broken up in a tragick amazement The end of that mirth is coming fast enough and it will be heaviness The sore of your Conscience will shortly gâ—ngrene if it be not timely dressed and bound up in the Balsom of Christs blood The World will quickly fail you and be as worthless dust under your feet Your Friends now so dear to you and you to them shall suddenly go their way to their long home and leave you to follow their cold clay as Mourners to their Grave And that which knâ—cks still nearer at your door your life it self is continually spending upon the quick stock the oyl hourly consuming in the Lamp and your pleasing guest so dearly desired to stay with you tied up by an higher hand to a very short space of time allowed only as a way faring man to visit you and must be you never so unwilling hasten on his journey quit his lodgings anâ— be gone again fâ—om you Think not that you shall escâ—pe that you shall be excused because young the dead shall stand the small as well as the great before the Lord. And your death is already upon its march towards you and shall arrest you it may be at unawares telling you ripe or unripe the Sickle must now be put in and you cut up and carried before the Lord. Oh Young Man what wilt thou do in that solemn day Then will grace be needed then will the necessity and worth of it be better understood than now it is Prepare oh prepare to meet thy God Now it may be thy Conscience is not yet setled upon its lees or seared through long custome in sinning which yet it too soon may be Thy Heart is yet as the heart of Iosiah tender and even melting within thee As yet the World with its distracting cares is not crept in to hinder or overcharge thee Hitherto the holy Spirit of grace even striveth with thee Dost thou know indeed Or hast thou seriously considered what this season is what all these things mean and at what pass thy present condition stands Oh be perswaded to use means in time before the disease get too strong an head Physitians tell us on the one hand Of all Physick that is the hopeful Physick that is timely taken And experience tells us as sadly on the other hand it is hard hard indeed to turn out sin when it hath been once suffered to settle and strengthen it self by long connivance and entertainment Oh! let not time wait all the day long in vain upon thee oh let not the Spirit of the Lord as in the daies of the old world strive in vain with thee Whomsoever thou deniest deny not God any thing that he asks thee whatsoever thou refusest refuse not Heaven God is graciously willing with it thy soul may be everlastingly happy by it Return return and live It is well worthy of observation that in the Hebrew the same word that signifies a Chosen person is commonly used throughout the Scripture to signifie also a Young person It seems the Lâ—rd woulâ— have young people a choice people Oh! translate you this Hebraism into English and shew your selves a chosen generation a peculiar people Children as is said in Daniel that may be able to stand before the Lord and King of the whole earth Let others if they needs will be as dross worthless dross which no man values in which no man takes delight But as for you aspire after nobler things Oh! strive for your parts to be as so many vessels of Gold for the praise and service of your Creator Where are now those Isaacks that meditate while they are young Those Iacobs that prize and seek the heavenly blessing betimes Where are now those Solomons that study to know and serve the God of their Fathers Those Obadiahs that fear the Lord from their youth Where are now those Hebrew children that ask their Parents as those in the Law whaâ— mean the Sabbaths and Ordinances of the Lord that they may also keep them Or where shall we now find those Sons of wisdom that being enticed by sinners consent not but refrain their feet from evil courses and keep themselves from the paths of the Destrover Me thinks you should often call to mind the Example of Samuel who ministred and served before the Lord while he was yet but a child You cannot forget the good carriage of those children which so affectionately sung Hosannahs unto Christ. We can truly tell you for your encouragement the Lord ordaineth the Lord accepteth praise out of the mouths of babes and children Whoever quencheth them God will not despise them These are the young mans looking-glasses the young mans patterns and presidents that he should imitate and copy out Oh! let not the memory of such die while you live preserve them alive in your gracious carriage and coâ—versation Neither are other Examples wanting Did you but read the life of that Iosiah of his age King Edward the sixth that Phoenix of his time Prâ—nce Henry that truly noble Lord the young Lord Harrington with many others who blossomed as the Almond tree betimes whose holy and vertuous conversations whose sweet and gracious expressions should be the young mans peculiar study and delight Did you I say but read these or wash your morning thoughts in the serious remembrance of them as that noble Roman chose to wash his hands every morning in that Basin wherein he had the Picture of vertuous Cato in sight afresh before him for his imitation It would even provoke you to be in love with all goodness for their sakes You would even sit down and weep as the Emperour did at the sight of Alexanders Tombe to think how far others have gone in their early years heavenward and you so backward so far yet behind Oh! that you would make it henceforth the real Motto of your youth which was once the Swan-like Song of the dying Martyr None but Christ None but Christ. CHAP. II. The Young Mans Case and Concernments as they now lie before him stated and offered to his consideration YOu have more particularly two great Concerns lying now upon your hand which had need both of them be seriously thought upon and duly provided for before you slip any longer time The one is the wise ordering and improvement of this present life which is commonly spoyled in youth and scarce ever recovered in riper years The other the religious providing for a better which no man can be too diligent in He that is truly faithful in either will be in some measure conscionable in both These hath God joyned together and happy is that man who hath learnt to give each its due and through a well led life with men on earth to pass to a better with God himself hereafter in heaven It will be your wisdome to understand aright the good consistency of both these together That so you may neither on the one hand think hardly of religion
it Which made the Prophet cry out so earnestly to some insolent and over-daring spirits in his time Now therefore be ye not mockers lest your bonds be made strong He that hath not so much Reverence as to spare Religion from reproaching that not Humanity as to forbear godly persons from deriding them let him yet have so much Wisdom so much Pity as to spare himself It was the setled and unalterable description which David long ago gave of a godly man a man likely to dwell in the Tabernacle of the Lord In whose eyes a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. The Image of God should be exceeding lovely his grace highly honourable wherever we find it though but in the meanest of his people What we discern of weakness not yet removed not yet healed may be pitied but must not be scorned Where Religion is wantonly scoffed at without doors in others It is to be feared and more than feared it is neglected enough and wretchedly trodden under foot at home 2. Not one given to foolish gaming Oh! no It is not for him that comes into the world a Child of wrath born in sin it is not for him whose very Condition and Religion if he seriously bethinks himself of either call aloud unto him for tears and dayly repentance It is not for him who hath no more but these few and frail daies wherein to provide for that solemn thing Eternity or else lie down with everlasting burnings It is not for such an one to become a vain gamester He hath other things matters of greater weight and moment which will call for his time and utmost care he is scarce at leisure to trifle with unmanly games Ingenuous divertions where they are wisely chosen harmlesly and seldom used timely and willingly parted with might possibly be winked at Both body and mind may sometimes modestly beg their remedy And let them have it so they take it but as a remedy and make it not worse than the disease Generous actions Religion is not so Stoical as to condemn them They are commanded they shall be commended Whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are lovely if there be any vertue if there be any praise we have free leave and are invited to address our selves unto them And happy is that young man whose hopeful disposition presseth early as David into the Camp and even longeth to employ it self in such noble undertakings He that passeth by shall bless him in the name of the Lord and say Go on and prosper But effeminate games can claim no kindred neither can they expect that they should ever be recorded in Letters of Gold or mentioned in the Congregation of the Lord like Mordecay's good services unto honour No no They are as Alexander wittily said in Plutarch neither true Iest nor good Earnest Neither fair Play nor sober Work But of a far sadder nature when such serious things as Estates and the welfare of whole Families are unnaturally thrown away upon idle and foolish Dice They are too commonly seeming sports real vexations Actaeons hounds kept for pleasure but in a short space devour their Mâ—ster the deflouring of the mind the gratifying of Satan the unhinging of the whole man from things of nobler worth toward God or toward our Country Experience hath too often stood with tears in her eyes and even wept in the sight of all men over these things complaining what you account the pastime of particular persons I must lament as the danger of thousands as that sore evil which unworthily softens and corrupts the Spirit of Nations into degeneracy and sloath opening the gates to any enemies inviting and letting in the Trojan horse of all calamity Thus with the Roman Emperour we greedily take the Cup because it is pleasant but it proves poyson and in conclusion our death These things please not so much one way but they wound as much another Whosoever seems here to win all are sure to go away great losers The Gamester alwaies rashly stakes and too commonly plaies away his dear immortal soul in his games 3. Not a Sabbath breaker Oh no He that dares be so bold on the Lords day will not stick to be fâ—â— worse upon another Where a Sabbath of so few hours becomes wearisome to us on Earth Good Lord what would that man do with an everlasting Sabbath in Heaven It becomes the true Disciple to awake and arise early that morning To awake as the Apostle saies out of sin unto righteousness and to put himselfe in remembrance that this is the day of his Saviours Resurrection the flower of time a Princess amongst all other daies the day for his solemn avouching of his Religion in the sight of God Angels and Men that this is the day wherein the Lord hath appointed to speak with him and hear from him wherein to give him â— meeting about the great affairs of his Soul He dares not neglect so blessed an opportunity he knows not whether he shall ever live till another Sabbath comes about He saies within himself as in the Primitive times I am a Christian and dare not omit the due observing of this day Oh the sad ruins of thousands for the controversie of violated Sabbathsâ— Persons Families Countries have died under it For Gods sake even for Gods sake let the terrour of the Lord in the remembrance of such sad Judgements perswade you And charge your selves afresh every Sabbath morning with what solemness you possibly can not to speak your own words not to think your own thoughts but thoughts meet for a Sabbath and settle your selves heartily to sanctifie this day of the Lord. Where the religious care of these choice Seasons dies it is too too commonly and sadly seen little goodness little loveliness little of the true fear of God there lives 4. Not one given to vain speech Oh! no The sober Young Man finds a field large enough to walk in to refresh himself and others with harmless discourse he desires not to break the hedge or run over to speak with sin He understand those words which are but Cyphers as to sense may be Figures of too great number as to sin He hears there may be and often are whole slouds of words in bulk where there are scarce the least drops of good reason or wisdom to be found in them And it makes him still the more cautious that he opens not his lips at any time foolishly He judges speech should be a Lecture of wisdome to the hearers The matter alwaies weighty the manner of expression ingenuous and comely without which he concludes with the great Philosopher Speech about vain things when all is done will be but vain and worthless He chooseth to have his discourse rather of things than of persons Sometimes of Vertue and the amiableness of that Sometimes of the great Works and Providence of
things the sober Young Man accounts matters of weight too great to be hâ—zarded Vitellius-like for the humouring of an irrational appetite and therefore resolves to be justly tender of them The ancient care and carriage of the Primitive Christians is highly honourable in this respect and he is willing to take it for his Golden Rule He eates what may temperately allay his hunger he drinks what may equally quench his thirst Such a proportion in both as may become the modest and chaste to allow themselves His whole deportment shews while his Religion is the Theory his Conversation is the Praxis He so eats and so drinks as one that receives Instruction as well as food as one that is ever mindful of the righteous Laws of Christian Discipline and doth all that he doth to the glory of God It is to him a maxime not altogether contemptible To rise up from Table as well as sit down with some stomack The Italian Proverb frequently whispers him in the eare as he sits at meals If you would eat much eat little Oppress not nature quench not the fire by casting too much fewel upon it His health it is to him as the salt and sauce which give the relish to every dish upon the Table It is his best bed-maker that makes his bed so easie to rest on and his sleep so refreshful to him It is his taster to all the comforts of life without which nothing savours nothing pleases And therefore he bids farewell to those surfetting dishes which would otherwaies banish and force away so sweet so pleasant a Companion from him The endowments of his mind and their exercise are to him still far dearer It is by them that the Soul looks forth out of her Mansion of the body appears at the Casement of the Senses and shews her self fair as the Morning clear as the Sun a Princess indeed the Daughter of the great King He would not for a world that the least indignity should be offered to so Noble a Guest or any obstruction put upon those honourable operations it is so divinely imployed in That the motion of those Golden Wheels should be clogged by any Kitchin dust or filth getting within them He allows his body very much respect as remembring it shall be one day Copartner with him in glory But desires it still to rest satisfied with what is fit for it in its place that as a Servant it may be alwaies ready â—t the Souls beck a weapon of righteousness to serve the glory of the Lord. In his habit his cloaths are to him the sad memorial of his sin the covering of his shame taken up at the second hand having been either the Lodging of Worms or the every-day Coats of Beasts before ever they were his He remembers and thinks on these things and sits down finding but cold encouragement to be proud of his Cloaths The utmost that he henceforth aims at is a clean and decent plainness Concluding as Lycurgus amongst his Lacedâ—monians that it is he the endowments of his mind the comlines of his body which must rather be an ornament to his cloaths than they to him He is willing with that Ambassadour to wear his Doublet of Cloath of Gold with a plainer baize Coat over it without Any Garments satisfie him outwardly so he may but have his Cloath of Gold underneath an enlarged heart toward God and goodness inwardly It is enough to him if he hath with Iacob any convenient rayment to put on He troubles not himself with a restless affectation and niceness about trifles what trimming or what Lace he knows Wisdom and Vertue are far the best The Peacock may be the gayer but the Eagle is still the far nobler bird And indeed cloaths with any are but like the Sign over the door which tell all men what kind of shop and mind there is within 8. He is one of great modesty and chastity in all his carriage This he reckons his Shibboleth his nearest trial wherein nature must and soon will discover it self whether filthiness or holiness the righteous commands of God or the wretched lusts of the flesh be dearest to it This is indeed the dangerous season of his life The Archers begin now to shoot sore temptations and enticing thoughts rush in thick upon him But he goes to Gods Armory he takes up his Bible and often reads the Fathers conversion-Scripture praying the Lord that it may prove his also and a preservative to him from the power of evil Not in chambering and wantonness but in putting on the Lord Christ. We may I see in a few words understand all of us what our life and great care should be These last daies of the World are greatly sunk from a generous nobleness and man-like delight in heroical aâ—chievements to a Spirit of effeminacy and soâ—tness It is not desirable nor indeed altogether convenient to lay before the chaste Reader much description of it Let it be thrown amongst the works of darkness to be brought to light no more let it so die the sooner the better Only we cannot be ignorant we are born to far higher things toward God toward our native Country and toward ouâ— own Souls than wanton Complements and dalliances of the Flesh. And oh that all would know a Sardâ—napalus life seldom but meets with a Sardanapalus's death Babylon shall one day receive for all her luxury wherein she hath been so profuse measure for measure from the avenging â—and of God How much she hath lived deliciously so much sorrow and torment give her Such is the sad Exit of a loose and vicious life he dieth and is numbred for ever amongst the unclean These things are the Young Mans warning pieces and for their sakes he is resolved to stand upon his guard and to abstain from all appearance of evil Wantonness in Gestures obscaeness in Speeches lasciviousness in Actions however too much favoured by others are to him as the sulphurous sparks of Aetna as so many flames breaking forth from the bottomless pit the shame of the Actor the danger of the Spectator an immodest abusing of nature an open defiance to all Vertue and which is yet far more an high contempt poured forth in the faâ—e of Religion it self His Soul as the righteous soul of Lot is grieved and he turneth away from them Chastness is still exceeding dear and honourable in his eyes As the cleanness of the vessel where the heavenly Treasures should be put the clearness of the Paper whereon the words of life should be written the Souls fidelity to God under all allurements to the contrary its victorious triumph and conquest over the snares of Satan He willingly cuts off all occasions which might in the least endanger or stain the purity of his mind and watchethâ—to the utmost that he may keep himself unspotted of these pollutions of the flesh He â—irst maketh a Covenant with his
and nobleness cuts off â—iâ— right hand and plucks out his right eye for Christs sake this oh â— this is the true Disciple indeed We may say here as God once said of Abraham By this we know that he feareth God seeing he hath not withheld his dearest his darling Isaac from him Oh! be you perswaded to turn â—way your eyes from bosome vanities Set your greatest watch where you â—ie in greatest danger Flee youthful â—usts but follow after righteousness Fourthly Take heed yet further â—hat you neglect not your day of grace Let Esaus loss be your warning Time was when he carelesly slighted that which afterwards he sought with tears with bitter tears but sound no place for repentance Such tears you will see dropping from many eyes another day There are two Rocks whereat most miscarry in this matter 1. By slumâ—ering and taking no notice of Gods call 2. By faint promises which never ripen to performance Take you great heed of both Concerning the first There are those golden opportunities of mercy wherein the Lord seeks to save that which is lost I gave her saies God a space to repent This great gift it may be the Lord in much mercy sets before you And your selves are best privy to those choice seasons wherein the Lord comes upon this great occasion and knocks at your door Sometimes by Sickness sometimes by Parental Counsel sometimes by more publick Ordinances sometimes by his more remarkable divine judgments upon sinners While the Lord is thus speaking to you your hearts as those Disciples even burn within you your very Souls telling you it is the voice of Christ graciously calling you to repentance Oh! seek the Lord while he may be found True opportunity in most cases is a rare thing and comes but seldom but had need be imbraced with both hands when it comes It will be too late said the Ancients to tender our Sacrifice when the appointed time is past and gone Behold this is the day of your visitation oh that it may prove the day of your regeneration and true acquaintance with the things of your everlasting peace Your Father your Master calls you in the Morning and you arise and go about his work Well Sirs let me also counsel you as Eli once counselled Samuel listen diligently and it shall come to pass if the Lord thy God shall thus call thee thou shalt answer Speak Lord for thy servant heareth Concerning the second our evasions and procrastinations with the Lord we must all freely confess delaies and faint promises for the future they are but the artificial excuses of an unwilling mind for the present Like the goodly words of the Son in the Parable that saies but never goes into the Fathers Vineyard How piously did St. Austine bemoan the treachery of his own heart for a due warning to all posterity in this matter I begged saies he longer day promising presently Lord By and by have but a little patience with me and I will come But oh saies he that Presently lingred beyond all bounds of modesty and this By and by proved a long day and loth to come Dear Youths if these vows of the Lord be upon you defer not to pay them And cast not your selves by delaies upon that sad Dilemma That your own Promises should be as your hand-writing to the Obligation and yet your Conversation render you guilty of non-payment Fifthly Take heed yet again of the sins of the Times wherein you live All Ages all Places have their peculiar reigning sins And most men will needs vainly follow the present fashion in sins as well as cloaths though they lose their very souls by it These last daies are the sad receptacle of almost all precedent corruptions The Lord himself hath told us they are and will be very perillous daies Daies wherein that undesirable thing Sin will every where too much abound Nature the Satyrist could long ago observe grows now in its old age very degenerous we had need watch to the utmost and keep our garments The Boat usually goes full of Passengers and carries multitudes down the stream with it And who so in the fear of God or love of righteousness departeth from the iniquity of the times that man maketh himself a prey in the gate Aristides his justice costs him his life and Socrates his fidelity to one only as the true and living God in the rage of a giddy multitude procured his death So dangerous alwaies is it to dissent from present times be they never so vicious But as for you my Friendsâ— be ye careful indeed you oppose no man wilfully but be ye still as careful that you follow no man in evil courseâ—s wickedly It was not without cause told us The whole world as now it is lieth in wickedness And if any man will be the friend of this world he enters that friendship upon very hard terms he must thereupon become the enemy of God So difficult and even impossible is it for any man to serve two Masters In these sore straights Young Man what wilt thou do Before thou resolvest to sin with the world now seriously ask thine heart this one question Canst thou be content to fare as the world fares to be condemned and suffer with it hereafter Ungodly men will wonder it will be a piece of strange and amazing news that others run not with them to the same excess of riot that others are not vile and vain as well as they but you are Travellers whatever others do on the right hand or on the left you must not turn aside but mind your journey The Nations might do as they would by their Idolls but Moses plainly tells Israel The Lord their God had not suffered them to deal so by him Not durst Ioshah soon after judge the Iews strange uncertainty his sufficient excuse or security If saies he it seems evil in your eyes and the case is there hard indeed where the righteous service of the Lord seems evil to any yet saies Ioshuah however I and mine are bound to serve the Lord. Noah had perished in the waters if times had carried him Lot had burnt in Sodom if the Multitude had swayed with him The sins of times Gods people may alwaies be pious mourners for them but never profane practicers of them Be ye whatever others are righteous in your generation before the Lord. Sixthly Take heed yet further that you enter not upon Religion at first superficially slightily or carnally Religion is solemn and had need be solemnly and reverently approached unto Mistakes here are very easily run into but more hardly redressed the forest mistakes in the whole world And yet saies the Father there is scarce any thing more common then for men to deceive their own souls and go as the Prophet expresseth it with a lie in their right hand all their daies Their Religion they judge is good and they
pray know It is no less than Life or Death that now stands before you waiting for your Yea or Nay It is so small or inferiour matter of little moment of light consequence that you are now to give your answer in It is Heaven it is Eternal life I need say no more it is your own happiness for ever and ever how can you turn your backs upon it Yea further know there have been those among the poor Heathens that never durst think thus lightly of sin as you do They alwaies held it the greatest evil and the sorrows of it the heaviest sorrows in the whole world There have been tender hearted Ninevites that have come to God at one call and gladly closed with their own mercy And there yet are at this day how backward soever you may be thousands filially returning as the Prodigal with tears of joy to their Fathers house longing for him and welcome to him going where there is what they and you likewise want Bread of life and change of Rayment that you might be cloathed Oh why should you stand out against such sweet mercy and harden your selves so unnaturally to your own destruction You might yet further know though it will be sad enough to know it there is never a Companion of yours with whom you have now sinned but shall be ready to witness against you Never a leaf in all your Bible but shall be enough to condemn you Ministers Parents Friends and Foes shall all come forth against you And oh how cutting will it be to be made a spectacle of scorn to God to Angels and to Men How wounding to thy astonished heart to become an everlasting By word upbraided of all pitied of none It is the condition will they say that he hath long ago deserved and let him bear it This as an holy man rightly observed will make thy load and burden heavy indeed Yea God himself who here hath wooed and so often so long even waited to be gracious shall then set every sin in order before you and make your guilty Consciences with everlasting blushings to own them Then saies the Father shall it be said in the audience of Heaven and Earth Behold the man and all that ever he did let it be had in everlasting remembrance whether it be good or whether it be evil Then shall your selves also look back upon that dear Salvation that you have negligently lost that wretched misery that you have wilfully brought upon your selves and sinke down with heart-breaking sighs and horrour at the Bar of Christ. Then may you be ready to take your last leave of all comfort and say Farewell my day of Grace which is now gone and never more to shine upon such a wretch as I am Come in all ye my hainous sins and the bitter remembrance of you The Lord hath sent you to stand as adversaries of terrour round about me Sting as so many fiery Serpents in this bosome of mine and spare not Oh! that you might have leave to make an utter end and rid me out of all my pain Oh how will the tears trickle down to see the Lord so gracious so loving to others and yet so justly severe and full of indignation towards you To see those that prayed while you slept that so willingly kept the Lords Sabbaths while you as constantly profaned them to see those that â—â—isely redeemed that time which you so lavishly wasted to see those very persons so well known to you it may be your near acquaintance in the Kingdom of God and your selves shut out Then though never till then will the heart that hath held out as long as ever it could begin to falter and fail Then shall the lips break forth with that righteous acknowledgment I am undone undone for ever and my destruction is of my self Oh my dear Friends my bowels even yearn for you Hast thou but one blessing oh my Father bless our Young People even them also that they may turn to thee and live But I cannot thus leave you My Errand I confess is now even done but your duty henceforth to be taken up and still carefully carried on I may justly say of this whole Letter as once the Roman Oratour well said to his Son It will be of more or less service to you as you make it truly practicable in the sequel of your life Counsel stored by us in Books and neglected in life it is like the coâ— vetous mans bags of Gold which lie wholly dead and no good use made of them Suffer me then once more for greater sureness sake to rehearse my Message again unto you It is you Dear Youths to whom I am as the Father affectionately said in this Paper to apply my self It is you who have yet seen but the third hour of the day with whom the Message whether it lives or whether it dies must now be finally left You are desired in the higest Name that can be used in the Name of the great and most glorious God who made the Heavens and the Earth and gave you that breath you breathe between your Nostrils You are desired in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who freely shed his precious bloud in a readiness to redeem and cleanse you from all your sins You are desired in this great and dreadful Name and by all the respect you bear unto it to remember your Creator in the daies of your Youth You are desired to strive to enter in at the straight Gate You â—â—e desired to accept the richest the greâ—â—est gift that God himself ever bâ—stows upon any his own dear Son You are desired to be kind to your own Souls and to lay up a good foundation agâ—inst times to come You are desired to come and live with God for ever Dear Youths what do you purpose to do in this great matter These are not Requests to be slighted these are not Requests to be denied Such a capacity for mercy how would the damned prize it oh let not the living set light by iâ— This short moment how meanly soever you may think of it once wretchedly lost and an Age will not recover Eternity it self as long as it is will never restore the like advantages to your souls again And now are you oh are you at length willing to go about this blessed work and become happy for ever if there may be yet any hope in Israel concerning your case Behold the arms of Mercy are open ready to imbrace you whatever is past how unkind how hainous soever God is ready to forgive willing to forget it He calls Heaven and Earth to record if you miscarry let the blame lie where it ought it shall not be his As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that he turn from his wicked way and live Turn ye oh now unweariedly doth the Lord renew his call turn ye from
Sweet truth to me c. 5. What means my trembling heart To be thus shie of death My life and I sha'nt part Though I resign my breath Sweet truth to me c. 6. Then welcome harmless grave By thee to Heaven I 'll go My Lord his Death shall save Me from the flames below Sweet truth to me I shall arise And with these eyes My Saviour see Heaven When shall I come and appear before God Psalm 42.2 First Part. 1. SWeet place sweet place alone The Court of God Most High The Heav'n of Heav'ns the Throne Of spotless Majesty Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with thee To see thy face 2. The stranger homeward bends And sigheth for his rest Heav'n is my home my Friends Lodge there in Abrahams breast Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with thee To see thy face 3. Earth's but a sorry Tent Pitch'd for a few frail daies A short-leas'd Tenement Heav'n's still my song my praise Oh happy place c. 4. These lower rooms these here Thou dost with Roses pave And 〈◊〉 with Chrystal clear But Heav'n oh Heav'n I crave Oh happy place c. 5. No tears from any eyes Drop in that holy Quire But death it self there dies And sighs themselves expire Oh happy place c. 6. There should temptations cease My frailties there should end There should I rest in peace In th' arms of my best Friend Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with thee To see thy face Second Part. 1. Ierusalem on high My Song and City is My home when ere I die The Center of my bliss Oh happy place c. 2. Thy Walls sweet City thine With Pearls are garnished Thy Gates with praises shine Thy Streets with Gold are spred Oh happy place c. 3. No Sun by day thines there Nor Moon by silent night Oh! no these needless are The Lamb 's the Cities light Oh happy place c. 4. There dwels my Lord my King Judg'd here unfit to live There Angels to him sing And lowly homage give Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with thee To see thy face 5. The Patriarchs of old There from their travels ' cease The Prophets there behold Their long'd-for Prince of peace Oh happy place c. 6. The Lamb's Apostles there I might with joy behold The Harpers I might hear Harping on Harps of Gold Oh happy place c. 7. The bleeding Martyrs they Within those Courts are found Cloathed in pure array Their seats with glory crown'd Oh happy place c. 8. Ah me ah me that I In Kedars Tents here stay No place like this on high Thither Lord guide my way Oh happy place When shall I be My God! with theâ— To see thy face FINIS * 〈◊〉 Sâ—gâ—s Buling †Pâ—eâ—itia citra puâ—â—ilitatem ad 〈◊〉 is â—◠〈◊〉 habituâ— sequaâ— Eâ—asm Câ—ne de pu les * Euâ—â—ciâ— felix proâ—eâ—ies in qua Parentes renovati ut quasi secundo vivere incipiant qui alioqui statim desicerâ—nt Calvin Lam. 3.22 * Ecclesiâ—e nomine armamini contra Eâ—clesiam dimicatis Aug. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pax omaâ—um benedictionum sigillum obsigâ—atio est Abaib * Catilinam quocuâ—que in populo videas quocuâ—quâ— sub aâ—e sâ—d aec Brutus crit Bruti nec aâ—â—culus usquam Juv. * Omnes qui patriâ—m coâ—serva â—at aâ—â—uveriâ—t auxerint certus â—is iâ— coelo ac definitus locus ubi beâ—ti 〈◊〉 sempiterno fraâ—â—ntur hiac pâ—oâ—eci huc reveituntur Cicero in Somn. Scip. * Quis non vita etiam suâ redimeret sub motum istud infinitum dissidiâ— scandalum Mart. Bue. †Bella geri placuit mullos babitura triumphos Pares aquilae pila nâ—â—antia pilis Luc. * Hi wotus 〈◊〉 atque iâ—â—c certamina 〈◊〉 pulveris exiguâ—â—acta compressa quiescant V. â— Gâ—â— * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nar. de Alex. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Veritas potens superabit †Cognori per gratiam D. i quid sit habere pro certá normá salutis verbum Dei quid sit humana somma placitaque sequi Cyrillus nupeâ—us Const. Patriar vide Hottinger in vita ejus * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Eph. 4.15 * Quid facit â—s pectors Christianoruis lupovum sâ—ritas Cyp. * Paâ— optima vâ—rum quas nobis na 〈◊〉 dedi Sâ—llius * Verior cujusque fama e domo emanat Bacon fidel Ser. †Ego te non Catilinae genui sed patriae Fulvius â—â—lio suo * Lubens jam morior quandequidem talem reliquero filium Anto. dict * Theodosius Impe. necessiâ— a â—obis taâ—â—us sed 〈◊〉 totus elquit â—nim libeos suos in â—uibus d◠〈…〉 igâ—osâ—re Hist vitae Theod. â—mper Pro. 20.11 Sit virilis â—etas jure fructiosior erit tamen juveâ—tus iâ—terim amaâ—ilio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Muâ—idus hic est via vadâ—m ad mundum suturum Majemonides * Ulâ—m mode lâ—â—tuâ— es nunc inâ—â—c properandas acri singendus â—ine siâ—e rota Persius * 〈◊〉 10.15 * Primiti◠〈…〉 primitie â—oetatis Dâ—o sâ—â—rae * Direvam da 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 modo Timeâ—â—â—â—niâ— re me cito exaâ—dires â—ito sanâ—ss Aug. Câ—n †Transibit volupt as manebit reatus momentanâ—um quod delectat aeternâ—m quod cruciat * Pro. 14.13 * Festinat eâ—im decurrere veloâ— slosculus agustae â—â—â—seraeque breâ—â—ssirea 〈◊〉 fortie Juven * Quicquid moves a principio move Hip. †Aegre reprehendas quod sinis coâ—suescere Hier. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 juvenus a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 selegit quasi ad oâ—â—â—s operas selectâ—s Buxtâ—â—f 1 The world into which we are come what that is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inimicus veste amici tectus Buxtorf Flo. Heb. * 1 Joh. 2.16 Ambitiosus hoâ—os opes saeda voluptas Haec tria 〈◊〉 trino numine mundus hâ—bet Mantuan †Qua terra 〈◊〉 sera regnat Eviâ—nys In factâ—us jurasse 〈◊〉 Ovid. Melior â—st hora una refrigerit in mundo futuro quam tota â—ita mundi hujus Pirke Abhoth * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 〈◊〉 â—nd for which wâ—â—r they are †〈…〉 â—gnimur â—ersius * John 17.4 * Hi quibus in solo vâ—vendâ— causa palato 〈…〉 †Exciâ—mur â—a melioâ— magniâ—â—dine rerum Salust 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 †Atque assigâ—t humi divinae particulam aurae Horat. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mens â—ominis est eâ—us ala Chrysost 3. The way and means by which to attain those ends * Isa. 66.5 †Joh. 14.6 Ambulare vis Ego sum via â—alli noâ— viz Ego sum veritas moâ—i non vis Ego sum vita Aug. * 2 Cor. 6.14 15. * Joh. 3.3 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Herod †Vis consilâ—â— expers 〈…〉 Horat * Prov. 5.12 †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menander Counsel propounded twofold 1 More principal in reference to
fiery party in either I confess I think there is no sober Christian but is ready in a mixture between joy and grief to say as that great man great for Piety great for Learning a little before his death to his bosome Friend I have known through the grace of God what it is to have the Word of God for the sure and trusty rule of Salvation unto me and what it is to follow the vâ—in dreams and pleasures of men The Concerns of Religion are exceeding great and ponderous God and Man will expect God and Man will allow that all be cordial and upright in them Only the pleasure of our Father still is that we graciously temper and carry Moses his meekness with Moses his zeal Deporting our selves in the profession of his name as the Sun in the Spring which so shines as not to scorch Retaining all due candor as men while we further profess to honour and serve holiness and peace in a higher capacity as Christians And oh that we might see those Magnalia Dei those great things of God and of Religion the very ornamenâ—s and beauties of holiness revived and espoused amongst us Repentance from dead works to serve the living God Faith unfained Faith without Complements thinking so well of God as to repose our selves and dearest Concerns chearfully upon him his power and faithfulness in Christ. An holy care to lead a right godly course of life placing Religion where of right it justly and only centers not in formal or contentious words but in a willing and faithful practice Putting off what none indeed can be very willing to keep on the old man with all the odious lusts thereof Walking as the ransomed of the Lord in newness of spirit newness of life Pressing heartily after the mark Rejoycing day by day in all the sweet hopes that are set before us till the seed time shall reach the harvest and the sheaf of glory be reapt and seen with joy in the Believers bosome This oh this was the Religion so many righteous men have wished so well unto and longed so much to see such Gospel such gracious daies of the Son of Man Thus might we also honourably answer as Nehemiah we are doing a great work the work of God and of our Souls and have neither desire nor leave to come down suffering that to cease while we wear out our precious time and gain no more than what may well be wept out again the distempering of our weak and tender minds into high Feavers and passions by the angry strife of Tongues God Almighty grant we may at length reach the Apostles great charge and follow the truth in love Tender of the truth that it be not changed into a lye Cordial toward love that it sustain no wrong while we seem in the pursuit of truth Remembring with our selves as the Father how unnatural and even Prodigious it would be to have the Wolfs savage heart found in the Lambs bosome Oh! thou the God of so great forbearance and tenderness towards us all give unto us also of that sweet spirit of thine bowels of mercies kindness and humbleness of mind each toward other Pity thy weak and froward Children Rowle away our reproach and let our eyes yet see that dear and sacred thing the Iewel of Nature the Honour of Religion the Promise of God the great Desire of all gracious hearts Peace thy Peace upon this thine Israel Reader I had purposed some further instructions here to the Elder To have intreated you respectfully as Fathers That you might as David walk with a perfect heart where indeed the integrity of the heart is most tried in the midst of your house And with Abraham bring up your children how mean soever outwardly yet each one as the Child of a Prince for God and the praise of his Name For your Country and the welfare thereof to minister before both in the lovely services of righteousness all their daies But a weighty providence from the Lord intervening takes off my hand for the present Let it be accepted oh Lord that it was in mine heart to have served thee therein This only shall I abruptly now say you have given in your Pledges to Posterity and are leaving your Children as Absaloms Pillar in the Valley to preserve your names when you are gone Oh! let your care be such concerning them your carriage so Exemplary before them that your selves may become true Benefactors and your Children a real Treasure to the next Age rendring your names thereby as sweet odours to all So might you welcome your death with pleasant smiles when ere it comes Assuring your dearest Friends as that pious Emperour upon his death-bed so chearfully said to his I am now willing indeed to die since I shall leave a living Monument a Child of mine to hold up the Lamp in my stead to serve unto Vertue when I am gone So might it be further acknowledged by others at your Funeral when your dust shall lye silent before them as was said of Theodosius to his just and deserved honour A great man a good man is this day taken from us He is gone but not wholly He hath left part of himself his hopeful Children here behind him In them may we see the fair Fruits of a pious Education in them we freely acknowledge much of the Fathers worth and goodness still surviving By them as Abel though dead he yet liveth and dayly renews a vertuous example before us The Lord thus blesse the arising Generation amongst us vouchsafing this sweet and pleasing mercy as his choice favour till it become the joy and beauty of our dear and native Land The Lord thus shine with his Lamp upon your Tabernacles and your Childrens Children unto many Generations after you In the affectionate desires whereof I rest Your Friend and Servant in the just obligements of Nature and Grace Samuel Crossman Errata Reader YOu are much desired candidly to excuse and with your Pen to correct the many Errata's which in the Authors absence have unawares slâ—pt through the Press Amongst divers others these at first sight appeared in a Cursory view of some few Pages Page 4. in the quot read Persius p. 21 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 55. line 5. r. astliction 9.80 l. 19. r. regret â— 142. quo â— ovis twice p. 147 quot r. humilitas p. 155. quo â— coâ—vexaque p. 184. quoâ— r. candidissim e. p. 193. l. 15. r. con â—â—s p. 219. l. 8. r. ingenious p. 221. l. 25. r. thread p. 17. l. 19. in the Poems for circl'st r ceil'st You will easily find several other mistakes of the like nature As also mispointings and mispellings Especially in the Marginal Notes Wherein the Hebrew initial Letters are often set for final and Accents some omitted others misplaced in the Greek But these Errata's are far the least and little danger in them if we carefully prevent
that great and common one so incident both to Writer and Reader A practical neglect after all of any good counsel how usefully soeâ—er given how affectionately soever for present received To the Children and Servants of my dear Neighbours at c. My Christian love with desires of your real welfare in this life and that which is to come Ingenuous Youths UPon whom the eyes of all are justly set observing your present carriage and further waiting what your following years will prove Even a Child though but a child is known by his doings whether his work be pure and whether it be right So early doth nature put forth its inclinations and discover it self May your youth be as the Spring for loveliness your riper years as the Summer for real fruitfulness CHAPTER I. The Introduction or previous Entrance into the ensuing Discourse YOu are now entring a troublesom sinful world and are therein to be pitied You are now upon your great preparations for Eâ—ernity and therein had need be seriously counselled and advised Me thinks I see you just setting forth in your great journey your long journey whence you shall not return a journey which will prove either Heaven or Hell to every one of you in the end How much depends upon this moment it may be you scarce believe you little consider for the present though afterwards your selves shall plainly see this Life hath been but a restless Voyage the World a tempestuous Sea your Bodies the frail Vessels wherein you sail and Time the Charon the Boatman to wast you over these Waters and set you upon another shore delivering you up there as the Souldiers in the Acts presented Paul before your Judge the Supream Judge of all Flesh in order to your final and solemn Trial. It is on this great Errand of God and of your Souls that these present Lines are sent unto you You will I hope both willingly and seriously peruse them A wise Son heareth Instruction but the scorner causeth shame It is a kindness to shew the wandring Child the way to his Fathers house and truly I have greatly desired amongst many other cares justly incumbent upon me as I am able to further you heaven-ward and to prepare your hearts while you are yet young as a generation for the Lord. Your natures are too easily disposed to receive evil impressions Satan sees it and wâ—tches be times to forestall your tender minds therewithall It must be our care early to recommend and your duty readily to comply with better things that as the yielding â—ax you may now receive those impressions of God and goodness upon your spirits which may become some step toward your happy sealing up to the day of redemption Accept then I pray you of this plain Paper it is the best Token I have to send And Oh! that through the blessing of the Lord it may prove a good Token for you to receive It is sadly evident that many too many losing their tender their first years in conclusion lose their souls also And it is as undoubtedly certain that gracious Counsel however hardly thought of by most might be â—o the young man the best Guide of his Youth to preserve him from the paths of the Destroyer Consider what is laid before you and the Lord give you understanding in all things Our own true welfare we may freely grant is and justly ought to be the desire of all the right way to it iâ— known or understood of very few Iâ— was the sad observation of the wiseâ— of men The labour of the foolish wearieth him as well it may because he knoweth not how to go to the City Mercy is not miss'd because it is not sought but because men will not be perswaded to seek it where alone it may be found Most men spend their choice and precious daies in a vain shaddow and go down in the end thereof to everlasting sorrows You have the world now before you your own mercy or misery yet to choose and be you sure as you now choose so shall you speed hereafter Oh! be your own true friends and choose ye that which is good while it may be obtained and that good part shall never be taken from you You are now Flowers in their bloom Your Friends delight your Countries hope It lieth very much in your Sphere to be either a crown of rejoycing to them or to bring down their gray hairs with sorrow to the grave You are those first Fruits those green ears of corn which should be offered to the Lord. For his sake for your own sakes for your Parents â—nd Counâ—â—iâ—s sikes embrace your own mercies your own true good before your Sun be set and your hopes cut off for ever Others have been sometimes young as you now are and cannot be altogether strangers to the young mans heart the young mans thoughts and waies It is very likely your vain minds will be easily now taken with vain things But observe if they be not still secretly afraid meditating terrour and crying out I shall one day be called to a strict account for all this In this suspence it may be you may stick long not able to joy much in the waies of sin nor yet fully willing to leave them and seek the Lord. Sometimes faintly praying and yet inwardly shrinking back and still loth to receive indeed the grace that you seem to 1 pray for As the Father freely confessed the prayers of his youth had also been I said indeed with my lips Lord I give and yet in my heart I was too willing to give longer day and could have said Lord pray not yet I was even afraid lest thou shouldst hear me too soon and too soon heal and subdue my corruption for me Thus is the mind for a time like the wavering scales rising and falling going and coming ere it can settle with the true poize and weight If Satan in this conflict prevails your slavish fears will wretchedly degenerate and grow worse turning into an inward hatred of God and his good waies a disdainful loathing of Gods people a continual backwardness to your own duty Which God of his mercy prevent But if through grace you be enabled to overcome you will find your fears clearing up unto more kindliness and a willingness on your part to retain them still you will find gracious desires springing up by them Oh! that God would pardon my sin Lord give me Christ or else I dye From thence by tender steps which I have not time now to express will God lead you and will not forsake you or despise the dâ—y of your small things And oh that you may be thus led by the hand of the Lord till you both see and receive the blessed reward of the righteous the salvation of your souls Think not that your present condition your present pleasures will last long No no as Adonijahs feast these banquets will soon be
Christian saies the Father then and then only shews himself worthy of his Christian name when he walks in his Conversation Christianly By this shall men know that we like our Religion indeed that we account the Lord faithful and his righteous waies worth our careful walking in The Gospel deserves it men expect it we should fulfil it All people are ready enough and will walk every one in the name of his God and let us also though upon better grounds walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever But alas herein Christianity covers its face sits down with tears upon its cheeks and bewailes it self as one neglected too much neglected on all hands Me thinks I hear its groanes as in the Lamentations Is it nothing to you oh all you that pass by You that are called Christians and which is yet more you that have come forth as Protestants from the Corruptions of former Ages that ye might as Israel going out of the Land of Egypt the better serve the Lord when oh when shall wisdom be practically justified of these her children The profane man doth the Devils work with all his might he runs violently to the utmost excess of riot The worldly man his heart taketh not its rest in the night he is drudge enough and enough to the world for the recompence he is ever like to have from it These spare no pains but act like themselves too true to their principles such as they are where-ever they come But oh the professors of the everlasting Gospel how do they faint in the head of the Streets How cold and weak are they How sparing and slow to adorn the Doctrine of God and our Saviour With Ananias and Saphira we keep backpart of the price We offer the form but too often withhold the power Oh Sirs if we have judged Religion worth professing let us also judge it worth the practizing It may be our care and labour of love may one day be found as a sweet memorial before the Lord. Dear Youths You will meet with many it may be possing a Iehu's pace in the Opinions and Traditions of men for indeed a carnal forwardness in such things whether on the right hand or on the left costs us not much it is self-grown nature can afford it But oh Lord how rare a thing doth it still remain to find an Hezechiah that can testifie upon his death-bed in what uprightness he hath walked before the Lord all his life Israel may be as the sand by the Sea-shore for common profession but these will still be too near the Lords reckoning One of a City and two of a Tribe that is very few Wherefore I will even entreat you to revive that sweet Inscription which was once engraven upon Aarons breast-plate oh Copy it out fair in your lives and be ye Holiness to the Lord. Let this be your kindness to that sacred Name of God by which you are called not to leave it as too many do subject to everyones reproach by the carelesness of your carriage but by the cleanness and vertuousness of your deportment whatever you can to make it a praise in the Earth Sixthly When at any time your tender hearts shall be desirous to refresh and ease themselves from the sorrows of this life Evermore go to God and the sweet comforts of Religion This was the solemn counsel and farewel the Jews were wont to leave with their dearest Friends when most overwhâ—lmed with sadness We wish you as the best Cordial the comforts of heaven We might herein not without just indignation say as Elijah once did Is it because there is no God in Israel that men send to Baal-Zebub the God of Ekron Is it because the All-sufficient God is become as an empty Vine that there is such hurrying after the world and its fading comforts The provocation and indignity that is herein offered to the Lord is exceeding high it is in effect a denying of that God that is above Oh that men would not deal so dishonourably by Religion That whereunto we appeal for our future salvation in the name of God let us therewith consist for our present consolation It was from hence the Martyrs drew all their joyes They justly might and did thank the Lord for it that their Prisons were to them as Palaces their chains as so many bracelets of Gold It was Religion that feasted them in their dungeons that enabled them to write so cheerfully to their Friends as many of them did I am in the esteem of men in hell for outward misery But I am in my own sense as in heaven for all inward comfort in the Lord. And it is from hence that we also if we be not wanting to our selves may as well draw waters of joy for our souls out of the Wells of salvation Dear Children be perswaded whenever you have occasion in the day of your sadness to make use of Religion it may be you may find it your best comforter in the whole world Cheerfulness is indeed that Mannah which nature is so desirous as oft as may be to taste of and God is as freely willing that we should have it He hath provided that for us Ioy is sown for the righteous And he hath invited us to that Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart You may soon find in the Lord all apposite and sutable comforts for every condition There is an estate for the poor strength for the weak a Father for the Fatherless pardon for the bleeding sinner healing for the broken in heart a better world for those that are graciously weary of this immortality and blessedness for all that choose and love it Heaven and happiness so transcendent so glorious that we may modestly say the heavens which we here behold are but as earth without form and beauty in comparison of that Heaven of heavens which God hath appointed for the everlasting rest the true home and habitation of his people Such a God and such comforts are enough when ever we are to walk through the valley of the shadow of death we need fear no evil these joyes of the Lord may be an everlasting strength unto us There can be no affliction so sad but you may arise and lead your captivity captive You may make the proudest of them as Adonibezek serve under your Table Or as Tamberlane did by his conquered foes make them draw at your Chariot wheels and serve to the encrease of your triumph Let the fiercest Lion come against you when it will you as Sampson may overcome it and may propose it as your Christian Riddle that out of the eater the most devouring affliction can you fetch meat Religion allows all its true followers to rejoyce in the very face of tribulations knowing that they how unlikely soever yet work for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of
and destruction from the Almighty upon the Children of Men. A day that all are enough warned of a day that few duly provide for This is that day that shall decide that great Case which hath so long depended that shall resolve that Question of all Questions which to this hour hovers and passes to and â—ro so thoughtfully in all mens minds Then shall the Lord shew who is holy and who are his This is that day wherein the World to its utter astonishment as Iosephs Brethren troubled at the unexpected â—ight of one so little looked for so little delighted in shall yet once again hear and see more of Christ That the residue oâ— the great work of Redemption might be finished and the Kingdom delivered up according to the earnest longing of the whole Creation in the fulness of its glory to the Father This is once more that day wherein grace and grace alone shall find favour in the eyes of God Hypocrisie shall then shelter none Estates shall then buy off none It is the just Judge of the whole Earth who sitteth then upon our trials and a righteous judgement according as every mans Case shall then be sound he will impartially pass None can here plead ignorance oâ— say they heard not of it Enoch the seventh from Adam so long ago prophesied of this so openly that who would might understand it Behold he cometh with ten thousand of his Saints We cannot make our selves strangers to it The blind and the deaf both heard and saw it The poor Heathen awaked as amazed men and said one to another This World will one day have a tragick end and we shall all be certainly judged for what we now do Their Philosophers they freely yielded it Their Sybils and Poets dayly sung of it And all flesh may now without further thought or doubt sit down and confess with the Apostle 〈◊〉 We know we must all none excepâ—ted appear before the judgement seat of Christ in the solemnest case that ever was tried to receive of him according to the things done in the body whether they be good or whether they be evil 2 Cor. 5.10 Oh Young Man Young Man how often hast thou seriously thought of this day A day wherein these eyes of thine shall see Christ himself coming in the clouds with great power and glory from the brightness of whose presence Heaven and Earth shall be ready to flee away Then shalt thou see thâ—se Royal Officers of State the Angels of Heaven so numerously up and down amongst us attending their Masters business summoning the Graves of the Earth calling to the Waters of the Sea to deliver up their dead almost now forgotten that have been so long since committed to them Then shalt thou hear the shrill voice of the last Trumpet sounding that solemn Call to all Flesh Arise ye dead and come unto judgement Oh how loth will the Sinner be to rise at the ringing of this Watch-bell How little heart will he have to put on his old cloaths of sinful Flesh and appear in them before the Lord How loth to meet with his body in so sad a place upon so sad an occasion that they may now together as joyless Companions receive the bitter wages of all their former sins Then shall you see the Prophets Vision dry bones live indeed then shall the dead awake from their Long sleep the Father with the Son the Poor with the Rich and go to receive every one their several Sentence from the Lord. Then must the Sun be content to be darkned and the Moon to the amazement of all beholders shall become as bloud Then must the Stars like withered leaves fall from their places The Flouds roaring the Earth flaming the Elements melting the Heavens like a Scrowl of Parchment passing away and almost all Flesh shreeking and crying out In vain have we flattered our selves in vain have we put far from us the evil day Notwithstanding all our lothness it is come even the day of his wrath and who can stand before him Then comes forth the definitive Sentence from the Judge's own lips to the godly on the right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared so long by me desired so affectionately by you Enter ye now at length once for ever into the joy of your Lord. Then also comes forth that heart-wounding Condemnation on the left hand Depart from me ye Cursed go go cursed ye are and shall now to your own everlasting smart feel it far from any rayes of blessedness shining upon you shall your place henceforth be and your condition as far from rest or ease Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Then shall that slighted word Eternity trampled so much under foot now be found and felt a ponderous thing indeed This oh this shall make the night of Sinners sorrow so doleful to him there shall never never never more arise or shine any day upon him Never so many aking hearts never so many pale faces seen together since the World began Then shall the stout hearted be spoiled and he that knew not how to brook the feâ—r of the Almighty here on earth his spirits shall then fail him apace his heart shall thenceforth meditate terrour and his own tongue confess his punishment is now become greater than he knows either how to avoid or how possibly to bear This great day is to the pious young man the Memorial of all Memorials a cogent and constraining argument to bring him into Gods Vineyard As the Apostle calls it the terrour of the Lord and he is willing it should perswade him He goes up to his Watch-tower he concludes with himself what ever lies neglected this day must be timely provided for and he prepareth unfainedly as he is able for it 1. He first spreadeth his hands toward heaven and draweth with much humility toward God Having been so exceeding sinful hitherto he is loth to be false or further dilingenuous now He freely confesses guilty And what could easily enough be proved against him if he should go about to deny it he filially acknowledgeth passing sentence upon himself as one whom God for his manifold and hainous sins most righteously might condemn Yet still hoping the Lord will give him the benefit of his reading and the blessed favour of that sweet Scripture He that judgeth himself shall not be judged of the Lord. 2. He then beforehand entreats the Judge himself for the Lord in his stupendious mercy allows it to become his Advocate He dares not indeed trust his Case in any meaner hands He now putteth the very hopes of his life in his Saviours righteousness saying That and that alone is the righteousness that can answer for him in times to come 3. He lastly resolves to set the straightest steps to take the greatest heed to his whole Conversation doing those things
only now which may be fairly responsible and abound to his good account then And so he waits till the Lord shall please to call for him In this posture he watches day and night left the spirit of slumber which is faln upon these last daies should at any time overtake him And wishes that all men had also the ear of the Learned to hear as the Father of old the voice of the last Trumpet sounding continually from heaven unto them He sadly sees indeed what is doing or rather every where misdoing in the World Some contending too unkindly too unnaturally too unbecoming Christians each with other as if Christ were now divided and Religion contrary to its own sweet nature setting up a fiery standard and the Professors of it to the amazement of all beholders transported into a spirit of inhumane fury every man against his Neighbour Which makes him cry out with the Poet Oh Friends is it possible that heavenly minds should harbour such earthly passions He sees others panting as eagerly after the very dust of the earth to the apparent hazard of what is infinitely more worth Heaven and Everlasting happiness So that the very Child might too justly upbraid them in the words of the Philosopher See see how they grasp after Earth to the loss the utter loss of Heaven it self He sees in conclusion almost all men too near the words of the Psalmist Walking in a vain shaddow But he for his part thinks himself highly calleâ— of God to another temper of heart a far better course of life And therefore pitcheth upon this one request as that which of all other most concerns him Oh let me be found of thee my Lord at that day in peace 11. He is onee that aims to make his every-day Conversation a just Copy and Pattern of his whole life He considers how â—itly the day resembles life seeming indeed but an Epitomy 〈◊〉 Abridgement and lesser Map of it And therefore he awakes in the Morning with the chearful remembrance of God He delights also to rise as early â— that he might gain some fresh persumed and previous thoughts before oâ— her affairs crowd in upon him â— accounting it very unbecoming and the open Symptom of an ignoble hopeless disposition To fold the arms to any longer sleep when God brings in so fair so bright a Lamp as the rayes of the Sun for us to rise by He enters the day with Prayer and Reading seeking to interest the Lord and take fresh counsel from his Word for all the following occasions of the day He goes forth from chance to his Calling endeavouring painfully and patiently to undergo the service and evils of the day with an unbroken mind He sets down in the Evening and Pythagoras-like makes up the accounts of the day now past He commends his Soul to God at night as one ready to take his leave of the World to whom it would be no surprize though his bidding good night should be his parting with his Friends indeed his undressing his putting off all things here his Bed his Grave his sleep a sleeping with his Fathers till the sweet Morning of the Resurrection when he might awake satisfied in Gods likeness and see the Sun of righteousness shining upon him indeed Thus with the Rose he lifts up his face toward the Sun in the Morning perfumes the ambient air with a fragrant odour all the day And still with the Rose vails up his head at night with a fresh dew from heaven resting and lodging upon him So sweet a life so dayly a death oh how familiar how welcome and easie would they make death it self as a friend of long acquaintance and before-hand provided for when ever iâ— comes indeed 13. Lastly and more comprehensively He is one whose growth is an intire growth of the minâ— within as well as of the body without In Vertue as well as in Stature It is his dayly care and prayer that he may grow in wisdom and savour with God and Man He esteems it the beauty of his Youth to be truly respectful to the Aged Nature presented it as â— matter of high concern to the blind Heathens and the Lord himself hatâ— more expresly required it at our hands Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man and fear thy God I am the Lord. God scarce takes himself to be duly feared where this is neglected He is one who foresees his Parents shortly giving up their places and leaving him as the branch of their hope to succeed therein He takes it to be his just debt both to them and to himself to be what his Name in the holy Language well suggesteth to him The wise builder up of the Family when they are gone The strength the stay and ornament of it that it may live and become a Famimily of some praise and honour amongst the thousands of Israel He is one that takes care to naturalize himself betimes to vertuous habits of diligence and goodness watching and declining the very occasions and first entertainments of Vice Left Nature should be wooed and too easily carried away by such had Suiters and evil courses like the Sons of Zervia in a little process of time become too hard for him He is one that walketh chearfully in his station is merry and sinneth not pleasant but not frothy Serious but not melancholy One that by sweetness of nature and disposition one that by meekness of carriage and conversation renders himself lovely to all His Parents shall look upon him with comfort and say My Child my heart rejoyceth even mine because thou hast chosen the waies of Wisdom His Neighbours shall enquire after him and propounding him as an example to their own Families shall even bless the breasts which gave him suck and account that Parent happy who hath such Arrows in his Quiver he may speak with his adversary in the gate And now such oh such for Piety and Vertue are you desired to be Whom all that know you may esteem and Sirname according to that old yet honourable phrase The love and delight of mankind CHAP. VIII The Necessity and great Advantagiousness of true Grace in any Condition whatsoever PUt the Case as impartially as you can yet nearer your selves and see what great what real advantages the grace of God might yield unto you in whatever capacity or condition God shall set you First If you be born of mean Parents and poor The meanness of your condition will plainly need and the grace of God will readily yield you much refreshment The Ancients have long ago justly concluded whatever verdict men may piss There is no man properly poor dishonourably poor but he that is pior in Grace and Knowledge You have it may be no house on Earth You have the more need of a Mansion in Heaven Scarce so much as Cloaths for
your tender body the more necessity of Garments of salvation for your soul. Few Friends and no Inheritance that you are ever like to possess on Earth Oh! what cause have you to entreat the Lord to be your God and to give you an inheritance amongst his Saints in light Little or no Education here for accomplishing or polishing of nature How great an Enoblement would it now be unto you to be made partakers of that Spirit and Grace of God which makes the righteous more excellent than his Neighbour Such grace will be truly more to you than all riches It will preserve you from contempt for who dares despise him whose goings are with God It will make you welcome to all good men for the grace of your lips every man shall be a friend unto you It will procure you an â—rgh testimonial of honour from the Lord. I know thy poverty but thou art rich It will truly prefer you before those who upon all other accounts are far your Superiours The odds indeed is great but the decision and determination of the case God hath for your encouragement made it very clear Better is a poor and wise Child than an old and foolish King who will be no more admonished In a word it will cause your faces to shine it will fill your hearts with comfort it will be the forerunner of endless glory You may here modestly smile and tell any man as once Antisthenes answered Socrates when Socrates asked him What makes thee oh Antisthenes so chearful when it is known thou hast so little He candidly replies Because I plainly see true riches and poverty lodge not in our houses and coffers but in our souls and minds There he enjoyed inwardly what men had thought he wanted outwardly The destruction of the poor Solomon tells us is their poverty And so indeed too commonly it proves But it needs not be so with you See dear Children oh see what a sweet relief you might have to your mean Condition Accept it I pray you and seek it carefully that in the day of your accounts it may be said to your honour This is that poor child that in much poverty and affliction received the Gospel Let him now enter into the joy of his Lord. Secondly Hath the Lord by your Friends provided for you a larger measure in the good things of this life You had need now take all care that your mind for its part be as rich as your Estate You are like to inherit Israels blessing Houses that you buildeâ— not and Vineyards that you planted not You cannot now refuse Israels duty Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth You can do no less in thankfulness to him from whom you have received all You can do no less in the sense of your own accounts whose reckoning will be not like the poor mans for one Talent but for ten Where much is given it is but righteous and we must not take it ill if much be required Riches without Grace Estate without Wisdom alas what are theyâ— As the Indians Gold which they know not what use or improvement to make of it You might say as he Here is the â—re and here is the wood but where is â—he Sacrifice for the Lord An house â—ull of these as the Oratour wittily â—aid will never make a rich man It is the prefixing of the Figure â—hat makes the following Ciphers significant It is the stamp upon the Silver that makes it current Coin And we may more truly say It is the grace of God that is the figure of account it is the Image of God that is this â—oyal stamp whereby our enjoyments become so valuable and blessings unâ—o us Without this they will be but as â—ewel to our lusts and as the glass of seeming honey wherein the wasp dies To the ungracious his Estate is a curse his enjoyments a snare like Dives his barns where their Master â—he and his heart too lodge day and night A price is put into his hand and he hath no heart to make use thereof No understanding to dispose and order it to the praise of God It is Grace when all is done that is as salt and keeps these things from putrifying Oh! for your very estates sake be ye gracious And while the Lord in much goodness thus brings and leaves them with you Say you as Manoah once did Oh! let my Lord come again and shew me how I shal order them and make friends for my souâ— out of the Mammon of this world Thirdly Hath the Lord given you comeliness of person Should you now harbour a profane ungodly heart under that fair and amiable complexion it were as rotten bones under a fair Tomb or as the Apples of Sodom beautiful and fresh afar off but nothing save dust and smoâ—k nearer hand too like Apelles his rare Picture of Cherries so curiously drawn that Historians tell us the Birds came flying to it but returned empty they quickly found it was no Cherries but a sorry painted cloath And such will your beauty be if it be but an outward one whose verdure be we never so loath must soon decay All flesh is grass and the goodliness thereof be it never so lovely as the flower of the field which may blow pleasantly with the morning but must as certainly to its funeral and with the Evening hang down its head and die The Lord make you comely with a truer and more lasting comliness the beauties of holiness which abide for ever We read of one Alcibiades Socrates his Schollar that he was the beauty of all Athens another Absalom for comliness of person outwardly but the reproach of mankind another Nero for all viciousness and odiousness of nature inwardly Oh! take heed a second Alcibiades be found in none of you Play not the hypocrite if thy body which is but the Cabinet be so richly enamelled so curiously wrought by the hand of the Lord Oh! beg of God that thy soul the jewel within may be somewhat sutable adorned with the blessed graces of his spirit Fourthly Is thy body as course clay walls but plain and homely to look upon Yet be not discouraged It is no dishonour to be as the Tents of Kedar outwardly so thou beest as the Curtains of Solomon inwardly Caesars Garland of Laurel was enough to compensate the blemish of his baldness Crates his learning rendred him dear and honourable to all notwithstanding the crookedness oâ— his back And you may reckon beyond them both and say The ornaments of grace it is they that are â— greatest price in the sight of God And these may lodge as the Pearl in a for ry shell A withered arm a lame leg a pooâ— crooked body no form no comliness that thou shouldst be desired Whaâ— then Hath God given thee a wise and understanding mind to know him A faithful and willing heart to wal uprightly before
are willing as others also â—re to be of it and so they conclude without further troubling themselves that all will be well I write not this to upbraid any but may and must freely say thus much to all The truest Religion falsely taken up will be but as the Arke to the Philistims it may encrease our torments but will never save our souls If we shall climb up to Religion some other way and not by the true door if we shall crowd into profession without a wedding garment the time is coming we shall be found out and our own conscience which have thus lied to the Holy Ghost shall even fail within us and leave us speechless at the Bar of God as those that have not the least excuse for themselves There is a time Dear Youths your own consciences cannot but tell you so wherein Religion must be first embraced on Earth if ever you desire glory or happiness in Heaven Now he that begins amiss is like to make but very bad work ever after Things once mislearned are exceeding hardly unlearnt And truly where one takes up the profession of the Name of God sincerely and upon Gospel terms it may be feared there are too many who receive it unworthily and to their own condemnation Some lose their souls while they seek with the blinded Iews to establish their own righteousness Other hearing Religion much commended and seeing somewhat of amiableness and beauty in it they hastily catch up some flashy heady ceremonial or remote opinion as best pleaseth them and think they have enough and so never regard to know what sound conversion and true communion with God meaneth all their daies Others again and herein I am more particularly speaking to your caso the Lord grant you may truly lay it to heart others I say as Children and Servants to satisfie the desires and counsel of their religious Parents and Friends yield and do those things outwardly which they bear no true affection unto inwardly Oh wretched hypocrisie at the same time seemingly to stand in some fear of Man but none of God Well whosoever can deceive men no man can mock the Lord. His eyes are eyes of fire and all men shall know that he searcheth the heart and trieth the reins Where Spiritual things are Carnally undertaken the evils that too necessarily ensue thereupon are exceeding many The fruit of the whole undertaking is inevitably lost The Duty that seems offered is not at all discharged The Comforts the dear comforts of Godliness are all lockt up as mercies peculiarly reserved for sincere and better hearts The Profession that is thus made will quickly decay and die in disgrace The heart can never hold out long in that which is but personated and so little delighted in Only the evil and guilt of the miscarriage that will still remain and must be elsewhere answered for So little shall any maâ— gain that goes to build upon the sands The further he goes the more he wanders and will sadly find at last He that begins not duly with Christ as the Author can scarce expect to find him in the end the Finisher or â—â—owner of his faith Yet notwithstanding all this what just cause of sorrow may it be to all sober hearts to consider What harâ— and unkind usage what disingenuous and careless handling that sacred thinâ— Religion in most Ages meets withal from the hands of a froward carnaâ— World Well take you this Item with you all your daies whatever you do in the matters of Religion do it heartily reverently Gospelly and humbly as in the sight of God the all-seeing the jealous God Where God sees he cannot be cordially believed or feared take outward shews who will they are of little value in the account of God These saies the Father are but worthless leaves we must still demand and call for real Fruits If the Lord asks or accepts any thing it must justly be the best we have Give me thine heart my Son Now the Lord himself direct you and give you a right entrance into his right waies with that kindliness of Repentance that truth of Faith that soundness of Conversation that you may not run in vain losing the things you seem to have wrought but may in the end happily obtain the crown of life Happy is that man that can truly say the Foundation stone is thus laid the Top stone shall also in Gods good time be as certainly vouchsafed with those gladsome shoutings to the God of such great and unexpected mercies Grace Grace Seventhly Take heed yet once more in the last place if God hath enkindled any heavenly affections in you now that you lose not your first love afterward The kindness of your youth it is dear it is lovely in the sight of God Christ looked upon the young man in the Gospel and loved him God sees and takes it well that it is in your hearts while you are young to enquire after him These first ripe grapes I might reverently say as in the Prophet they are the fruits that his righteous soul desireth Oh! let not your present convictions your present willingness your present delight in the good Word of God in the sweet Sabbaths of God in the dear people of God Oh! let not all this verdant hopefulness of your youth vanish as a morning cloud or like the early dew I give you this particular warning because miscarriages are so sadly frequent in all Ages of this nature And because I further know Satan will come to winnow you With this temptation if you live you may assure your selves he will assault you with it I have been too forward too zealous too careful for Religion while I was young I will even spare my self now Thus are the first daies of many Professors sadly clouded with lukewarmness formality wordly policy and earthly mindedness ere they die But I hope you will not dare so to do True motion is alwaies most intense the nearer it comes unto its Center And if you be truly aiming for Heaven you will dayly renew your strength and be loth to slacken your pace when it groweth nearest night Relapses in nature Physitians tell us are very sore Relapses in Profession are still far sorer How oh how shall such be ever renewed again unto repentance Dear Youths your thoughts are yet green your years hitherto but little experienced You have scarce yet known how bitter and evil a thing it is to forsake the fountain of living waters and God grant you never may But are you willing to believe what God shall testifie in this matter Then may you soon understand the Backslider though but in heart shall quickly have gall and wormwood enough in his Cup He shall be filled saies the Lord with his own waies Or are you further desirous to hear what Experience hath also to testifie in this weighty case Then may the horrour of Iudas the despairing groans of Spira become your warning They
wretchedly departed from the Profession they had sometimes made in their former yeares and poor men never joyed good hour after I cannot but even beseech you in the Language of the Ancients Oh! spare for Gods sake spare your sweet Youth take some pity upon it and give not that lovely flesh of yours for food to everlasting burnings Gods Children should be as those Hebrew Servants staying with him for the love they bear unto him He hath the words of Eternal life and whether else can they find in their hearts to go If any man draw back this is the sad message must be sent after him the Lord shall have no pleasure in him Men shall also scorn him and say this is salt which hath lost its savour tread it henceforth under foot Ah poor man it had been better for him a sad Better God knows but it had been better for him saied the Apostle never to have know the way of righteousness than after he hath known it to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto him Be you then as Iosiah gracious in your Youth but be ye also even to Gray-hairs as aged Israel waiting for the salvation of God when you come to dye CHAP. X. The Objections that usually ensnare and detain young people answered I Have now counselled you but shall I say I have also perswaded you It is likely you have your discouragements I know you cannot be without some recoylings of nature Trifles and vanities will hang it may be about your mind as being loth to be now shaken off An holy man found it so which made him complain as we also too truly may My former customes though worse were plainly too strong and trod down things far better because they had been as yet but little used The most righteous waies of God they are indeed blessed they are safe they are honourable but still they are scarce pleasing to flesh and blood Our wretched hearts are too like distempered stomacks that are easily distasted and find no relish in the most wholsome food I am sensible also how busie Satan stands at your right hand ready to resist you continually incensing and prejudicing your thoughts all that ever he can against your own mercies He that makes it his wicked trade to pervert the right waies of God will be forward enough to tell you as once he did Eve You may eat of the forbidden fruit and yet not die You may forbear this serious care and yet speed well at last But oh believe him not his Crocodile flatteries have undone thousands at his feet He that was a liar and a murderer from the beginning will scarce be either true or kind to you He may seem now a smooth and pleasing Tempter but he will soon become as open and forward an Accuser Those very sins he now enticeth to when time shall serve in the presence of God of Angels and of Men will he be ready with all their aggravations to charge you with As you love your souls resist him and account it an essential Principle in true Religion to give a constant Nay to all his temptations Let Men and Devils say what they will sin is sin still An evil saies the very Heathen that must not be pleaded for that cannot be excused An unexcusable breach of a righteous Law the utmost endangering of a precious and immortal soul a wretched and ungrateful flying in the face of a most tender and loving Father This is that Rabshekah that blasphemes the God of Heaven that Achan that troubles the whole Creation this oh this is that Accursed thing that brings evil upon our selves that Needle that too surely draws a thread of divine vengeance after it Let Men and Devils say what they will there must be sowing to the Spirit here if we expect to reap a blessed harvest hereafter Nature tells us so Experience tells us so all the World knows it is so No running the Race now saies the Father and there can be no Crown in the end No fighting the good fight in the Valley and there can be no triumph of victory or honour upon the Everlasting Hills There must be striving to the utmost if we desire to enter in at the straight Gate The Kingdom of Heaven should even suffer violence and the violent are to take it by an holy force Up then in the name of God and be a doing let nothing hinder you Consider call your thoughts to a solemn and impartial debate lay your case in the ballances of the Sanctuary See oh see how Eternity lies at stake your Candle is shortly going out tomorrow it may be will not serve for that which may be done to day You have had your time of Childhood wherein according to the infant feebleness of your minds You spake as Children you understood as Children you thought as Children but now it is time it is high time to out-grow those daies of Vanity What the Lord in much mercy winckt at then would very ill become you now As you become men it will be expected and it will be your honour to put away Childish things These Years and this Age call upon you to converse with more serious things the things that belong to your souls everlasting peace First Say not any of you within your selves in way of objection I am too young for those things He that is old enough to sin cannot think himself too young to repent Doth God say To day while it is called to day and darest thou speak of to Morrow Thou wouldst not adventure to answer thy Natural Parents with such delaies how can God take them well at thine hands Let the pious expostulation of the Father with his soul be rather the language of thine heart also within thee How long oh my Soul how long must this be all thy note to Morrow to Morrow And why not now Why not this very hour a period to all thy former filthiness For how indeed canst thou content thy selfe to venture so much as a day longer in thy present condition without the pardon of sin without the favour of God without any solid provisions for another world The hazard is verily great that thou arâ— running Oh! consider seriously what thou dost If thy soul and the saving of it be unto thee as certainly it is more than all the world besides take thy best time for thy best work Arise as Abraham while it is yet early in the morning of thy life and go about it Fear not it shall be no injury to thy following life that thou hast acquainted thy self with God that thou hast imbraced his good waies while thou art young The Sun in the Spring when it ariseth soonest all men observe the daies are then far the sweetest far the chearliest Secondly Say not Such a strict religious care I see but few of my equalls that undertake it It hath been indeed the sad
let iâ— no wanâ— its due pâ—ofessors Fifâ—hly Say not Alas I know nâ—â— what to do far wiser than I the pâ—udâ—m the ancient are at great câ—ntâ—oversie aboâ—â— Religion who can tell where to pitch It is true it is too sadly true There are many pious men that may and doubtless have much sweet communion with the Lord who yet through the straightness and frowardness of their own hearts will have but little each with other Thus men wrangle themselves into a life too joyless to themselves too dishonourable to the Lord. Cadmus Teeth of strife seem every where sown and coming up very thick We might justly renew Erasmus his sad complaint of the former Age Contention lives while love and sweetness dies Tenets of faith are usually multiplied while sincerity goes as palpably down the wind Such is our wound oh that God would drop into it the balsom of love oh that he would bind it up and become our healer But because men can or rather will agree no better refer thy self and thy thoughtful heart to God and his Word Give credence in the strength of his grace to what he is there pleased to express or promise to thee Depend upon him according to all that he hath there allowed thee And compose thy self to be intirely at his command Aiming that whenever thou comest to die thou mayest resign thy self to God with these few words unfainedly breathed forth I have in my weak measure kept the word of thy patience on earth And now oh Lord be thou pleased to remember thy Servant according to this word of thine wherein thou hast caused me and I upon thy invitation have taken boldness for to hope Religion however pulled several waies is of it self a quiet and striseless thing Holy indeed but harmless Divine but still shining forth in much plainess and simplicity And be you as near as you can of that Religion which gives Glory to God on high on earth peace and good will toward men Oh! that the Lord would hasten such sweet times of refreshment from his own presence amongst us In the mean season if you see somewhat of inferiour diversity in gracious hearts a peculiar feature as it were upon several faces who have yet somewhat of true life and beauty shining in each be not too much amazed Remember Solymans great delight at the variety of flowers in his Garden professing himself highly pleased in this Though they were various they were still sweet and comely flowers Or rather call to remembrance the Fathers pious and ingenious Allusion Iosephs Coat may be of several colours so it be without a rent If you also see uncomely contentions even unto Paroxysm's and the utmost bitterness as once between the Apostles themselves it sadly was step in and tell them they are brethren desire them to be kinder to each other The Master is at hand If you shall lastly see and hear great controversies and little agreement yet know there is a true and plain way that leadeth unto life The way fating upon though a fool needs not erre therein Go 〈◊〉 to God and he will shew thee 〈◊〉 â—â—w and living way which conducteth unto himself There are many oh that they were not so many that quarrel themselves carnally to Hell be thou cordial with God laborious in the profession of his name so shall hearty Faith and unfained obedience become thy safe and honourable convoy unto Heaven Whoever quarrel in other things no man shall blame thee no man shall charge thee with folly for these Sixthly Say not lastly I have a greater discouragement yet behind then I almost dare make known some of my Friends are not so willing to have me mind such things or meddle much with Religion It is a sore temptation where the Complaint is true What shall that poor Child do whom God hath spoken to as once to the children of Israel in the Land of Egypt and his very heart even melts within him opening it self day and night as Daniels window toward Ierusalem and yet all the countenance he hath from the Family is like that churlish speech of Pharaoh He is idle he is idle encrease his burden and let him not go to â—erve the Lord This is indeed the â—rial of all trials wherever it falls A 〈◊〉 straight which needs tears rather â—han words Oh that none would lay this stone â—f stumbling before young people â—est it unhappily revives that undesired â—â—gh used by some in the Primitive 〈◊〉 Our Parents are become unto us 〈◊〉 the Ostrich in the wilderness and almost the murderers of our souls It 〈◊〉 hard for any to be an hindrance â—here they ought rather to be a furâ—erance To be found a real offence 〈◊〉 discouragement to the least of Christs little ones Here have we cause to renew the â—mentation in the Prophet and say â—he children are once more come to the â—â—rth and there wants strength to bring 〈◊〉 Here will be need of much wisâ—ome and choiceness of spirit more â—â—an such tender years commonly atâ—â—in unâ—o to cut the tread aright so 〈◊〉 obey the Lord as to shew the utâ—ost tenderness of disobeying or disâ—â—easing Friends and yet so to fulâ—â—ll our respect to them as not to forget we still owe as the Father well states it a far greater unto God The Lord himself put the everlasting arms underneath and bear up those discouraged children whose hard lot this is till he hath brought them with joy to his own bosome But this case blessed be God is rare the case of very few and I hope none of yours Be you modest I charge you Cast not the blame upon others to excuse your selves God easily sees through such pretences and understands right well where the fault still chiefly lies You know not the heart of a Parent It is natural to them though evil and too regardless of themselves to desire the welfare of their Children Your Parents have been often instilling good things have been previously laying in ponderous memorials upon your tender minds They have with much câ—re brought you up to reading They have procured you that treasure of all treasures the Bible they have recommended it to you as your Saviours Legacy where you may find the words of eternal life your safest guide your best Friend when they are gone So that you may justly confess as St. Austine concerning his Mother Monica with how great solicitousness of heart they have often admonished you in the Lord. Whose Counsels you ought to receive as Iunius the instructions of his Father Scarce ever without tears So greatly might the weight of the Argument so greatly might the authority of the Speaker affect and move you And must it now be objected or dare you now say your Friends are unwilling with your souls good It is likely they would not have you pretend Religion to be stubborn against them It is very likely they would not have
your evil waies for why why indeed will ye die oh house of Israel Such are the Fathers bowels toward us too too regardless of our selves What answer as the Father piously said can ever be solidly made if such bowels of love such dear such free salvation as this should be ungratefully slighted Oh let your hearts even melt and your very souls be dissolved within you If the Lord be willing be not you unwilling neither let these tender arms of mercy be spread forth all the day long in vain Behold the Lord Jesus Christ at the Fathers right hand making continual intercession and the poor of the flock are his care the weary and broken in spirit the Objects of his pity It is their names he bears on his breast-plate and commends with such endearing arguments unto the Father Suppose your selves hearing him calling to you and arguing with your trembling thoughtful hearts on this wise Wherefore thinkest thou poor soul was I numbred amongst the transgressors and made a man of sorrows Wherefore was my Side pierced with the Spear my Head with Thorns and my dearest Bloud poured forth What dost thou conceive should move me to take upon me Humane Nature and become so near akin unto thee if it had not been to perform the office of a Kinsman and take the right of thy Redemtion upon me What could have perswaded me to sustain the bitter the accursed death of the Cross if it had not been to save such as thou art from thy sins Hast thou no need of my Righteousness What shall I do for thee What dost thou want What is it thy thirsty affections most pant after for thy souls good Speak freely and forbear not I am now ascended to my Fathers right hand and able to relieve thee Where are thy Prayers and I my Self will present them to my Father as from me perfumed with the sweet incense of my righteousness and he will shew favour unto thee Oh blessed encouragement here is the Golden Scepter held sorth indeeâ— What answer wilt thou now return to all this such overflowing love of so dear a Saviour Sit down with thy self poor Heart Advise by meditation what to aske and then send forth Faith and Prayer as the trusty and successful Messengers to fetch in supply Go thy waies take thy life in thy hands as once Hester did present thy Petition and say as she still did If I have found favour in thine eyes oh Lord let my life the life of my soul be given me at my request Do thou cry and he will hear He will graciously wash thy leprous soul in his own bloud and send his blessed Spirit as the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel to prepare and bring thee safely to glory Behold also the holy Angels of God waiting ready to rejoyce in your even in your Conversion There is not the meanest the poorest of you but your Repentance might become an occasion of much joy in Heaven It is a fresh feast to those noble Creatures to see the least encrease of the Kingdom of God To see though but one single sheep added to the flock of Christ. So precious is Grace so dearly is the recovery of a lost soul esteemed on high I might further tell you the damned themselves even groan unto you saying as in the Parable Oh! take warning by us and come not into this place of torments There is not one no throughout the whole Creation there is not so much as one that can heartily say unto you Go on in evil waies and prosper I charge you before the elect Angels and as you tender their comfort I charge you by the flaming pâ—ins and cries of the damned and as you would be loath to share with them iâ— all their Mâ—series take heed take serious heed to the saving of your souls All the divine threatnings of God stand naked and open before you as the hand-writing upon the wall that stand not there for nought They sound as so many shrill Trumpets from Mount Ebal and they also charge you to break off your sins by repentance Or else as sure as God is in Heaven iniquity will one day become your ruine All the sweet Promises are lastly appointed to attend your encouragement and furtherance in your Salvation They are sent forth in Gods name to invite you to his blessed kingdom and to assure you from him whatever pains you faithfully take heavenward your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. These are the Christians choice Feast and Banquet the Promises that you so joyfully should study that speak so comfortablie and withall as truly to the wearie soul. God himself hath made them and he will fulfil them It is the Concern of his glorie to make good the word that is gone out of his lips his faithfulness lies at stake therein Whosoever cometh unto him thus filiallie quoting and relying upon hiâ— Fathers word he will in no wise cast him out Come you and welcome Your work is good your wages will be great your fellow Servants the Excellent of the Earth your Master you are to go unto the lovingest the â—blest the Faithfullest the justest the kâ—ndest that ever was served Whaâ— can you possibly scruple Or where can you mend your selves Speak your hearts and spare not What danger think you can come of being safely reconciled unto the Lord What hinderance shall this be to any to be made an Heir of the Crown of life What wrong to others to save our selves What discredit to become a Child of the most High What Embasement of spirit to be renewed in our minds to the blessed Image of God Or what sadness can this ever occasion to be intituled to everlasting joyes We must even blush and holily fall out with our selves in the language of the Father saying as he Whence oh my soul whence is this horrid this strange and unreasonable thing that thou wilt be under no Command accept of no mercy heavenward Men may revile and our own wretched hearts may suspect the holy Counsels of God but the waies of the Lord are right and happy is that man that chooseth to walk therein He shall be able to lift up his face with Comfort not ashamed of his God nor disappointed of his hope â—hen the greatest pâ—rt of the World â—n the very depths of all distress and horrour shall call but alas in vâ—in 〈◊〉 Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them Awake then I beseech you for the Lords sâ—ke while it is yet the morning of your life the flower of your yeâ—rs Let your life be what indeed â—ll our lives ought to be a living Epistle a fair exemplification of the Gospel thâ—t men may see in you what in Primitive times the very Heathen saw so legible in Christians then The true portraiture of your Saviours life the just account of his Doctrine in the answerableness of your deportment and conversation Awake and arise
shâ—ke your selves frâ—m the dust and vanities of Youth Bring a blessing with you into your Generation the Woâ—ld in these lâ—st declining Times greatly needs it Carry a blessing hence with you when ere you die your selves shall reap the sweet and everlasting comfort of it Your work is great your day is shâ—â—t the Master imporâ—â—â—te and your promise is alreadie passed To recoile now were as the Father well said to keep back part of the price and even to lie to the Holy Ghost To make our selves guiltie of the greatest perjury before the Lord. Oh â— hasten and put on the garments of your Elder Brother Gird up the loyns of your mind and run your Race Hasten and linger not lest night overtake you and you sit for ever mourning under the region and shadow of death See that ye covet earnestlie the best things Set your hearts unmoveablie upon heaven and â—ll the glorie of it Say humblie to the Lord as Luther You neither can nor dare take these soâ—â—y earthly things for your portion Strive as Ionathan to climbe up the Rock Love and Fear the Lord. Honour and obey your Parents Be careful and redeem your own time Design as becomes youâ— an ingenuous â—ife on Earth Design above all a gloâ—ious life in heâ—ven and God your God shall be with you I might now leave your Parents â—nd neâ—râ—â—t Friends to pleâ—d this righteous câ—use of the Lord yet further with you You cannot be strangers to all their affectionate and dayly prayers on your behalf their ardent and even restless desires of your welfare You are to them their dear Ascanius's on whom their hearts so much are set in whom as Iacob in Benjamin their life is almost bound up and their Parental cares night and day longing and waiting scarce desirous of any greater joy than this To see their Children walking wisely in the truth as we have all received a Commandment from the Father Me thinks both I and you cannot but hear them speâ—king to you in the very language of their hearts as once Cicero so Father-like to his Son Know my Child thou art already exceeding dear unto me but shalt yet become far dearer if thou shalt hearken to wise Counsel and thine own welfare What words can I further use I charge you by all the sparks of filial good nature that are yet alive in any of your bosoms oh quench not these affections Oh! frustrate not these so righteous expectations of your indulgent Parents Let me oh let me perswade you and rely upon you that you will not be wanting to your selves whatever in you lieth to greaten their dearest love and affection toward you In which hopes I take my leave and part at present with you Oh! let me rejoyce in the day of Christ that this Letter hath not been in vain unto you Let no man â—â—spise your Youth though young in years be ye as the Iews were wont proverbially to say as the Aged in all gravity and wisdom of carriage Fare ye well The Lord himself make you branches of righteousness bringing forth every one of you fruits unto holiness that God the Lord may be glorified Amen Amen My Son be wise and make my heart glad that I may answer him that râ—proacheâ—h me Pro. 27.11 FINIS THE Young Mans MEDITATION OR Some few Sacred POEMS UPON Select Subjects and Scriptures By Samuel Crossman B.D. Noâ— modo divina contemplantur sed Cantica Hymnos ad Deum Sacratioribus omnis generis melâ—orum carminum rhythmis gâ—aâ—iter conâ—â—runâ—t Philo de Religios in Aegypt apud Eusâ—b A Verse may find hâ—m whom a Sermon flâ—es And turn delâ—ght into a Sacrifice Mr. Herberts Temple Loâ—don Prâ—nted by I. H. and are to be sold by S. Tâ—ompson at the Bishops head in St. Pauls Church-yard and T. Parkhurst at the three Crowâ—s at the lower end of Cheapside near the Conduit 1664. The Gift If thou knowest the gift of God c. Joh. 4.10 1. THis is the Gift thy Gift oh Lord The token of thy dearest love The orient jewel of thy word Sent down my thankfulness to prove 2. Great is his gift in all mens eyes Who gives himself his Friend to save My Lord does more for Foes he dies This Gift no parallel may have 3. Great is the Gift the Giver great Both justly to a wonder rise Thou giv'st thy Lamb to thine for meat And for their Sins a Sacrifice 4. But Lord whil'st thou thus giv'st to thine Others arose to vie with thee The World and Satan did combine And they would needs a giving be 5. Satan sins pleasures offered And almost forc'd them upon me But while they bloom'd they withered And Lord thy Gift my choice shall be 6. Then did the World its gayes present And still alluring cri'd see see Here 's that may rather give content But Lord thy Gift my choice shall be 7. These cannot give they 'd sâ—eal away From me my Heâ—v'n my heart from thee What e'r they offer I 'll say nay Still Lord thy Gift my choice shall be All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field The grass withereth the flower sâ—deth but the Word of our God shall stand for ever Isa. 40.6 8. 1. VVElcom sweet words is 't is most meet We will you in our bosomes hide Sweet words for present but most sweet Because for ever you abide 2. All flesh is as the fading grass The voice from Heav'n to Earth thus cri'd The whole Worlds glory away doth pass But Lord thy words they still abide 3. Man speaks but all his words are wind They ebb and flow with time and tide Fit Emblems of his fickle mind But Lord thy words they still abide 4. Our selves sometimes stand promising Great things while we by thee are tri'd Our blossoms fall no fruit they bring But Lord thy words they still abide 5. Bless'd words Dear Lord no words like thine In darkness light through them is spi'd Till death and after death they shine Then Lord even then thy words abide 6. These words the Lamb's sweet writings be Of love and dowry to his Bride Here may his Saints their portions see Portions which ever shall abide 7. Welcome sweet words sweet words indeed Heaven's Agent here to Heav'n our Guide What e'r is needless these we need Lord let these words with us abide Upon the Fifth of November The Archers have sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated him But his Bow abode in strength Gen. 49.23 24. 1. THe day allows thy praises Lord Our grateful hearts to thee shall sing Our thankful lips they shall record Thine ancient loves Eternal King 2. Our Land shall boast the holy One My great preserver is become My Friend my Foes hath overthrown And made the pit they digg'd their â—oome 3. With Parthian bows the Archers came Romes poisonous oyl on the Arrows shone Thy Turtle was the Archers aime
Shoot shoot saies Satan all 's our owne 4. Fond foolish Rome how dat'st oppose Whom God in his safe bosome laies Thy malice may it self disclose But frustrate still shall turn to praise 5. The Crozier staff thy Triple Crown Those ensigns of deceit and pride Thy Purple Robe thy blaz'd Renown The dust shall ever ever hide 6. Thy Merchants shall thy fall lament Thy Lovers all in sackcloath mourn While Heav'n and Earth in one consent Shall sing Amen let Babylon burn 7. Then Lord thy Spouse whose dropping eyes Whose sighs whose sufferings prove her thine Shall from her pensive sorrows rise And as the Lamb 's fair Bride shall shine 8. Sweet day sweet day when shall it be Why staies my Lord Dear Saviour come Thy mourning Spouse cries after thee Stay with me here or take me home He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Isa. 53.5 1. THus died the Prince of life thus he That could not die even died for me My thoughtful heart Lord shall arise And ponder these deep mysteries 2. What means his death who knew no sin Or what my life who live therein Mine was the debt and death my due Though thou wast pleas'd thy Son to sue 3. Thou Lord I wast pleas'd on him to lay The debt and he the price to pay Thy Gospell feasts though sweet to me Are th' Emblems of his Agony 4. And oh how great his sufferings were Who th' wrath of God and man did bear The Father then forsakes the Son And Creatures 'gainst their Maker run 5. Iudas betraies Disciples flee Whil'st Jews and Romans crucifie Hereat the Sun furls up his light And cloaths the Earth in sable night 6. The joyless Stars even seem'd to say Israel had quench'd the Lamp of day The stubbourn Mountains they lament The Rocks they are asunder rent 7. The Graves their sealed doors unclose The Dead awakened also rose Th' amaz'd Centurion mourning cries Oh! 't is the Son of God that dies 8. Thus these all labour to consels Thy Deity thy righteousness Enough dear Lord these offer me Supports for th' utmost faith in thee God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Iesus Christ Gal. 6.14 1. MY Song is love unknown My Saviours love to me Love to the loveless shown That they might lovely be Oh who am I That for my sake My Lord should take Frail flesh and die 2. He came from his bless'd Throne Salvation to bestow But men made strange and none The long'd-for Christ would know But oh my Friend My Friend indeed Who at my need His life did spend 3. Sometimes they strow his way And his sweet praises sing Resounding all the day Hosannah's to their King Then Crucifie Is all their breath And for his death They thirst and crie 4. Why what hath my Lord done What makes this rage and spite He made the Lame to run He gave the Blind their sight Sweet injuries Yet they at these Themselves displease And 'gainst him rise 5. They rise and needs will have My dear Lord made away A Murderer they save The Prince of life they slay Yet cheerful he To suff'ring goes That he his Foes From thence might free 6. In life no house no home My Lord on earth might have In death no friendly tombe But what a Stranger gave What may I say Heav'n was his home But mine the tombe Wherein he lay 7. Here might I stay and sing No story so divine Never was love dear King Never was grief like thine This is my Friend In whose sweet praise I all my daies Could gladly spend The Pilgrims Farewell to the World For we have here no continuing City but we seek one to come Heb. 13.14 1. FArewel poor World I must be gone Thou art no home no rest for me I 'll take my staff and travel on Till I a better World may see 2. Why art thou loth my heart oh why Do'st thus recoil within my breast Grieve not but say farewel and fly Unto the Arke my Dove there 's rest 3. I come my Lord a Pilgrims pace Weary and weak I slowly move Longing but can't yet reach the place The gladsom place of rest above 4. I come my Lord the slouds here rise These troubled Seas foam nought but mire My Dove back to my bosom Flies Farewel poor World Heav'n's my desire 5. Stay stay said Earth whither fond one Here 's a fair World what wouldst thou have Fair World oh no thy beautie 's gone An heav'nly Canaan Lord I crave 6. Thus th' ancient Travellers thus they Weary of Earth sigh'd after thee They are gone before I may not stay Till I both thee and them may see 7. Put on my Soul put on with speed Though th' way belong the end is sweet Once more poor World Farewel indeed In leaving thee my Lord I meet Christs future coming to Judgment the Christians present Meditation Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him Rev. 1.7 1. BEhold he comes comes from on high Like lightning through the flaming skie The Saint's desire the Sinner's fear Behold that solemn day draws near 2. He comes who unto Judgment shall All flesh to his Tribunal call Me thinks I see the burnish'd Throne Whereon my Saviour sits alone 3. Me thinks I see at his right hand His smiling Saints in triumph stand Me thinks I hear condemned ones Howling their never-dying groans 4. Me thinks I see even Time expire The Heav'ns and Earth on flaming fire Think not my Soul thy self to hide Thou canst not 'scape but shalt be tri'd 5. Loe here the Book whence Justice reads Sentence on Sinners sinful deeds Loe here the Mercy Psalm wherein My Judge speaks pardon to my sin 6. I tremble Lord yet must I say This is my long'd-for wedding day My Bridegroom is my Soveraign Lord My Joynture drawn in his fair Woâ—d 7. My Mansion built by him on High Where I may rest eternally Then come my Lord dear Saviour come And when thou pleasest take me home Amen Even so come Lord Iesuâ— come quickly The Resurrection Though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Job 19.26 1. MY Life 's a shade my daies Apace to death decline My Lord is life he 'l raise My dust again even mine Sweet truth to me I shall arise And with these eyes My Saviour see 2. My peaceful grave shall keep My bones till that sweet day I wake from my long sleep And leave my bed of Clay Sweet truth to me I shall arise And with these eyes My Saviour see 3. My Lord his Angels shall Their Golden Trumpets sound At whose most welcome call My grave shall be unbound Sweet truth to me c. 4. I said sometimes with tears Ah me I 'm loth to die Lord silence thou those fears My life 's with thee on high