Yoke of Christ earlier in their Youth Jer. 31. 18. 19. Ephraim bemoaned himself saying I have been as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoke I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the Reproach of my Youth Job 13. 26. Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth O young People did you but know what some have suffered and undergone crying out in the Day-time thy Hand O Lord lieth heavy on me and in the Night-time their Sore running grievously upon this account surely you would be awakened to other Apprehensions about the necessity of an Early Coming under the Yoke For my own part I have passed the Days of my Youth but the bitter remembrance of my Vanity Pride Self-conceit Idleness and foolish mispending of precious Time c. will stick by me and like a Goad stick in me so long as I live So that as is reported of the Jewish Rabbies that they use to say concerning the Great Sin of the Isrealites worshipping the Golden Calf that after it there never was any remarkable Judgments befel that People of the Jews but there was an Ounce of the Calf in it that is there was a Lash in it for that Sin such have been my Thoughts that to this day I never met with any bitter strokes in the Course of God's Holy Providence towards me but that place of Ephraim and Job runs in my mind which I mentioned but now Thou makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth It may be some of you may be apt to think and say he is a good Man would my Soul was in his Soul stead and condition Alas Alas you know not what you say the Heart knoweth its own Bitterness a Stander by a Stranger doth not It 's true I bless the Lord who gave me Councel at length and for what ever he hath done for me wrought in me O Eternity it self is little enough to praise him I am sure it 's his own and not of me Oh no let me be vile in my own Apprehensions as low as Hell whether I had certainly run had the Lord left me to my self But all I say is O that I had bore the Yoke earlier in my Youth I could repeat it from my very Soul a thousand times O that I had c. Those Words of Augustine have often affected me Sero â—e amavi Domine O Lord too late have I loved thee The Heart-searching God knoweth if my Heart deceives me not that I could wish I had born the most torturing racking Pains and Miseries of this Life rather than delayed so long to come under Christ's Blessed Yoke But why do I thus run out in publick on this Subject it may be some may think it were fitter for the Closet than the Pulpit Well! be it known to you my private Recesses have been no Strangers to these things But who can tell what good the Lord may do by it as since the Preaching of it I praise the Lord I have had an account of one that hereby was awaken'd Is there any Evil in declaring it for one that has heedlesly run upon a Rock and suffered Damage to call out to others that are failing the same Course to stop and tack about least they fall into the same Distress So for me that to the 19th Year of my Age was Foolish and Disobedient c. to call out to you that have not as yet fulfilled those Years or if you have exceeded them that you would proceed no further in your foolish and trfling Delaies I see there be many of you that are are just entring the Teens well hear it for your Good you are in the Posession of a Jewel which some here would give the whole World for if they had it supposing they had their Eyes opened to see the Cheats of Sin and Youthful Pleasures c. The Lord make you wise for Eternity 4. Consider what a World of Suitors you above all others have Jebovah Father Son and Holy Spirit Court and Councel you hence a great part of the Scriptures are penned for your Sake God hath a kindness for your Age and makes his first Applications to you he covets the beginning of your Strength and you may therefore be assured that what he seeks he will accept if you come in and yield to his Yoke But it 's probable some be ready to object if he so much desire us why don't he he conquer and convert us Answ O take heed of replying against God least your Bonds be made strong know it therefore the way wherein he will be found and let out of his powerful Spirit and Grace is the way of fervent frequent Prayers redeeming Time waiting diligently at Wisdom's Gates and watching against the Enticements of Sinners in all which there is Infinite Mercy and Grace and after all will you dare to Blaspheme his Wisdom in appointing and his Mercy in affording you these Means and then cast out your Foam against the God of Heaven and say why don't he convert me O if you understood all you would rather stand admiring and say why has he not damned me Is it fit a Holy God should be thus reproach'd by so mean a Worm as thou Or is it reasonable you should expect that he should force you against your Wills Moreover Satan the World and the Flesh are desirous of your Age the Devil knows your Weakness want of Experience proness to put off the thoughts of Death and Judgment what Folly is bound up in your Hearts c. Hence he is very busy with Youth as being very desirous of the Male in your Flock O then what need had Youth to bestir themselves least so subtile and malicious an Enemy blind them to their own Perdition 5. Consider what an Advantage you have above old Sinners First as you have more hope in your present Case you have not so often grieved the Spirit nor repulsed so many Checks of Conscience nor stifled so many Convictions nor is Sin grown so old and deeply rooted in you by a long Custom as it is in others Which Secondly is a mighty Advantage in your turning to God viz. preventing the Power and Plague of an evil Custom Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopean change his Skin c. It 's an amazing thing to consider how some that have accustomed themselves to that beastly Sin of Drunkenness have thereby been brought so under its Power as in despight of all Arguments the bitter Cries of a starving ragged Family the Danger of Arrests the Flashes of Hell in their Consciences that by times have met with Reproofs of Ministers c. yet have still continued in that Sin to their Destruction O young Man you have this Advantage above old Sinners you may avoid the Plague of an ill Custom a Plague I think a Man had better never been born than to be under 6. Consider what you are till you come under the Yoke you are Children
and it shall go well with thee to all Eternity an end will shortly be put to the Christians weary days on Earth his best is to come 2 Cor. 5. 1. and 1 Thess 4. and last Wherefore comfort one another with these Words ye shall ever be with the Lord. Hence saith Job when his Friends censur'd him his Estate and Relations fail'd him yea his Body ready for the Grave Job 19. 25. I know my Redeemer liveth and that tho after my Skin Worms destroy this Body yet shall I see God And upon this account you read 2 Cor. 4. 16. to the end of the flourishing Joys and Comforts of those afflicted Christians while they by Faith looked not to the things seen that are temporal but to the things not seen which were eternal Sinners have but there Hope here and a very uncertain Tenure of their Enjoyments all 's but at utmost for Term of Life and that 's but as a Vapour but the Saint is a Freeholder for ever and ever Christ makes a Jointure for Eternity and settles it upon every one that beareth his Yoke in time And thus now I have finished the Proof of this Doctrine That it is good for a Man to bear Christ's Yoke There remaineth only that Branch of it to be cleared viz. That it is so especially in time of Youth Now this I shall dispatch in few Words and I wish they may be piercing and reach the Consciences of all this Assembly of Young People this Day that you may stand fully convinc'd of the Truth preach'd and go home and give Glory to God acknowledging That to bear the Yoke in time of Youth is the summary of all Good Wherefore ponder but these two Things 1. The time of Youth is the fittest and most acceptable time to bear the Yoke 2. That in time of Youth to bear the Yoke is the most commendable Practice 1. That this is the fittest and most acceptable time to bear Christ's Yoke in and this will appear if you consider that the time of Youth is the freest time freest from bodily Infirmities and worldly Distractions The Wiseman doth elegantly set out the Infirmities of old Age in Eccl. 12. 2 3 4. all which Youth is free from for in Youth the Blessing of Life is in its Verdure and Flower thy Body strong for Service thy Spirits quick and vigorous thy Mind freest from Cares and Incumbrances which afterwards in a married State usually invade and loads both Hand and Head and Heart too So that the Obligation now in time of Youth to bear the Yoke is greatest and should make the deepest Impression on thy Mind Besides this Age is the fittest to receive Instruction as being more tender grown Sinners are more stiff and untractable as we see by Experience Now upon this Consideration it is good to come under Christ's Yoke in Youth before the Heart and Neck become so stiff and obdurate that there is no bowing them to the Yoke we should endeavour to prevent the Devil and his Temptation all we can and lay hold of all Advantages for Heaven and Salvation now you cannot reach this by any thing you can do like coming under the Yoke of Christ betimes this is a sure Rule the earlier the time the easier the Yoke will be not only because your Sins will be the fewer your Burden the lighter but because the evil days of Sickness and Death are coming a main Eccl. 12. 1. Youth is prone to delay and say I am but a Child as yet I have time enough but if you will go into Church-Yards and measure your little Body you will find as short if not shorter Graves and Coffins than would fit you Moreover the time of Youth is most acceptable to God Is it sit O young Man that God should accept the Devil's leavings That thy Youthful Vigor and Spirit should be given to thy Lusts And when these are spent in the Service of Sin so that nothing but Skin and Bones remains then to offer these to the Lord. The most acceptable Sacrifices under the Law were young Bullocks and the First-born and the First-Fruits c. So now God desires the first ripe Fruits 2. It is good to bear c. because this is the most commendable practise in time of Youth This is the chief Glory of that Age and it is that which most glorifies God and credits the Gospel and is one of the greatest blessings the Church enjoys in the World when she can say with the Church of old Take us the little Foxes for our Vines hath tender Grapes Again how gloriously do their Names shine like Stars in the Firmament of the Church And with what Honour doth the Holy-Ghost in Scripture make mention of their Names that have listed themselves under Christ's Yoke in time of their Youth 1 Kings 18. 12. 2 Chron. 34. 3. 2 Tim. 3. 15. and ordinarily such prove the most eminent Instruments of Service and Blessing to the Places where they live Again it is a most comfortable Evidence of Sincerity to bear the Yoke in their Youth it argues that you love esteem and value God's Service above the World and that it is not extorted meerly from the fear of Hell as Psal 78. 34 35. And as many when they lie sick and are ready to die O then they are marvelously concern'd for their Souls and all is no more than as an Iron in the Fire or a Mariner in Storm like Jonah's Gourd or a Morning Cloud But now in time of Youth and Health when besieged with 1000 Temptations to Sin O then to acquit your selves as Loyal Subjects to Christ under his Yoke and Banner how glorious how commendable is it And thus I have accounted for the second General Head viz. To clear it up that to bear the Yoke in Youth is the summary of all good And now I come to the third and last General Head proposed to be treated on and that is 3. To give you some Motives and Directions to excite and assist you to bear the Yoke of Christ in the time of Youth First for Motives wherein I fear there is but too much cause to insist for altho in lesser and lower Matters where the least Overture of Gain or Pleasure appears Men need no Motives to excite them our Natures are presently affected we are all upon the spur no Stone left unturned yet in Soul-concerns such as I have been treating on viz. the bearing Christ Yoke in Youth Alas we are like a Company of Stoicks as if we had no Passions about us ferventissimi in terrenis frigidissimi in caelestibus as one hath it we are red hot for Earth but Key cold for Heaven Wherefore to excite you in order to recover your Souls to Christ and his Yoke Consider 1. The Paucity of Conversions and coming under Christ's Yoke in these sinful times of Ours as also the awfulnes of such a Consideration Ah Friends let me tell you Conversion-work is no common thing we
of Belial a Rout of Rebels a Brood of Vipers Confederates with the Devil against God Psal 68. 21. 7. Consider Christ bore our Sins in his own Body on the Cross 2 Pet. 3. 24. And so he bore the Wrath of God and the Curse of the Law to deliver us from it O then How ready should we be to bear his easy Yoke 8. If you bear not his Yoke it is unreasonable you should bear his Name upon you 2 Tim. 2. 19. 9. Consider If you bear his Yoke in time of Youth he will bear you up in time of Death when Flesh faileth Psal 73. 25. 10. Consider If you refuse to bear his Yoke this Sermon will bear witness against you at the Day of Judgment Direction 1. Would you bear Christ's Yoke then bear with Hardships break through all Difficulties bear the Smitings of Faithful Friends without and Conscience within for Sin esteem it a Kindness bear with and be glad of Convictions of the Spirit and the Interdictions of Providence in sinful Paths When you find your vile Hearts opposing difficult Duties as secret Prayer Self-examination c. confess the Naughtiness of your Hearts say Lord here 's a Duty that my wicked Heart stands averse to O create in me a new Heart change my Nature and then oppose the necessity of it against the difficulty in it say I must take pains in coming under and bearing of the Yoke or I must suffer the pains of Hell for ever O my Soul which is hardest Repent or perish turn or burn coming to Christ and his Yoke or departing accursed into Everlasting Fire isn't Hell a more terrible Word than repent and believe Is not the stroke of Vengeance worse than the Yoke of Repentance Can the Devil name any thing in Christ's Yoke so hard as we can prove all things in Sin to be and all Places in Hell to be Sure Physick is better than Poyson letting Blood than a Mortal Stab through the Heart It 's better to be preserv'd in Brine than rot in Honey and whet this on your Heart that there is no Remedy Sin must have Sorrow here or for ever Wherefore be nor Slothful in Business but fervent in Spirit in secret Duties take heed of three things 1. Of being Slite and Formal 2. Sluggish and Slothful 3. Too short and hurrying The Lord bless this to you 2. Would you bear the Yoke in Youth be not fond of Heshly Youthful Pleasures if you belong to God he 'll make you rue it bitterly your sensual Pleasures are Satan's Traps whereby he takes and trapans Multitudes of young Ones to Hell If the love of Games Sports Plays Meats Drink take thy Heart thou wilt never endure to take Christ's Yoke 3. Labour to get and when got to keep and preserve a tender Conscience for want of this when I was young I suffer to this Day O never make light of any the least Sin but keep at the utmost distance from the appearance of Evil. 4. Accustom thy self to continual Reverent Thoughts of God's Omnisciency and Omniprescency 5. Keep out of Evil Company Wisdom it self hath told you a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13. 20. 6. Study the Duties of thy particular Calling art thou a Servant keep thy self free from Injustice and Defrauding it is a Sin will make a fearful Noise in Conscience when awaked But I may not enlarge Wherefore to close all O young People to day while it s called to day harden not your Hearts but hear his Voice c. Take my Yoke upon you c. I have spread it before the Lord in secret and now I declare it to you that I should esteem it a rich recompense before I go hence and be no more seen if through the Cooperation and Blessing of God I might Yoke in some of you yea all your Souls to Christ this day O how easy would it make my Pilgrimage my Passage through this Vale of Tears I would not go with the Guilt of the blood of any Soul of you upon me O that this may be the day of God's Power I know it is the Lord alone that can convert a Soul But let me tell you I would never despair of that Soul's Conversion that is brought on its Knees incessantly to cry with Ephraim Turn thou me and I shall be turned O it s a blessed sign when Sermons end in Groans and Tears Lord I must be converted or condemned I will not let thee go without thou bless me The Lord say Amen FINIS