if truely thou belong to this Kingdome let thy thoughts bee heauenly thy words be heauenly gratious to God and man and offensiue iustly to none thy works and actions also heauenly and vpright before God man doing good according to thy power to all euill or the least iniury to none no not to thy enemy but good for euill in word and worke let all thy conuersation and course of life priuate and publike be heauenly as a lampe shining before others that resembling thy Fathers conditions and bearing his image in thy life thou maiest bee knowne to be a childe and sonn of the King of heauen and sometimes to bee a crowned king there thy selfe when thy father shal call thee home from thy trauelling to thy natiue country and kingdome as on earth in good example thou shined as a lampe before others so then in heauen to shine in glory as a bright lampe before his throne But some would thinke that this exhortation of redressing our waies had beene fitter for olde men then for youth because they are nearer death giuing of account of their waies where young men seeth that they may die they â—ee that they die and youth must haue it owne course and therefore their faults are not so much to bee obserued seeing they are rather â—tatis then hominis and so in time enough they may returne from their yong courses when age breaketh them and become good and graue men at last To such I answere that such excuses as these are but impostures of Sathan and the flesh age hath neede to see they end well the claudite of their life with a ioyfull plaudite of the assurance of Gods fauour and youth must take heede also
youth let vs serue God or neuer exspect that wee can hereafter being hindred by many abstractions and cares of the world but if now resolutely we begin that same God who gaue the will and the begining will also giue perseuerance a perfect end Therefore now or neuer now euer life and death is set before our eyes How soone soeuer as the Lord distributed his talents hee commaunded his seruants immediately to vse them and giue them out to vsury Now who is so yong but God hath giuen him some talent to vse the same to his glorie and honor which if it be vnlawefull to hide in the earth how much more to abuse and consume it to the dishonor of his Maister and his owne destruction When God had created the heauen and the earth the first thing hee did afterwardes was that he separated the light from darknes that we might learne to separate good from euill before wee should confound and make our good become euill Sathan is the prince of darknes sinne is darknes it selfe wilt thou then coÌ„uert Gods graces into this darknes or admâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 thy youth this prince of darknesse into thy soule and yet thinke thou canst retaine the light of God There is no societie betwixt God and Belial Darknes light cannot remaine both in one place therfore in thy youth loue the light embrace the good and abstaine from all apparance of euill Dedicate thy youth to God who reneweth the same as the Eagles Giue vnto God that which is Gods and that is My sonne giue me thine heart The way to heauen is like Iacobs Ladder it hath foure steppes First to beginne betime following Christs example in this as in al the rest seeing as in heauen now he is our patron so then on earth he was our paterne to which we must conforme all our life At twelue yeares of age he was found in the Temple of Ierusalem doeing his Fathers busines in hearing asking questions of the learned Doctors so his first step to heauen was in his child-hood he began to do his Fathers will and 〈◊〉 would follow his foot-steps to come likewise to heauen wee must also in our child-hood and youth learne the knowledge of God and to practise the same in our life and conuersation The second step to heauen is to hasten make speed herein also following our Masters example who in the short time of his life here spake and did more things then if they were written the world could coÌ„taine the books thereof as testifieth St. Iohn as we shold also abouÌ„d in good godly works The third to perseuere and keepe the right way for hee said Who can accuse me of sinne And albeit many false witnesses came against him they could finde nothing to accuse him of justlie as we should take heed that we suffer not by euill doeing but bee vnblameable before all men And fourthly stedfastlie to continue for as hee was the Lambe of God so he dyed innocently and meekely as a lambe praying for his enimies and whosoeuer constantlie continueth with him faithfull vnto death as hee hath promised so he will giue them the crowne of life This is the way by which the way it selfe hath gone before vs to heauen so he as our Captaine and his footesteps as our directions we must follow if wee looke for any portion in his glorious kingdome with him Therefore let all youth learne to begin betime and tread his first footesteppe to heauen not thinking that in youth he may run downe with Sathan to the lowest step of the staires of sinne and perdition and in age hee may creepe vp from thence flie to the highest step of Iacobs Ladder Neither that in youth he may take his pleasures delaying and dallying with them a while thinking all sinnes of youth to bâ—e veniall no the holy Prophet Dauid desireth God earnestly and importunately intreateth him that he would not Remember the sinnes of his youth being a man according to Gods own heart he calleth theÌ„ his rebellions shewing as rebellioÌ„ is highest treason vnto earthly Princes so the sins of our youth is highest treason rebellioÌ„ to God our Father being most strongest as our naturall corruption is so theÌ„ of which they proceed therfore most offensiue And truly if the dedicatioÌ„ of our youth to Gods seruice be most pleasaÌ„t to him theÌ„ the dedication of the same to the diuels seruice is most displeasant and grieuous in his sight God is that fouÌ„tain wel-spring of all true wisedome In our youth then let vs desire that true wisedome with Salomon to dwel in our hearts and honour riches shal euer accoÌ„panie the same as the shaddow doth the body inseperably Wisedome saith They which seeke me eâ—rly shal find me but to theÌ„ which delaieth seeking of her till age come vpoÌ„ them she saith Ye shal seek me but you shall not finde mee seeke her then and take hold of her in thy youth that thou maiest reape the fruites thereof in thy age It is written wheÌ„ Christ heard the yong maÌ„ in the Gospel answere him that he had kept all the Commandements from his youth that Christ began to loue him to shew how well Christ loueth these timely beginnings when in our childhoode and youth wee cleaue to him as our Nurse and sucketh the milke of godlinesse from his breasts Manna was gathered in the morning before the hot rising of the Sunne which would melt it away so early in the morning of our youth we must gather eate of Iesus Christ that true Manna the foode of our soules wee must learne true godlinesse and vertue before the hoat sunne of our lustes and pleasures make it to melt away faster theÌ„ we can gather the same We must bee like the wise yong Virgins to prepare our oyle and dresse our lamps in time not knowing in our youth or age when the Bridegroome shall call vpon vs. It is said that a new vessell euer sauoureth of that liquor wherewith it is first seasoned according to the Latine prouerbe Quod noua testa capit inâ—eteratasapit and the saying of the Poet Quo semel est imbutareceÌ„s seruabit odoreÌ„ Testâ— diu In our youth therefore we must infuse in our harts season theÌ„ with such liquor as may make vs in age smell well in the nosthrills of God our father as Esaus garments did to Isaac that so we may obtaine that euerlasting blessing and this liquor is godlinesse and sanctification thorow the blood and garment of the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ our elder brother and Sauiour Samuel began to serue God in his infancie and continued still Sampson was a Nazarite consecrated to God from his birth Timothie is praised of Paul That hee did know the Scriptures of a child which were able to make him wise vnto saluation through the faith which is in Iesus Christ Iohn the Baptist as
and curseth them that keepe not his commandements as God hath commanded in the first precept of the second Table of his Law that children shall honour theyr Parents with a double promise of this life and the life to come then command thou likewise and instruct thy children to honour God also and let this be thy first and chiefest care in the table of thy heart so shew thy selfe thankefull to God agayne When Salomon was to trie whose was the liuing childe for which the two women stroue to find out the same by the naturall affection of the true mother hee commanded the child to bee diuided in two wherewith as the true mother was much moued and displeased so the wrong mother cared not but was cōtented it should be so and so the veritie for the adjudging did appeare It is euen so with godly wicked parents and by this they may be knowne the wicked parents not hauing any conjunction with God thēselues they cannot know nor apprehend the ioyfulnesse thereof in others as in their children therefore they care not though they be destroyed by sinne and diuided asunder from the body of Iesus Christe but godly and true parents feeling in their owne hearts the sweet ioy of that blessed vnion with God through Christ they endeuour onely so to bring vp their children in the true feare and loue of God that they may be partakers also of that vnspeakeable comfort ioy of that conjunction with themselues and so haue true life in them yea before they should bee diuided from that comfort and life which they haue in that conjunction with Iesus Christ they rather would giue ouer that naturall title and right of comfort which belongeth iustly vnto them as parents as they did naturally beget them in sinne by the seed of man in the flesh to their owne image so their chiefe care and desire is that they may be begotten of a new supernaturally in the spirit vnto righteousnesse by the spirit of God to Gods image and by the immortall seed of the word of Iesus Christ God man and as they did dwell together on earth so for euer in heauen also they desire together to remayne This I say is the wish care and note of all godly and true parents and which euery one should haue or be knowne by and truely wee see oftentimes that children take example of their parents and walketh in their footsteps pressing to imitate them that they may the more be loued by them so that if the father bee carefully and godly disposed his sonne will feare lest the contrary disposition be deprehended in him at least by his father if he see that his father hate and detest drunkennesse fornication swearing or such sinnes surely if hee bee a naturall sonne and not a castaway hee will bee loth to commit any such or at least to his fathers knowledge or face and if he haue grace in him hee will doe that rather which hee knoweth to be liking and acceptable in his fathers sight the example whereof first consider in a truly godly obedient sonne Iacob who knowing that the daughters of Canaan displeased Izhak and Rebekah his parents he would not ioyne with thē in mariage but with his owne kindred commanded by his fathee as also the like after a maner in a counterfeit cast-away Esau his brother who seeing that to marry with the daughters of Canaan as hee had notwithstanding already done was displeasant and grieuous to his parents and that his brother Iacob had obeyed his father to doe otherwise in going to Padan Aram he went also tooke Ishmaels daughter to wife of his own kindred albeit a bastard generation such was the care albeit hypocriticall euen of this cast-away to please his parents Elies wicked sonnes also seeing their fathers godly disposition durst not before him commit such enormities as they did or to his owne knowledge vntill by the people it was reported so vnto him so that the good inclination of the father is a great awe band vnto the sonne as of the contrary the nature of the sonne is more apt to follow a lasciuious and impious father to wickednesse and vanitie then a godly graue father to piety and true wisedome Concerning this aptnesse of children to imitate their parents example in good or euill Christ himselfe also saith to the Iewes If ye were the sonnes of Abraham ye would doe the workes of your father Abraham but ye are of your fafather the diuell and the lusts of your father ye will doe therefore let all fathers in the good education of their children be as lampes themselues in their life that they may be followed by them and doe such things that therein they would desire their childrens imitation It is a great delight to parents to heare that their children are like vnto them but if they be like them in godlinesse it is a great ioy and comfort to others also For then they represent and resemble the Image of Iesus Christ the common Sauiour and Father of all men as he was the character and expresse Image of his Father in Iustice Mercy and Holinesse so they being likewise the image of Christ againe in holines and sanctity of life being holy as he is holy and hauing that honour to be like the King of all kings thereby brother to the Prince of princes of whose kingdome it may be truely said His ego met as nec tempor a pon◠without limitation or prescription of time Ioy infinite and Eternitie without end In the 127. Psalme Dauid calleth children by three titles First Behold saith he children are the inheritance of the Lord to shew that they should bee educated and brought vp by their parents with such care as though they were not the children of men but of God and consider what care a man hath and respect vnto his inheritance that it be not abused any way or spoyled the like greater care hath God our heauenly Father that our children which are his inheritance for of these is the kingdome of heauen be not negligently or euilly brought vp to dishonour his name who should honour him The heyre of a king and kingdom must be so educated that hee may be found worthy of the crowne The children of the faithfull are heyres to the King and kingdome of Heauen Therefore their parents as tutors to whom they are concredit for a time must trayne them vp so carefully in pietie and and the obedience of God their heauenly father that they may bee found worthy of the inheritance of that Kingdom and Crowne of glory purchased by the blood of Iesus Christ our Lord their parents may bee found faithfull so in discharging their dutie therein to God and them Secondly Dauid calleth children the Lords Reward shewing that as God of his grace doth giue to parents children as a testimony of his loue to their earthly pleasure comfort and seruice so
they should as it were reward God by giuing and dedicating them againe with Hannah vnto his seruice and pleasing of him by an immaculate and pure life as a token and testimony of their loue to God againe And thirdly Children are compared to arrowes in the hand of the strong man who if they bee well and godly brought vp framed they wil shoot at their parents enemies and be a griefe to their heart to see them prosper so in the feare of God by his blessings and blessed is the man that hath his quiuer full of them but if they be carelesly and too indulgently broght vp as Elies sonnes and Absolon they will be the darts to pearce their fathers heart with griefe and bitter sorrow to them In Latine Children are called pignoâ—a and pueri the one because they are the pledges of Gods fauour to the parents as also naturall pledges of the mutuall loue of the parents betwixt themselues beeing the surest bond in marriage to knit and continue the loue of man and wife betwixt theÌ„selues which Leah well did know when beeing conceyued shee said Now my husband will loue me If therefore they be the pledges of Gods loue to their parents in giuing them of his grace for their worldly pleasure then by their good education let them be the pledges of the parents loue to God likewise in giuing and dedicating them againe vnto his heauenly pleasure and seruice as an vnspotted and cleane sacrifice being puri sicut pueros decâ—t and in the meane time let parents be aware to esteeme or loue the pledge or gift more then God the giuer thereof for if they loue their children too much dallying and delighting onely with the gift God the giuer will eyther make them of a blessing in his loue turne to a curse in his anger or else separate them one from another in making eyther the father childlesse shortly or the child fatherlesse which experience oftentimes proueth manifestly let children therfore be only as cords to draw the parents hearts more and neerer vnto God in increase of loue and thankefulnesse to him and God wil heape his blessings more abundantly on them both also let their parents chiefe care bee to trim and adorne their hearts and minds so with pietie and vertue as becommeth a gift or reward which is to bee presented to the King of al kings before whose eyes no vncleane thing can stand therefore Christ once beeing to shewe who should inherite the kingdome of heauen tooke for example a little childe and set him in the middest of his disciples saying Whosoeuer receyueth not the kingdome of heauen as a child he shal not enter therein thereby shewing that our children should be so innocent so humble and voyd of all euill that they may be takeÌ„ for example of the sonnes and heires of God not as many are now wofull to see made proud in their cradle learned to curse and sweare before they can well speak or aske their parents blessing and full of euill before they haue reason to discerne good or euill therefore set tender and wise parents not excuse their childreÌ„ in their faults saying They are tender or haue no wit to doe otherwise if they bee tender let not the worme of sinne so sticke vpon them for the danger is the greater lest the sooner it eate thorow their heart and it is fearefull when they haue wit to doe or speake euill and goe in the wrong way before they haue wit or are taught to speake or doe well and enter in the right way As they were before compared to arrowes we know as the arrow is directed at the first so it flyeth all the way ouer or vnder or beside but it neuer commeth vnto the right marke or butte vnlesse it be directed right at the first in the letting foorth out of the Bow so it is that except froÌ„ the first comming forth out of the wombe children be directed in the right way they shall hardly or neuer attayne to the end of the way which is true happinesse in Iesus Christ we know also if our children bee deformed in their youth we neuer expect that they will bee well fauoured in their age and when a yong Plant sprouteth vp if there bee a worme that lyeth at the roote thereof we know except we remoue and kill the same the tender Plant will neuer thriue nor grow forward doe we know and beleeue so in respect of our childrens bodies plants of our gardens then let vs know and beleeue the same in respect of their minds if sin grow beâ—ore pietie the weed will smother the good corne if vice be sowen and appeare before vertue in youth no appearance of a good or ioyfull haruest in age remoue and kill the worme of sinne from the tender plant of childhood lest it gnaw out the life thereof ere thou be aware kill the serpent in the egge lest wheÌ„ he is hatched hee kill thee who is the parent with griefe and thy child with his poyson yea we teach a dogge while hee is a whelpe wee tame a bird while it is yong wee breake a horse while he is a colt and bow the tree while it is a twig so with wise Salomon Teach thy child in his youth that he may remeÌ„ber it when hee is olde the birdes of the ayre teach parents their dutie they flie before their yong ones to teach them to follow as parents should by good example and godly education teach their children to flie to God also by faith and holinesse of life wee haue a care to feede our beasts see their education carefully who if they starue or die we haue onely lost a carkas but when carefully we ouersee not the education of our owne children and seed the feeding of their soules by instruction curing of their sores of vice by correction wee loose their bodies and soules which is more precious then all the worlde and their blood shall be required at our handes and of this vice complayneth Isaiab 1. 3. that the oxe the asse were taught to know their masters but his people did not know him as Gods Ministers may now also iustly complayne of the same Wee haue three notable examples of parents for good education in the Scriptures 1. King 2. wee haue Dauid instructing his sonne Gen. 34. Iacob reproouing and correcting his sonnes and Iob. 1. Iob praying for his sonnes put these three together instructing correcting praying they will make blessed children and thrice happy parents and as it was a sweete and comfortable thing to see children goe before Christ to the Temple of Ierusalem singing Hosanna to the most highest that it might be fulfilled that out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings Gods prayses should sound so it shall be to the great ioy and comfort of their parents hearts when in the temple and congregation of the faithfull they shall see their childreÌ„ beeing well brought vp singing prayses to
name written which no man knoweth sauing he that receiueth it He that ouercommeth shall bee clothed in white aray and I will not put out his name out of the Booke of life but I will confesse his name before my Father and before his Angels Lo◠many rewards diuers recompences great liberality vnspeakeable mercy and infinite matter of comfort and encouragement in thy youth to walke in this narrow way that in age thy ouercomming may bee fulfilled and finished Christ who promiseth hee is the way that cannot erre walke in him hee is the trueth that cannot deceiue walke by himselfe and hee is the life that hath swallowed vp death walke therefore to him make him wholly thy whole way and wholly holily insist and persist in him redressing all thy owne waies according to his Be importunate with Moses that the Lorde would shew himselfe vnto thee wrestle with Iacob for the blessing that thou maiest preuaile with God and by his grace he may preserue direct thee in all thy waies◠according to his own way striue to enter in at the straight gate as Christ the way cōmandeth thee pray with Paul 7. times yea 70. times 7. times and be instant that his grace may suffice thee with the widow weary the Iudge of al flesh that iust willing Iudge to heare thee and grant thee thy desire with the poore Samaritane woman begge earnestly at Christ to cure thy owne sicke soule to redresse thy waies to direct thee in his and to giue thee of the childrens bread that hid Manna to eate The kingdome of heauen and end of the straight way suffereth violence inferre violence therefore to enter in at the same neither delay any time Iacob was desired by Ioseph to make his iourney speedily to come to the kingdome of Egypt where hee was second person Iesus Christ our brother whom we sold by our sinnes desireth and willeth euery young man to make his iourney speedily likewise in the right way to come to the kingdome of heauen where he is the second person also Iacob except that he had made haste to get the blessing of his father hee had beene in perill to loose it for presently as hee went out from the presence of his father his brother Esau came in so except thou make speed in thy youth to obtaine the blessing of God thy heauenly Father by redressing thy wayes and walking in his thou art in great perill to loose the same this narrow and strait gate of grace is opened before thy eyes then striue that thou maist enter in thereat bee not slow then but make speede in thy way here lest hereafter with the foolish Virgins thou call and knocke at the gate of glorie but bee not admitted to that Ioy say not in thy youth with sluggard Pro. 6. 10. Yet a slumber and vnfolding of hands but vp and walke with Iesus Christ in the way of godlinesse at the first call according to the rule of Gods word purge redresse thy wayes when that cloudy pillar warneth thee to goe forward goe and walke hauing it before thy eyes in the way of holinesse and when it warneth thee to stay then stay thy course in repressing thy affections brideling thy lusts and their precipitate course redressing thy wayes restrayning the liberties of the flesh conforming thy will to Gods will and walking in a strait and narrow way of life follow young Abell who walked innocently and holily before God offering the first fruits of his flocke as thou must of thy youth to the Lord and not the broad way of Cain in murther wrath and despising of God or of Lamech in vaunting and bragging of thy strength in youth to commit sinne as many yong men do Follow godly Noah in the strait way of holines and of curbing the liberties of the flesh who in that generall corruption of time was onely found iust and found fauour in Gods eyes when the rest drinking and eating taking of those whom they liked best reioycing and walking in the broad way of iniquitie and libertie of the flesh were destroyed with all flesh in that generall Deluge Follow iust Lot in this true way who remained onely vndefiled with the filthie lusts of the Sodomites and in vprightnesse of conuersation walked onely before GOD afflicting his soule euery day for their abominations and eschued the broad way of their vncleannesse whoring oppression drunkennesse c. wherewith yong old was infected and cryed downe from heauen feareful destruction vpon them Follow Abraham who obeyed and beleeued God godly Izaak who in his youth was diligently occupied in prayer in the field and liued chastly in the feare of God vntil a lawful wife was prouided for him Follow plaine Iacob who esteemed Gods blessing better then all the world and did cast all his care vpon God as the Apostle commandeth and serued in a painefull seruice long and truely without sleep in the cold frost of the night and burning heat of the day also suffered many iniuries and euer rewarded good for euill Follow yong vpright Ioseph who beeing greatly tempted to enter in that broad way of liberty and lust by his mistresse refused to commit that vild sinne of adultery with her and chose to walke on in the strait path of holinesse he walked so wisely that he found fauour in all mens eyes and was loued greatly for his gentle and courteous behauiour and at last was promoted by Gods prouidence to be the second person in all Egypt after his straitnesse in prison there Follow faithfull Moses enter in at this strait gate with him who chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God walking in the narrow way then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season walking in the broad way esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt the reason is for hee had respect vnto the recompence of the reward the end of this narrow way Israel whom hee did leade went out of Egypt to Canaan the land of their rest thorow much straitnesse and a narrow passage as the true Israel of God must go out from the Egypt of this world to that spirituall Canaan the land of their eternal rest Follow couragious Ioshua who went thorow a narrow passage ouer Iorden vnto the land of Canaan with Gods Arke before him by many battels ouercame and obtayned the same as thou must by many battels betwixt the flesh the spirit obtaine that eternal Canaan walking towards it in a narrowe passage and hauing Gods worde continually before the eyes of thy heart to redresse and conforme thy wayes according thereunto Yong Dauid after he was elected king of Israel hee walked in this narrow path thorow many tentations to draw him from Gods feare and seruice and thorow much straitnesse before he came to the possession of the kingdome as after thy election to that euerlasting kingdome of heauen in this world during that Prince of darkenesse raigne thou
Gods word is a looking-glasse wherein we may see all our spots from the greatest to the least where they are and how they may bee wiped away with the blood of Iesus Christ and teares of true repentance It is the sweet Manna and foode of our soules Milke to the weaker and stronger meat for those who are more confirmed A Directer in prosperity an vpholder in aduersitie and aboundant comfort in both It is a Fire to purge our wayes to burne vp the earthly or rather hellish drosse of sinne and stubble of iniquitie to refine vs as pure gold to bee vessells of honour in Gods house before our heauenly Father It is that Raine or Dew that descended from Heauen and neuer returneth vndone that for which it was sent it fructifieth eyther the heart to bring forth pleasant fruit and softneth it to repentance or as water cast vpon Iron or Steele hardeneth the same so it indureth the obstinate and reprobate hearts of them who are inflamed and burned in their owne sinfull lusts Our soules and hearts are made sauoury Sacrifices with all that proceedeth therefrom to present before the nosthrills of God our heauenly Father by this preseruing Salt of his word whereby no stincking corruption of the flesh and of sinne taketh hold vpon vs but thereby we are made sauourie meat to bee presented and accepted before our heauenly Father such as he euer loueth It is that Water of life wherof whosoeuer drinketh in his belly shall spring riuers thereof aboundantly It is a Cloud to refresh vs in our iourney in the day a firie Pillar in the night time to direct our wayes by the light thereof in the darke desart of this world and to consume all our enemies to theÌ„ it shall bee darkenesse but light to the hoste of Israel it shall bee hid and is so onely to them that perish It is that bright Light that shall euer shine in the little Gâ—shan of Gods Church when all the Egypt beside of this world with the Pharao thereof shall be ouerwhelmed with thicke darkenesse It is the Rudder of our Ship which must direct vs aright thorow the raging beating waues of worldly persecutions and our Compasse to keepe our course by vntill wee come to the hauen of heauen and port of that new Ierusalem It is that Rod which must diuide the redde sea of temptations thorow which narrowly we must passe to the spirituall land of Canaan when in them we shall see the worldlings wicked ouerwhelmed and altogether drowned It is the Arke and couenaÌ„t of God at which we only must aske counsell and it must diuide the Iorden of death to vs making a way whereby wee must follow our Ioshua Iesus to the land of rest and our promised inheritance It is true Riches and seuen times more pure then the refined gold of Ophir It cannot corrupt for heauen and earth shall perish before one iotte of Gods worde perish It is the Keyes of the kingdome of Heauen whereby the gates thereof are opened to euery penitent and beleeuing soule and shut to euery obstinate and indured wicked heart It is the Sauour of life vnto all those that are appointed for life and hath the life of Iesus Christ to righteousnesse in them It is the chiefe Shepheards Hooke that pulleth backe our straying soules in the by-wayes of iniquitie and bringeth vs in the right way again subjecting vs to the obedience and light yoake of Iesus Christ in the sheepefold of his Church By it wee are fished and drawne out of the salt and stincking sea of this world to Iesus Christ. It is the Sword wherewith wee must fight valiantly the Lordes battels A Trumpet to encourage vs thereto at whose sound the walls of euery proud Iericho shall fall and which subdueth powers and scepters to it selfe It is our Pilgrims staffe which must vphold and defend vs in our iourney It is a most bright Starre which leadeth not onely wise men but fooles also to Christ where now he lyeth not in a kribbe but sitteth on a Throne and happy are those starres or Ministers whom Christ holdeth in his right hand whose onely care is by preaching and practising this Star to shine before the flocke And finally the Word of God is the sound of that Trumpet blowen by the Angels of his Church which giueth vertue and power quickening and resurrection to euery dead soule in sinne to rise out of the graue of securitie put on a sanctified bodie that in bodie and soule at the last resurrection of all flesh to iudgement they may passe with Christ to eternall glory It is that Finger which pointeth out the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world and as Andrew brought Simon his brother Philip Nathaniel to Christ so the word of God bringeth and leadeth vs by the hand to him on earth and shall bring vs to eternal glory with him in heauen for euer if we beleeue the same and according thereunto take heede to redresse our wayes Secondly seeing the excellencie of Gods Word is such of it selfe wee may learne what great estimation and value it should bee of with euery Christian as we see the value thereof in it selfe so our estimation should bee corespondent wee should desire nothing so much esteeme nothing so much loue nothing so much nor hunger or thirst after nothing so much This estimation we may see in Dauid to haue been great and his loue â—eruent he saith I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies as in all riches Also thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellers Behold how I desire thy commandâ—ments The law of thy â—â—uth is better to me thâ—â— thousands of gold and siluer I will neuer forget thy precepts for by them thou hast quickned me O how I loue thy law it is my meditatioÌ„ continually How sweet are thy promises vnto my mouth yea more then honie vnto my mouth The Marchant in the Gospell when he had found the Iewell in the field he went and sold all that he had that hee might buy that piece of ground wherein that Iewell was Of all Iewels that euer man could thinke vpon this of Gods word is the most precious in it is eternall light euerlasting life continuall ioy comfortable contentment infinite true riches Let vs therefore follow the example of this wise Marchant so that we may haue it and enioy the comfort therein contayned care not what wee loose if wee haue it we haue all things if wee haue all things and want it wee haue nothing It is not like other Iewels for coÌ„monly a man that possesseth them not can oftentimes know the value of theÌ„ better then they who possesse them but with this Iewell it is not so the Marchant was neuer in loue with it vntill hee found it wee can neuer nor will euer know the estimation of it vntil we haue it in our hearts Peter when Christ before his last