before old age seiseth on thee which will be full of pains and sorrows so that thou canst take no delight in any thing neither canst thou find any desire or strength for service Here the dayes of old age are called evil because men are then subject to manifold infirmities and afflictions as if he had said seeing the Elder dayes are like to be evil dayes full of pains and griefs be sure thou do not add thereunto the bitterness of thy youthful lusts and pleasures and the butthen of those duties which should have been the business of thy youth Shall the sins and the works of an whole age be laid upon thiâ—…e aged Shoulders what an intolerable burthen will that be to thee who wilt find it hard enough for thee to bear up under thy diseases and infirmities Be doing rather now in the dayes of thy youth lay up against the time to come be aforehand with thy necessary work get to be rich in greace abundant in good works serving the Lord in holiness and righteousness all the dayes of thy life which may comfort thine heart against the evils of thine old age that so it may not be unto thee an evil but as it was to Abraham a good old age Gen. 25. 8. The drift of the Wise man in these words is to stir up young men to consecrate their youth and younger years especially to the remembring and serving of God because old age being full of weaknesses and infirmities is very unfit then to begin to serve God or to mind the great work of Repentance and Reformation CHAP. II. Containeth the grand proposition with the Reasons thereof FRom the drift and scope of Solomon in these words may be raised this point of Doctrine Doct. It is a duty incumbent upon all young men to consecrate the prime and strength of their dayes to the service of God So to remember God as to devote themselvs to him This was Typified under the Law where the Lord required the first-fruits to be dedicated unto him the first-born to be sanctified unto him and the young Bullocks and Lambs to be offered in Sacrifice unto him Which was written for our learning to teach and instruct us to offer unto God the service of our youth as well as of our old age And is it not most equal that as the first-fruits of other things so the first-fruits of man of his ripened understanding and affections should be given unto God Was the Lord greatly offended when as men reserved the best of the flock to themselves and offered the old the blind and the lame unto him And will he be well-pleased that we devote our youth and younger years to the service of Satan and the satisfying our own lusts and reserve for him only our decrepit old age This is likewise commended to us in the example of divers young men recorded in Scripture We read of Isaac that while he was young he accustomed himself to prayer and meditation Gen. 24. 63. Of Iosiah that when he was eight years old he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord And in the eighth year of his reign while he was yet young he began to seek after the God of David his Father 2 Chron. 34. 1 3. Of Obadiah that he feared the Lord from his youth 1 King 18. 12. And of Timothy that from a Child he had known the holy Scriptures which were able to make him wise unto salvation 2. Tim. 3. 15. If any shall ask wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way Surely by following the example of such rare young men as these were The Reasons of the point Reas. 1. Youth is the fittest time that can he given unto God as being the Spring time and excellentest part of thy life In the grave there is no serving God in thine old age it is bad serving him by reason of the manifold weaknesses and infirmities which do accompany the same therefore thy Youth must needs be the fittest time for his service For 1. Youth is most active and vigorous quick and lively being not at all clogged with the infirmities of age Then is thy body strongest thy wit sharpest and thy memory most capable and retentive How unworthy then is it for thee to Sacrifice thy youth to Bacchus and Venus to ungodly sensuality and luxury and at last to lay thine old bones upon Gods Altar O what Pity is it that the Devil the world and the flesh should have thy cream and flour And how shameful that God to whom thy whole life is due should have only thy bran and dreggs 2. Youth is the time of strength and the service of God being no easie work calls for thine utmost strength the strength of thy body as well as the strength of thy mind Our Saviour requires strive to enter in at the strait gate The word in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth a striving with our utmost skill strength and activity as wrestlers do for mastery And saith the Apostle work out your salvation where the word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth to work with the greatest industry Old men whose strength is wasted are like to make but poor wrestlers and as poor workers And therefore what fitter time can there be in earnest to set upon the difficulties of Religion and Godliness and the mighty and weighty works thereof than in the strength of our days Reas. 2. The service of thy Youth is the most acceptable service unto God When Abraham manifested his willingness to sacrifice his young Son Isaac upon the Command of God oh how kindly did the Lord take it and thereupon promised yea swore unto him saying Because thou hast done this thing that in blessing I will bless thee Gen. 22. 16. In like manner if thou shalt consecrate thy younger years unto God which is as it were to sacrifice thy Isaac he will take it kindly at thy hands and thou shalt be remembred with a blessing in thine age for with such sacrifices God is well pleased When our Saviour heard the rich man in the Gospel say All these Commandments have I kept from my Youth the Evangelist noâ—…eth that beholding him he loved him to shew possibly how he loveth the service of young men how pleasing and acceptable it is to him And it is questionable whether God who calls for the first fruits of thy life if thou deny him that will accept the gleanings of thine age Reas. 3. Another reason may be taken from the momentary shortness and muâ—…able uncertainty of thy life So short it is that the whole of it from first to last is little enough for thy necessary work To get an interest in Christ to mortifie thy Lusts to furnish thy self with Grace to fill up thy fruits of righteousness and thereby to make sure to thy self a bet-ter life believe it these are not the works of a few days or hours And so uncertain is thy life that thou hast no
CHAP. III. Containeth a sharp reproof of those who devote their Flower and Prime to the service of Satan and their sinful lusts and reserve their decayed strength for God Use 1. IS it a duty incumbent upon all Young Men to consecrate themselves to the service of God then such are to be reproved who devote their Flower and Prime to the service of Satan and their sinful lusts and reserve their decayed strength for God and his service accounting the very dregs and refuse of all to be good enough for him for whom the best and principal is not worthy Under the Law they were forbidden to offer any thing unto the Lord that had a blemish or that were lame and blind Lev. 3. 1. 22. 18 19 20. and Deut. 15. 21. And for transgressing this Law the Lord reprehended his people by the Prophet Malachy 1. 8. If ye offer the blind for Sacrifice is it not evil and if ye offer the lame and sick is it not evil Offer it now to thy Governour will he be pleased with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of Hosts Was the Lord greatly offended when as men reserved the best of the Flocks to themselves and offered the old the blind and the lame unto him And will he be well pleased that thou shouldst dedicate thy best unto Satan and reserve for him only thy decrepit lame and withered age when as thy body is full of diseases and thy mind of infirmities Will God accept the Devils leavings Shall sin have thy blood and thy spirits and thy marrow and thy God be put off with skin and bones He that hath had the best may even take all God will laugh at thee in thy Evening who laugh'st at him in the Morning of thy days Is it not extream folly while the Ship is sound the Tackling good the Marriners hail and strong to lie playing and sporting at Road and when the Ship is crazy the Tackling weak and rotten the Marriners sick then to hoyse up sail for a Voyage into a far Country And how wise a man art thou who wilt delay the Voyage for Heaven till thy Vessel be broken and those Worms thy Lusts that have been bred in it have eaten it through and made it utterly useless We generally confess that our sins must be left and that God must be sought and served but we cannot accord of the time when to begin One saith he will begin when he hath served his Apprenticeship and is out of his time another when he is made Free and set up for himself another when he is Married another when he is Old Thus every one is apt to procrastinate The whole World almost are men for hereafter When must God be minded Hereafter When must these souls be looked to Hereafter When must these sins be sent packing Hereafter When we have served our selves of this World then we 'l be for the other World and when we have satisfied our Lusts then we will satisfie our Consciences and when we are unfit and unable for any thing else then we will follow God When we are scarce able to turn our wearied bones in our bed then will we think of turning to him Canst thou think God will accept thereof Believe it if thou canst Mark what the Prophet Malachy speaketh Chap. 1. 14. Cursed be the deceiver that hath in his Flock a Male and voweth and consecrateth unto the Lord a corrupt thing Who hath the Male of thy Flock whose is the First-born of thy strength Doth the Devil carry away that and must this corrupt thing this weak and weary and sickly time of thine age be the offering for God what thinkest thou will he say to thee but cursed be the deceiver that hath in his Flock a Male and consecrateth unto the Lord a corrupt thing CHAP. IV. Containeth an Use of Exhortation unto all young men to offer unto God the First-fruits of their lives Use 2. OF Exhortation unto all Young Men to offer unto God the First-fruits of their lives to give themselves to him betimes and forthwith to have done with the service of their sins and in earnest to betake themselves to holiness and righteousness of life Though the Devil the World and the Flesh have been aforehand with Christ and have gotten possession of thine heart yet now without further delay give a Bill of Divorce to them all cast out the Bond-woman and her Children and open unto Jesus Christ who stands knocking at the door of thine heart for entrance who by the admonitions of his Ministers the motions of his Spirit and checks of thine own Conscience doth call out unto thee Open to me I pray thee let me come in Oh let not thy love to thy Lust so far prevail with thee as to put off Christ to another time but this day open to him imbrace him for thy Prince and Saviour resign up thy self unto him to serve and obey him before thou art too far ingaged in the service of sin and Satan say with David That God shall be thy God and thou wilt seek him early Psal. 63. 1. Even now in the spring of thy life while the day of health and the day of Grace hath dawned upon thee Consider O Young Man how unfit old age is either to grapple with thy Lusts or thy duties to resist the tyranny of sin or to bear the difficulties of Religion We find by experience that the soul acting by and through the body acts according to the disposition thereof When the body is dull and heavy through age or infirmity the soul acts thereafter Is thy dulness and coldness all that thou wilt spare to the God of thy spirits How will he take it at thy hands when the Devil hath rode thee off thy legs and so lamed and cripled thee that now thou canst do no more then thou wilt be for God think how well this will please thy Maker Ye shall not see my face said Ioseph to his Brethren except you bring your younger Brother with you Gen. 43. 2. And how canst thou look to behold the face of the Lord Jesus with comfort if thou bring not unto him thy Youth and strength Now therefore O Young Man in the morning of thy life while the faculties of thy soul and parts of thy body are fresh and quick set thy face Heaven-ward especially considering how great thy work as a Christian is like to be even greater than thou canst dispatch in an Age. Those evil customs and habits which have been long growing cannot easily be cut off Those strong corruptions which have taken root in thine heart cannot readily be removed That knowledge grace peace comfort and assurance which thou needest cannot be attained without great labour and industry The work of Religion requires time it concerns thee to set upon it presently and not to be so very a Fool as to say It 's time enough yet Though thou hast foolishly mis-spent so much of thy Oyl already in
and by tumbles down and the Wheel runs over him How often do rich men break and poor men get up in their rooms and then tumble down after them and give place to him that comes next To day thou hast an Estate but who can tell what thou mayst have to morrow Such an uncertain World this is and at such uncertainties are the things thereof and there 's no preventing it It 's good to be sure of something Since Earth can never be made sure thou art the more concerned to make sure of Heaven To have all at uncertainties both here and hereafter this is such a misery as every one that is wise will do what he can to prevent 2. If things Eternal be made sure it 's no great matter though things Temporal be at the greatest uncertainties This world is uncertain a world of changes of disappointments vexations and all kinds of troubles Why let it be so so Heaven be sure no matter for all these lower uncertainties Young Man thou art going forth into the world how thou mayst prosper in it notwithstanding all thy skill and care God only knows who can tell what crosses thou mayst meet with in thy very entrance that may dash all thy hopes And if thou hast never so fair and hopeful a beginning yet who knows what may be thy lot before the end of thy day Why now wouldst thou get above all casualties and crosses and at once be a Conquerour of all the World Wouldst thou have thy quiet and contentment out of the reach of Winds and Storms and be able to live chearfully in every condition make Heaven sure and 't is done Thou mayst then hoise up thy Sails commit thy self to the Wind and Seas make on thy Voyage and never be appall'd at the Storms on the way whilest thou hast this assurance thou shalt come safe to Harbour and not an hair of thy head perish Thus have you dear Youths the desires and breathings of my Soul after your happiness here and blessedness hereafter expressed in some useful directions suitable to your present state and condition shewing you how to deport and carry your selves both in your General and Particular Calling so that you may please God in all things here and live with him in everlasting blessedness Now my hearty request to you is that you will not content your selves with a bare reading of them but resolve with the assistance of Gods Grace to enter upon the real practice of them And oh that the Lord who alone teacheth to profit would please so to set them home upon your hearts that they may tend to your spiritual good here and eternal salvation hereafter O Young Men you are now Flowers in the Bloom you are those First-fruits which should be offered to the Lord Oh that now you would consecrate your selves unto God and his service Oh that while you are Young you would with Isaac give your selves to Prayer and Meditation and with Samuel serve the Lord from your Youths and with young Solomon study to know and serve the God of your Fathers and with Obadiah fear the Lord from your Youths and with young Iosiah do that which is right in the sight of the Lord And to these ends with Timothy from your Youth addict your selves to the reading of the Scriptures which are able to make you wise unto Salvation Oh that you would set these mens lives as Copies for your imitation giving up your selves intirely and unfeignedly to the Lord in a truly gracious life O Young Men you are now in your preparations for Eternity and therefore had need to be very watchful over your selves to see that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise redeeming the time because the days are evil Ephes. 5. 15. Little do you consider how much dependeth upon this moment of time which God for the present is pleased to vouchsafe unto you even no less than the whole weight of Eternity Upon your well or ill improving of your time and Talents here depends your everlasting condition that Estate which is to be for ever and ever Oh what folly and madness then must it needs be in you to suffer your Lusts or wicked Companions to steal away this Jewel your precious time which is more worth than all the world Oh that for the future you would so live every day as those that live for Eternity It is sadly evident that too too many losing their first and tender years in conclusion lose their Souls also O Dear Youths Behold the Arms of Free Grace are yet open to imbrace you if now you will abandon your Youthful Lusts and cordially turn unto God who is willing to forgive yea willing to forget all former misâ—…arriages upon the reforming your lives Turn ye turn ye therefore from your evil ways for why will ye die Ezek. 33. 11. In this small Treatise I have set before you Life and Death Heaven and Hell Happiness and Misery Know assuredly that as you chuse now so shall you speed hereafter Oh then for the Lord Christ's sake and for the sake of your poor Souls chuse that good part which shall never be taken from you walk in the path which leadeth to life and happiness that you may not perish and be tormented with the Devils in hell fire to all Eternity And now my Friend I bid thee farewel Take these words along with thee let them ever be before thine eyes and upon thine heart and then go on thy way Good Counsel be with thee that thou mayst guide thine affairs with discretion and good success be upon thee that thou mayst eat the fruit of thy good doings I wish first that thy Soul may prosper and then I also wish that thy Body may prosper and thy Family may prosper and thy Estate may prosper as thy Soul prospereth The Lord be with thee in all that thou settest thine hand unto The Almighty bless thee let his blessing be upon thy labours let his blessing be upon all thy substance let him help thee in thy work and increase thy store let his Sun shine upon thy Tabernacle and let the light of his Countenance make glad thine heart let him guide thee with his eye hold thee in his hands carry thee in his bosom till he hath lodged thee safe in the Everlasting Rest. Amen FINIS
is pleasing unto God 3. There is that delight in the ways of godliness as upholds the heart of a Christian under all the losses crosses and 〈◊〉 he meets withal in this world and which will yield him abundance of comfort upon his Death-bed What was that which comforted King Hezekiah when he lay under the apprehension of death but the testimony of his Conscience that he had walked with much sincerity in the ways of godliness Isa. 38. 3. By all which it appeareth that godliness doth not deprive men of all joy and delight but rather the more godly any are the more joyful at least the better right and title they have thereunto whereupon saith one Wouldst thou live chearfully then live godly The which should be an incouragement unto all Young Men who are yet unresolved speedily without any further delay to consecrate their Youth and younger years unto God and his service betimes to walk in the ways of godliness that so their lives may be the more comfortable and joyful If the Lord shall be pleased to incline any of your hearts thereunto you will have cause to bless God for it not only so long as you live here but even to all Eternity in the highest Heavens For by devoting your selves to God and his service betimes even from your Youth many sins will be prevented which otherwise will be committed by you much more good will be done by you and much greater will be your glory hereafter 5. Obj. I have time enough before me and therefore may for a while longer allow my self my liberty Hereafter may be time enough to turn from my sins unto God and to mind the eternal welfare of my Soul A. 1. Consider as the shortness so the uncertainty of thy life How many have we known in our own experience who when they have promised themselves life for many years have then been suddenly taken away Thou who sayest thou hast time enough before thee canst thou upon good ground assure thy self of another day If not what folly yea what madness must it needs be to live one day longer in such a condition in which if thou shouldst die thou art miserably undone to all Eternity True it is God hath promised pardon and forgiveness to such as in truth and sincerity turn from their sins unto him but he hath not promised the morrow to him that deferreth If thou sayest though I am not sure to live another day yet I am likely being in good health and strength I answer Peradventure thou mayest live another day But what man in his right senses would put his Everlasting Salvation upon a Peradventure Peradvenâ—… thou mayest die the next day even whilst thou art 〈◊〉 in sensual pleasures and delights and then 〈◊〉 sad is thy case like to be to all Eternity The possiâ—… of a sudden and unexpected death should meâ—… be an effectual argument to perswade every man speedily without farther delay to reform and amend his life The Merchant having a fair Wind will not defer to hoise up sail saying we have time enough because it is possible the Wind may turn and he lose his opportunity The Husbandman having a fair day will not defer the carrying home his Corn when it is fit to take it in because it is possible the next day may prove 〈◊〉 In all cases about our worldly affairs a possibility of danger hath the force of an argument for present care And why should it not as well awaken our Souls to a speedy amendment of our ways 2. Thou who still delayest to hearken unto the Call of God in the Ministery of the Word woing and beseeching thee speedily to abandon thy sins and to walk in the ways of holiness know assuredly that he will not always wait on thee his patience will not ever attend thee As there is a time of Grace in which the Gate of Mercy stands open so there is a time of Judgment in which this Gate will be shut and aâ—…l possibility of entry taken away Psal. 32. 6. David speaketh of a time in which God may be found which implieth that there is a time in which God will not be found Though thou cryest out against thy sins and cryest unto God for mercy yet will he not hear thee but turn a deaf ear to all thy prayers So the Lord threatneth Prov. 1. 24 25. Because I have called you to amendment and reformation and ye refused to hearken unto me But have set at nought all my counsels and would none of my reproofs I will also laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me but they shall not find me For the Lord usually punisheth the slighting of his Grace in our younger years with the denying of it in our elder Hence it is that the Apostle S. Paul so much presseth the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very now Behold saith he NOW is the accepted time NOW is the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. The time present is the only time the time to come is no time but a matter of meer uncertainty And therefore saith he Heb. 3. 7. To day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your hearts Where the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to day signifieth the time present and implieth that the present opportunity of Gods offering Grace ought to be imbraced thou must hearken unto him now that he calleth upon thee in the Ministery of his Word and motions of his Spirit to give over thy sinning Trade and give up thy self unto him and his service Now that God hangs forth the White Flag of Mercy and is willing to be gracious to thee Now that Christ is woing and beseeching thee to cast away thy sins and to cast thy self upon him to own him for thy Lord and Saviour Now that the Spirit of God is striving with thee surely it will be thy wisdom speedily to turn from thy sins unto him If thou put him off till hereafter and thereby quench the motions of his Spirit how justly may he for ever reject thee 3. Thou who upon a pretence of having time enough before thee dost procrastinate and delay to look after God and Heaven consider as the weightiness so the multitude of works to be done by thee in order to thy Salvation Hast thou not a dead Soul to be quickned a dark understanding to be enlightned with the knowledge of God and of his Son Jesus Christ an hard heart to be softned a proud heart to be humbled an unclean heart to be purified and cleansed a multitude of head-strong lusts to be mortified and subdued manifold temptations to be resisted and conquered Hast thou all these and many more things to do in reference to thy future happiness and yet wilt thou trifle away thy precious time in vanity and pleasure yea in sin and wickedness saying thou hast time enough before thee Know that the forementioned