are cast to the bottom of the waters but they must be cast upwards into Heaven into that within the Vail whither the Lord Jesus Christ the fore-runner is for us entred to prepare Mansions for us Let your hope of Heaven be strong and lively 5. Young men labour for strong Joy if your hopes be strong and well grounded you may thence have strong consolation Heb. 6. 18 That which discourageth many young men and women from putting their feet into the waies of God is the apprehensions which they have that should they engage in this way they must bid farewell to all mirth and chearfulness to all delights and pleasures and make tears and sorrows their companions which they are loth to do at least too soon whatever necessity they see there is of being religious Whereas although grief and sorrow be needful to sinners at their first engagement in the waies of God to imbitter sin and prepare them for the more ready closure with Jesus Christ and a mixture of sorrow is needful after because of the mixture of sin in their lives and the better to ballance and temper the spirit yet the Lord doth call his people to higher delights and pleasures in his waies than can be found in the waies of sin God doth not require that his people should lay aside all delights but change their sinful delights for those that are spiritual and heavenly God giveth them leave to rejoyce and he commandeth them to rejoyce not in waies of sin he forbiddeth the pleasures of sin which are but for a season not excessively in the creature though moderately and subordinately they may but they may and ought to rejoyce in himself Read what Solomon saith to young men Eccles. 11. 9. Rejâ—…yce O young man in thy youth and let thine heart cheer thee in the daies of thy youth and walk in the waies of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Young men you may rejoyce and be cheerful in your youthful daies but if your joyes be in the waies of your heart and in the sight of your eyes if your joyes be in the waies of sin in the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes if it be in satisfying the desires of your flesh and pleasing your senses unto the dishonour and displeasing of God know that God will bring you into judgement and then all your sinful sensual delights wil be turned into bitterness and terrour but you may be cheerful in the waies of God and if you are reconciled unto God through his Son and have an interest in his favour if you are renewed after his Image and have a Title to his Kingdom you have reason to rejoyce more than any wicked persons in their greatest outward prosperity Shall the slaves of Satan rejoyce and have not the children of God more grounds Shall the wicked rejoyce that are dancing upon the brink of Hell and are ready every moment to tumble into the burning lake and should not you rejoyce that are come to the borders of the heavenly Canaan and live in hopes of the glory of the New Jerusalem Rejoyce in the Lord continually Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies and again I say rejoyce And rejoyce in the Lord greatly Strong joy will be your strength it will be a means to quicken all your affections towards God and make you shine brightly in the sphere where the Lord hath placed you Thus I have shewed in what you should be strong SECT II. 2. THE second thing is to shew To what you should be strong There are four things unto which you should labour to be strong 1. To do 2. To suffer 3. To fight 4. To die 1. Young men labour for strength to do you have many things to do great things to do necessary things to do and difficult things to do I am not now speaking of the works of your particular callings which require strength of body but I am speaking of the works of your general calling as Christians which do more immediately concern Gods glory and your own salvation such as treasuring up a stock of saving truths making your peace with God getting your hearts broken for sin closing with and living by faith upon Jesus Christ getting your hearts furnished with every grace living in the powerful exercise of it denying your selves mortifying the deeds of the body laying out your selves time and talents for the glory of your Master standing daily upon your watch improving the means of grace worshipping God and seeking him diligently in publick family closet making it your business to be religious laying up your treasure in Heaven and labouring to get your heart more loosened from â—…hings below and raised and fixed upon things above â—…hese and the like things are the works which the Lord requireth of you all all other employments are of an inferiour nature These things you must do â—…ere or you will not have opportunity for them â—…ereafter These things you must do or you are unone for ever and since they are hard works to â—…esh and blood therefore you had need to get much â—…rength to enable you hereunto I do not mean â—…xternal strength but internal spiritual strength â—…eak sickly men cannot endure hard labour you must â—…e strong that you may work for the Lord that you â—…ay work for eternity 2. Young Men labour for strength to suffer I mean to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ. If you would be Christs Disciples you must take up his Cross and follow him Math. 10. 24. and sometimes his Cross is very weighty It is not a weak shoulder that can bear an heavy burden and it is not a weak Christian that can bear an heavy Cross that can endure weighty and pressing afflictions You must therefore get much strength great strength that you may suffer great things for the sake of Christ otherwise you will shrink when you are put upon the tryall you will be offended when sore persecutions do arise for the Word The Apostle prayeth for the Colossians chap. 1. 11. that the Lord would strengthen them with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness Young ones look for sufferings reckon upon them and make full account of them before-hand and prepare for sufferings get on winter Garments against winter seasons I mean suffering graces against suffering times Get strength for sufferings labour to be strengthened with all might according to Gods glorious power unto all patiencâ—… and long-suffering with joyfulness Get strength to endure much and to endure long and to endurâ—… not only with patience but also with chearfulness looking upon it not only as your duty when called to suffer for Christ but as the greatest honour thaâ—… can be conferred upon you in this life and as thaâ—… which will work for you an exceeding and eternâ—… weight of glory 2 Cor. 4. 17. 3.
one side and him that sweareth on the other side God threatneth to condemn swearers Jam. 5. 12. Above all things swear not lest ye fall into condemnation Take heed of the horrid oaths of the roaring Blades in our times and take heed of more petty oaths of faith and troth take heed also of cursing and taking Gods Name in vain remembring that the Lord will not hold such guiltless 7. Young men take heed of Lying See Eph. 4. 25. Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth You would not speak lyes if the party you spoke them unto did know and could prove them to be lyes the intent of lyes being to cover God knoweth your lyes you cannot cover any thing from him and God being Truth loveth truth and hateth lyes and hath threatned lyars to give them their portion in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21. 8. Take heed of accustoming your selves to this sin of lying whilst you are young it will be hard ever leaving it Whatever advantage you may think to get by a lye I am sure your damage will be greater Whatever credit you may think to get by a lye your dishonour is greater Whatever fault you cover by a lye you do hereby the more aggravate it Whatever kindness you may think to do another by a lye you do your selves a thousand-fold more injury Though you may account lyes but words and words but wind yet for such words you will be condemned and such a wind as one saith is sufficient to blow your souls into Hell 8. Young men take heed of Unfaithfulness You that are Apprentices or Servants take heâ—…d of unfaithfulness to your Masters that you do not wrong and dâ—…fraud them in the least remembring that dreadful threatning that God will be avenged upon all defrauders 1 Thes. 4. 6. They may not know your fraud and deceit but God is privy to it and the vengeance will be fearful which one day he will recompence unto you for this sin Read the duty of servants in this regard Tit. 2. 10. where they are warned against purloining and exhorted to shew all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Be faithful to your Masters as to their estates their money and goods be careful as if they were your own do not wrong them or any else whilst young remembring that you must make restitution as ever you hope for salvation if you be able to do it and be faithful to them as to their counsels do not blaze abroad their secrets do not make known their infirmities serve them with all uprightness and fidelity as if you were to serve Christ himself for indeed he will count it so and hath promised a reward to faithful servants beyond what their Masters can give Eph. 6. 8. Col. 3. 24. 9. Young men take heed of Disobedience Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well pleasing to God Col. 3. 20. For this is the first Commandment with promise Ephes. 6. 2. Servants be obedient unto them which are Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart Ephes. 6. 5 6. Here is a copy of your duty take heed of the contrary sin which the wicked one will be busie to tempt you unto In disobeying Parents and Governours you are disobedient unto God and displease Christ your great Master if they be strangers to Christ you ought to obey them except in those things which are unlawful Young ones that are yet under Governmâ—…nt take heed of disobedience as obedience will be rewarded by Christ so disobedience will be punished by him at his second appearance Be not disobedient to Governours and behave not your selves irreverently towards the aged and gray-headed for you ought to honour the silver-hair 10. Young men take heed of Idleness Do not loiter away your time especially the time of your youth Time is very precious the time of your youth is most precious the choicest and chiesest it is your seed-time your gathering-time you are now more active and fit for employment you may happily spare a month better if you should live beyond fifty years than an hour now your whole time is short the time of your youth will be slipt away quickly manhood and old age will steal on you before you are aware but you â—…ie whilst young You can call no time yours 〈◊〉 the present O how precious is the present hour I think if the damned had but one hour given them how they would esteem and improve it I have heard of a Lady at her death who had mis-spent the â—…ime of her life groaned out in her air breath this sad speech with bitterness and earnestness 〈◊〉 thousand worlds for one quarter of an hour 〈◊〉 Take heed of lavishing away your time in sin and vaâ—…y let not an hour pass without doing something fill up your whole time with duty you may can and drink and sleep but let not the concernments of your body devour too much of your precious time let them not have more of your time than is necessary more than is duty Redeem your time double your diligence remember how much of your time is irrecoverably gone how much of your work is still to do remember how neer you are to eternity when time shall be no more therefore apply your hearts to wisdom and whatever your hands finde to do do it with all your might Take heed of idleness in your particular callings be diligent in your secular imployments the diligent hand maketh rich but the slothful person is brother to him that is a great waster Take heed of idleness of spiritual sloth in your general Callings Take heed of wholly neglecting the duties of Gods Worship either publick or family or closet of neglecting to hear or read or pray and take heed of negligence in these duties there is a curse denounced against such as do the work of the Lord negligently Jer. 48. 10. You must not be slothful if you would be followers of them who through faith and patience have inherited the Promises Heb. 6. 12. 11. Young men take heed of Sabbath-breaking Do not idle away this day as too many young men do in the fields in visits in vain company much less in Taverns or Alehouses in drinking and greater wickedness than all the week besides Value the Sabbath day above all the daies of the week spend it in the duties of Gods immediate Worship you may get something in the shop en the week day you may get more in Gods House and Ordinances on the Lords day spiritual light and life and strength and peace and joy Gods favour Jewels of grace evidences for Heaven are worthy your seeking do not lose such benefits as these by profaning the Sabbath-day by suffering worldly business to entrench
disappoint and vexation to your selves besides the displeasing of God hereby But let your desires follow your love let them be carried forth chiefly and most strongly towards God and the things which concern his Kingdom and Glory your own peace and salvation Because you lie under the guilt and power of sin without a Christ labour in the first place afâ—…er strong earnâ—…st thirsting desires after Jesus Christ and his Righteousness that you may have your sins pardoned and hearts renewed Cry out None but Christ none but Christ give us a Saviour or else we are lost give us Christ or else we die and perish eternally Let your strong wishes be O that we had an interest in Christ O that our hearts were united and joyned to Christ O for a drop of his blood to sprinkle our consciences O that he would undertake for us that he would be our Advocate to plead for us and reconcile us unto the Father Let your prayers be Lord thou hast given thy Son for us give thy Son to us thou holdest forth thy Son help us to lay hold on him thou callest us to thy Son by thy Word draw us to thy Son by thy Spirit thou hast put thy Son to death for sin and accepted of the sacrifice which he hath offered O that our sins might be forgiven upon his account Let your desires go forth strongly after the favour of God there are many that say Who will shew us any good Lord shew us thy face Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us Desire earnestly with David the presence and communion with God in his Ordinances as Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after to dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord c. And Psal. 42. 1 2. As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my soul thirsteth for God for the Living God when shall I come and appear before God! Many young men have earnest desires after the company of their friends that are of pleasant conversation let your desires be carried forth most earnestly after the company and communion with God in his Ordinances wherein the chiefest pleasure is to be found Therefore prize and desire Ordinances for the sake of God because they are the means of bringing you and God together of joyning your hearts unto the chief good and if you desire the company of men let it be the company of Gods Children who are the excellent of the Earth Labour for strong desires after the Image of God that you may be holy as he is holy after conformity to Christ in his death by dying to sin and readiness to suffer for his sake in his Resurrection by your newness of life Let your dâ—…sires be strong after the Spirit that he might be given to you and abide in you desire every grace of the Spirit in the highest measure and content not your selves with any degree desire the comforts of the Spirit the joyes of the Holy Ghost desire strength for every duty that you might be made use of to glorifie God in your generation that you might be kept from sin rather than from any evil that you might be made victorious over all your spiritual enemies especially let your desires be carried forth with the greatest strength after the Crown of glory the undefiled and never-fading inheritance in Heavâ—…n after the beatifical Vision and full fruition of God in the New Jerusalem the perfection of holiness and happiness which is reserved for hereafter the fulness and eternity of joy in Gods glorious presence and desire the hastening of Christs second appearance that he would come quickly and put you into the possession of that Inheritance which he hath purchased and prepared for you 4. Young men labour for strong Hope Young men usually are big with hope and expectation of some great things in the world they hope for such an â—…state and then that they shall be content such deâ—…ights and sensual enjoyments and then they shall be â—…appy and satisfied but they that are elder and have â—…ad greatest experience finde the world and all â—…hings in it to be empty and vain and their hopes â—…ave been frustrated however being unacquainted â—…ith higher things their hearts are still most irraâ—…ionally set upon the world but I would exhort â—…ou young men to have higher hopes than worldâ—…ings and let your hopes be strong Do not hope for â—…ch in the creature it hath not what you hope for â—…ut let your hope be in God let your expectation be â—…rom him only Do not hope for much here below â—…his is not the place of your rest and happiness but â—…et your great hopes be of things above as your â—…esires should be strong after them so your hopes â—…hould be strong of them Hypocrites have some â—…ind of hopes but they are thin weak hopes like â—…he Spiders web Job 8. 14. which is easily torn in â—…ieces by the wind the wind of affliction doth rend â—…he hopes of Hypocrites from them they have hopes â—…ut such as quickly perish and are cut off Job 13. 14. They are like the giving up the Ghost Job 11. 20. When they give up the Ghost their hopes give up â—…he Ghost they and their hopes perish together beâ—…ause they are groundless and presumptuous Labour â—…herefore for a strong hope such a hope as is well grounded which will end in fruition and never in disappointment and make ashamed Let the object of your hopes be God and the things which are above and let the bottom the foundation of your â—…opes be those two immutable things the Apostle â—…peaketh of Heb. 8. 17 18 19 20. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of Promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oatb that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the Vail whither the fore-runner is for us entred The two immutable things which are the foundation of our hope are Gods Promise and Gods Oath his Promise This is the Promise which he hath promised even eternal life Job 2. 25. His Oath which he sware by himself to Abraham and in him to all his children Surely blessing I will bless thee Heb. 6. 13 14. which doth include eternal blessedness God who cannot lye giveth his Promise and his Oath God who can do whatever he will and will do whatever he hath promised here is a good ground for your hope to build upon let your hope be strong let it be a strong anchor to your soul sure and stedfast and that it may be so it must not be cast downwards like those of ships which
they cannot cast your Souls into the Prison of Hell 2. Though they may take away your civil liberty yet they cannot take away your spiritual liberty and priviledges they may shut friends out from seeing you but they cannot shut you out of the presence of God nor keep you from the Throne of grace 3. In reference unto Life 1. That though men may destroy the Body yet they cannot destroy the Soul and 2. you must dye as was shown before and you cannot die upon a better score unto which I may adde that I believe none in the world dye with more peace and joy than those that dye for the testimony of Jesus and of a good Conscience My dear young ones labour thus to overcome all the prejudices of the wicked one whereby he would keep you from coming into the wayes of God and yielding obedience unto the Gospel that is the First SECT VI. 2. LAbour to overcome the Temptations of the Wicked one whereby he would draw you to the commission of sin Sin in its own nature is so black and odious that if your eyes were but opened to see what dishonour it reflecteth upon the pure and holy God and how it defileth your own Souls once made after the image of God you could not choose but loath and abhorr it and with hatred you would flye from it as from a Pestilential disease or venemous Serpent and no arguments would perswade you to commit it or give it any room or harbour in your hearts therefore the wicked one doth use the greatest art and cunning to paint and colour over sin with fair glosses that the monstrous nature and deadly poyson of it might be hid from your eyes and knowledge And as God hath his methods in the conversion of young ones and useth many arguments by his Ministers and Spirit to perswade them unto the practice of Religion So Satan hath his methods and arguments to draw away young ones from God unto the commission of sin and continuance therein 1. The first work of God upon young Converts is Illumination of the Understanding he opens their eyes to see their sin and misery the way of salvation by Christ the beauty and excellency of holiness so on the contrary Sathan the wicked one called the God of this World doth endeavour to blind the eyes of young ones to keep them in the dark that the light of the glorious Gospel might not shine upon them to discover either their sin or their Saviour and he endeavoureth to stir up in them a hatred of the light that so they might sin without reproof or controul 2. The second work of God upon young Converts is Contrition he awakens their Consciences filleth them with fears and terrours through apprehension of his anger and the dreadfull wrath that hangs over them and they know not how soon may fall down upon them and sink them into the lowest Hell for their sin that hereby they being terrified may apply themselves without any delay unto the Lord Jesus Christ the only Saviour of mankind So on the contrary the wicked one doth labour to still and calm and quiet the Consciences of young ones under the guilt of their sins to lull them fast asleep and keep them from all disturbances from an unquiet Conscience which if awakened would plead the cause of God against sin 3. A third work of God upon young Converts is a powerfull bending and enclining the Will to embrace Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Advocate and to resign up it self in full complyance with his will in every thing So the wicked one doth endeavour to 〈◊〉 the wills of young ones against Christ and the Law of God he doth what he can to corrupt and deprâ—…ve it and to draw it unto a full bent and resolution for sin 4. A fourth work of God upon young Converts is upon their heart and affections whereby he draweth them and engageth them for himself So on the contrary the wicked one is very busie in tampering with the affections of young ones and as God doth use arguments in effecting a gracious change upon young Converts so the wicked one doth use arguments to perswade them unto the practice of siÅ„ which arguments are his temptations Young men labour to overcome the Temptations of the Wicked one and that I may help you herein I shall 1. Set before you as in a glass the chief Temptations whereby the wicked one doth draw young men unto sin and endeavour to arm you against those Temptations that you may overcome 2. Caution you against the particular sins of Youth which the wicked one would draw you unto and then shut up my Discourse with a word of Encouragement 1. Concerning the Temptations whereby the wicked one doth endeavour to draw Young men unto sin And here I shall speak of the Five most ordinary Temptations whereby young ones are drawn unto sin 1. By the delight and pleasure of sin 2. By the glory and repute of sin 3. By the utility and advantage of sin 4. By the pretended smallness of sin 5. By the hopes of future repentance 1. The first Temptation whereby the wicked one draweth young men unto the commission of sin is by the delight and pleasure of it and here he is very cunning in the management of this temptation that it may take effect 1. He laboureth to hide from the eyes of young men those pure spiritual and more excellent pleasures those heavenly ravishing and far transcendent delights and joyes which are to be found in God both here and chiefly hereafter perswading them that the wayes of God are irksome and unpleasant which is furthered by their own experience they finde them to be so to them upon a little tryall for want of a spiritual appetite to relish that reall sweetness which is in them for as Angels cannot relish carnal pleasures because they have no carnal senses so neither can carnal persons relish spiritual pleasures because they have no spiritual senses 2. He laboureth to hide from them the sting and bitterness of sin the sorrow and vexation which it will certainly produce in the conclusion he covereth the hook out of their sight laboureth to divert their thoughts from all serious considerations of the gall and wormwood that is in the bottom of the cup. 3. He represents the delights of sin as most sweet and satisfying as present and at hand and easie to be had without difficulty and labour and sometimes as secret too which no mortal eye can take notice of 4. He joyneth in with the lusts of their hearts with which he hath a secret correspondence and proposeth such objects unto them as are most suitable and desireable It is by the pleasure and delight of sin that most young men are bewitched and perswaded to the commission of it It was by the pleasantness of the forbidden fruit that this Old Serpent enticed our first Parents to eat thereof and hereby it is that he doth entice
upon this sacred time which God hath sanctified and you ought to keep holy 12. Young men take heed of a frothy spirit Some young ones are full of froth and vanity very toyish and foolish without any solidity or seriousness It is time for you now to put away childish things get the vanity of your minds emptied let the frothiness and levity of your spirits be curbed by the fear of God an awful apprehension of his omnipresence and all-seeing eye put your spirits under the Government of the Lord Jesus Christ. 13. Young men take heed of Scoffing If you have wit let it not vent it self in scurrility in jesting and jeering at others which the Apostle eauâ—…oneth against as inconvenient and unbecoming the Gospel Ephes. 5. 4. Do not mock at others infirmities but pity them let nothing be the object of your scorn except it be sin neither should you scoff at others for their sins but labour to reduce them by your friendly admonitions Above all take heed of fcoffing at any for their holiness and strict walking which is an undoubted character of a prophane and carnal heart and such persons as do so are scorned by God and most contemptible in his eyes 14. Young men take heed of Pride Do not over-value and esteem your selves do not conceit an excellency in your selves above others but with lowliness of mind esteem others above your selves If you have any gifts and attainments that may be useful glorifie God with them in your sphere be thankful for them and withall be so well acquainted with your imperfections and secret corruption of heart that you may be humble Be not proud of gifts of mind much less of strength and beauty of body and least of all of hair which is but an excrement or of clothes which are a badge of mans Apostacy Remember that pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall That God looketh upon the proud afar off when he hath a respect to the lowly Psal. 138. 6. That God resisteth the proud when he giveth grace to the humble 1 Pet. 5. 6. 15. Young men take heed of Gensoriousness of rash judging of others Take the caution of our Saviour against this sin Matth. 7. 1 2 3. Judge not that ye be not judged for with what judgement ye judge ye shall be judged and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you again And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye and considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye If you censure others you will be censured again be sure ye will be judged and condemned by God you are apt to spy little faults motes in others be acquainted with the beam in your own eye with your own greater faults and you will not then be so forward to judge Take one more Scripture which cautioneth you against this sin Jam. 4. 11 12. Speak not evil one of another he that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law He doth in effect say that the Law which condemneth this sin is not so fit a Law But if thou judge the Law thou art not a doer of the Law but a Judge There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Who art thou that judgest another 16. Young men take heed of Procrastinating your Repentance Do not put off this great work until to morrow remember what hazards you run how uncertain life is how unlikely that ever you should repent if you do not improve your youthful season for it Set about the work presently break off your sins by repentance presently and make your peace with God without further delay left you be cut off from the Land of the living before you are aware and hereafter there will be no room for repentance 17. Young men take heed of â—…nal security You have health and strength and peace and prosperity it may be 〈◊〉 and never tasted the bitter cup of Affliction and therefore may be apt to be secure and secretly hope that this state will last that your Mountain is so strong that you shall never be moved that you shall never come into Adversity Alas you are little acquainted with the World Man is born to trouble as the sparks flye upwards crosses and cares and losses and sickness and pain and many miseries are the attendants of this Life and you must look sooner or later in one measure or other to have your share be not secure but prepare lest being unprovided the miseries of this life be more irksome and unsupportable 18. Young men take heed of carnal Confidence You may be apt now to put your trust in Arms of flesh to repose much confidence in Friends or Means and some external props but you will finde them all like broken reeds or a foot out of joynt and where you have the greatest hope and trust you are like to meet with the greatest disappointment Cease then from Man whose breath is in his nostrils trust not in uncertain riches stay not upon any Creature but put your trust in the Lord who is omnipotent and faithfull in him you may be secure as to the greatest evil and you may have confidence of all needfull supplies 19. Young men take heed of Rashness Be not rash in your Promises lest you repent or be found unfaithfull Be not rash in your Undertakings in your engagement in any business especially take heed of rashness in changing your condition Remember that Proverb That Youth rideth post to be married and lodgeth in the Inne of Repentance In all the weighty affairs of your life Pray to God earnestly for his guidance consult with wise and faithfull friends and seriously deliberate things in your own mindes Observe the rule of the Word and let your design be the glory of God 20. And lastly young men take heed of Unsteadfastness Be not inconstant in your resolutions as to civil affairs and undertakings but especially take heed of inconstancy and unstedfastness in the wayes of God Take heed of a wavering unsettled minde of backslidings and revoltings from God let not your Zeal degenerate into Lukewarmness and your present Forwardness end in Apostacy But watch stand fast in the Faith quit your selves like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13. and with full purpose of heart stick close unto the Lord AuÌ„ 11. 23. Labour to keep your selves from these sins of Youth which the wicked one would draw you unto that so you may be victorious and if you overcome you shall eat of the tree of Life which is in the Paradise of God Rev. 2. 7. You shall not be hurt of the second death v. 11. You shall eat of the hidden Manna and have the white stone wherein the new Name is written which none-can read but they that receive it v. 17. You shall have the Morning Star v. 28. You shall be cloathed in White Raiment and Christ will confess your Name before his Father and before the Angels ohap 3. 5. You shall be Pillars in the Temple of God and go no more out and have the Name of God written upon you v. 12. You shall sit with Christ on his throne as he overcame and is set down with his Father on his throne v. 21. My most dearly beloved young men labour thus that you may be such young men as are commended in the Text to be strong that the Word of God may abide in you and to overcome the wicked one SECT VIII AND now I shall shut up my whole Discourse with a few words for encouragement of you in these Duties 1. This will be your Wisdome whoso is wise will observe these things Read one place concerning Davids wisdom upon this account Psal. 119. 98 99 100. Thou through thy commandements hast made me wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with me I have more understanding than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy precepts Remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom it is the chief part of Wisdom and they have the best understanding that keep his Commandements Psal. 111. 10. 2. This will be your Glory This will be an or-nament of Grace unto your head and like a Chain about your neck Prov. 1. 9. It will make you shine like Lights in a dark World and it will not only render you truly honourable but also tend exceed-ingly to your Masters glory 3. This will be your Advantage It will bring in the truest purest surest and most lasting gain 4. This will be your Safety This will shelter you under the wings of the Almighty secure you in times of great Judgements here and from storms of future wrath 5. This will be your Peace Great peace have they that love Gods Law and nothing shall disturb them This will yield peace and comfort to you in Life this will bear up your spirits in the hour of Death and at length procure for you a Crown of Glory which fadeth not away Be strong then O ye young Men because in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not Let the Word of God abide in you because of the Treasure laid up for you And overcome the Wicked one because of the Crown of Glory which shall be set upon the head of the Conquerers Vincenti Corona dabitur FINIS