must passe and ouercome many temptations of Sathan the flesh likewise walke in the strait and narrow way of holinesse sanctification before thou come to the easie and spacious end of thy way to the full possession of that heauenly kingdome and eternall glorification through Christ Iesus thou must bee in labours before thou rest from labours thou must liue in the Lord before thou canst die in the Lord thou must liue the life of the righteous if thou wouldest wish to die the death of the righteous and thy last end to bee like theirs All the holy Patriarks Prophets Saints and Martyrs of God haue trode this narrow way before they obtayned the recompence of their reward vnto which they had respect if therefore thou haue any respect vnto the same and by hope looke for that which they fully now possesse follow and insist in their footsteps if thou wouldest tryumph and glory with them thou must also couragiously fight with them against the diuell and thine owne corrupt affectionâ— and concupiscence of the flesh which fayne would haue libertie and draw thee in that broad way of destruction but assure thy selfe in thy youth and in the way thereof that the greater liberty of thy flesh and affections here maketh the most strait incarceration and feareful plunging of soule and body in endlesse and easelesse torments of hell hereafter which thou mayest plainely behold and learne by the example of Diues Lazarus whereof the one in the broad way had his pleasures in this life but not a drop of water to coole his tongue after death the strait ende of his way the other had his miseries here without necessaries scarce for the flesh but after death which opened the large end of his way he was carried into Abrahams bosome in eternall ioyes for euer to remaine in their life Lazarus was compelled to beg from Diues crumbes of his bread at their death Diues was compelled to beg from Lazarus a drop of cold water there did straitnesse follow after ease and ease after straitnesse in their seuerall wayes Albeit the rich man in the Gospell walking in the broad way did bid his soule Eate drinke and take it ease for it had much laid vp for many yeeres yet God from heauen had decreed that the strait end of his way shold be neerer then he thought they should fetch his soule froÌ„ him that same night Albeit Nebuchad-nezzar walking in the broad way also in the pride of his heart said Is not this great Babel that I haue built for the house of my kingdome by the might of my power and for the honour of my Maiestie glorying so in the flesh yet he was cast into a great and wonderfull straitnesse while the word was in his mouth and driuen from men as a beast to eate the grasse of the fields Albeit Belâ—hazzar likewise walking in the same large way in the exaltation of his heart against God proclaimed a banquet sitting with his Princes wiues and concubines pampring giuing all pleasure to the flesh drinking wine in the vessels consecrated onely to Gods seruice which were brought out of Ierusalem not glorifying GOD but praysing his Idols of gold siluer and stone yet the end of his way was this the Hand declared on the wall that hee was weighed and found too light his kingdome was ended and giuen to others and that same night he was slayne presently so when he was highest vpon the top of his reioycing hill most suddenly he did fall lowest in the valley of mourning and pit of teares by lamentable destruction the vnexpected strait end of his broad former way The Sodomites knew little how neere fire and brimstone was neere them the primitiue world how neere them was the Deluge and all such that walke in this way of libertie of the flesh how neere subuersion of soule and bodie is at hand Therefore let vs walke in the right way if wee would sitte at Christs right hand let vs be sanctified here if we would be glorified hereafter let vs walke in the true path if we would attaine to the true end thereof and subdue the slesh with the affections thereof to the spirit and yoake of Christs obedience if in body and spirit for euer wee would raigne with him Let vs redresse our owne wayes and let euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord depart from iniquitie as the Apostle commandeth Timothie and in his person all yong men Flie from the lusts of youth follow after righteousnesse faith loue and peace with them that call on the name of the Lord for if any man purge himselfe from these hee shall bee a vessell vnto honour sanctified and meet for the Lord prepared vnto euery good worke Seeing also our course of life here is compared to a Way which wee must redresse according to Gods word therefore let vs walke in this life as in a way warily and working out our saluation in feare and trembling Considering with ourselues 1. First as in a way or iourney no rest is to be expected that is permanent vntill wee come to the end thereof so neither must wee looke for any permanent citie or solide rest in the way or course of this life vntill we come to Iesus Christ being dissolued to be with him who is the true end and rest of the true and narrow way the temple of that spirituall Ierusalem and Citie of all perfect light and ioy For the estate of his Church here is as the Boat wherein vpon the sea hee was with his Disciples euer tossed vp and downe in continuall labour so that except hee were our stay our rest and refuge wee should surely perish Our life here is a Warfare our enemie is euer pursuing as a raging Lyon seeking to deuoure vs therefore wee must be in continual defence of the life of our soules by his strength being armed who gaue his life for our soules vntill vnder his defence hauing fought a good fight and finished our course we be victorious and tryumph with him hauing receyued that immortall and incorruptible crowne of glory which is layd vp for vs and for all them that loue the comming of the Lord Iesus in glorie to glorifie vs with himselfe 2. Secondly in a way we euer goe forward and one step followeth another sicut vnda impelli tur vnda as one waue is enforced by another so also in the way of this our life wee poast to our end and our dayes passe more swiftly then a weauers shittle our life is as a flower that now springeth vp and with a blast fadeth as a water bubble now vp and now downe with an aire of wind as a smoake seene and gone presently as the fat of Lambes which suddenly is dropped away so that whether wee sleepe or wake whether we eate or drinke whether we go or sit still as in a ship wee are caried speedily with full sailes thorow the sea of this
displease him from his childehoode to sâ—y Why hast thou done so I remember one example in the Scripture of children carelesly euilly brought vp which may make all fathers tremble quake to heare the fearefull punishment thereof and may teach them by carefull and godly education of their children to preuent the like wrath iudgement of God for hee is the same in all ages both in iudgement and mercy When the Prophet of God Elisha was comming vp to Bethel there came out of the City certaine children and mocked him calling him Balde head balde head therefore God in his wrath sent out Beares out of the wildernesse at the Prophets desire and they tore rent 42. of these children in peeces a lamentable spectacle young children before their tender parents eies to be so deuoured and torne of wilde beastes But consider their carelesse and loose educatioÌ„ which deserued this they were not kept in at vertue or learning but suffered to runne abroad in the streetes idlie they were not brought vp in the reuerence neither of God his word or his Prophets but to mocke Gods seruants and scornefully to ieast at old age which they should rather beene taught to honour and reuerence in all dutie and in all persons therefore because their parents neglected to correct them in time and to take no more care for their instruction God sent wilde Beares out of the wildernes to teach them more humanitie and at the Prophets request whom they so mocked and contemned to bee their correctors to their destruction There are too many such carelesse and indulgent parents nowadaies which maketh so many proue wilde and vndutifull children both to God them and their owne wicked and vuruly affections oft times proueth these wilde beares which Sathan hunteth out and God suffereth to teare their soules more precious and lamentable to see and at last to bring body soule to a most miserable estate both here by pouerty dispaire hereafter by death endlesse condemnation The Lord auert such iudgments from many conuert their hearts to him againe that they may preuent his fierce wrath while the acceptable time is to day while we heare his voice and as yong men should not so neither let their pareÌ„ts think the faults of youth to be but small and rather to be imputed to the nature of the age the former searefull example teacheth the contrary they being but children and their fault mocking yet their punishment most greeuous that God inflicted vpon them as Dauid also calleth the sins of his youth not smal but rebellions which is highest treason against our God the King of Kings and Prince of all Princes Therefore let all parents be carefull in the good and godly education of their children Euery tree is knowne by his fruite the fruite of the parents is their Oliue branches their children Let them shew then their godlinesse and religion in the godly education of their children prouing thereby that themselues are the good tree by sending forth liuely branches to bee ingrafted as themselues are in the stocke Iesus Christ not being too indulgent to them nor wincking in a manner at their faultes neither with olde Eli saying onely My sonnes doe so no more but to shewe their loue to their children in correcting them for their faultes For whom the Father loueth him hee chastiseth and hee that spareth the rod hateth his sonne but hee that loueth him chasteneth him betâ—â—e Therefore as the Wiseman counselleth Correct thy sonne and hee will giue thee rest and will giue pleasures to thy soule And as the vessel which a man maketh most of and deareliest esteemeth that vseth he oftest to scoure and make cleane from the least spot or staine so a wise and louing father will not suffer his sonne to be polluted with the least spot of vice for chastising is the fathers honour and the life of the childe So that correction is like Ionathans arrowes not in anger but in loue not to harme but to warme not to put in perill but to preserue from perill not to deforme but to reforme like a good corrasiue to eate away the rottennesse of vice and a bitter potion to make their childreÌ„ vomit out from their soule heart the poison of sinne lest hauing taken deepe roote and growing vp with them they be so indured and hardned therein that they breake first by finall destruction before they will bow by timely instruction or holesome correction Therefore so plant them in vertue and vertue in them while they are tender and flexible in youth that in the haruest of age their tops may bow downe in Gods obedience loaden with the pleasant fruite of godlinesse and good workes Teach a childe in the trade of his way saith Salomon and when he is olde hee shall not depart from it Youth is the seede time in the spring wee must not sowe popple and in haruest looke for good wheate but as wee sowe so we shall reape The Nurse frameth the body while it is young tender so must parents their childrens minds while they are greene and flexible If we see a fault or euill manners in any man we iudge that he was euill brought vp and if he haue vertue we adiudge it to his good education yea in an old prouerbe we say that nurture changeth nature as Lycurgus proued before the Lacedemonians to be true by taking two young whelpes of a like nature and of one damme and bringing vp the one according to it owne nature in a kitchin and the other besides it proper nature to hunting so that at a certaine solemne assembly of the Lacedemonians Lycurgus brought forth his two dogges before them placing before the one who was brought vp to hunting a pot and before the kitchen dog a hare but the hunting dogge in sight of them all refused the pot and ranne after the hare where the other according to his education refused to follow the hare betaking himselfe to licke the pot Whereby it was shewed the altering power efficacy of educatioÌ„ which is a second nature as it were vnto a maÌ„ for by euil educatioÌ„ a good nature may be corrupted as by good an euill nature may be rectified a good grouÌ„d vnplanted with wholsome hearbs or vnsowed with good seed in time doth soonest bring forth vnprofitable and euill weedes where on the contrarie a barren ground wel laboured and sowed produceth pleasant flowers and sauorie fruits The right blessing which Parents should bestow vpon their childreÌ„ is when bringing them vp in the feare of GOD they make God blesse them also for if thou blesse thy child God curse him what auayleth thy blessing but if thou bring him vp in the true knowledge and obedience of Iesus Christ to thy blessing God and Angels shall say Amen and hee shall heape both vpon thee and thy seede after thee manifold and great blessings as hee blesseth all those who doe his will
which leadeth to saluation presse hardly to thrust in at that narrow gate lay off and cast away far from thee all the impediments of sinne and the intising vanities and pleasures of youth and let thy onely care be with thee first to see thy Sauiour the way is narrow that leadeth to him delay not then till it be full but striue to be foremost the way is narrow that leadeth to life therefore not soone found in the beginning thē of thy life timely begin and search carefully and narrowly for it the true way is narrow and straight therefore thy steppes therein when thou hast found it must be strait and narrow thou must make a couenant with thy eye that it behold no vanitie thou must shut the gates of thy eares that thou heare no vaine prophane or idle speeches offensiue to God thou must not harken to them but let the sound of Gods word and healthfull admonitions be pleasant only vnto thy hearing thou must haue a watch-man before thy lips and Gods feare a bar vnto thy heart tongue that thou vtter nothing but may be to Gods glorie thy owne comfort and the edification of those that doe heare thee abstaining from swearing cursing lying backebiting slandering iudgeing idle or corrupt speaking and from all things that hath but the appearance of euill thou must exercise thy handes to doe good only thy feet to prosecute the same thy will must be made cōformable to thy Sauiours thy vnderstanding to perceiue and apprehend vertue and Gods mercy towards thee thy memorie to thinke vpon his iudgements to thine amendement vpon his mercy to thy comfort and his manifolde blessings and vndeserued benefites for encrease of thankfulnesse in thee Thy whole body and all the members thereof which is a member of Iesus Christ must no wise be made a member of Sathan by sinne or polluted to bee the member of an harlot thy soule and heart with all the powers and faculties thereof must be the temple and tabernacle of Gods sanctifying and holy spirit not a lodge for that vncleane spirit of sinne and his fellowes of thy filthy lusts and carnall affections in body and soule thou must walke so warily and narrowly in feare and trembling working out thy saluation The way is narrow feare then neuer so little to depart from the paths of the Lord this straight passage and path to saluation is soone lost by negligence but not so easily found out againe without great diligence care not for the scornefull and diuelish slander of the world to bee called precise but daily more and more labour so to be indeede striue to liue a pure and vnspotted life without an hypocriticall and externall shew onely thereof It is saide in a diuelish prouerbe A young Saint an olde diuell but endeuour thou being young to be a Saint of God and to dedicate thy youth to him and his seruice onely walking in this strict and narrow path the same God who hath giuen thee beginning shall also giue thee constancie and a ioyfull end that thou maiest liue an old Saint also as well as young on earth and in heauen he shal glorifie thee a blessed Saint for euer with himselfe It is saide and that most truely Temporis praeteriti bene impensi suauis est memoria The memorie of time by-past which was well bestowed is sweete and ioyfull to the minde of man And let any young man consider with himselfe if God bring him to age what greater ioy and comfort hee can haue then to remember that hee hath borne the yoake in his youth as the Prophet saith that hee entred and walked then in the narrow straight way and now is come to the easie passage and out-going thereof to receiue that promised reward of eternall ioyes and euerlasting life where hee seeth others who then entred a contrarie course giuing loose liberty to their flesh fulfilling their lusts and neuer caring to redresse their waies in their olde age to bee punished with pouertie punished with infamie and disgrace ouercome with sicknesse humbled greatly despised expelled out of all good companie a patterne of all miserie in great straightnesse the end of the way and compelled with the prodigall Sonne after they haue spent all abused Gods gifts to liue in a lamentable estate and to flie from Citie to City from Countrey to countrey wrestling if they may to come out of their straightnes but falling from pit to pit from Scylla to Charybdis And except God their father giue them a minde at last to returne to him aright and halfe way run and meete them that is to be feared they bee cast into an euerlasting straightnes of eternall death and condemnation which by their walking in that broad way of carnall libertie they iustly haue promerited What ioy I say shall this be to an aged man to remember his happy estate he is in And this wofull condition hee hath by Gods grace escaped when for age hee cannot so well eate his meate this remembrance that hee remembred his Creatour in the daies of his youth and redressed his waies according to his word shall be a continuall banquet vnto him this peace of a good conscience and ioy of an vpright heart shal be a staffe to vphold his soule when hee beholdeth the greene field and pleasant fruites and flowers of his well spent youth greater solace shall bee to his minde then the pleasure of the finest decked garden of the world could bee to the eye his soule shall flow with comfort and his heart pant and leape with ioy an infinite treasure shall he possesse see continually which shall neuer make him carefull or the feare of the losing thereof put sleepe from his eyes but from death to life it shall passe with him and leaue a perpetuall fame thereof in the world when he shall die in the Lord his works shall follow him Let euery yong man then spend and bestow his youth so in walking in this narrowe way and straight passage circumspectly precisely and as purely as hee can redressing his waies according to Gods word that in the haruest of old age he may pull and eate of the fruit of his youth and find refreshment after wearinesse rest after labour victorie after the battel easinesse after straightnesse and infinit eternall ioy after momentaneall mourning and teares for a season assuring himselfe that his fasting from sinne in youth shall be a feasting of comfort in age his sowing in teares shall bee a reaping of ioy And Christ the way the truth and the life who hath promised the reward is faithfull willing and sufficient to performe hee saith To him that ouercommeth will I giue to eate of the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God He that ouercommeth shall not bee hurt of the second death to him that ouercommeth will I giue of the Manna that is hid and I will giue him a white stone and in the stone a new
name written which no man knoweth sauing he that receiueth it He that ouercommeth shall bee clothed in white aray and I will not put out his name out of the Booke of life but I will confesse his name before my Father and before his Angels Lo◠many rewards diuers recompences great liberality vnspeakeable mercy and infinite matter of comfort and encouragement in thy youth to walke in this narrow way that in age thy ouercomming may bee fulfilled and finished Christ who promiseth hee is the way that cannot erre walke in him hee is the trueth that cannot deceiue walke by himselfe and hee is the life that hath swallowed vp death walke therefore to him make him wholly thy whole way and wholly holily insist and persist in him redressing all thy owne waies according to his Be importunate with Moses that the Lorde would shew himselfe vnto thee wrestle with Iacob for the blessing that thou maiest preuaile with God and by his grace he may preserue direct thee in all thy waies◠according to his own way striue to enter in at the straight gate as Christ the way cōmandeth thee pray with Paul 7. times yea 70. times 7. times and be instant that his grace may suffice thee with the widow weary the Iudge of al flesh that iust willing Iudge to heare thee and grant thee thy desire with the poore Samaritane woman begge earnestly at Christ to cure thy owne sicke soule to redresse thy waies to direct thee in his and to giue thee of the childrens bread that hid Manna to eate The kingdome of heauen and end of the straight way suffereth violence inferre violence therefore to enter in at the same neither delay any time Iacob was desired by Ioseph to make his iourney speedily to come to the kingdome of Egypt where hee was second person Iesus Christ our brother whom we sold by our sinnes desireth and willeth euery young man to make his iourney speedily likewise in the right way to come to the kingdome of heauen where he is the second person also Iacob except that he had made haste to get the blessing of his father hee had beene in perill to loose it for presently as hee went out from the presence of his father his brother Esau came in so except thou make speed in thy youth to obtaine the blessing of God thy heauenly Father by redressing thy wayes and walking in his thou art in great perill to loose the same this narrow and strait gate of grace is opened before thy eyes then striue that thou maist enter in thereat bee not slow then but make speede in thy way here lest hereafter with the foolish Virgins thou call and knocke at the gate of glorie but bee not admitted to that Ioy say not in thy youth with sluggard Pro. 6. 10. Yet a slumber and vnfolding of hands but vp and walke with Iesus Christ in the way of godlinesse at the first call according to the rule of Gods word purge redresse thy wayes when that cloudy pillar warneth thee to goe forward goe and walke hauing it before thy eyes in the way of holinesse and when it warneth thee to stay then stay thy course in repressing thy affections brideling thy lusts and their precipitate course redressing thy wayes restrayning the liberties of the flesh conforming thy will to Gods will and walking in a strait and narrow way of life follow young Abell who walked innocently and holily before God offering the first fruits of his flocke as thou must of thy youth to the Lord and not the broad way of Cain in murther wrath and despising of God or of Lamech in vaunting and bragging of thy strength in youth to commit sinne as many yong men do Follow godly Noah in the strait way of holines and of curbing the liberties of the flesh who in that generall corruption of time was onely found iust and found fauour in Gods eyes when the rest drinking and eating taking of those whom they liked best reioycing and walking in the broad way of iniquitie and libertie of the flesh were destroyed with all flesh in that generall Deluge Follow iust Lot in this true way who remained onely vndefiled with the filthie lusts of the Sodomites and in vprightnesse of conuersation walked onely before GOD afflicting his soule euery day for their abominations and eschued the broad way of their vncleannesse whoring oppression drunkennesse c. wherewith yong old was infected and cryed downe from heauen feareful destruction vpon them Follow Abraham who obeyed and beleeued God godly Izaak who in his youth was diligently occupied in prayer in the field and liued chastly in the feare of God vntil a lawful wife was prouided for him Follow plaine Iacob who esteemed Gods blessing better then all the world and did cast all his care vpon God as the Apostle commandeth and serued in a painefull seruice long and truely without sleep in the cold frost of the night and burning heat of the day also suffered many iniuries and euer rewarded good for euill Follow yong vpright Ioseph who beeing greatly tempted to enter in that broad way of liberty and lust by his mistresse refused to commit that vild sinne of adultery with her and chose to walke on in the strait path of holinesse he walked so wisely that he found fauour in all mens eyes and was loued greatly for his gentle and courteous behauiour and at last was promoted by Gods prouidence to be the second person in all Egypt after his straitnesse in prison there Follow faithfull Moses enter in at this strait gate with him who chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God walking in the narrow way then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season walking in the broad way esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt the reason is for hee had respect vnto the recompence of the reward the end of this narrow way Israel whom hee did leade went out of Egypt to Canaan the land of their rest thorow much straitnesse and a narrow passage as the true Israel of God must go out from the Egypt of this world to that spirituall Canaan the land of their eternal rest Follow couragious Ioshua who went thorow a narrow passage ouer Iorden vnto the land of Canaan with Gods Arke before him by many battels ouercame and obtayned the same as thou must by many battels betwixt the flesh the spirit obtaine that eternal Canaan walking towards it in a narrowe passage and hauing Gods worde continually before the eyes of thy heart to redresse and conforme thy wayes according thereunto Yong Dauid after he was elected king of Israel hee walked in this narrow path thorow many tentations to draw him from Gods feare and seruice and thorow much straitnesse before he came to the possession of the kingdome as after thy election to that euerlasting kingdome of heauen in this world during that Prince of darkenesse raigne thou
is how to redresse vice and ouercome sinne in his mortal members that Gods free Spirit may make his aboad and comfortable habitation in his soule The diligent care of the other is how to represse and oppresse vertue and godlines that it take no roote in his soule nor bring forth no acceptable pleasant fruit before God but that as a sinke of iniquitie it may abound and yeelde forth out of the aboundance thereof rotten and vnsauorie smells in thought word and action The one seeketh to purge himselfe from the least spot of sin that might make him displeasing in his fathers sight yea hee abhorreth from the very appearance of euill or the least meane that might draw or perswade him any way thereunto The other seeketh the foulest puddle or mire of sin wholy in body and soule not caring to tuÌ„ble pollute himselfe as a filthy swine thereinto and as a dogge deuouring sinne griedily which deuoureth his soule and returning euer to his vomit he embraceth all occasions of sinne hee headlong runneth vnto the brinke of destruction as it were with cart-ropes of iniquitie he is swiftly carried as the oxe to the slaughter or the foole to the blocke vnto the bottomles pit of perdition The one for the least sinne he committeth that stayneth his soule hee heapeth and powreth out tears vpon tears as a treasure to be laid vp in a bottel before God that thereafter hee may reape the fruite of his seed sowed in tears in the ioyful and plentifull haruest of the Lord when he shall find true rest and comfort to his soule The other in his greatest sinnes hee most reioyceth and with Lamech vaunteth of his vngodly furie and crueltie of impietie inferred to his owne soule hee heapeth sinne vpon sinne vntill the day of wrath as a treasure and with all griedines filleth the cup of iniquitie to the full til God in his iust iugment giue to him also the full cup of his fierce wrath and indignation and make him drinke out the very dregs thereof for as he soweth so he shall reape The one sort being the children of the light and the day they walke in the light and doe the workes thereof therfore they shall enioy the cleare and endlesse light of that heauenly new Ierusalem which is the bright countenance of the Lambe The other being the children of darkenesse and the night they delight to walke in the wayes of darknes and to doe the workes thereof therefore with the prince of darkenesse they shall bee at last cast into vtmost darkenesse where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Finally as euerie tree is knowne by his fruite so by their works you shal know and discerne betwixt godly and vngodly yong men as a good yong tree bringeth foorth best fruite in the spring while it is yong so a godly yong man bringeth forth best fruits of vertue and pietie in his tender yeeres and spring of his youth not delaying till the cold winter of old age come wherein eyther no fruit at all or if any nothing but sowre grapes are to be expected but as no man can gather figs of thornes nor seeke for honie out of the viper so from those that consume their best age and prime of youth in all lustfull licentiousnesse outlaw liuing in sinne and slauish libertie of iniquitie nothing can be expected but that the haruest shall be like the spring wherin they shal reape the fruit of their labours and their seed time of wickednes shall bee rewarded with the measure of bitter seuere punishment when the axe shall bee put to the root of the tree and euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall bee cut downe cast into vnquenchable fire The examples of both these sorts of yong men we haue in the Scripture set before the eyes of all youthes in this age to learne by and behold Of the one whom they should follow the examples of yong Abel vprightly sacrificing vnto God the first fruits and fat of the flocke as they should the first fruits and fat of their youth in vprightnesse and holinesse of life of yong Isaac exercising himselfe in prayer alone in the field of yong Iacob in suffering many wrongs obeying the good counsell of his parents fearing their displeasure dealing faithfully in an holy and humble mind with all men of yong Ioseph refusing the way of sinne and adulterous lust suffering patiently rewarding good for euill and being a comfort and reliefe to his old father and his whole family of Moses refusing to bee counted the sonne of Pharaohs daughter to bee esteemed the sonne of God and a faithful seruant in his whole house of yong Dauid in trusting euer stedfastly and beleeuing in Gods mercy towards him suffring much aduersitie and still sticking fast vnto the Lord who deliuered his enemies so oftentimes in his handes and his life out of theirs of yong Salomon in seeking the true wisedome of God before honour or riches of yong Samuel zealous and faithfull in Gods sanctuarie in his youth there seruing him of yong Daniel in walking with an holy and vpright heart before the almighty of yong Timothie brought vp froÌ„ an infantin the true knowledg feare of God a glorious starre painfull instrument in his Church of the children of the elect Ladie 2. epist. Ioh. 1. 4. whoÌ„ the beloued Apostle of Iesus Christ found walking in the trueth as God had commanded and therefore reioyced with such like examples which are set before the eyes of all youth according thereunto to reforme and coÌ„forme themselues in all things that they may obtaine that rich reward of eternall life whereof they are already in possession Of the other sort which wee should eschue and abhorre is malicious murdering and hypocriticall Cain who was accursed of God vaunting Lamech bragging of his strength furie to commit sinne in his youth Ham dishonouring contemning Noah his father Esau in being a griefe to his parents heart a profane A theist and persecutor of his godly brother Absolon a bloodie vnnaturall proud wicked sonne to his father Dauid whose end was a shamefull and sudden death Elies two sonnes who oppressed Gods people committed most vile filthinesse in Israel and were at last the death and heart-break of their old father and their owne destruction Ammon incestuous with his sister whose reward was cruel death and sudden destruction the young men of Sodome who in their filthinesse were consumed with fire brimstone Zimri and Cozbi in their burning lust thrust thorow by zealous Phineas with many other such examples of those who in the time of their youth fulfilled their owne lusts and wicked affections til they tasted of the full cup of Gods fierce wrath to their vtter destruction which was their sâ—al end lameÌ„table conditioÌ„ such therfore let vs abhor with their course of wicked life as we would eschue their feareful end most cursed death Râ—hoboam by his yong counsellers in obeying
mourning considered What are my wayes what haue I done Peter ere euer Christ looked comfortably vpon him againe after his deniall with bitter teares he coÌ„sidered what haue I done The Prodigall child and true paterne of a conuerted sinner before euer he saw his fathers face or house his first step was he considered with sorrow and tryed What haue I done Paul before his coâ—uersion heard from heauen and considered in his heart What hee had done before he said Lord what shall I doe The Iewes at Peters Sermon were pricked in their consciences and with griefe of minde considered What they had done before they could say Men and brethren what shall we doe For this triall is the first step and embracing of Gods mercie For from serious tryall commeth true acknowledging from true acknowledging commeth humble confession and from humble confession proceedeth the assurance of absolution and comfort of Gods spirit if we iudge our selues we shall not bee iudged saith the trueth and how can we iudge before triall and knowledge Therefore let euery yong man learne to trie himself and his wayes What he hath done according to Gods word For without this first â—nquisition to find out the errour impuritie of our waies we shal neuer attaine to the second to enquire Wherewith they shal be cleansed redressed or rectified The 3. thing which is to be noted by this inquisitiue manner of the Prophets speach and which may be called the second step to saluation is that after such diligent and earnest enquirie of our wayes What wee haue done wee must also ioyne a true acknowledging and humble confession of our errour transgression proceeding from an inward griefe with an heartie desire of redressing for how can a yong man inquire and desire of God that his waies may be redressed or cleansed except hee first try them and acknowledge the errour and vncleanes thereof Can a man turne to walke in the right way except first hee find and acknowledge himselfe to bee in the wrong Can a man seck for a Physitian except first he finde and acknowledge himself to be diseased Therefore if we would returne or be conuerted we must first by tryal acknowledge and confesse with Isaiah 53. 6. All wee like sheepe haue gone astray we haue turned euery one to his owne way And except with the Prodigall sonne we acknowledge first that wee haue gone in a farre countrie from our father wee can neuer resolue to draw nere againe except we coÌ„fesse humbly first vpon the knees of a sorrowfull soule that wee haue sinned against heauen and before him not being any more worthy to be called his sons Verily we shal neuer be imbraced in the armes of his mercie nor receiue the comfortable kisse of his loue thou must say Lord forgiue me the sinnes and rebellions of my youth before he say to thy conscience that they are pardoned thou must first acknowledge thy wayes to be polluted with the filth of sin and lusts of thy youth before thou can inquire Wherewith they may be redressed or obtaine that the Lord would cleanse and purge them in his mercie the poore Publican acknowledged first that hee was vnworthie to lift vp his eyes to heaueÌ„ in respect of his offences before he went home iustified before God the theefe vpon the crosse confessed that he dyed and suffered iustly for his sinnes before he receiued that comfortable promise and assurance from Christ to bee with him that same night in Paradise Dauid first confessed to the Prophet Nathan that hee had sinned indeede before he receiued the answer that his sinnes were forgiuen him With many such examples shewing that young and olde wee must al confesse our guiltinesse before that great Iudge and King of all Kings before wee receiue our pardon before earthly Kings and Iudges confession acknowledging of the fault maketh present coÌ„demnation before God almightie confession and acknowledging of our sinnes with sorrow maketh present absolutioÌ„ Therfore let euery man chiefly youth whose errors coÌ„monly are greatest professe confesse in all submissioÌ„ of hart before God the enormities vncleannes iniquitie of their waies that the God of all mercy loue may at his good will and pleasure reforme redresse and purge the same to his glory and our eternall comfort The fourth last obseruatioÌ„ that may be gathered by this interrogatory proposition of the Prophet in person of a young man and which may be truely called the third step to saluation is not onely to try our waies and to acknowledge the erroneous course thereof with sorrow but to make a further and second inquisition of the right way with a harty desire to walk therin I must not only examine my waies and course of life hitherto nor thinke it enough to bee sorrowfull and grieued for the erronious going astray therein which I deprehend and acknowledge but also I must ioyne this inquirie desire to know Whereby shall a yong man redresse or purge his way It is not enough to know that I am out of the way except I labor to know also how I may come into the same again It is not enough for a man to know that he is sick except he study also to know whereby hee may attaine to his perfect health againe When a man is in a great danger or peril his chiefe deuising is how to come out of it It is not enough to know that I am in prison except I labor how to be freed Youth for the most part walketh loueth to walke in that broad by-way of liberty where there is no restraint or curbing of the affections and lusts of the flesh for a time delighting in vaine and transitorie pleasures which carieth a momentary sweetnesse with them to the flesh but leaueth behind them eternall bitternes to the soule this way is a strait and darke prison in the end It is a by-way that bringeth wearinesse to the soule the walking therein is in great perill and the foote-steps thereof woundeth the conscience therefore it is not enough to know see that it is euil erronious and vncleane but they must also earnestly seeke after the right way and follow it Whereby they may redresse and purge their wayes The Prophet of God Ierem. 6. 16. commandeth and sheweth this dutie to old and yong in these words Thus saith the Lord Stand in the wayes and behold and aske for the olde way which is the good way and walke therein and ye shall find rest for your soules Paul obserued this when hee said Lord What shall I doe The yong man in the Gospell that came to Christ obserued this also when he said Master What shall I doe to obtaine eternall life The Iewes that were pricked in conscience at Peters sermon obserued this when they inquired one another Men and brethren what shall we doe The Iailer Act. 16. 30. obserued this when he fel downe before Paul and Sylas and asked them Sirs what must I doe
to be saued And Christ Iesus the way it self teacheth vs the same duty wheÌ„ he coÌ„maÌ„deth Search the Scriptures for it is they that testifie of me Let all young men therefore who desire to bee esteemed true Christians and hauing a name to be alive in Christ not to bee dead inquire of their owne waies carefully narrowly vnpartially acknowledging truely and in most submissiue manner confessing before the throne of almighiy God their errors and manifold enormities with an earnest and hearty desire to know and practise wherewith they may redresse and purge their waies and walke in the immaculate and holy waies of God and his commandements and for all propone and set before their eyes the example of that forenamed young man onely in the Gospel that imitating him they may addresse themselues in prayer and meditation to Iesus Christ and his word making it their chiefe care and inquirie to know and practise how they may attaine vnto eternall life Blessed is the condition of such a young man who doth so and who in all humilitie doth daily prostrate himselfe vpon the knees of his heart before the throne of the maiestie of God earnestly desiring and wishing with the same Prophet in the 5. verse O that my waies were directed to keepe thy statutes O Lord. Happy is the estate of such a young man and farre happy shal it be hereafter whose delight is in Gods word care to reforme and conform his waies according thervnto As woful dangerous is the conditioÌ„ of the contrary of all such who like vnbridled horses vntamed colts swine wallowing in the mire puddle of vncleannes onely rauished in the hote furie of the lustes of their affections and led by the fearefull hand of sinne and vaine pleasures of the flesh vntill blindlings as the Oxe is led to the slaughter or the foole to the blocke they bee drawne downe the staires of perdition and headlongs precepitat in the deepe gulfe and pâ—t of vtter destruction because in time of their youth they neither enquired obserued nor examined their wayes nor by Gods word sought to redresse and purge the same Now concerning the first thing particularly to bee considered in the question or first part of this Verse which is the person concerning whom the same is mooued He is set downe to be a Yong man so described by the adiunct of age albeit some others as Augustine meaneth a newe or regenerate man hereby albeit decrepite in age as Aristotle in his Ethicks distinguisheth betwixt Iuuenis etate Iuuenis moribâ—â— Disputing de Idonco auditore Ethices Generally therefore indefinitely without limitation or exemption of any that the person concerning whom this question is propounded is saide to bee a yong man whither poore or rich noble or ignoble mightie or impotent the princes or the beggers sonne or what soeuer he be we learne First that this exhortation as al Gods word is indifferently spoken to all yong men For with God there is no respect of persons and therefore that all yong men great or smal should hearken thereunto and apply the same particularly to their owne consciences For from the kings sonne to the poore beggers all are his creatures alike and God their only Creator their beginning is all one for out of the dust were they taken and their end equally shal be al one for to dust they shall returne all came equally naked out of the wombe and all shall goe the same way to the graue and corruption Sickenes coÌ„meth alike Deaths Sythe cutteth downe both as grasse equally all liue one naturall life vpon the earth and draw their breath equally and all liue one supernaturall life in Iesus Christ equally the naturall food of the mortall bodies of both is the same to wit meate and drinke the supernaturall food of the immortall soules of both is likewise the same euen the body and blood of Iesus Christ who hath redeemed both alike by his death and sanctifieth both alike by his viuificating spirit vnto the life of righteousnesse one Iudgement abideth both without respect and one reward is to both the pledges of the kingdome of God which are his Word and Sacraments are alike offered and should be alike administrated to both the mightiest Monarch as the poorest begger boh are equally the sonnes of the first Adam the poorest begger aswell as the mightiest Monarch is equally the sonne and member of the second Adam Iesus Christ if in him he obey Gods wil and apply to his soule his promises by faith as in the first Adam he disobeyed Gods wil by misbeleeuing of his threatnings yea as Lazarus was preferred before Diues so are many outcasts of the world before the mightiest Powers and Princes thereof Gods law equally bindeth both great small his threatnings for sin appertaine equally to both and are alike executed vpon them without any exception or exemption of persons as his sweet promises of mercy belongeth also and are equally offered to both All are alike admonished in his woorde taught and rebuked by the same and before all mens eies indifferently is set downe therein life and death to choose Therefore let no man rich or poore exempt himself from the exhortations admonitions reprehensions or any part of the word of God but as they are spoken to all so particularly let euery one apply them to his owne soule and conscience they are the King of kings statutes binding and pertaining to all his subiects as well of highest as of lowest place and degre and especially let euery yong man whatsoeuer he be hearken to this Exhortation of Gods word and spirit in this place and learne Whereby to redresse his wayes The second obseruation and Lesson here-upon which the Prophet would haue euery one to marke and consider is this That in our youth and first age we must begin then to serue God in vprightnes and holines of life without any further delay or procrastination of time not sacrificing our childehood or youth to the idoll of our owne affections and the deuill as these Idolaters did their children to Molech and thinking that God will accept of our decrepite cold old age when coldly we shall offer the same vnto him but as hee will haue the euening sacrifice of age so wil he haue the morning oblation of youth as he hath giuen life to al ages so by all ages he wil be serued and being all to all by all in all he wil be worshipped The Lord is Alpha and Omega the first and the last the beginning and the end he will be honored therfore as well in the Alpha or the beginning of our youth and first age as hee will in the Omega or end of our last olde age hee is strength and giueth strength to all in this our strength then of youth we must not rise against God and runne with the diuill but as Gideon in his strength was commanded by Gods angel to rise against the
Midianites fight against his enemies so by Gods owne word and the holy messenger of his spirit euery yong man is commanded in the strength of his youth to rise against fight and subdue his owne corrupt affections which are enemies to God and his own saluation so that in our youth we must begin and serue God amend and redresse our waies according to his word not excluding but in euery age wee haue neede and must doe so and the rather seeing a maiori ad minus if Gods word serue to redresse a yong mans way who burneth in his lusts and affections much more serueth it to redresse a man in ripe age his affections being theÌ„ more cooled but chiefly in youth we haue most neede by Gods word to cleanse and redresse our waies for sundry reasons First because our nature then which contraries grace is strongest and so wee are more apt and readie to bee led away by our lustes and to bee drawne in the chaine of our affections by Sathan into a farre countrie of sinne from our owne fathers house with that prodigall sonne to abuse and riotously to consume Gods liberall giftes and manifolde graces bestowed vppon vs in pouertie nakednesse and famine of all goodnesse feeding our filthy vncleane lustes of the flesh and greedily feeding and eating with them Therefore in most dangerous estate wee must take the best and straitest heede when our enemie is within walls then most strongly and couragiously must hee bee resisted when wee finde our nature most inclining to obey sinne then must wee striue and wrestle with GOD in most earnest prayers and hold him fast vntill hee giue vs his blessing and the strength of his Spirite to striue also and preuaile with sinne that our nature by his grace may bee reformed our will made conformable and inclining to his and that in soule and bodie wee may bow in obeying his Commaundements Secondly our youth is the beginning of our pilgrimage and in it we must enter in either at the broad way which leadeth vnto euerlasting destruction or at the narrow way which leadeth vnto euerlasting ioy and saluation The true way is Iesus Christ and his righteousnes I am the way the veritie and life who as he is the way so he is the end of the way eternall saluation as he is God so he leadeth vnto God and to the kingdome of God his father and is the ease and rest of all that commeth loaden or wearie vnto him Therefore in thy youth and entring in thy pilgrimage see thou enter in this way and if thou wouldst finde this way to walke therein desire God to opeÌ„ thy eies that thou mayst see this narrow way Search the Scriptures saith the way it selfe for they are that testifie of me When thou hast found him in his word and known him by his word as the sheepe doth the true sheep-heard apply him then by a liuely faith to thy soule and take hold of the way and hauing found knowne applied and taken hold of him then apply thy whole course of life in thought word and deede vnto this way euer walking therin Be you holy as I am holy saith he Learne of me for I am humble and meeke Moses was commanded to pull off his shooes because the ground hee did stand vpon was holy If thou stand tâ—â—n vpon that holy ground ground-stone Iesus Christ walke in that sacred pure way thou must seperate and cast from thee all filthinesse of sinne and corruption If thou wouldst walke with that vnspotted Lambe thou must walke clothed with that white long robe of sanctitie righteousnesse purchased and washed in his blood beleeue Christ Iesus in thy heart confesse Christ Iesus with thy mouth and shew Christ Iesus and him image in thy life and conuersation so hast thou enterd so doost thou walke so shalt thou attaine to the end of this true and ioyfull way All other waies are by-waies the leader and ladder Sathan a manslaier a lyer from the beginning and the end of al such is Gods fierce wrath and eternall perdition hee leadeth thee from the true Citie of Ierusalem in his deceitfull by-waies to rob thee of the good gifts of God bestowed vpon thee and to kill body soule and cast it into vtter darkenesse like a wise Vlisses harken not to this Syren who would allure and draw thee so to no sweete harmony but to destroy the ship of the body and precious loading of thy soule for which christ shed his precious blood vpoÌ„ the rocks of eternal destruction to be his pray Auoide this Scylla and Carybdis and hold constantly forward in the true way Christ enter and perseuere in it in thy youth when thou art aged thou shalt bee at the end thereof that thou maiest see with the holy Apostle when the time of thy departing is at hand I haue sought a good fight and haue finished my course I haue kept the faith for henceforth is laid vp for mee the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue mee at that day and not vnto me onely but vnto aâ—l them that loue his appearing Lorde grant that euery one of vs may in our youth enter in this course constantly continue therein tâ—ll our â—â—ues end and at our last dissolution we may haue this sure and comfortable perswasion Thirdly we should serue God in our youth chiefly obeying his wil and abstaining from sinne because our youth is as the fat most pleasant vnto God not sinning in it when we may sinne and therefore let vs sacrifice the same vnto him not offering vp the fat morning sacrifice of our youth to Molech the diuell and our sinfull corrupt affections and thinking that the God of Israel wil accept of our leane and lame colde euening sacrifice of weake olde age and so bee serued with the worst after his enemie Sathan In our youth wee must not runne with the diuell and in age thinke to returne vnto God neuer forsaking our lusts nor ceasing to fulfill them in our youth till then in age they forsake vs with the strength to accomplish them wheÌ„ we are strongest wee are weake enough to follow Christ much more vnable when wee are weakest Therefore as Dauid killed Goliah in his youth so let vs seeke to slay that manslayer Sathan in resisting him and kill that Goliah of sin and our corrupt affections which hee vseth as weapons against vs putting off all fleshly armour and arming body and soule with the strength of Gods Spirit putting our trust and sure confidence in Iesus Christ who as by former experience he did ouercome his tentations in his owne person and in the persons of all the Saints his elect members so likewise of his constant loue vnfallible trueth and vnfaileable strength hee will assist and persist with vs vntill wee haue likewise troden him vnder foote As Dauid being young did pull out a Lambe out of the mouth of the Lyon and the Beare so
that they beginne well the fable of their life if they bee all vppon their pleasures in the beginning and first part it is like to prooue a Tragedie with a lamentable and sorrowfull ende in the last parte If thy youth bee a battle and troublesome at the beginning to subdue thy rebelling affections against Gods Spirit surely thy age the ende of the Comedie shall bring rest ioy victorie and peace vnto thy soule And therefore saith Ieremie It is good for a man to beare the yoake in his youth When Christ came many thousand yeares after hee was promised and did cast out Diuells yet they saide hee did torment them before the time so whensoeuer thou euen in thy olde age goest about to dismisse thy sinnes and pleasures they will say notwithstanding that thou dismissest them before time Sathan is a lyar from the beginning in saying to Euâ— Thou shalt not die so when in thy youth hee saith that it is not time as yet to dispossesse him out of thy heart and dismisse thy sinnes and vaine pleasures of youth hee is a lyer beleeue him not Hee saith Reioyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheere thee in the daies of thy youth and walke in the waies of thy heart and in the sight of thy eyes eate and drinke with the rich foole follow thy pleasures and bee secure for thou hast many yeares before thee thou shalt not die But the trueth of God warneth thee that thou must know for all these thinges God will bring thee to iudgement therfore take away that griefe out of thy heart and cause euill to depart from thy flesh for childhood and youth are vanitie Sathan counselleth vs to remember our selues and our owne lusts in our youth but the spirit of God saith Remember thy Creatour in the daies of thy youth shewing that all the sinnes of our youth proceedeth from our forgetfulnesse of God as all our obedience commeth from this remembrance of him considering that God created vs for this end that in righteousnes and holines we should onely serue him here on earth for a while and eternally hereafter with himselfe in heauen enioy euerlasting felicitie he created vs out of the dust of the earth and wee know not now how soone wee must returne thither againe in childhood youth middle or olde age therefore in all ages we must remember our Creator the end of our creation all things were created for our vse comfort and wee onely for Gods glory therefore let vs so shine before others that they seeing our good works God may be glorified by vs. No child can forget his father God is our father therefore none too yong to remember him this thing the naturall child and sonne of God Iesus Christ taught vs to remember when hee commaunded vs to say Our Father c. Shall wee say so in our mouth being yong and not shew him to be so in our life as we pray so to God so we must professe before man Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not those things which I command you saith Christ Therefore as Abraham beeing commanded by God did rise earely in the morning to sacrifice his yong sonne Izhac so in the morning of thy life earely as thou art commanded likewise by Gods word thou must offer vp thy selfe being yong a liuing sacrifice vnto God hauing the life of Christ which is true righteousnes in thee God requireth the first borne for his offering so God requireth thee when thou art first borne from thy birth with Samuel to bee offred and consecrated to his seruice and obedience So soone as thou art borne thou art baptized in the name of Iesus Christ shewing that when thou art scarce out of the house of thy mothers wombe he will haue thee entered in his house and family when thou canst not goe vnto him thou shouldest creepe vnto him seruing him as thou mayest in all ages In the fayth wherein thou art baptized thou sayest I beleeue c. not I will beleeue hereafter If then in thy youth thou wouldest not bee counted an infidell but a true beleeuer in Iesus Christ thou must shew thy true faith by workes and holinesse of life hast thou receyued Christs name vpon thee see if thou hast Christs nature otherwise thou pertaynest not to him In thy Baptisme thou vowedst and sworest to serue him in holinesse all thy life and receiuedst his name badge wilt thou then presently after in thy youth mocke God keepe still his name but serue the diuell in thy affections and lusts which thou promisedst then to mortifie The first fruits were for Gods seruice in thy youth thou must also bestow thy first fruits vpon the seruice of God and not giuing the first sommer fruit that is sweet to the diuell and the last winter fruit which are sowre grapes to God when wee pray as Christ hath taught vs we say first Hallowed be thy Name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen before that we desire this day our dayly bread if then wee seeke Gods glory and that Gods will may bee done by vs before wee aske that food by which we are preserued and liue how much more should wee seeke the same before our pleasures and the accomplishment and fulfilling of our lustes and â—innes whereby we perish and die Christ saith First seeke the kingdome of heauen and all other things shall bee cast vpon you Philosophie saith â—rimum quaerite bona animi catera aut aderunt aut certe non oberunt First seek the goods of the mind which is vertue piety and other things shall eyther be present or if absent they shall not hinder you if then by Christs commandement we must first seeke after the kingdome of God and by Philosophy to seeke after vertue and pietie to be planted in our minds shall wee then first in our youth seeke after our owne pleasures the kingdome of Sathan and to root in our hearts all vice and vngodlines God forbid when Christ sayeth to vs Follow me with his Disciples leauing our nets and deuises in the sea of the world to catch profit or pleasure we must obey and follow him straight if euer we would be couÌ„ted his Disciples when he asketh vs with Peter if we loue him in our youth we must answere Yea Lord I loue thee and not say when I haue fulfilled the lusts of my youth then I wil loue thee This is the acceptable time this is the day of saluation today if we will heare his voyce for whosoeuer commeth not at Gods callings whatsoeuer he say it is impossible that hee should resolue to come hereafter when hee pleaseth for beeing euill can hee resolue to bee good A dry dead tree which is withered and bringeth no fruite in the Sommer nor buddeth in the Spring can it bring forth pleasant and sweet fruit in the cold winter so eyther nowe in our
he grew in yeares so he waxed strong in spirit So likewise euery yong man must striue to do to consecrate himselfe from the wombe to the graue in the seruice of God and to deserue that good commendation of Timothy from his childhood to know the holy Scriptures which may teach instruct him in righteousnesse as a Master which may improoue and correct his faults as a Father and make him a man of God absolute perfite vnto all good works The third lesson and obseruation is to fathers of youth as the first was to youth it selfe and it is that as young men in their youth must learne and practise godlinesse in redressing of their waies according to Gods word so the fathers of all youth must beginne to teach the same vnto them and go before their children in good example of life while they are tender and as new vessells fit to receiue and be seasoned with piety Gods commaundement in his word concerning this dutie of parents is Deutronomie 4. 9. But take heede to thy selfe and keepe thy soule diligently that thou forget not the thinges which thine eyes haue seene and that they depart not out of thine heart all the daies of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Againe Deutronomie 6. 7. where hee saith And thou shalt reâ—earse them continually vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thoâ—â—â—riestin thine house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou liest downe and when thourisest vp Moreouer Deutronomie 32. 46. in Moses last exhortation to Israel Then hee saide vnto them Set your hearts vnto all the wordes which I testifie against you this day that you may command them vnto your children that they may obserue and doe all the words of this Law Likewise the Apostle Ephes. 6. 4. And yee fathers prouoke not your children to wrath but bring them vp in instruction information of the Lord. So Psal. 78. 5. How he established a testimony in Iacob and ordained a law in Israel which hee commanded our fathers that they should teach their children Also the practise of all the godly hath euer been so according to this coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of God Adam taught his sonnes to sacrifice and offer to the Lord. The three Angels that came to Abraham they reuealed vnto him the destruâ—tion of Sodome because the Lord did know that he would teach this his iudgement for sinne to the posteritie after him And the Lord said shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I doe For I know him that he will command his sonnes and his houshold after him that they keepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse and iudgement that the Lord may bring vpon Abraham that he hath spoken vnto him Isaac being a young childe yet was well instructed in the typicall seruice of God and things pertaining vnto the sacrifice of the old Law when he asked his father Behold the fire and the wood but where is the lambe for the â—urnt offering And he answered My sonne God will prouide him a lambe c. His exercise also when hee was a young man by his fathers instruction and example was And Isaac went out to pray in the field toward the euening c. So Ioshua in his last commandement exhortation to Israel saith vnto them And if it seeme euill vnto you to serue the Lord choose you this day whom you will serue c. but I and my house will serue the Lord. With sundry such examples in the Scripture where we may see the practise and care of all the godly to haue beene euer in instructing bringing vp their children in the knowledge and feare of God which all godly Christian parents in this age must follow likewise for if God hath established his couenant betweene vs and our seed after vs to be our God for euer how carefull should wee then be that our seede and children may be instructed in the true and perfect knowledge thereof that as hee is their God so they may bee his people as hee is their father so they may proue his children by dutifull loue and obedience to his commandements It is said that Alexander had children borne and brought vp in military discipline and exercise from their infancie in his Campes which made him so victorious and prosperous in battell euen so let all parents bring vp their children from their infancie and cradle in the knowledge and exercise of the Christian warfare of this life in all godlinesse vertue that they may proue couragious and good souldiers vnder their victorious King and Captaine Iesus Christ. And seeing youth is as tabula rasa a new vessell a young tree or Oliue plant as Dauid calleth them like soft waxe to receiue any print inconstant and wauering and most inclining by their owne nature to sinne and vaine pleasure which euen godly Iob suspected in his children albeit well and godly brought vp when he went to sacrifice for them daily fearing it might haue beene that his sonnes in their banquetting had sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts Therefore let all fathers as God hath giuen them children of his grace so with Hannah Samuels mother dedicate and giue them againe vnto the Lord and his seruice in bringing them vp carefully in the feare and reuerence of his holy name season their tender hearts in their youth with the liquor of godlinesse and the true knowledge of the blood of Iesus Christ which must be their life print them with the glorious image of Christ which is true pietie that as he was the resemblance of his father so they may here represent him also in purenes sanctitie of life while they are as yong tender twigges and Oliue branches bow them that way as you would haue them stand when they are growen and olde which is to the obedience of Iesus Christ in whom they must beare fruite and receiue fatnesse write and ingraue the knowledge of his will commaundements in their hearts and mindes that with all their hearts soules and mindes they may honour and serue GOD in all feare and loue a band to holde out all â—inne and so place and set them in the right way see that they constantly continue and perseuere therein and ioyne seuere and strait animaduersion for repressing of their vices as also of cherishing of Gods good graces in them that so they may bee liuely stones in Sion to the glory of God the comfort of his parents and their owne soules saluation So parents making them dutifull to God their heauenly Father he will make them dutifull also and reuerent to them againe otherwise with Elias sonnes they will be a griefe to their hearts and the meanes to bring their gray haires in sorrow to the graue and with Absolon prooue vnkinde and vnnaturall children for being Dauids darling he proued Dauids traitour and the reason is set downe thus 1. Kings 1. 6. And his father would not
them lost a kingdom to the which he was called by the wicked and furious hote counsellers of our lusts and affections in our youth let vs not also loose the glorious kingdome of heauen to the which wee are likewise called by Gods word Neither as the yong mans loue to his riches made him to forsake Christ let the vncleane loue or desire to follow our youthly pleasures or to fulfill our filthy lusts and affections draw vs from following Iesus Christ our Sauiour and these godly examples and patterns of youth which in his word wee haue here set before our eyes but with yong Samuel when the Lord calleth vs in his Church to heare and do his word let vs so oft answere Lord here am I thy seruant to doe thy godly will speake for thy seruant heareth while the spring and seed time is of our tender yeeres let vs so sowe as wee would reape and so bud as wee would ripen our youth is the day to doe our works in the night of age commeth wherein wee cannot worke in that time wee shall say onely I might haue bin learned I might haue bin so or so if I had vsed my time aright but winter is come before I thought on seed-time and Times bald backe-side is turned to mee but the heary forehead which I might haue caught holde by is already past therefore the wise man saith Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth whiles the euill dayes come not nor the yeeres approach wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them whiles the sunne is not darke nor the light nor the moone nor the starres nor the cloudes returne after rayne when the keepers of the house shall tremble and the strong men shal â—ow themselues the grinders shall cease because they are few and they waxe darke that looke out by the windowes c. describing so metaphorically the infirmities of old age They who stept in first when the Angel came downe and troubled the waters of the poole Bethesda were cured of their disease so if we would be cured of our soules disease and leprosie of sinne wee must striue to step in first before others in our youth without lingring to be washed with the blood of Christ and liue a pure vnspotted life Ioseph before the time of famine came laid vp aboundance of corne prouidently for the same so before the leane and crinkled yeeres of age come we must prouidently in the Sommer of youth with the Bee and Ant gather and lay vp food for our soules filling the store-houses of our heart full with the knowledge and true feare of God to be our comfort and ease in that time that here in the world to come we may bee accounted among the number and of the sort of those forenamed who dedicated their youth and first fruites thereof to God their heauenly Father and now do enioy the ioyful recoÌ„pence of their labours with Iesus Christ in the presence of the Lambe for euer to remaine The answere that is made vnto this question is this In taking heed thereto according to thy word that is by these meanes a yong man may redresse his wayes and course of life if according to the rule and prescript of thy holy worde O Lord hee take heed thereto diligently and straitly marking examining and iudging the same and rectifying all his waies and actions by the direct line and rule of thy commandements This answere is made by way of prayer or confessioÌ„ to God or as it were by resolution froÌ„ God In taking heed thereto according to thy word thereby shewing and teaching all men that to know will or doe aright as God hath commanded according to his word is not of our strength neither can flesh and blood reueale it vnto vs but our heauenly Father it is the gracious worke of his glorious Spirit who as the knowledge of Gods will proceedeth of his speciall Illumination so the acting and doing of the same in an holy and vpright life is of his speciall grace and powerfull operation also who giueth thee knowledge will and power to doe the same Velle perficerâ— by enlightning our vnderstanding reforming our wicked will and conforming the same vnto the holy and perfect wil of God and with his coÌ„mand to rise from the sleepe and death of sinne to a new and sanctified life giuing vs a power and flowing light and life from himselfe to doe so as when Christ our Sauiour said Talitha cumi or Lazarus arise c. and at that last day when it shall be said Rise dead folke come to iudgement and so in all Gods word when hee commandeth to repent beleeue bring forth good fruit or so we must not thereby thinke because God commandeth so therefore that we haue knowledge or free-will to doe or not doe so but with the command there floweth a concomitating power and vertue from Gods spirit to the hearts of the faithfull predestinate for saluation to doe this command as a further induration to harden the hearts of the sonnes of reprobation in their stiffe-necked disobedience to Gods will euen as at the words of Christ the fig-tree withered free wil then and strength of our selues to know and doe euill wee haue for it is according to our nature for by nature wee are the children of wrath and all the imaginations of our heart are onely euill continually from our very infancie and it is the worke of our flesh for the flesh coueteth against the spirit but to know will or to do well we haue no power at all but it is Gods sanctifying Spirit who giueth both and it is aboue nature yea it is the worke of the Spirit against nature Therefore let vs not trust to our owne knowledge or wisedom for it is darkenesse foolishnesse nor thinke of our owne will or strength that we can doe or truely desire or know that which is good being so peruerse and wicked but with the Prophet after his example acknowledg al our knowledge of his will or of the right way to saluation to proceed onely from the illumination of his good spirit and that the will or strength to doe and performe the same is onely his owne free worke in mercie also and let vs by earnest prayers as in all ages so chiefly in our youth implore his holy helpe to teach vs according to his word how to walke in his wayes and to take heed to our owne in greatest difficulties consult with him who is true light and wisedome and in whom is no changing in greatest tentations by continuall prayer let vs flie to him that with his all-sufficient grace he may euer assist vs when Sathan would not only buffet but kill deuoure our soules with the poyson of sinne and our owne lusts and in all things let him be our onely refuge resolution and comfort continually In taking heed thereto c. this action of taking heed to our wayes in the answere
Gods word is a looking-glasse wherein we may see all our spots from the greatest to the least where they are and how they may bee wiped away with the blood of Iesus Christ and teares of true repentance It is the sweet Manna and foode of our soules Milke to the weaker and stronger meat for those who are more confirmed A Directer in prosperity an vpholder in aduersitie and aboundant comfort in both It is a Fire to purge our wayes to burne vp the earthly or rather hellish drosse of sinne and stubble of iniquitie to refine vs as pure gold to bee vessells of honour in Gods house before our heauenly Father It is that Raine or Dew that descended from Heauen and neuer returneth vndone that for which it was sent it fructifieth eyther the heart to bring forth pleasant fruit and softneth it to repentance or as water cast vpon Iron or Steele hardeneth the same so it indureth the obstinate and reprobate hearts of them who are inflamed and burned in their owne sinfull lusts Our soules and hearts are made sauoury Sacrifices with all that proceedeth therefrom to present before the nosthrills of God our heauenly Father by this preseruing Salt of his word whereby no stincking corruption of the flesh and of sinne taketh hold vpon vs but thereby we are made sauourie meat to bee presented and accepted before our heauenly Father such as he euer loueth It is that Water of life wherof whosoeuer drinketh in his belly shall spring riuers thereof aboundantly It is a Cloud to refresh vs in our iourney in the day a firie Pillar in the night time to direct our wayes by the light thereof in the darke desart of this world and to consume all our enemies to theÌ„ it shall bee darkenesse but light to the hoste of Israel it shall bee hid and is so onely to them that perish It is that bright Light that shall euer shine in the little Gâ—shan of Gods Church when all the Egypt beside of this world with the Pharao thereof shall be ouerwhelmed with thicke darkenesse It is the Rudder of our Ship which must direct vs aright thorow the raging beating waues of worldly persecutions and our Compasse to keepe our course by vntill wee come to the hauen of heauen and port of that new Ierusalem It is that Rod which must diuide the redde sea of temptations thorow which narrowly we must passe to the spirituall land of Canaan when in them we shall see the worldlings wicked ouerwhelmed and altogether drowned It is the Arke and couenaÌ„t of God at which we only must aske counsell and it must diuide the Iorden of death to vs making a way whereby wee must follow our Ioshua Iesus to the land of rest and our promised inheritance It is true Riches and seuen times more pure then the refined gold of Ophir It cannot corrupt for heauen and earth shall perish before one iotte of Gods worde perish It is the Keyes of the kingdome of Heauen whereby the gates thereof are opened to euery penitent and beleeuing soule and shut to euery obstinate and indured wicked heart It is the Sauour of life vnto all those that are appointed for life and hath the life of Iesus Christ to righteousnesse in them It is the chiefe Shepheards Hooke that pulleth backe our straying soules in the by-wayes of iniquitie and bringeth vs in the right way again subjecting vs to the obedience and light yoake of Iesus Christ in the sheepefold of his Church By it wee are fished and drawne out of the salt and stincking sea of this world to Iesus Christ. It is the Sword wherewith wee must fight valiantly the Lordes battels A Trumpet to encourage vs thereto at whose sound the walls of euery proud Iericho shall fall and which subdueth powers and scepters to it selfe It is our Pilgrims staffe which must vphold and defend vs in our iourney It is a most bright Starre which leadeth not onely wise men but fooles also to Christ where now he lyeth not in a kribbe but sitteth on a Throne and happy are those starres or Ministers whom Christ holdeth in his right hand whose onely care is by preaching and practising this Star to shine before the flocke And finally the Word of God is the sound of that Trumpet blowen by the Angels of his Church which giueth vertue and power quickening and resurrection to euery dead soule in sinne to rise out of the graue of securitie put on a sanctified bodie that in bodie and soule at the last resurrection of all flesh to iudgement they may passe with Christ to eternall glory It is that Finger which pointeth out the Lambe of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world and as Andrew brought Simon his brother Philip Nathaniel to Christ so the word of God bringeth and leadeth vs by the hand to him on earth and shall bring vs to eternal glory with him in heauen for euer if we beleeue the same and according thereunto take heede to redresse our wayes Secondly seeing the excellencie of Gods Word is such of it selfe wee may learne what great estimation and value it should bee of with euery Christian as we see the value thereof in it selfe so our estimation should bee corespondent wee should desire nothing so much esteeme nothing so much loue nothing so much nor hunger or thirst after nothing so much This estimation we may see in Dauid to haue been great and his loue â—eruent he saith I haue had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies as in all riches Also thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellers Behold how I desire thy commandâ—ments The law of thy â—â—uth is better to me thâ—â— thousands of gold and siluer I will neuer forget thy precepts for by them thou hast quickned me O how I loue thy law it is my meditatioÌ„ continually How sweet are thy promises vnto my mouth yea more then honie vnto my mouth The Marchant in the Gospell when he had found the Iewell in the field he went and sold all that he had that hee might buy that piece of ground wherein that Iewell was Of all Iewels that euer man could thinke vpon this of Gods word is the most precious in it is eternall light euerlasting life continuall ioy comfortable contentment infinite true riches Let vs therefore follow the example of this wise Marchant so that we may haue it and enioy the comfort therein contayned care not what wee loose if wee haue it we haue all things if wee haue all things and want it wee haue nothing It is not like other Iewels for coÌ„monly a man that possesseth them not can oftentimes know the value of theÌ„ better then they who possesse them but with this Iewell it is not so the Marchant was neuer in loue with it vntill hee found it wee can neuer nor will euer know the estimation of it vntil we haue it in our hearts Peter when Christ before his last