Rom. 13.13 14 Let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkennesse not in chambering and wantonnesse not in strife and envying But put yee on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof This Scripture so sunk into his heart as that it proved the means of his conversion as himself reports Lib. 8. conf cap. 12. this Augustin as hee was once Preaching his memory failing of him contrary to his purpose he fell upon reproving the Manicheans and by a scripture or two not before thought of Poffidon de vita Augustin to confute their heresies he converted Firmus a Manichaean as he after acknowledged to Augustin blessing God for that sermon It is reported of one Adrianus who seeing the Martyrs suffer such grievous things in the cause of God hee asked what was that which caused them to suffer such things and one of them named that text Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him and this text was set home with such a power upon him as that it converted him and made him to profess Religion and not onely to profess it but to dye a martyr for it Cyprian was converted by reading the Prophecy of Jonah Junius was converted by reading the 1 Chapter of John the Evangelist I have read of a scandalous Minister that was struck at the heart and converted in reading that scripture Rom. 2.21 Thou which teachest another teachest thou not thy self c Wee read that Paphnutius converted Thais and Ephron two famous strumpets from uncleannesse only with this Scripture Argument That God seeth all things in the dark Heb. 4.13 when the doors are fast the windows shut the Curtains drawn c. I have read of a poor man who perswaded a young Scholler to leave reading of Poetry c. and fall upon reading of the Scripture which accordingly hee did and it pleased the Lord before hee had read out Genesis to change his heart and to turn him to the Lord in the Primrose of his daies hee being then but twenty years of age I have read of a young Lady Origen was her Schoolmaster called Potamia of a very illustrious family who endured very much in her Martyrdome by the extream cruelty of Basilides her executioner yet after her death hee bethinking himself of the holy words and Scripture expressions that were uttered by her during her cruel torments became a Christian and within few daies after was himself likewise crowned with Martyrdome James Andreas a godly Minister hearing of a Jew that for theft was hanged by the heels with his head downward having not seen that kinde of punishment hee went to the place where hee was hanging between two Dogs that were alwaies snatching at him to eat his flesh the poor wretch repeated in Hebrew some verses of the Psalms wherein hee cryed to God for mercy whereupon Andreas went near to him and instructed him in the Principles of Christian Religion about Christ the Messiah c. Exhorting him to beleeve in him A miracle of mercy and it pleased God so to blesse his Scripture exhortations to him that the Dogs gave over tearing of his flesh and the poor Jew desired him to procure that hee might bee taken down and baptized and hung by the neck for the quicker dispatch which was done accordingly I might produce other instances but let these suffice to provoke all young persons to a speedy serious diligent and constant study of the Scripture Much in the word is wrap't up in a little It is more to bee admired than to have Homers Iliads comprized in a nut shel Heb. 9.4 Ah sirs you do not know how soon your blinde mindes may bee enlightened your hard hearts softened your proud spirits humbled your sinful natures changed your defiled consciences purged your distempered affections regulated and your poor souls saved by searching into the Scriptures by reading the Scripture and by pondering upon the Scripture you should lay up the Manna of Gods word in your hearts as Moses laid up the Manna in the golden pot And as Tamar did with the staff and signet that shee received from Judah Gen. 38.18 36. shee laid them up till shee came to save her life and did save her life by it as you may see in holy story The laying up of the word now may bee the saving of your souls another day I have read of little Bees that when they go out in stormy weather they will carry a little of their comb or gravel with them that they may bee ballanced and not carried away with the winde Ah young men young men you had need to have your thoughts and hearts ballanced with the precious word that you may not bee carried away with every winde of Doctrin as many have been in these daies to their destruction and confusion Narcissus a beautiful youth though hee would not love them that loved him yet afterwards fell in love with his own shadow Ah! how may young men in these daies 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. who were once lovely and hopeful are now fallen in love with their own and others shadows with high empty aiery notions and with strange monstrous speculations to their own damnation Holy Melancthon being newly converted thought it impossible for his hearers to withstand the evidence of the Gospel but soon after hee complained that old Adam was too hard for young Melancthon Ah young men young men if you do not in good earnest give up your selves to the reading to the studying to the pondering to the beleeving to the affecting to the applying and to the living up to the Scripture Satan will bee too hard for you the world will bee too hard for you your lusts will bee too hard for you temptations will bee too hard for you and deceivers will bee too hard for you and in the end you will bee miserable and thus much for the first thing c. Secondly if you would bee good betimes then you must acquaint your selves with your selves betimes if you would bee gracious in the spring and morning of your daies then you must see betimes how bad you are how vile how sinful how wretched you are no man begins to bee good till hee sees himself to bee bad the young Prodigal never began to mend Luk. 15.12 â—â— 22. hee never thought of returning to his Father till hee came to himself till hee began to return into his own soul and saw himself in an undone condition Ah! Young men Young men you must see your selves to bee children of Wrath Ephes 2.1 2 3.12 13. Rom. 6.16 John 8.44 2 Tim. 2.26 to bee Enemies to bee Strangers to bee afar off from God from Christ from the Covenant from heaven to bee Sinnes servants and Satans bond slaves the ready way to
the primerose of your dayes is this if ever the Lord shall be pleased so to own and Crown so to bless and follow this following discourse as to make it an effectuall means of turning you to the Lord of winning you to Christ of changing your natures and converting your souls for such a thing as that I pray hope and beleeve that then you would do two things for me First That you would never cease bearing of me upon your hearts when you are in the mount that I may bee very much under the pourings out of the Spirit that I may be clear high and full in my communion with God and that I may bee alwayes close holy humble harmless and blamelesse in my walkings with God And that his work may more and more prosper in my hand Secondly Psal 66.16 1 Pet. 3.15 That you would by word of mouth letter or some other way acquaint mee with what the Lord hath done for your souls if he shall make mee a spiritual father to you do not hide his grace from mee but acquaint mee how hee hath made the seed that was sown in weakness to rise in power upon you and that First That I may do what I can to help on that work begun upon you that your penny may become a pound your mite a million your drop an ocean Secondly That I may the better English some impressions that have been upon my own spirit since I begun this work Thirdly 1 Thes 2 19 20 2 Cor. 9.2 That my joy and thankfulness may bee increased and my soul more abundantly engaged to that God who hath blest the day of small things to you ponder these scriptures 2 Cor. 7.3 4 13. Phil. 2.2 ch 4.1 Philemon ver 7. 2 John 3.4 And then be ashamed to declare what the Lord hath done for you if you can Fourthly Mat. 25.23 Dan. 12.3 Prov. 11.30 it is better to convert one than to civilize a thousand and will turn more at last to a Ministers account in that day wherein he shall say Loe here am I and the children that thou hast given mee Isa 8.18 such a man with his spiritual children about him shall look on God with more comfort and boldness than those that are onely able to say Loe here am I and the many Benefices here am I and the many Ecclesiastical dignities and glories here am I and the many hundreds a year that man had given and I have gotten But Fifthly Act. 9.3 Isa 6.5 Mal. 2.5 6 7. c. and Lastly The conversion of others is a secondary and more remote evidence of a mans own renovation and conversion Paul was converted himself before God made him instrumental for others Conversion Gods usuall method is to convert by them who are converted I do not remember any one instance in all the scripture of Gods converting any by such who have not been converted first themselves yet I know his grace is free and the wind blows where it lists when it lists and as it lists To aged persons I have a word and then I have done First To Gray-headed Saints Ah Friends ah Fathers would you see your honour your happiness your blessedness then look into this Treatise and there you will finde what an unspeakable honour it is to bee an Old disciple what a glory it is to be good betimes and to continue so to Old age Secondly To white-headed Sinners whose spring is past whose summer is overpast and who are arrived at the fall of the leaf and yet have a hell to escape a Christ to beleeve in sins to pardon hearts to change souls to save and heaven to make sure would such be incouraged from scripture grounds to repent beleeve and hope that yet there is mercy for such let them seriously peruse this Treatise especially the latter part of it and there they may finde enough to keep them from despairing and to incourage them to adventure their souls upon him that is mighty to save There are many things in this Treatise that are of use to all and several things of moment that are not every day Preach't nor read I have made it as pleasureable as time would permit that so it might be the more profitable to the reader and that I might the better take the young man by a holy craft 2 Cor. 12. ch 15.2 Prov. 11.30 which is a high point of heavenly wisdome there being no wisdome to that of winning of souls I shall now follow this poor peice with my weak prayers that it may be soblest from heaven as that it may bring in some and build up others and do good to all and so rest Your friend and Servant in the Gospel of Christ THOMAS BROOKS The Contents THe explication of the words from page 1. to page 10. Doct. That it is a very desirable and commendable thing for young men to be really good betimes this truth proved p. 10 11 12 Twelve Reasons of this point 1 Because he commands it whose Commands are not to be disputed but obeyed from p. 12. to 16 2 Because they have means and opportunities of being good betimes from p. 16. to 20 3 Because then they will have fewer sins to answer for and repent of p. 20 21. 4 Because time is a precious talent that Young men must be accountable for from p. 21. to 26 5 Because then they will have the greater comfort and joy when they come to bee old from p. 26. to 28 6 Because an eternity of felicity and glory hangs upon those few moments that are allotted to them from p. 28. to 33. 7 Because they do not begin to live till they begin to be really good from p. 33. to 36 8 Because the promise of finding God of enjoying God is made over to an early seeking of God c. from p. 36. to 44 9 Because the time of Youth is the choicest and fittest time for service from p. 44. to 47 10 Because death may suddenly and unexpectedly seize on youth youth being as fickle as old age from p. 47. to 52 11 Because it is ten to one nay a hundred to ten if ever they are converted if they are not converted when they are young from p. 52. to 55 12 Because else they will never attain to the honour of being an Old Disciple p. 55.56 The honour of an Old Disciple shew'd in seven particulars 1 All men will honour an Old Disciple from p. 56. to 58 2 God usually reveals himself most to old Disciples to old Saints p. 58. to 62 3 An old Christian an old Disciple hath got the art of serving God p. 62. to 63 4 An old Disciple an old Christian is rich in spirituall experiences from 63 to 67 5 An old Disciple is firm and fixt in his resolutions from 67 to 70 6 An old Disciple is prepared for death from 70. to 73 7 An old Disciple shall have a great reward in heaven from 73. to 79 Use of
love them that love mee and they that seek me early shall find me Or as the Hebrew hath it they that seek mee in the morning shall find me by the benefit of the morning light wee come to find the things wee seek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shahhar signifies to seek inquisitively to seek diligently Exod. 16.21 Scipio went first to the Capitol and then to the Senat. Tully an heathen frequently called G d Optimum maximum the best and greatest God is Omnia super omnia to seek timely in the morning As the Israelites went early in the morning to seek for Manna And as Students rise early in the morning and sit close to it to get knowledge so saith wisdome they that seek mee in the spring and morning of their youth shall finde mee Now to seek the Lord early is to seek the Lord firstly God hath in himself all the good of Angells of men and universal nature hee hath all gloryes all dignities all riches all treasures all pleasures all comforts all delights all joyes all beatitudes God is that one infinite perfection in himself which is eminently and virtually all perfections of the creatures and therfore hee is firstly to be sought Abstracts do better express him than Concretes and adjectives hee is being bonity power wisdome justice mercy goodness and love it self and therefore worthy to bee sought before all other things Seek yee first the good things of the mind saith Philosophy Cicero and don't Divinity say as much Again To seek early is to seek opportunely to seek while the opportunity does present Daies of grace have their dates therefore take heed of saying Cras Cras to morrow to morrow Judg. 9.33 Thou shalt rise early and set upon the City that is thou shalt opportunely set upon the City Such there have been who by giving a glass of water opportunely have obtained a kingdome as you may see in the story of Thamastus and King Agrippa Ah! Young men and women you do not know but that by an early Heb. 12.28 by an opportune seeking of God you may obtain a kingdom that shakes not and glory that passeth not away There is a season wherein God may bee found Isa 55.6 Seek ye the Lord while hee may bee found call yee upon him while hee is neer and if you slip this season you may seek him and miss him Ier. 11.11 Isa 1.15 Mic. 3 4 Prov. 1.28 Though they cry unto mee I will not hearken unto them when yee make many prayers I will not hear Then shall they cry unto the Lord but he will not hear Then shall they call upon mee but I will not answer they shall seek mee early but shall not finde mee This was Sauls misery The Philistines are upon mee and God will not answer mee 't is justice that they should seek and not finde at last who might have found had they but sought seasonably and opportunely c. Again to seek early is to seek earnestly affectionately With my soul have I desired thee in the night Isa 26.9 yea with my spirit within mee will I seek thee early The Hebrew word signifies both an earnest and an early seeking in the morning the spirits are up and men are earnest lively and affectionate Ah such a seeking shall certainly bee crowned with finding My voice shalt thou hear in the morning Psal 5.3.11 12. O Lord in the morning will I direct Heb. martial my prayer unto thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and will look up Hebrew look out like a watchman Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoyce let them ever shout for joy because thou defendest them Hebrew thou coverest over or protectest them Let them also that love thy Name bee joyful in thee for thou Lord wilt blesse the Righteous with favour wilt thou compasse him Hebrew crown him as with a shield None have ever thus sought the Lord but they have or certainly shall finde him Seek and yee shall finde Matth. 7.7 your heart shall live that seek God Psal 69.32 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies such a working as notes the liveliest activity that can bee James 5.16 or as the Greek hath it the working-prayer of a righteous man availeth much that prayer that sets the whole man awork will work wonders in Heaven in the heart and in the earth Earnest prayer like Sauls sword and Jonathans bow never return empty One speaking of Luther who was a man very earnest in praier said hic homo potuit apud Deum quod voluit this man could have what hee would of God c. Again to seek early is to seek chiefly primarily after this or that thing what wee first seek wee seek as chief Now to seek the Lord early is to seek him primarily chiefly In the 63. Psal and the 1. vers Thou art my God early will I seek thee that is Omne bonum in summo bâ—no I will seek thee as my choicest and my chiefest good God is Alpha the fountain from whence all grace springs and Omega the Sea to which all glory runs and therefore early and primarily to bee sought God is a perfect good a solid good id bonum perfectum dicitur cui nil accedere solidum cui â—â—l decedere potest Lactantius that is a perfect good to which nothing can bee added that a solid from which nothing can bee spared such a good God is and therefore early and chiefly to bee sought 1 John 1.5 God is a pure and simple good hee is a light in whom there is no darknesse a good in whom there is no evil The goodnesse of the Creature is mixt yea that little goodness that is in the Creature is mixt with much evil but God is an immixt good Quicquid est in Deo est ipse Deus hee is good hee is a pure good he is all over good hee is nothing but good God is an Al-sufficient good walk before mee and bee upright I am God Al-sufficient in the 17. of Genesis and the 1. vers Habet omnia qui habet habentem omnia Aug. Hee hath all that hath the haver of all God hath in himself all power to defend you all wisdome to direct you all mercy to pardon you all grace to inrich you all Righteousness to cloath you all goodnesse to supply you and all happinesse to crown you Cant. 2.3 God is a satisfying good a good that fills the heart and quiets the soul in the 33. of Genesis and the 11. vers I have enough saith good Jacob I have all saith Jacob for so the Hebrew hath it Cholli I have all I have all comforts all delights all contents c. In having nothing I have all things because I have Christ having therefore all things in him I seek no other reward for hee is the universal reward saith one As the worth
men remember this the frequent the serious thoughts of death will prevent many a sin 2 Pet. 1. 13 14. Eccles 9.10 it will arm you against many temptations it will secure you from many afflictions it will keep you from doting on the World it will make you do much in a little time it will make death easy when it comes and it will make you look out betimes for a Kingdome that shakes not for riches that corrupt not and for glory that fadeth not away Therefore do not O do not put the day of death farre from you Take heed of crying Cras Cras to morrow to morrow saith Luther for a man lives forty years before hee knows himself to bee a fool and by that time hee sees his folly his life is finished so men dye before they begin to live Secondly If you would bee good betimes then take heed of leaning to your own understanding This Counsell wise Solomon gives to his son or the young men in his time My sonne forget not my Law Prov. 3.1.5 Lean not is a Metaphor from an old or sick man leaning on his staff c. but let thy heart keep my Commandements Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not to thy own understanding Youth is the age of folly of vain-hopes and over-grown confidence Ah! how wise might many have been had they not been too early wise in their own opinion Rehoboams young Counsellors proved the overthrow of his Kingdome T is brave for youth in all things to bee discreet and sober minded Three vertues they say are prime ornaments of youth modesty silence and obedience Ah! Young men keep close in every action to this one principle viz. in every action resolve to bee discreet and wise rather than affectionate and singular I Remember that a young Gentleman of Athens being to answer for his life hired an Orator to make his defence and it pleased him well at his first reading but when the young man by often reading it that hee might recite it publikely by heart begunne to grow weary and displeased with it the Orator bid him consider that the Jâ—dges and the People were to hâ—ar it but once and then it was lâ—kely that they at the first instant might bee as well pleased as he Ah! Young men your leaning upon your selves or upon others will in the end bee bitternesse and vexation of spirit Young men are very apt to lean on their own Wit Wisdome Arts parts as old men are to lean on a staffe to support them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Hebrew word signifies that is rendered lean Shagnan in that of Prov. 3.5 this hath been the bane of many a choice Wit the loss of many a brave head the ruine of many a subtile pate Ajax thought it was for cowards and weaklings to lean upon the Lord for succour not for him whence hee was foiled lean not to great parts lean not to natural or acquired accomplishments least you loose them and your selves too Leaning to natural or moral excellencies is the ready way to bee stript oâ— all Babylon that bore her selâ— bold upon her high Towers thick walls and twenty yearâ— provision laid in for a siege waâ— surprized by Cyrus T was said of Caesar that hee received not his wounds from the swords of enemies but from the hands of friends that is from trusting in them Ah! How many young men have been wounded yea slain by trusting to their own understanding their own abilities T was an excellent saying of Austin in te stas et non stas he that stands upon his own strength shall never stand A Creature if like a single drop left to it self it spends and wastes it self presently but if like a drop in the fountain and Ocean of being it hath abundance of security Ah! Young men Young men 2 Pet. 1.4 Psal 27.1 if you will needs be leaning then lean upon precious Promises lean upon the rock that is higher than your selves lean upon the Lord Jesus Christ as John did who was the youngest of all the Disciples and the most beloved of all the Disciples John 21.20 ch 13.23 John leaned much and Christ loved him much O lean upon Christs wisdome for direction lean upon his power for protection Can. 8.5 lean upon his Purse his fulness for Provision lean upon his eye for approbation lean upon his righteousness for justification lean upon his blood for remission lean upon his merits for salvation As the young Vine without her wall to support her will fall and sink So will you young men without Christ puts under his everlasting armes to support you and uphold you therefore above all leanings lean upon him by leaning on him you will engage him by leaning on him you will gain more honor than you can give by leaning on him you may even command him and make him eternally yours c. Thirdly If you would bee good betimes if you would seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of your dayes then take heed of flatterers and flatterie Ah! how many Young men might have been very good who are now exceeding bad by hearkning to flatterers and affecting flattery Flattery undid young Rehoboam 1 Kin. 12. and ch 22. Act. 12.22.23 24. Ahab Herod Nero Alexander c. Flatterers are soul-murderers they are soul-undoers they are like evil Chyrurgions that skin over the wound but never heal it Anastatius the Emperours motto was mellitum venenum blanda oratio smooth talk proves often sweet Poyson Flattery is the very spring and mother of all impiety it blows the Trumpet and draws poor souls into rebellion against God as Sheba drew Israel to rebel against David it put our first Parents upon tasting the forbidden fruit it put Absolou upon dethroning of his father it put Haman upon plotting the ruine of the Jews it put Corah Dathan and Abiram upon rebelling against Moses it makes men call evil good and good evil darknesse light and light darkness c. it puts persons upon neglecting the means of Grace upon undervaluing the means of Grace and upon contemning the means of Grace it puts men upon abasing God slighting Christ and vexing the spirit it unmans a man it makes him call black white and white black it makes a man change Pearls for Pebles and Gold for Counters The Flatterers told Dionysius that his spittle was as sweet as honey Rev. 3.17 18 it makes a man judge himself wise when hee is foolish knowing when hee is ignorant holy when hee is Prophane free when hee is a Prisoner rich when hee is Poor high when hee is low full when hee is empty happy when he is miserable Ah! Young men young men take heed of Flatterers they are the very worst of sinners they are left of God blinded by Satan hardned in sin and ripened for hel God declares sadly against them and that in his word and in his works in
22.11 ch 19. v. 19 God commands them not to wear a Garment of diverse sorts as of woollen and linnen together Neither shall a garment mingled of Linnen and woollen come upon thee This Law was figurative and shews us that in the case of our justification acceptation and salvation wee are not to joyn our works our services with the righteousness of Christ Phil. 3.9 10 Rev. 19.8 Gal. 3.28 c. 2.16 God abhors a linsy-woolsy righteousnesse And as by the Letter of this Law in the Hebrews account one threed of wool in a Linnen garment or one Linnen threed in a Woollen garment made it unlawful So the least manner of mixture in the business of justification makes all null and void And if by grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace Rom. 11.6 Eph. 2.5 Rom 5.15 16 8 But if it bee of works then it is no more grace otherwise work is no more work hee that shall mix his Righteousness with Christs hee that shall mix his puddle with Christs purple bloud his rags with Christs royal Robes his copper with Christs Gold his water with Christs wine c. is in the ready way to perish for ever On earth Kings love no consorts power is impatient of participation Christ will bee Alexander or Nemo no body hee will bee all in all in the businesse of Justification 1 Cor. 1.30 Rom. 5.19 20 or hee will bee nothing at all wee must say of Christ as it was once said of Caesar socium habet neminem hee may have a companion c. but hee must not have a competitor Let us say of Christ as the Heathen once said of his Petty gods contemne minutulos istos Deos modo Jovem propitium habeam so long as hee had his Jupiter to friend hee regarded them not So so long as wee have our Jesus to friend Eph. 3.9 10 Psal 71.15 16 19 compared and his righteousness and bloud to friend we should contemn all other things and abhor the bringing of any thing into competition with him a real Christian cares not for any thing that hath not aliquid Christi Something of Christ in it Hee that holds not wholly with Christ doth very shamefully neglect Christ Aut totum mecum tene aut totum omitte saith Gregory Nazienzen There is no other name no other nature no other blood no other merits no other person to bee justified and saved by but Jesus Christ Isa 55.2 Rom. 10.3 you may run from Creature to Creature and from duty to duty and from Ordinance to Ordinance and when you have wearied and tyred out your selves in seeking ease and rest satisfaction and remission justification and salvation in one way and another you will bee forc'd after all to come to Christ and to cry out Ah! none but Christ none but Christ Ah! none to Christ none to Christ no works to Christ no duties no services to Christ no prayers no tears to Christ no righteousnesse no holiness to Christ Well friends remember this that all the tears in the world cannot wipe off meritoriously one sin nor all the grace and holiness that is in Angels and men buy out the pardon of the least transgression All remission is only by the blood of Christ Sixthly and lastly If you would bee good betimes then you must know betimes that the heart of Jesus Christ is as much set upon sinners now hee is in Heaven as ever it was when hee was upon earth Christ is not lesse loving lesse mindful less desirous of sinners eternal welfare now hee is in Heaven in a far Country than hee was when hee lived on earth 2 Cor. 5.20 witnesse his continuing the Ministery of Reconciliation among poor sinners in all ages witnesse the constant Treatise that by his Embassadors and Spirit hee still hath with poor sinners about the things of their peace the things of eternity Rev. 3.20 Isa 16.4 Isa 27.5 witnesse his continual knocking 's his continual callings upon poor sinners by his word Rod Spirit to open to repent to lay hold on mercy and to be at peace with him witness his continual wooing of poor sinners in the face of all neglects Cant 1.2 3. Luk 14. and put offs in the face of all delaies and denials Pro. 6.9 Mat. 22.4.23 37. in the face of all harsh entertainment and churlish answers in the face of all gain-sayings and carnal reasonings in the face of all the scorn and contempt that wretched sinners put upon him and witnesse that plain word Jesus Christ the same yesterday Heb. 13.8 and to day and for ever Christ is the same aforetime in time and after time hee is unchangeable in his essence in his promises and in his affections I am Alpha and Omega Re. 1.8 11. ch 21.6 ch 22.13 the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come The phrase is taken from the Greek letters whereof Alpha is the first and Omega the last It was a custome among the Turks to cry out every morning from an high Tower God alwaies was and alwaies will bee and so salute their Mahomet the first and last letter of the Greek Alphabet is a description of mee saith Christ who am before all and after all who am above all and in all who am unchangeable in my self and in my thoughts and good-will to poor sinners therefore do not poor souls entertain any hard thoughts concerning Jesus Christ as if hee was lesse mindful lesse pittiful and lesse merciful to poor souls now hee is in Heaven than hee was when his abode was in this world And thus I have gone over those six things that you must know concerning Christ betimes if ever you would bee good betimes When Pope Leo lay upon his death bed Cardinal Bembus citing a text of Scripture to comfort him hee replied Apage has nug as de Christo away with these bawbles concerning Christ but I hope better things of you and do desire that you will say of all things below this knowledge of Christ that I have opened to you as that devout Pilgrim who travelling to Jerusalem and by the way visiting many brave Cities with their rare monuments and meeting with many friendly entertainments would often say I must not stay here this is not Jerusalem Ah! so do you young men and women in the midst of all your worldly delights and contents cry out Oh wee must not stay here this is not Jerusalem this is not that knowledge of Christ that I must have if ever I am happy here and blessed hereafter Fourthly and lastly If you would bee good betimes then you must acquaint your selves with those that are good betimes if you would bee gracious in the spring and morning of your youth then you must begin betimes to bee much in with them who are much in with Christ who lye near his heart and knows much of his mind
which you are bound Ah! who can thus look upon his chains his sins and not loathe them and not labour for freedome from them Justinus the Emperours Motto was Libert as res inestimabilis liberty is unvaluable if civil liberty bee surely spiritual liberty is much more if you ask souls that were once in a state of bondage but are now Christs free-men they will tell you so It was a good observation of Chrysostome Chrysost Hom. 19. in prior Epist ad Corinth that Joseph was the free-man and his Mistrisse was the servant when shee was at the beck of her own lusts when shee tempted and hee refused Such as live most above sin and temptation are the greatest freemen others that live under the power of their lusts are but slaves and in bonds though they dream and talk of freedome Tit. 3.3 Thirdly If you would break league with sin and arm and fence your selves against it then look alwayes upon sin under the notion of fire Jude 23. Arpazontes signifies a violent snatching as the tender-hearted Mother to save the life of her child pulls it hastily and with violence out of the fire And others save with fear pulling them out of the fire Oh! snatch them out of their sins as you would snatch a child a friend out of the fire or as the Angel snatch't Lot out of Sodom hastily and with a holy violence natural fire may burn the house the goods the treasure the servant the child the wife the body but this fire burns the soul it destroies and consumes that noble part which is more worth than all the treasures of a thousand worlds every man hath a hand and a heart to quench the fire which burns his neighbours house but few men have either hands or hearts to quench the fire that burns their neighbors souls this is and this shall bee for a lamentation D. Denisons theeefold resolution part 2. Sect. 2. I have read of one who upon the violence of any temptation to sin would lay his hand on burning coals and being not able to abide it would say to himself Oh how unable shall I be to indure the pains of hell and this restrained him from evil but what is the fire of hell to the fire of sin now to provoke you to look upon sin under the notion of fire consider with mee the sundry resemblances between material immaterial fire between corporal common fire and between this spiritual fire Sin As First Fire is terrible and dreadful a ship on fire a house on fire Oh how dreadful is it so sin set home upon the conscience is exceeding terrible and dreadful Mine iniquity so the Hebrew is greater than I can bear sin or iniquity is often put for the punishment of sin by a Metonymie of the efficient for the effect Gen. 4.13 Mentiris Cain thou lyest Cain saith one on the Text. for sin is the natural Parent of punishment Mine iniquity saith Cain is so great and lies so heavy so terrible and dreadful upon my conscience that it cannot bee forgiven and thus by his diffidence hee stabs two at once the mercy of God and his own soul So Judas Mat. 27.3 4 5. I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood and hee went and hanged himself As there is no fighting with a mighty fire so there is no bearing up when God sets home sin upon the conscience a man will then chuse strangling or hanging rather than living under such wounds and lashes of conscience Histories abounds with instances of this nature but I must hasten to a close Secondly Fire is most dangerous and pernicious when it breaks forth of the chimny or of the house so it is with sin Sin is bad in the eye 2 Sam. 12.9 10 11 12 13 14 15. worse in the tongue worser in the heart but worst of all in the life Fire when out of its proper place may do much hurt in the house but when it flames abroad then it doth most mischief to others Sin in the heart may undo a man but sin in the life may undo others as well as a mans self Set a guard upon thy eye Job 31.1 Prov. 4.23 Ephes 5.15 a greater upon thy heart but the greatest of all upon thy life Salvian relates how the Heathen did reproach some Christians Salvianus de G. D. l. 4. who by their lewd lives made the Gospel of Christ to be a reproach where said they is that good Law which they do beleeve where are those rules of godlinesse which they do learn they read the holy Gospel and yet are unclean they hear the Apostles writings and yet are drunk they follow Christ and yet disobey Christ they professe a holy Law and yet do lead impure lives But the lives of other Christians have been so holy that the very Heathens observing them have said surely this is a good God whose servants are so good It is brave when the life of a Christian is a commentary upon Christs life One speaking of the Scripture Augustin saith verba vivenda non legenda they are words to bee lived and practised not read only Plutarch A Heathen adviseth us to demean our selves so circumspectly as if our enemies did alwaies behold us And saith another for shame Epictetus either live as Stoicks or leave off the name of stoicks Sirs live as Christians or lye down the name of Christians Thirdly Fire hardens it makes the weak and limber clay to become stiff and strong for the Potters use So sin hardens it hardens the heart against the commands of God the calls of Christ Jer. 5.3 ch 19. ult Isa 9.13 and the wrestlings of the Spirit As you see in Pharaoh the Jews and most that are under the sound of the Gospel Ah! how many hath this fire sin hardened in these daies by working them to slight soul-softening means Jer. 2.25 ch 18.12 and by drawing them to entertain hardening-thoughts of God and to fall in with soul-hardening company and soul-hardening Principles and soul-hardening examples of hardened and unsensible sinners one long since thus complained that they did patientius ferre Christi jacturam quam suam more calmly passe by the injuries done to Christ than those which are done unto themselves this age is full of such hardened unsensible souls Fourthly Fire is a lively active element so is sin Gen. 22. Psal 51. Job 3. Mat. 26. Rom. 1.15 c. Ah how lively and active was this fire in Abraham David Job Peter Paul and other Saints though Christ by his death hath given it its mortal wound yet it lives and is and will be active in the dearest Saints Though sin and grace were not born together neither shall they dye together yet while beleevers live in this world they must live together There is a History that speaks of a Fig-tree that grew in a stone wall and all means was used to kill it they cut
So was Joseph Mephibosheth Naboth and in latter times Luther whom they said dyed despairing when hee was alive to confute it And that Beza run away with another mans wifâ— And that Calvin was branded on the shoulder for a Rogue but there would be no end of this stuff should I say all that might be said I Answer the best men have been mostly reproached David was Psal 69.7 Psal 89.50 Psal 119.22 Psal 31.11 Psal 109.25 and Job was Job 19 35. ch 20.3 Job 16.10 and Jeremiah was Jer. 20.7.10 Yea this hath been the common portion of the people of God in all ages of the World in Nehemiahs time it was so Neh. 1.3 And they said unto mee the remnant that are left of the captivity are in great affliction and reproach In Davids time it was so Psal 79.4 and Psal 44.13 14. And in Jeremiahs time it was so Lam. 5.1 Remember O Lord what is come upon us Consider and behold our reproach And in Daniels time it was so Dan. 9.16 Thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us and it was so in the Apostles time Rom. 3.8 And not rather as we be slanderously reported as some affirm that wee say let us do evil that good may come whose damnation is just 2 Cor. 6.8 By honour and dishonour by evill report and good report as Deceivers and yet true so in that 1 Tim. 4.10 for therefore wee both labour and suffer reproach because wee trust in the living God c. And it was so in the Primitive times for when the Christians met together before Sun to pray the Heathens reported of them that they worshiped the Sun Tertullian and aspired after Monarchy and committed Adulteries and unnatural uncleannesses Now who is troubled who complains of that which is a common lot as Cold Winter Sickness Death c. No more should any complain of reproaches it being the common lot of the people of God in all ages yea Christ himself was sadly reproached falsly accused and strangely traduced disgraced and scandalized hee was called a Glutton a Drunkard a friend of Publicans and Sinners and judged to use the Black Art casting out Devils by Belzebub the Prince of Devils Mat. 9.34 ch 12.24 Christ hath suffered the greatest and the worst reproaches why then should you be afraid to wear that Crown of Thorns that Christ hath wore before you there is a great truth in what hee said Non potest qui pati timet ejus essâ— qui passus est hee that is afraid to suffer Tertul. de fuga in persecut cannot bee his Disciple who suffered so much if the Master hath been marked with a black coal let not the servant think to go free I am heartily angry saith Luther with those that speak of my sufferings which if compared with that which Christ suffered for me are not once to be mentioned in the same day But Fourthly I Answer that all reproachers shall at last be arraigned at the highest bar of justice for all the reproaches that they have cast upon the people of God They think it strange or they think it a new world that you run not with them to the same excrss of riot 1 Pet. 4.4 Xenizontai Blasphemountes Wonder and Blaspheme speaking evil of you who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead I am in an extasy saith Picus Myrandula to think how prophane men rail upon those now whom one day they will wish they had imitated It was excellent Counsell that the Heathen Oratour gave his hearers ita vivamus Cic. 4. in Verr. ut rationem nobis reddendam arbitremur let us live as those that must give an account of all at last Chrysostome brings in Christ comforting his Disciples against reproaches speaking thus unto them what is the wrong grievous to you that now they call you Seducers and Conjurers it will not be long before they shall openly call you the Saviours and blessings of the whole world that time that shall declare all things that are now hid shall rebuke them for their lying words against you and shall kindle the splendor of your vertue Mal. 3.17 Mic. 7.9 10 11 1 Cor. 6.3 4 So they shall bee found Lyers evil speakers false accusers of others but you shall bee more clear and illustrious than the Sun and you shall have all men witnesses of your glory Such as wisely and humbly bear reproaches now shall judge reproachers at last But Fifthly I answer that God doth many times even in this life bear sad witness and testimony against the reproachers of his people Gen 12.3 2 Sam. 16.11 12 13 I will bless them that bless thee and I will curse them that curse thee Divine Justice is like Vulcans iron net that took the Gods It apprehends and condemns all that are reproachers and enemies to his people God will even in this life curse them with a witness who curse them that he blesseth Pharoah found it so and Saul found it so and Jezabel found it so and Haman found it so and the Princes of Babylon found it so and the Jews find it so to this very day And Oh the dreadful judgements and curses that God hath poured out upon the reproachers of his name of his Son of his spirit of his word of his Ordinanees and of his people in these dayes wherein we live I might give you many sad instances of such in our days whose feet justice hath taken in the snare men of abstracted conceits and sublime speculations and indeed such usually prove the great wise fools who like the larke soareth higher and higher peering and peering till at length they fall into the net of the fowler and no wonder for such persons usually are as censorious as they are curious Sixthly I Answer Paul rejoyced more in his suffering reproaches for Christs sake than he did in his being wrapt up in the third heaven 2 Cor. 12.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities Crudelitas vestra gloria nostra your cruelty is our glory said they in Tertullian Fire sword prison famine are all delightful to me saith Basil in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong And therefore you have him often a singing this Song I Paul a Prisoner of Jesus Christ not I Paul wrapt up in the third Heaven Hee look't upon all his sufferings as Gods love tokens he look't upon all reproaches as pledges and badges of his Son-ship and therefore joyes and glories under all Christ shewed his love to him in wraping him up in the third heaven and he shewed his love to Christ in his joyful bearing of reproaches for his sake Paul rattles his chain which he bears for the Gospel and was proud of it as a woman of her ornaments saith Chrysostome Now why should that bee matter of trouble and discouragement to you that was
ever we should have our old hearts turned our millions of Sin pardoned our vile natures changed and poor souls saved c. I Answer that there is hope even for such as you are all the Angels in heaven and all the men on earth cannot tell but that you even you may obtain mercy and favour that your souls dye not with the Lord nothing is impossible and for the grace of the Gospel nothing is too hard now this I shall make evident by an induction of partilars thus First Mat. 20 1â—â—â—17 The Roman penny was seven pence half penny All were not called nor sent to work in the Vineyard at the first-hour some were called at the third-hour others at the sixth others at the ninth and some at the eleventh God hath his several times of calling souls to himself the eleventh hour was about five in the afternoon an hour before Sun-set when it was even time to leave work and yet at this hour some were called imployed and rewarded with the rest Some of the fathers by the several hours mentioned in this Parable do understand the several ages of man viz. Childhood youth middle-age and Old-age wherein poor souls are called and converted to Christ the scope of the Parable is to signify the free-grace of God in the calling of some in the spring and morning of their days and in the calling of others in their Old-age in the evening of their days But Secondly Abraham in the Old Testament Gen. 12.4 Joh. 3.1 2 3 4. ch 7.50 and Nicodemus in the New were called and converted in their old age when there were but a few steps between them and the grave between them and eternity therefore let not the gray-headed sinner despair though his spring be past his summer over past and he arrived at the fall of the leaf But Thirdly Divine promises shall be made good to returning souls to repenting souls to beleeving souls Isa 1.18 Jer. 3.12 Isa 43.22 23 24 25 Isa 57.17 18 Jer. 5â— 5 John 3.16 Mar. 16.16 be they young or old 2 Chron. 30.9 The Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you if you return unto him Joel 2.13 And rent your heart and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for hee will abundantly pardon or hee will multiply to pardon More of this you may see by reading the Scriptures in the margent all sorts of sin shall bee pardoned to all sorts of beleeving and repenting sinners The new Jerusalem hath twelve Gates to shew that there is every way access for all sorts and ranks of Sinners to come to Christ He was born in an Inn to shew that hee receives all comers young and Old poor and rich c. But Fourthly The Lord hath declared by Oath a greater delight in the conversion and salvation of poor sinners whether they are young or old than in the destruction and damnation of such Ezek. 33.11 As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will ye dye O ye house of Israell two things make a thing more credible 1 The quality or dignity of the person speaking 2 The manner of the speech Now here you have the great God not onely speaking promising but solemnly swearing that hee had rather poor sinners should live than dye bee happy than miserable therefore despair not Oh aged sinner but return unto the Lord and thou shalt bee happy for ever But Fifthly Vna guttula plus valet quam caelum terra Luther One little drop is more worth than heaven and earth there is vertue enough in the precious blood of Jesus Christ to wash and cleanse away all sin not only to cleanse away the young mans sins but also to cleanse away the old mans sins not only to cleanse a sinner of twenty years old but to cleanse a sinner of fifty sixty yea a hundred years old 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin not simply from sin but from all sin there is such a power and efficacie in the blood of Christ as is sufficient to cleanse all sorts of sinners from all sorts of sins there is vertue in the blood of the Lamb to wash out all the spots that are in the oldest sinners heart and therefore let not old sinners despair let not them say there is no hope there is no help as long as this fountain the blood of Jesus Christ is open for all sorts of sinners to wash in But Sixthly The call and invitations of Christ in the Gospel are general and indefinite excluding no sort of sinners Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man mark the indefinitenesse of personal admittance hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and hee with mee let the sinner bee old or young a green head or a gray head if hee will but open the door Christ will come in and have communion and fellowship with him So in that Mat. 11.28 Isa 55.1 John 7.37 Rev. 22.17 turn to these Scriptures and dwell upon them they all clearly evidence the call and gracious invitations of Christ to bee to all sinners to every sinner hee excepts not a man no though never so old nothing shall hinder the sinner any sinner the worst and most aged sinner from obtaining mercy if hee bee willing to open to Christ and to receive him as his Lord and King John 6.37 But Seventhly Christs pathetical lamentation over all sorts and ranks of sinners declares his willingnesse to shew mercy to them O Jerusalem Jerusalem saith Christ Luk. 19.41 42. weaping over it that thou hadst known in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace Psal 81.13 c. O that my people had hearkened unto mee Christ weeps over Jerusalem so did Titus and so did Marcellus over Syracuse and so did Scipio over Carthage but they shed tears for them whose blood they were to shed but Christ weeps over the necks of those young and old sinners who were to shed his blood As a tender hearted Father weeps over his rebellious Children when neither smiles nor frowns neither counsels nor intreaties will win them or turn them from their evil waies So doth Jesus Christ over these rebellious Jews upon whom nothing would work But Eighthly and lastly though aged sinners have given Christ many thousand denyals yet he hath not taken them but after all Psal 65.1 2. Rom. 10.21 and in the face of all denyals hee still re-inforces his suit and continues to beseech them by his Spirit 1 Joh. 5.2 3. by his word by his wounds by his blood by his messengers and by his rebukes to turn home to him to embrace him to beleeve in him and to match with him that they may bee saved eternally by him all which bespeaks gray-headed sinners not to despair nor to dispute but to repent return and beleeve that it may go well with them for ever Consider seriously what hath been spoken and the Lord make you wise for eternity There are three other Books lately published by Mr. Brooks 1 Precious remedies against Satans devices or salve for Beleevers and unbeleevers sores being a companion for those that are in Christ or out of Christ that slight or neglect ordinances under a pretence of living above them that are growing in spirituals or decaying that are tempted or deserted afflicted or opposed that have assurance or want it 2 Cor. 2.11 2 Heaven on Earth or a serious discourse touching a well grounded assurance of mens everlasting happiness and blessednesse discovering the nature of assurance the possibility of attaining it the Causes Springs and Degrees of it with the resolution of several weighty questions Rom. 8.32 33 34. 3 The unsearchable Riches of Christ or meat for strong men and milk for babes held forth in two and twenty Sermons from Ephesians 3.8 preached on his lecture nights at Fishstreet-hill All three Printed for and sold by John Hancock at the first shop in Popeshead-Alley next to Cornhill 1657. FINIS