is how to redresse vice and ouercome sinne in his mortal members that Gods free Spirit may make his aboad and comfortable habitation in his soule The diligent care of the other is how to represse and oppresse vertue and godlines that it take no roote in his soule nor bring forth no acceptable pleasant fruit before God but that as a sinke of iniquitie it may abound and yeelde forth out of the aboundance thereof rotten and vnsauorie smells in thought word and action The one seeketh to purge himselfe from the least spot of sin that might make him displeasing in his fathers sight yea hee abhorreth from the very appearance of euill or the least meane that might draw or perswade him any way thereunto The other seeketh the foulest puddle or mire of sin wholy in body and soule not caring to tuÌ„ble pollute himselfe as a filthy swine thereinto and as a dogge deuouring sinne griedily which deuoureth his soule and returning euer to his vomit he embraceth all occasions of sinne hee headlong runneth vnto the brinke of destruction as it were with cart-ropes of iniquitie he is swiftly carried as the oxe to the slaughter or the foole to the blocke vnto the bottomles pit of perdition The one for the least sinne he committeth that stayneth his soule hee heapeth and powreth out tears vpon tears as a treasure to be laid vp in a bottel before God that thereafter hee may reape the fruite of his seed sowed in tears in the ioyful and plentifull haruest of the Lord when he shall find true rest and comfort to his soule The other in his greatest sinnes hee most reioyceth and with Lamech vaunteth of his vngodly furie and crueltie of impietie inferred to his owne soule hee heapeth sinne vpon sinne vntill the day of wrath as a treasure and with all griedines filleth the cup of iniquitie to the full til God in his iust iugment giue to him also the full cup of his fierce wrath and indignation and make him drinke out the very dregs thereof for as he soweth so he shall reape The one sort being the children of the light and the day they walke in the light and doe the workes thereof therfore they shall enioy the cleare and endlesse light of that heauenly new Ierusalem which is the bright countenance of the Lambe The other being the children of darkenesse and the night they delight to walke in the wayes of darknes and to doe the workes thereof therefore with the prince of darkenesse they shall bee at last cast into vtmost darkenesse where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Finally as euerie tree is knowne by his fruite so by their works you shal know and discerne betwixt godly and vngodly yong men as a good yong tree bringeth foorth best fruite in the spring while it is yong so a godly yong man bringeth forth best fruits of vertue and pietie in his tender yeeres and spring of his youth not delaying till the cold winter of old age come wherein eyther no fruit at all or if any nothing but sowre grapes are to be expected but as no man can gather figs of thornes nor seeke for honie out of the viper so from those that consume their best age and prime of youth in all lustfull licentiousnesse outlaw liuing in sinne and slauish libertie of iniquitie nothing can be expected but that the haruest shall be like the spring wherin they shal reape the fruit of their labours and their seed time of wickednes shall bee rewarded with the measure of bitter seuere punishment when the axe shall bee put to the root of the tree and euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall bee cut downe cast into vnquenchable fire The examples of both these sorts of yong men we haue in the Scripture set before the eyes of all youthes in this age to learne by and behold Of the one whom they should follow the examples of yong Abel vprightly sacrificing vnto God the first fruits and fat of the flocke as they should the first fruits and fat of their youth in vprightnesse and holinesse of life of yong Isaac exercising himselfe in prayer alone in the field of yong Iacob in suffering many wrongs obeying the good counsell of his parents fearing their displeasure dealing faithfully in an holy and humble mind with all men of yong Ioseph refusing the way of sinne and adulterous lust suffering patiently rewarding good for euill and being a comfort and reliefe to his old father and his whole family of Moses refusing to bee counted the sonne of Pharaohs daughter to bee esteemed the sonne of God and a faithful seruant in his whole house of yong Dauid in trusting euer stedfastly and beleeuing in Gods mercy towards him suffring much aduersitie and still sticking fast vnto the Lord who deliuered his enemies so oftentimes in his handes and his life out of theirs of yong Salomon in seeking the true wisedome of God before honour or riches of yong Samuel zealous and faithfull in Gods sanctuarie in his youth there seruing him of yong Daniel in walking with an holy and vpright heart before the almighty of yong Timothie brought vp froÌ„ an infantin the true knowledg feare of God a glorious starre painfull instrument in his Church of the children of the elect Ladie 2. epist. Ioh. 1. 4. whoÌ„ the beloued Apostle of Iesus Christ found walking in the trueth as God had commanded and therefore reioyced with such like examples which are set before the eyes of all youth according thereunto to reforme and coÌ„forme themselues in all things that they may obtaine that rich reward of eternall life whereof they are already in possession Of the other sort which wee should eschue and abhorre is malicious murdering and hypocriticall Cain who was accursed of God vaunting Lamech bragging of his strength furie to commit sinne in his youth Ham dishonouring contemning Noah his father Esau in being a griefe to his parents heart a profane A theist and persecutor of his godly brother Absolon a bloodie vnnaturall proud wicked sonne to his father Dauid whose end was a shamefull and sudden death Elies two sonnes who oppressed Gods people committed most vile filthinesse in Israel and were at last the death and heart-break of their old father and their owne destruction Ammon incestuous with his sister whose reward was cruel death and sudden destruction the young men of Sodome who in their filthinesse were consumed with fire brimstone Zimri and Cozbi in their burning lust thrust thorow by zealous Phineas with many other such examples of those who in the time of their youth fulfilled their owne lusts and wicked affections til they tasted of the full cup of Gods fierce wrath to their vtter destruction which was their sâ—al end lameÌ„table conditioÌ„ such therfore let vs abhor with their course of wicked life as we would eschue their feareful end most cursed death Râ—hoboam by his yong counsellers in obeying
he grew in yeares so he waxed strong in spirit So likewise euery yong man must striue to do to consecrate himselfe from the wombe to the graue in the seruice of God and to deserue that good commendation of Timothy from his childhood to know the holy Scriptures which may teach instruct him in righteousnesse as a Master which may improoue and correct his faults as a Father and make him a man of God absolute perfite vnto all good works The third lesson and obseruation is to fathers of youth as the first was to youth it selfe and it is that as young men in their youth must learne and practise godlinesse in redressing of their waies according to Gods word so the fathers of all youth must beginne to teach the same vnto them and go before their children in good example of life while they are tender and as new vessells fit to receiue and be seasoned with piety Gods commaundement in his word concerning this dutie of parents is Deutronomie 4. 9. But take heede to thy selfe and keepe thy soule diligently that thou forget not the thinges which thine eyes haue seene and that they depart not out of thine heart all the daies of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Againe Deutronomie 6. 7. where hee saith And thou shalt reâ—earse them continually vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thoâ—â—â—riestin thine house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou liest downe and when thourisest vp Moreouer Deutronomie 32. 46. in Moses last exhortation to Israel Then hee saide vnto them Set your hearts vnto all the wordes which I testifie against you this day that you may command them vnto your children that they may obserue and doe all the words of this Law Likewise the Apostle Ephes. 6. 4. And yee fathers prouoke not your children to wrath but bring them vp in instruction information of the Lord. So Psal. 78. 5. How he established a testimony in Iacob and ordained a law in Israel which hee commanded our fathers that they should teach their children Also the practise of all the godly hath euer been so according to this coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of God Adam taught his sonnes to sacrifice and offer to the Lord. The three Angels that came to Abraham they reuealed vnto him the destruâ—tion of Sodome because the Lord did know that he would teach this his iudgement for sinne to the posteritie after him And the Lord said shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I doe For I know him that he will command his sonnes and his houshold after him that they keepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse and iudgement that the Lord may bring vpon Abraham that he hath spoken vnto him Isaac being a young childe yet was well instructed in the typicall seruice of God and things pertaining vnto the sacrifice of the old Law when he asked his father Behold the fire and the wood but where is the lambe for the â—urnt offering And he answered My sonne God will prouide him a lambe c. His exercise also when hee was a young man by his fathers instruction and example was And Isaac went out to pray in the field toward the euening c. So Ioshua in his last commandement exhortation to Israel saith vnto them And if it seeme euill vnto you to serue the Lord choose you this day whom you will serue c. but I and my house will serue the Lord. With sundry such examples in the Scripture where we may see the practise and care of all the godly to haue beene euer in instructing bringing vp their children in the knowledge and feare of God which all godly Christian parents in this age must follow likewise for if God hath established his couenant betweene vs and our seed after vs to be our God for euer how carefull should wee then be that our seede and children may be instructed in the true and perfect knowledge thereof that as hee is their God so they may bee his people as hee is their father so they may proue his children by dutifull loue and obedience to his commandements It is said that Alexander had children borne and brought vp in military discipline and exercise from their infancie in his Campes which made him so victorious and prosperous in battell euen so let all parents bring vp their children from their infancie and cradle in the knowledge and exercise of the Christian warfare of this life in all godlinesse vertue that they may proue couragious and good souldiers vnder their victorious King and Captaine Iesus Christ. And seeing youth is as tabula rasa a new vessell a young tree or Oliue plant as Dauid calleth them like soft waxe to receiue any print inconstant and wauering and most inclining by their owne nature to sinne and vaine pleasure which euen godly Iob suspected in his children albeit well and godly brought vp when he went to sacrifice for them daily fearing it might haue beene that his sonnes in their banquetting had sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts Therefore let all fathers as God hath giuen them children of his grace so with Hannah Samuels mother dedicate and giue them againe vnto the Lord and his seruice in bringing them vp carefully in the feare and reuerence of his holy name season their tender hearts in their youth with the liquor of godlinesse and the true knowledge of the blood of Iesus Christ which must be their life print them with the glorious image of Christ which is true pietie that as he was the resemblance of his father so they may here represent him also in purenes sanctitie of life while they are as yong tender twigges and Oliue branches bow them that way as you would haue them stand when they are growen and olde which is to the obedience of Iesus Christ in whom they must beare fruite and receiue fatnesse write and ingraue the knowledge of his will commaundements in their hearts and mindes that with all their hearts soules and mindes they may honour and serue GOD in all feare and loue a band to holde out all â—inne and so place and set them in the right way see that they constantly continue and perseuere therein and ioyne seuere and strait animaduersion for repressing of their vices as also of cherishing of Gods good graces in them that so they may bee liuely stones in Sion to the glory of God the comfort of his parents and their owne soules saluation So parents making them dutifull to God their heauenly Father he will make them dutifull also and reuerent to them againe otherwise with Elias sonnes they will be a griefe to their hearts and the meanes to bring their gray haires in sorrow to the graue and with Absolon prooue vnkinde and vnnaturall children for being Dauids darling he proued Dauids traitour and the reason is set downe thus 1. Kings 1. 6. And his father would not
that they beginne well the fable of their life if they bee all vppon their pleasures in the beginning and first part it is like to prooue a Tragedie with a lamentable and sorrowfull ende in the last parte If thy youth bee a battle and troublesome at the beginning to subdue thy rebelling affections against Gods Spirit surely thy age the ende of the Comedie shall bring rest ioy victorie and peace vnto thy soule And therefore saith Ieremie It is good for a man to beare the yoake in his youth When Christ came many thousand yeares after hee was promised and did cast out Diuells yet they saide hee did torment them before the time so whensoeuer thou euen in thy olde age goest about to dismisse thy sinnes and pleasures they will say notwithstanding that thou dismissest them before time Sathan is a lyar from the beginning in saying to Euâ— Thou shalt not die so when in thy youth hee saith that it is not time as yet to dispossesse him out of thy heart and dismisse thy sinnes and vaine pleasures of youth hee is a lyer beleeue him not Hee saith Reioyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheere thee in the daies of thy youth and walke in the waies of thy heart and in the sight of thy eyes eate and drinke with the rich foole follow thy pleasures and bee secure for thou hast many yeares before thee thou shalt not die But the trueth of God warneth thee that thou must know for all these thinges God will bring thee to iudgement therfore take away that griefe out of thy heart and cause euill to depart from thy flesh for childhood and youth are vanitie Sathan counselleth vs to remember our selues and our owne lusts in our youth but the spirit of God saith Remember thy Creatour in the daies of thy youth shewing that all the sinnes of our youth proceedeth from our forgetfulnesse of God as all our obedience commeth from this remembrance of him considering that God created vs for this end that in righteousnes and holines we should onely serue him here on earth for a while and eternally hereafter with himselfe in heauen enioy euerlasting felicitie he created vs out of the dust of the earth and wee know not now how soone wee must returne thither againe in childhood youth middle or olde age therefore in all ages we must remember our Creator the end of our creation all things were created for our vse comfort and wee onely for Gods glory therefore let vs so shine before others that they seeing our good works God may be glorified by vs. No child can forget his father God is our father therefore none too yong to remember him this thing the naturall child and sonne of God Iesus Christ taught vs to remember when hee commaunded vs to say Our Father c. Shall wee say so in our mouth being yong and not shew him to be so in our life as we pray so to God so we must professe before man Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not those things which I command you saith Christ Therefore as Abraham beeing commanded by God did rise earely in the morning to sacrifice his yong sonne Izhac so in the morning of thy life earely as thou art commanded likewise by Gods word thou must offer vp thy selfe being yong a liuing sacrifice vnto God hauing the life of Christ which is true righteousnes in thee God requireth the first borne for his offering so God requireth thee when thou art first borne from thy birth with Samuel to bee offred and consecrated to his seruice and obedience So soone as thou art borne thou art baptized in the name of Iesus Christ shewing that when thou art scarce out of the house of thy mothers wombe he will haue thee entered in his house and family when thou canst not goe vnto him thou shouldest creepe vnto him seruing him as thou mayest in all ages In the fayth wherein thou art baptized thou sayest I beleeue c. not I will beleeue hereafter If then in thy youth thou wouldest not bee counted an infidell but a true beleeuer in Iesus Christ thou must shew thy true faith by workes and holinesse of life hast thou receyued Christs name vpon thee see if thou hast Christs nature otherwise thou pertaynest not to him In thy Baptisme thou vowedst and sworest to serue him in holinesse all thy life and receiuedst his name badge wilt thou then presently after in thy youth mocke God keepe still his name but serue the diuell in thy affections and lusts which thou promisedst then to mortifie The first fruits were for Gods seruice in thy youth thou must also bestow thy first fruits vpon the seruice of God and not giuing the first sommer fruit that is sweet to the diuell and the last winter fruit which are sowre grapes to God when wee pray as Christ hath taught vs we say first Hallowed be thy Name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen before that we desire this day our dayly bread if then wee seeke Gods glory and that Gods will may bee done by vs before wee aske that food by which we are preserued and liue how much more should wee seeke the same before our pleasures and the accomplishment and fulfilling of our lustes and â—innes whereby we perish and die Christ saith First seeke the kingdome of heauen and all other things shall bee cast vpon you Philosophie saith â—rimum quaerite bona animi catera aut aderunt aut certe non oberunt First seek the goods of the mind which is vertue piety and other things shall eyther be present or if absent they shall not hinder you if then by Christs commandement we must first seeke after the kingdome of God and by Philosophy to seeke after vertue and pietie to be planted in our minds shall wee then first in our youth seeke after our owne pleasures the kingdome of Sathan and to root in our hearts all vice and vngodlines God forbid when Christ sayeth to vs Follow me with his Disciples leauing our nets and deuises in the sea of the world to catch profit or pleasure we must obey and follow him straight if euer we would be couÌ„ted his Disciples when he asketh vs with Peter if we loue him in our youth we must answere Yea Lord I loue thee and not say when I haue fulfilled the lusts of my youth then I wil loue thee This is the acceptable time this is the day of saluation today if we will heare his voyce for whosoeuer commeth not at Gods callings whatsoeuer he say it is impossible that hee should resolue to come hereafter when hee pleaseth for beeing euill can hee resolue to bee good A dry dead tree which is withered and bringeth no fruite in the Sommer nor buddeth in the Spring can it bring forth pleasant and sweet fruit in the cold winter so eyther nowe in our
Thou therefore that teachest another teachest thou not thy selfe thou that preachest a man should not steale doest thou steale Thou that saiest a man should not commit adultery doest thou commit adulterie thou that abhorrest idols committest thou sacriledge And therefore in his charge to Timothy he saith But thou O man of God flee from these thinges meaning pride auarice c. and follow after righteousnesse godlines faith loue patience and meekenes c. Which many men preaching onely to others may and hath become notwithstaÌ„ding reprobates theÌ„selues but the Apostle hauing in his own life first practised his own doctrine to others and like a Cocke wakened and raised himselfe first by his voyce sheweth the like dutie to all other Pastours in a holy liâ—e to goe before their sheepe when he saith Be ye followers of mee and in another place adding as I am of Christ. For as Aaron had vpon his breast Vrim Thumim that is knowledge and holinesse so must euery true Minister haue the same in his breast and heart the one to preach well and goe before in voyce the other to liue well and goe before in good example For I will be sanctified saith God in them that beare mee And if they that should be the light of their flocke be darknes how great is that darknes For as Amâ—rose in Psalm 119. saith Vita bona sine doctrina â—abet gratiam sed doctrina sine vita integritateÌ„ non â—abet And as Christ sheweth if that seruaÌ„t that knoweth not his Masters will and doeth not the same shall bee beaten with fewe stripes what shall be to him who knoweth not his Masters will and yet in some measure doeth the same But he that knoweth it yea teacheth others to know it and persuadeth himselfe that hee is a guide to the blind a light of them that are in darkenes an instructer of them that lacke discretion a teacher of the vnlearned c. and yet doth not the same himself but wilfully runnes into the pit truely hee is worthie and shall be beaten with many grieuous stripes one day Lorde graunt many in this age may preuent them Iudas preached Christ yet sold him through couetousnesse and was a child of perdition Balam said All what the Lord shall command that will I speake yet was a false couetous Prophet and likewise perished Yea the Diuell himselfe could crie out that hee knew he was that Iesus the sonne of God and so gaue publike testimonie of Christ yet he persecuted him and now is condemned Many in that last day with their true preaching shall plead miracles also yet because they wrought iniquitie they shall heare that fearefull Away from mee I know you not Therefore let all true Pastors goe before the flocke in good and godly example also in life doctrine so shining as bright lampes and starres in Christs right hand or familie saying and doing according to the counsell of the same Ambrose ibid. Nec vita sit sine doctrina nec doctrina sine vita sed vna adstipuletuâ— alteri and this is the second marke whereby true Pastors are knowne by Matth. 7. 17. For by their fâ—uâ—tes saith Christ you shall know them for as from Vrim or knowledge must proceed the ringing of the bels of Gods word before the people to heare so from Thumim or holines must proceed the pomegranates pleasant sauory fruits of good works to be seene and imitated of Gods people that as they are followers of Christ so they may be followers of them againe as the Apostle saith of himselfe The Lorde of the haruest increase the number of such painefull godly labourers who may not onely bee diligent in preaching but beeing zealous of good works also may shine in a good life before the flocke concredit to their charge and by these two markes bee knowne so to bee true Pastours in his owne time remoue these rauening woolues clothed in lambes skinnes who vsurpe like lords ouer the Lords inheritance seeking to feede themselues and not the flocke no waies considering that if Labans sheepe were kept by Iacob so carefully in the frost of the night without sleepe and in the burning heate of the day that much more the sheepe of Iesus Christ bought by his owne heart-blood should bee with a carefull eye ouer-seene and fed tithing the mint cumming seed but omitting weightier matters stealing killing and deuouring Christs flocke beating out their fellow seruants their separation with hypocrites is at hand the Lord graunt they may speedily preuent it The two like markes of Christs true Shâ—â—pe and Sheepefolde are First they heare and know their Pastors voyce and Secondly as hee goeth before them in an holy life so they follow him then as hee is not dumbe to speake so they are not deafe to heare they heare then his voyce they know it and will not follow the voyce of a stranger so that God giueth them knowledge and discretion not ignorance to bee a mother of their deuotion noâ— fearefull simplicitie to be led euery where if the scriptures be hid they are not to them but to those that perish they search the Scriptures their chiefe Pastors voice which testifieth of himselfe they trie the spirits if they bee of God or no and if an Angell from heauen should lay any other foundation except that which is layd Iesus Christ the Lambe or should teach any other doctrine then that which the holy Apostles haue taught they should hold him accursed they are as liuely stones in Sion builded onely vpon the foundation and doctrine of the holy Apostles they doe follow precisely and onely the voyce and written word of Iesus Christ their chiefe Pastor and Shepheard of their soules which soundeth daily in the middest of his Church and family accounting all other voyces to bee of theeues hirelings and dissembling woolues they are in Christ who is the light of the world and in whom is no darknes and according to the Apostles commaund they striue to grow in graceâ— and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ so true sheepe must heare the Pastors voyce receiuing the seed that is sowen they must know his voyce discerning if it be good seed or no wheate or popel that is sowed And thirdly which is the second marke also of the true sheepe they must bring forth good fruite thereby according to the measure of Gods grace in them The Pastor soundeth his voyce and they heare and know it and he goeth before them and this must be their following of him by hearing commeth their faith so by their faith and from the same as the fruit and effect if it bee liuely and true proceedeth and must proceed this imitation of good workes they must follow their Pastor as he is a follower of Christ but if hee bee not according to Christs counsell and command what he biddeth obserue that obserue and doe but after his workes doe not if hee say