frequent the means of grace I mean the Ministry of the word that being the ordinary instrument whereby the Spirit of God who is the principal Author of grace doth convey grace into the hearts of sinners Whereupon the Apostle Peter affirmeth 1 Pet. 1. 23 That we are born a new not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God Where by being born a new is meant such a thorow change in us whereby we are brought out of the state of nature into the state of grace and so are made new Creatures having an infusion of new and holy habits or supernatural graces put into our hearts which blessing is ordinarily wrought in us through the Ministry of the Word Acts 2. 41. We read of three thousand sinners who had grace wrought in their souls by one Sermon Yea Acts 10. 44. It is said Whilest Peter was preaching the Holy Ghoss fell on all them that heard the Word And therefore O Young man as thou desirest true saving grace frequent the Ministry of the word take all occasions of hearing the same hoth in season and out of season And for thine incouragement know that as graceless and prophane hearts as thine have been sanctified by the Spirit of God as they have been attending upon the Ministry of the Word And who knoweth but thou maist find the same effect of the Word upon thy soul whilst thou art waiting upon it 3. Beware thou neglect not the day of grace There are certain seasons of Grace when the Lord makes tenders and offers of grace to the Souls of poor sinners Yea there is no man that lives in the bosome of the Church but probably he hath his critical day a certain time for grace which if he neglect it is a question whether ever it will be offered to him again Happy therefore and thrice happy are they who observe those seasons of grace and know in their day the things that concern their everlasting peace Now it may he God speaks home to thy Conscience now he warms thine heart and puts thereinto good purposes and resolutions It will be therefore thy wisedome carefully to observe and improve the same to thy Souls advantage not suffering them carelesly to pass away lest if thou lose the benefit of those blessed motions thou lose life and salvation for ever Luke 19. 41 42. Our Saviour tells the Jews they had a day of grace which because they slighted and neglected they should never enjoy it again the means of grace and salvation should be no more offered unto them God being a just God is it not just that he should reject them for ever who have for a long time rejected him that he should turn a deaf ear unto them crying unto him on their death beds for grace and mercy who would not hearken unto him calling upon them in the day of his merciful visitation Whilest therefore the day of grace lasteth whilest God stands knocking at the door of thine heart by the motions of his Spirit and admonitions of his Ministers speedily open to him embrace his motions be willing to follow the dictates of his Spirit in ways of obedience Thou knowest not when thy day of graee will end Though some mens day continueth to their old age some to the day of their death yet some mens day of grace may end in their youth and younger years Thy first day may be thine only day for Heaven loyter out that and thence forth it may be night with thee for ever Therefore O young man how doth it concern thee to take the first and present season Now hearken now accept and submit to mercy now give thy self unto God be his faithful servant to obey and serve him with all thy heart and strength or the day may be lost and thy soul lost for ever Behold now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth thou maist suddenly be taken from the means of grace or the means of grace may be suddenly taken from thee The Sun of heavenly light which now shineth may set and thou be left in darkness The gate of mercy now opened to thee may be shut against thee The things belonging to thy peace may be hid from thee There is a time coming and we know not how near it is in which as Christ saith many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13. 24. Oh what woful yelling what pitiful crying and earnest knocking will there be then at the gate with Lord Lord open to us But all in vain having slighted and neglected their day of grace when they should have got Oyle into their Lamps and grace into their hearts 4. Be earnest with God in prayer who is the God of all grace that be would be pleased to vouchsafe unto thee his holy sanctifying Spirit which may quicken thy dead soul infuse the grace of life and make thee partaker of his holiness whereby thou maist become a new Creature Beg of God that he would not put thee off with the things of this world but together with his outward blessings or whether thou have them or not that he would bless thee with spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus and that he would inrich thee in the Inner man with his saving and sanctifying graces What the Apostle Iames saith of Wisdom is true of all grace If any one lack it let him asâ—… of God that giveth to all men liberally and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not and it shall be given him Jam. 1. 5. O young man may grace be had for asking Ask and ask again never keep silence nor let fall thy suit till thou hast obtained And in thy Prayers plead that gracious promise Isa. 44. 3. I will pour Water upon him that is thirsty and flouds upon the dry ground That is where there is no sap of grace nor moisture of goodness upon such saith the Lord will I pour out my water my living water my grace shall flow down upon him and his soul shall be as a well watered garden Go therefore thou poor sinful soul who never yet to this day hadst one drop of grace within thee go thou to the Throne of Grace go to the Fountain of Grace lament thy sinful barren heart before God and plead his promise of pouring the spiritual water of grace upon the barren thirsty soul say unto him Lord make good this good promise unto me behold the dry and barren heart upon which no dew or rain from above hath ever fallen pity this hard and parched soul a drop Lord a drop from the fountain of living water God of grace give grace unto me and effectually work it in me And know for thy comfort that if God hath given thee a sense of the want of grace and an heart to pray for it it is an hopeful sign that he intends to bestow it on thee 5. Stir up in thy soul an earnest longing desire after grace To that
their duties especially these Ephes. 6. 5 6 7 8. Col. 3. 22 23 24 25. 1 Tim. 6. 12. Tit. 2. 9 10. 1 Pet. 2. 18 19. c. Take your Bibles and turn to these places read remember and practise them And because there is a sort of wicked Young Ones who not being contented with being vile themselves do desire to draw others into the Fellowship of their works of darkness therefore let not that word depart from you in Prov. 1. 10 My Son if sinners intice thee consent thou not And verse 15. My Son walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their path See also Prov. 4. 14 15. c. And now for you Young Men whose years of Apprenticeship are expired and who are no longer Servants because you are free from your Masters You have a wide World before you take heed that you be not lost in it by wandring from the Paths of Gods Commandments either 1. In the abusing of your Liberty or 2. In the using of your Trades As for your Liberty Remember that though the Yoke of your Masters be off yet you must keep the Yoke of Christ on or you must take it upon you if yet you have not As you had a Master on earth whose Servants you were to be for a certain time so you have a Master in Heaven whose servants you must bâ—… for ever And this will be no unwelcom news to you if you do but understand what a good Master the Lord is to all that serve him in sincerity and with all their heart Though therefore you have obtained freedom from man yet you must not take any freedom to sin against God and though you are in that respect at your own dispose yet you must not live as if you were your own I think that Young Men at the coming out of their time had need count it one of the special times of their life wherein they should be most watchful For it may be easily observed in too many that there is such prophaneness then manifested as if Hell were broken loose In the using of your Trades and Callings you must manage all things as those that do not make mens practises but Gods Precepts the Rule of your Buying and Selling. Beware of the love of Money which is the root of all evil and be sure you go not out of Gods way to get an Estate That will be sad gain at last which brings the loss of the Soul It is mens horrible unbelief and ignorance and distrustfulness of Gods All-sufficiency that makes them think they shall not get enough for themselves and theirs to live comfortable upon unless they should stretch their Consciences beyond the due bounds And know that what is unjustly gotten will be followed with a Blasting when that which is honestly come by will be followed with a Blessing And now for a Conclusion to all of you What hath hitherto been spoken is but as it were to prepare you a little for that great Duty of Remembring NOW your Creatour in the days of your YOUTH Be sure you never well remember your selves if you forget the Lord. When the Prodigal Son came to himself he presently thought of returning to his Father Luk. 15. 17 18 19. Notwithstanding all your sins against God his Bowels of Love will receive you if you do not refuse the mercy that is offered to you He knows as well how to pardon the Penitent as to punish the Impenitent It is his infinite goodness to your Souls that you should have some to warn you before it be too late In the number of which I have desired to be one out of an hearty well-wishing to your Eternal good Read and consider what follows and the Lord give you understanding and add his own blessing teaching you faithfully to improve all the helps and furtherances he is pleased to vouchsafe unto you for your Souls advantage T. G. THE CONTENTS OF THIS TREATISE THe Text opened and explained Page 1 The Doctrine That it is a Duty incumbent upon all Young Men to consecrate the prime and strength of their days to the service of God 4 The Reasons of the Point 5 1 Use. Reproof of those who devote the Flower of their Age to the service of Satan and their sinful Lusts and reserve their decayed strength for God and his service 13 2 Use. Exhortation unto all Young Men to offer unto God the First-fruits of their lives 15 Several Objections of many Young Men against their early seeking and serving of God answered 17 Several Directions suitable to Young Men. 36 1. That they labour to be well rooted and grounded in the Principles of Religion 36 2. That they return to the Lord. The Nature of Conversion opened with some Arguments thereunto 37 3. That at their first setting up they content not themselves with a competent Stock of Money to begin the World withal but that they likewise get a good Stock of Grace 46 Helps thereunto 48 4. That they live godly and gracious lives with Directions thereunto 53 I. At thy first awaking in the Morning lift up thine heart to God in a thankful acknowledgment of his mercy to thee in the night past 53 II. So soon as thou art ready before thou goest about the works of thy Calling withdraw thy self into some private place and there pour out thy Soul unto God by Fervent Prayer 54 III. Having begun the day with Prayer then betake thy self to the duties of thy particular Calling 57 In following whereof special regard ought to be had to the ENDS and MANNER of performing them 57 For the Manner of following thy Calling these Rules are to be observed 58 I. Be diligent therein but with these two Cautions 58 1. Beware of laying out the strength of thy heart and spirit upon thy worldly businesses which ought to be reserved for Communion with God 58 2. Beware that thy worldly businesses and imployments do not ingross thy whole time but allow thy Religious Duties their proper and sufficient season 59 II. Follow thy worldly businesses with an heavenly mind 60 1. By raising matter of Heavenly Meditations from the same 60 2. By oft lifting up thine heart to God in short Ejaculatory Prayers for his direction assistance and blessing on thy pains and endeavours 61 III. Be Iust and Honest in thy dealing with men avoiding all guile and deceit 62 The Heads of several frauds and deceits to frequently acted in matters of Commerce and Trading 63 For the preventing of which several Rules are given 66 Motives and Arguments to Iust and Honest dealing 67 The hâ—…inousness of sundry Vices whereunto Young Men are addicted is set forth with several preservatives against them The Vices mentioned are 1. Rash and hasty Anger 70 2. Drunkenness 75 3. Wantonness and Uncleanness 83 4. Prophane and rash Swearing 91 5. Lying 95 6. Back-biting and Tale-bearing 100 IV. Another Direction for the leading a godly and gracious life is
CHAP. III. Containeth a sharp reproof of those who devote their Flower and Prime to the service of Satan and their sinful lusts and reserve their decayed strength for God Use 1. IS it a duty incumbent upon all Young Men to consecrate themselves to the service of God then such are to be reproved who devote their Flower and Prime to the service of Satan and their sinful lusts and reserve their decayed strength for God and his service accounting the very dregs and refuse of all to be good enough for him for whom the best and principal is not worthy Under the Law they were forbidden to offer any thing unto the Lord that had a blemish or that were lame and blind Lev. 3. 1. 22. 18 19 20. and Deut. 15. 21. And for transgressing this Law the Lord reprehended his people by the Prophet Malachy 1. 8. If ye offer the blind for Sacrifice is it not evil and if ye offer the lame and sick is it not evil Offer it now to thy Governour will he be pleased with thee or accept thy person saith the Lord of Hosts Was the Lord greatly offended when as men reserved the best of the Flocks to themselves and offered the old the blind and the lame unto him And will he be well pleased that thou shouldst dedicate thy best unto Satan and reserve for him only thy decrepit lame and withered age when as thy body is full of diseases and thy mind of infirmities Will God accept the Devils leavings Shall sin have thy blood and thy spirits and thy marrow and thy God be put off with skin and bones He that hath had the best may even take all God will laugh at thee in thy Evening who laugh'st at him in the Morning of thy days Is it not extream folly while the Ship is sound the Tackling good the Marriners hail and strong to lie playing and sporting at Road and when the Ship is crazy the Tackling weak and rotten the Marriners sick then to hoyse up sail for a Voyage into a far Country And how wise a man art thou who wilt delay the Voyage for Heaven till thy Vessel be broken and those Worms thy Lusts that have been bred in it have eaten it through and made it utterly useless We generally confess that our sins must be left and that God must be sought and served but we cannot accord of the time when to begin One saith he will begin when he hath served his Apprenticeship and is out of his time another when he is made Free and set up for himself another when he is Married another when he is Old Thus every one is apt to procrastinate The whole World almost are men for hereafter When must God be minded Hereafter When must these souls be looked to Hereafter When must these sins be sent packing Hereafter When we have served our selves of this World then we 'l be for the other World and when we have satisfied our Lusts then we will satisfie our Consciences and when we are unfit and unable for any thing else then we will follow God When we are scarce able to turn our wearied bones in our bed then will we think of turning to him Canst thou think God will accept thereof Believe it if thou canst Mark what the Prophet Malachy speaketh Chap. 1. 14. Cursed be the deceiver that hath in his Flock a Male and voweth and consecrateth unto the Lord a corrupt thing Who hath the Male of thy Flock whose is the First-born of thy strength Doth the Devil carry away that and must this corrupt thing this weak and weary and sickly time of thine age be the offering for God what thinkest thou will he say to thee but cursed be the deceiver that hath in his Flock a Male and consecrateth unto the Lord a corrupt thing CHAP. IV. Containeth an Use of Exhortation unto all young men to offer unto God the First-fruits of their lives Use 2. OF Exhortation unto all Young Men to offer unto God the First-fruits of their lives to give themselves to him betimes and forthwith to have done with the service of their sins and in earnest to betake themselves to holiness and righteousness of life Though the Devil the World and the Flesh have been aforehand with Christ and have gotten possession of thine heart yet now without further delay give a Bill of Divorce to them all cast out the Bond-woman and her Children and open unto Jesus Christ who stands knocking at the door of thine heart for entrance who by the admonitions of his Ministers the motions of his Spirit and checks of thine own Conscience doth call out unto thee Open to me I pray thee let me come in Oh let not thy love to thy Lust so far prevail with thee as to put off Christ to another time but this day open to him imbrace him for thy Prince and Saviour resign up thy self unto him to serve and obey him before thou art too far ingaged in the service of sin and Satan say with David That God shall be thy God and thou wilt seek him early Psal. 63. 1. Even now in the spring of thy life while the day of health and the day of Grace hath dawned upon thee Consider O Young Man how unfit old age is either to grapple with thy Lusts or thy duties to resist the tyranny of sin or to bear the difficulties of Religion We find by experience that the soul acting by and through the body acts according to the disposition thereof When the body is dull and heavy through age or infirmity the soul acts thereafter Is thy dulness and coldness all that thou wilt spare to the God of thy spirits How will he take it at thy hands when the Devil hath rode thee off thy legs and so lamed and cripled thee that now thou canst do no more then thou wilt be for God think how well this will please thy Maker Ye shall not see my face said Ioseph to his Brethren except you bring your younger Brother with you Gen. 43. 2. And how canst thou look to behold the face of the Lord Jesus with comfort if thou bring not unto him thy Youth and strength Now therefore O Young Man in the morning of thy life while the faculties of thy soul and parts of thy body are fresh and quick set thy face Heaven-ward especially considering how great thy work as a Christian is like to be even greater than thou canst dispatch in an Age. Those evil customs and habits which have been long growing cannot easily be cut off Those strong corruptions which have taken root in thine heart cannot readily be removed That knowledge grace peace comfort and assurance which thou needest cannot be attained without great labour and industry The work of Religion requires time it concerns thee to set upon it presently and not to be so very a Fool as to say It 's time enough yet Though thou hast foolishly mis-spent so much of thy Oyl already in
is pleasing unto God 3. There is that delight in the ways of godliness as upholds the heart of a Christian under all the losses crosses and 〈◊〉 he meets withal in this world and which will yield him abundance of comfort upon his Death-bed What was that which comforted King Hezekiah when he lay under the apprehension of death but the testimony of his Conscience that he had walked with much sincerity in the ways of godliness Isa. 38. 3. By all which it appeareth that godliness doth not deprive men of all joy and delight but rather the more godly any are the more joyful at least the better right and title they have thereunto whereupon saith one Wouldst thou live chearfully then live godly The which should be an incouragement unto all Young Men who are yet unresolved speedily without any further delay to consecrate their Youth and younger years unto God and his service betimes to walk in the ways of godliness that so their lives may be the more comfortable and joyful If the Lord shall be pleased to incline any of your hearts thereunto you will have cause to bless God for it not only so long as you live here but even to all Eternity in the highest Heavens For by devoting your selves to God and his service betimes even from your Youth many sins will be prevented which otherwise will be committed by you much more good will be done by you and much greater will be your glory hereafter 5. Obj. I have time enough before me and therefore may for a while longer allow my self my liberty Hereafter may be time enough to turn from my sins unto God and to mind the eternal welfare of my Soul A. 1. Consider as the shortness so the uncertainty of thy life How many have we known in our own experience who when they have promised themselves life for many years have then been suddenly taken away Thou who sayest thou hast time enough before thee canst thou upon good ground assure thy self of another day If not what folly yea what madness must it needs be to live one day longer in such a condition in which if thou shouldst die thou art miserably undone to all Eternity True it is God hath promised pardon and forgiveness to such as in truth and sincerity turn from their sins unto him but he hath not promised the morrow to him that deferreth If thou sayest though I am not sure to live another day yet I am likely being in good health and strength I answer Peradventure thou mayest live another day But what man in his right senses would put his Everlasting Salvation upon a Peradventure Peradvenâ—… thou mayest die the next day even whilst thou art 〈◊〉 in sensual pleasures and delights and then 〈◊〉 sad is thy case like to be to all Eternity The possiâ—… of a sudden and unexpected death should meâ—… be an effectual argument to perswade every man speedily without farther delay to reform and amend his life The Merchant having a fair Wind will not defer to hoise up sail saying we have time enough because it is possible the Wind may turn and he lose his opportunity The Husbandman having a fair day will not defer the carrying home his Corn when it is fit to take it in because it is possible the next day may prove 〈◊〉 In all cases about our worldly affairs a possibility of danger hath the force of an argument for present care And why should it not as well awaken our Souls to a speedy amendment of our ways 2. Thou who still delayest to hearken unto the Call of God in the Ministery of the Word woing and beseeching thee speedily to abandon thy sins and to walk in the ways of holiness know assuredly that he will not always wait on thee his patience will not ever attend thee As there is a time of Grace in which the Gate of Mercy stands open so there is a time of Judgment in which this Gate will be shut and aâ—…l possibility of entry taken away Psal. 32. 6. David speaketh of a time in which God may be found which implieth that there is a time in which God will not be found Though thou cryest out against thy sins and cryest unto God for mercy yet will he not hear thee but turn a deaf ear to all thy prayers So the Lord threatneth Prov. 1. 24 25. Because I have called you to amendment and reformation and ye refused to hearken unto me But have set at nought all my counsels and would none of my reproofs I will also laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me but they shall not find me For the Lord usually punisheth the slighting of his Grace in our younger years with the denying of it in our elder Hence it is that the Apostle S. Paul so much presseth the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very now Behold saith he NOW is the accepted time NOW is the day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. The time present is the only time the time to come is no time but a matter of meer uncertainty And therefore saith he Heb. 3. 7. To day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your hearts Where the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to day signifieth the time present and implieth that the present opportunity of Gods offering Grace ought to be imbraced thou must hearken unto him now that he calleth upon thee in the Ministery of his Word and motions of his Spirit to give over thy sinning Trade and give up thy self unto him and his service Now that God hangs forth the White Flag of Mercy and is willing to be gracious to thee Now that Christ is woing and beseeching thee to cast away thy sins and to cast thy self upon him to own him for thy Lord and Saviour Now that the Spirit of God is striving with thee surely it will be thy wisdom speedily to turn from thy sins unto him If thou put him off till hereafter and thereby quench the motions of his Spirit how justly may he for ever reject thee 3. Thou who upon a pretence of having time enough before thee dost procrastinate and delay to look after God and Heaven consider as the weightiness so the multitude of works to be done by thee in order to thy Salvation Hast thou not a dead Soul to be quickned a dark understanding to be enlightned with the knowledge of God and of his Son Jesus Christ an hard heart to be softned a proud heart to be humbled an unclean heart to be purified and cleansed a multitude of head-strong lusts to be mortified and subdued manifold temptations to be resisted and conquered Hast thou all these and many more things to do in reference to thy future happiness and yet wilt thou trifle away thy precious time in vanity and pleasure yea in sin and wickedness saying thou hast time enough before thee Know that the forementioned
works are enough to take up thy whole life How then canst thou imagine that the short remaining part thereof should be sufficient for them Ah sinner be convinced that these things must be done by thee or else thou wilt be undone for ever And then judge whether it be not high time for thee to bid adieu to all sinful pleasures and delights and seriously to mind the Concernments of thy precious and Immortal Soul Surely thou canst not be so simple as to flatter thy self with a conceit that all those things may be done either in time of sickness or in old age First For the time of Sickness that must needs be very unfit in regard of the many lets and impediments which then usually fall out to hinder the performance of them as pains of body faintness of spirit dulness and deadness of heart perplexity of mind partly through fear of Gods Judgments and partly with care of disposing thy outward estate for the future maintenance of Wife and Children which will not suffer thee so to collect thy spirits as is requisite for such weighty works Secondly As for Old Age which is scarce able to bear the infirmities of Nature how unfit must that needs be for such hard and difficult services How can it be expected that such who are in a manner past working should go thorow the greatest works that in this world are to be performed Eccl. 12. 1 Solomon calls the days of Old Age evil days not because they are so in themselves but because of the manifold weaknesses and diseases pains and aches which do accompany them whereby they are very much disinabled unto any good work And therefore to put off the main business of our lives the things which concern the Salvation of our Souls to our Old Age must needs be the greatest folly in the world because in so doing we put it to the hazard whether ever it will be done Besides that God who requireth the First-fruits of all we have will not be put off with the Devils leavings If a Souldier should spend the strength of his days in service against his Prince and in his Old Age offer his service to him would he think you accept thereof and not rather reject him and his service Canst thou then imagine that God will accept the service of thine old Age when thou hast spent the strength of thy years in the service of sin and Satan 4. Thou who sayest thou hast time enough before thee and thereupon resolvest hereafter to be for God and Holiness know that thereby thou deceivest thine own Soule For no resolution can be hearty and sincere but what is present He who is willing to indulge his sinful flesh but a Day longer would as willingly do it a Year longer yea to Eternity if he might He who is not willing to cast away his sins and to close with Christ to day would never do it by his good will Thy purposes and resolutions for the time to come are but deceitful and hypocritical O trust not to deceitful purposes 5. Thou who delayest to serve God out of a pretence thou hast time enough before thee I would ask thee what shew of reason thou hast for it Happily thou wilt say Oh the contentment I find in my present course is so sweet and delightful to me that I cannot as yet deny my self therein But is thy Lust sweeter than Christ than pardon of sin than peace and reconciliation with God yea than the joys of Heaven Sure thou art a Bruit if thou say so And if not why dost thou not presently reform and return to the Lord Is it too soon for thee yet to be happy Thou art worthy to die for ever who chusest to lie longer in the estate of the dead when thou mightest presently turn and live 6. Thou who sayest thou hast time enough before thee hast thou not served the Devil and Sin long enough Hast thou not done enough to the damning thine own Soul but thou must go on further in thy wicked and ungodly courses Certainly if thou hadst any of the ingenuity of a Christian within thee thou wouldst rather say I have long enough wallowed in the filth of sin and mire of sinful filthiness I have long enough slighted the free grace of God and rejected the invitations of Jesus Christ 't is a shame I have stood out so long Well I have now done with iniquity from henceforth I will be for Christ and Holiness farewel my former sinful courses and Companions farewel my carnal peace ease and pleasure 't is high time to mind the eternal welfare of my Soul and to give up my self to God 7. Consider Though sound repentance is never too late yet late repentance is seldom sound like untimely fruit it rarely cometh to any perfection as may evidently appear from the usual practise of such as recover of their sickness who in the time of affliction seemed mightily troubled for their wicked lives and outwardly bewailed their sins crying out against them yea made many vows and promises of newness of life and better obedience professing for the time to come utterly to renounce their former lewd courses and to serve God in true holiness and righteousness all the remaining part of their days yet being recovered to their former health again forgetting the vows and promises they made in the time of their sickness with the Dog they have returned to their former Vomit and with the Sow wallowed again in the filth of sin and mire of sinful filthiness imbracing the same sins which they had formerly lamented and so become worse than before It was the observation of that worthy Divine Mr. Robert Bolton that he never knew or heard of any man unwrought upon under conscionable means who after recovery performed the vows and promises of a new life which he made in his sickness and time of extremity which methinks should be a strong Motive to perswade every one of us to turn from our sin and to givup our selves intirely unto God in our health and strength that so we may have some comfortable Evidence of the truth and soundness of our Repentance 8. Consider the desperate hazard thou runnest by delaying to close with Iesus Christ. For what if thy great change should come before the change of thy heart how sad would thy condition be What if Christ who hath long been knocking at the door of thine heart should withdraw himself and never knock again Surely as it was one of the greatest mercies that ever was vouchsafed to thee that Jesus Christ should condescend to stand and knock at the door of thine heart so it will prove in the event the heaviest Judgment that ever befel thee if thou wilt not now open unto him but put him off with delays It will be just with Christ finally to withdraw himself from those who will not hearken unto him in this his merciful day of Visitation Beware that this be not thy case
end consider the excellency thereof Consider I say the excellency of grace it is the beam of the Divine Nature a spark and ray of glory which puts such an excellency upon a person that all others are vile persons in comparison of him A gracious soul is the rarest piece of all Gods workmanship of more worth than all the wealth and riches in the world Nothing so graceth a man as grace doth being the image of God in man whereby he becomes like unto his Creator which is the greatest excellency that can be conferred on a Creature It was this that made all Gods servants so famous in their generation It was not their wealth their parts or the like but their graces their faith their patience their zeal for God and the like These kept their names fresh when the names of wicked graceless wretches do rots and are perished Grace is aromatical it embalmes the living names of dead Saints whereupon a gracious person when he dies is said to carry a good conscience with him and to leave a good name behind him I grant that carnal men through their ignorance of the true worth of Saints being blind in spiritual matters have a low and mean esteem of them But could they look into their inward parts and discern their true worth they would acknowledge them all-glorious within more precious than fine gold I shall close this Direction with a word to those who have some comfortable evidence of the truth of grace in their hearts exhorting them that they content not themselves with any measure or degree of grace but labour and strive after perfection adding Grace to Grace and growing from one degree of Grace unto another till they be perfect men and women in Christ Jesus Though you ought to be contented with a competency of worldly wealth yet never talk of a competency of grace nor take up with any degree of it already obtained as if you had enough and needed no more St. Paul though he was content with a little of the world yet not with a little of grace he reached forward and pressed towards the mark for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Phil. 3. 13 14. It was the Motto of Charles the fifth Plus ultra that is more yet or further yet And it ought to be every Christians Motto Go on to perfection To perswade you thereuno take these Arguments 1. Hereby you will gain a comfortable evidence of the truth of Grace in you For true grace hath this property that though it be weak yet it will grow and increase mightily as he that loveth silver is never satisfied with silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase saith the Wise man Eccl. 5. 10. So he that hath true grace in him will never think he hath enough of it but will be ever desiring and endeavouring after more They who have once tasted of the sweetness of grace are not satisfied with a little the more they drink the more they thirst till they have drank their full draught in the Kingdome of God It may justly be doubted whether there be any truth of grace where there is not a desire and endeavor after an encrease therein It is an ill sign to sit down satisfied and rest contented with a little Sure thou hast none at all who art satisfied with that little grace thou thinkest thou hast 2. To stir you up to labour after a greater measure and higher degree of grace consider that after the work of grace hath been wrought in you there is a great deal more work to be wrought by you many lusts to be conquered much corruption to be subdued many temptations to be resisted many graces to be exercised several duties to be performed many of them hard and difficult to flesh many great things to be done and bitter things to be indured for Christ you may be called to the fiery trial and to suffer the loss of all that is dear unto you How can you imagine to go through all all these works with a small degree of grace and measure of strength 3. The stronger Christians you are the more helpful will you be unto others who are weak and infirm and consequently the more honourable for it is more honourable to give than to receive Therefore how doth it concern you to strive to increase your store that you may have by you to help the needy and be useful in your generations by instructing the ignorant resolving the doubtful comforting such as mourn reproving such as are scandalous converting such as are unconverted strengthning such as are weak in grace Oh what a Blessing might you be to all your relations yea to all with whom you do converse How should the ears that heard you bless you yea and bless God for you Iob. 9. 11. CHAP. IX Containeth Directions how to live a godly and gracious Life BEtake thy self to live a godly and gracious Life For thy help therein take these Directions I. Direction At thy first awaking in the morning lift up thine heart to God in a thankful acknowledgement of his mercy to thee the night pass in giving thee such quiet rest and sleep whereby thy body is refreshed and thou inabled for the duties of the day And beg of God that he would so assist thee with his Grace and Holy Spirit that all the thoughts of thy heart and words of thy mouth and works of thy hands the day following may be acceptable in his sight And in regard the Devil at thy first awaking is very watchful to take possession of thine heart by casting in some wicked worldly wanton thoughts it will be thy wisdom to prevent him by fixing thy heart on some spiritual subject as on God his Word or Works his Providence or Properties Good thoughts in the Morning will so season thine heart that thou shalt retain the favour of such a gracious beginning all the day after II. Direction to a godly life So soon as thou art ready before thou goest about the works of thy Calling withdraw thy self into some private place and there pour out thy Soul unto God by fervent and effectual prayer Be sure to open thine heart to God before thou open thy Shop to men This secret prayer we find commended by Christ himself Matth. 6. 6 When thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut thy door pray to thy Father that is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly And we find that what he commanded himself practised for Mark 1. 35. it is said In the Morning Christ went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed How careful the servants of God have been therein none will question who are acquainted with the Scriptures Besides all the Benefits of prayer in general secret prayer hath these 1. It will be some testimony of the sincerity of thine heart A man may joyn in Publick and Family-prayer meerly in
hypocrisie to gain the applause and commendation of men But he that maketh Conscience of praying in secret and that in obedience to the Command of God with a desire to approve himself unto him hath some good evidence of the truth and sincerity of his heart 2. It is in our secret prayers that God doth ordinarily give the greatest discoveries of his love Iacob met with the blessing when he wrestled with God in secret As Cornelius was praying by himself alone a Man in bright cloathing or an Angel appeared to him and said Cornelius thy prayer is heard Act. 10. 30 31. When Peter was praying alone upon the House he saw a Vision and heard a Voice from Heaven speaking unto him Act. 10. 9 10 c. The secrets of the Lord are usually revealed unto his people when they are seeking him in secret Christ giveth his sweetest kisses and dearest imbraces to his Spouse when she is alone Yet how is this duty of secret prayer generally omitted especially by the younger sort of Citizens whose heads and hearts and time are so taken up with sensual pleasures and worldly businesses that they can scarce allow themselves any time to spend with God in secret Surely such do plainly demonstrate that they love the World and the pleasures thereof more than God himself Nay how can such say that they love God at all in truth and sincerity when they delight not in communion with him nor love to have any intercourse with him in secret Oh young men that I might prevail with you for the time to come to be more constant in this duty that you would not go into your Shops till you have been with God in private and there offered up your morning Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving I beseech you for the sake of your precious souls plead no excuse from worldly businesses The Devil and your own corrupt hearts will find many occasions to divert you from the duty but say to them as Abraham to his servants Stay you here while I go and worship the Lord yonder Shouldst thou omit thy Morning Devotions for any worldly businesses thou wouldst thereby hazard the loss of thy precious Soul for the gaining of a little worldly wealth which can yield thee no true comfort And what will it avail thee to gain the whole world and lose thine own Soul Mark 8. 36. Friend let this my Counsel be accepted of thee and prevail with thee set upon a constant course of serious secret prayer or else never talk of Christianity or Religion in thee thou hast nothing of it A Christian without prayer is a man without breath Prayer is the very breathing of a Christian soul. In the performing thy secret devotions observe these Rules 1. Beware of doing them in a cursory careless and formal way He who serves God carelesly is like to bring a curse upon himself instead of a blessing For cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord negligently Jer. 48. 10. So it is in the letter of the Hebrew though the new Translators of our Bible render it Deceitfully Which two words may very well interpret one another For he that doth a work negligently doth it deceitfully he doth as if he would deceive God but at last he deceiveth his own Soul Such prayers as are performed coldly and negligently they are as if they had not been done in Gods account and a man is never the better for them yea he is the worse for such prayers for they leave the Heart more worldly and covetous more hard and obdurate than it was before and more guilty before God 2. Let thy prayers be fervent performed with earnestness of Spirit and affection Set thy self in good earnest to seek the Lord which is the only means to prevail with him for it is the fervent prayer only that is effectual Jam. 5. 16. To this end be sure thou give not way either to drowsiness of body or distractions of mind unto which we are all naturally too too prone but stir up thy self to the duty putting forth all the strength thou canst therein Though thy strength be but weakness yet if thy strength be in the work God will accept thereof As when a Father sets his Child about such or such a work though the Child be very weak and insufficient for the same yet if it put forth its strength therein to do it as well as it can the Father will accept thereof as if it were done after the best manner So it is between God and us though we are very weak and insufficient for the performance of any spiritual duty yet if we put forth our strength therein God will accept thereof Among other directions which might be given to drive away wandring thoughts in prayer and to raise up thine affections therein take notice of these two 1. Make choice of such a place for the performance thereof where thou mayst use thy voice and not be heard of others The Voice in prayer will be found very effectual both to keep thine heart close to the duty and to quicken thine affections therein 2. If notwithstanding thou findest thy mind hath been wandring in prayer after worldly matters it will be a good course in thy Closet Devotions to pray those heads over again which thou deliveredst without any Observation labouring as to keep thine heart closer to the duty so to perform it with more fervency and earnestness of affection CHAP. X. Containeth Directions for the manner of following thy particular Calling HAving thus begun the day with Prayer thou must then betake thy self to the duties of thy particular Calling for particular Callings are of Gods appointment as for our own good and the good of our Family so for the benefit of others In following whereof have special regard both to thy Ends and Manner of performing them 1. For thy Ends Follow not thy worldly businesses meerly for gain and advantage thereby to get an Estate but chiefly in obedience to the Command of God who requireth every one to labour in some honest Calling that thereby thou mayst serve and follow his Providence in the use of those means he hath appointed for the getting a comfortable subsistance for thy self and family and that thou mayst in some measure be profitable in thy Generation and serviceable to the Publick Good minding above all things the glory of God in what thou dost who is glorified not only by the practice of holy and Religious duties but also by a conscionable performance of the duties of thy particular Place and Calling 2. For the manner of following thy Calling observe these Rules 1. Be diligent therein To live without a Calling or not to labour therein are both sinful and unwarrantable Every Son of Adam ought to mind some particular Calling by vertue of that Command which God laid upon Man immediately after his Fall Gen. 3. 19. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground Which
words are to be understood not only as a Curse or Judgment but also as a Charge and Command Answerable thereunto is that Precept in the Moral Law Six days shalt thou labour So that no man hath a priviledge to live idly but either by the sweat of his Brow or of his Brain ought to be serviceable in his Generation For thine incouragement unto diligence in thy Calling Solomon tells thee Prov. 10. 4. The â—…and of the diligent maketh rich And Prov. 13. 4. That the Soul of the diligent shall be made sat Whereas Idleness is the root both of Beggery and of all manner of wickedness yea the Devils chiefest opportunity and advantage for tempting men unto sin and therefore may be called the hour of temptation For when the Devil findeth men most idle he will be sure to set them on his work Therefore it was good counsel which Saint Ierom gave to one of his Friends Be thou always about some lawful business that when the Devil comes he may not find thee idle If Satan at any time find thee not about that which is good he will soon set thee about that which is evil Though thou must be diligent in thy Calling yet take these two Cautions 1 Caution Beware of laying out the strength of thy heart and spirit upon thy worldly businesses which ought to be reserved for communion with God Thou must so follow the works of thy Calling as one that hath other matters in thy head businesses of an higher nature lying upon thee even the great things of Eternity the salvation of thy precious and immortal Soul This the Apostle intendeth in 1 Cor. 7. 31. where he adviseth us so to use the World as if we used it not or as not abusing it by such an immoderate loving and inordinate seeking after it as takes off the heart from a due minding the great concernments of our Souls As Esau wasted his strength by overmuch Hunting and by his too greedy desire of Iacob's red Pottage lost his Birth-right Gen. 27. 29. so mayst thou by an over-eager hunting after Wealth waste the strength of thy body and indanger thine Heavenly Inheritance It will be therefore thy wisdom so to mind and follow after things Temporal that thou mayst not lose no nor abate thy care of things Eternal I deny not but the World may and must be minded by thee but still in its place secondarily and subordinately What is the World to thy Soul What is Bread or Cloaths or Money or an House or Lands to the Everlasting Kingdom Let that word be still in thine ears and upon thine heart whatever thou art about First seek the Kingdom of God First that is not only before all things but chiefly and above all things seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness let thine heart be ever more intent upon God than upon all things in the world besides 2 Caution Though thou must be diligent in thy Calling yet beware that thy worldly businesses and imployments do not ingross thy whole time but allow thy Religious Duties their proper and sufficient season Be sure thou observe thy praying and thy reading times yea and thy seasons for meditating on God and communing with thine own heart Oh let not thy Worldly Imployments prove Heavenly Impediments Put not off thy serving God for any earthly advantage whatsoever Happily thou wilt say I must provide necessaries for my Family I must have bread for my self and them True and must thou not have Grace and Christ too Is not thy Soul more than thy Body Is not Christ and Grace more necessary than thy daily bread If thou wilt not raise thy Estate upon the ruines of thy Soul if thou wilt not sell thine hopes for hereafter for thy present commodity and undo thy self for ever for fear thou shouldst be undone here then look to it that whatever wants thy Soul may have its due share of thy time Let not holy duties give place to the world let the world give place to them I know it is the practice of too many upon a pretence of much business either wholly to omit their private devotions or else to run over them so hastily that they are lost in the doing as good do nothing as nothing to purpose God will not be so put off nor can thy Soul subsist upon the Income of hasty duties If thou wilt find no more leisure to pray God will find as little leisure to answer 2 Follow thy Worldly businesses with an Heavenly mind as a Citizen of Heaven and a Pilgrim on Earth Though thou hast thy hand in the Earth yet let thine eye and thine heart be towards Heaven often meditating on heavenly things and setting thy thoughts and affections on things above As S. Paul when he was at Rome in his body yet was at Coloss in his Spirit Col. 2. 5. So though as yet we are absent from Heaven in our bodies yet in our Spirits we may be continually present there and there let us daily be both searching into the blessedness of that better Country and studying our way thither and laying up a treasure for our selves there There is scarce any worldly business which calls for the continual intention of thy thoughts upon it but some spare time may be gained from it for spiritual thoughts and heavenly meditations And great care and watchfulness there should be against such an over-intention of mind upon whatever earthly affairs as does shut the Lord out of doors and throw Heaven under our feet Let our whole life be a walking with God as Enochs was Gen. 5. 22. Let us learn the skill to serve the Lord in our serving the necessities of our bodies and let us often catch at opportunities for more immediate converses with him Learn particularly these two things 1. To spiritualize all outward objects and occurrences by raising matter of heavenly meditations from the same There is no creature in which there are not manifest footsteps of the Power Wisdom and Goodness of God Every flower or spire of grass every worm or fly declare the power of our great Creator How much more the curious Fabrick of mans Body and the glorious Host of Heaven from each of which thou mayst take occasion to think of God with admiration As a Christian seeth all things in God so may he see God in all things and thereby make some spiritual use and improvement of them He may with the Bee suck sweetness out of every flower not only for sensual delight but also for spiritual profit And truly the benefit of the Creature is half lost if there be nothing but an outward use made oâ—… them The bruit Beasts can behold the outward things if man see and learn no more what is his Excellency above the Beasts A wise Physitian can extract some good out of those Herbs that ignorant persons cast away as useless In like manner wise Christians can and ought to extract some spiritual profit to themselves
Apprenticeship to the Devil What O what shall I say to you Is this a state to take your rest in Is this a state to laugh and be so merry in How is it that you are not all upon your knees or fallen upon your faces that you are not all in tears and in tremblings Do you sit at the Wine and chear your selves with strong Drink Vinegar and Gall and Worm-wood is more proper for you sorrow and bitterness of soul. What friends do you mean to outdare the Almighty Do not you fear the wrath of the Lamb Are you death-proof and hell-proof Is the judgement to come but abugbear Dare you to meet the Judge of all the earth and to stand before his Bar with all your loads of guilt upon you How will your courage come down and your brisk and wanton looks be appaled How will these stout hearts quake and these bold spirits of yours shiver and fall and hide themselves if it were possible from that terrour of the Lord in his dreadful and terrible day O how is it that you have no more pity no more bowels for your poor perishing dying souls What will you still be laying on more Irons heavier loads What yet more Oaths and Lyes and Drunkenness and Whoredoms and Obstinacies in them What will you never leave loading till your backs be broken and you be past remedy O repent repent and turn to the living God and he will yet have mercy on you IV. When through Grace thou art recovered take heed of falling back again A relapse is dangerous in bodily diseases much more in spiritual Christ gave this advice to the Woman taken in Adultery and forgiven Go and sin no more John 8 11. As also to the poor lame man whom he healed at the Pool of Bethesda which he back'd with a strong reason Go and sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee lest the rod be turned into a Scorpion Iohn 5. 14. Is the unclean spirit departed from thee beware that he return not lest thou become sevenfold more the Child of Hell in thy latter end than thou wert in the beginning Let thy former sins and the smart they have put thee to be warnings to thee as long as thou livest Hast thou repented Art thou reformed Bless God for so great a mercy Look back upon the mire of the pit out of which thou art delivered and take heed to thy self how thou ever comest there again CHAP. XXII Of Moderation in the Use of Meat and Drink V. BE moderate in all things more Particularly 1. In the use of Meats and Drinks 2. In Sports and Recreations 3. In the pursuit of worldly wealth and seeking after riches I. Be moderate in the use of Meats and Drinks Feed for the satisfying thy hunger and strengthning thy body for the service of God and not meerly for the pleasing thy fleshly appetite I deny not but the Lord sometimes gives us liberty to eat and drink not only for necessity but also for delight And I grant it is a blessing from God promised unto the faithful Joel 2. 26. That they shall eat in plenty and be satisfied but it is that they may take occasion thereby to praise the Name of the Lord for his bounty and goodness But wilt thou therefore eat to Gluttony and allow thy self in such intemperance as will make thee as ready to curse God as to bless and praise him Our Saviour warns his own Disciples Luke 21. 34. Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surseiting and drunkenness It is observable how he adviseth us to be as watchful against Gluttony as Drunkenness Many look upon Drunkenness as an heinous sin but as for Gluttony they make no sin of it at all not considering that a man may offend and make a Beast of himself by excessive Eating as by excessive Drinking The Rich Glutton went to Hell not for any Drunkenness that we read of but for Gluttony Luk. 16. 19. Therefore O Young Man it concerns thee to be watchful over thy self herein Let not thy Table be an Altar to thy Belly lest it become a snare to thine heart Beware of feeding thy Lust instead of refreshing thy Body Eat for service more than for pleasure to preserve Nature rather than to pamper the Body And when thou art feeding thy Body forget not to refresh thy Soul by meditating of Gods goodness and bounty and Christs sweetness who is the Bread of Life That thou mayst be the more watchful against this intemperance consider the manifold mischiefs which usually accompany the same 1. It is exceeding hurtful to the body filling it with crudities noysom humours and dangerous obstructions the Mother of most diseases If thou wouldst enjoy an active healthful body rise always from the Table with an Appetite But oh the folly of many men who for a short delight which lasteth no longer than the meat is swallowing down do endure many hours grievances through the oppression of the Stomach and pain of the Head yea oftentimes dangerous Surfeits which hazard life it self What pity is there to such who will sell their healths and their ease for a few Meals let them smart for it their sickness may cure them of a worse disease 2. It dulletb the Wit infatuateth the Mind emasculateth the Soul and the powers thereof quencheth and devoureth the vigour of the Spirits whereby a man is often made fit for nothing but to be a Sleeper or an idle Drone Is this thy thankfulness for the bounty of the Lord to thee to make such use of it that thou art good for just nothing 3. It is a great incentive to Lust when men 〈◊〉 provision for the flesh they soon fulfil the lusts thereâ—… Rom. 13. 14. Forbear to pamper nature lest it prâ—…ve wanton and impetuous 4. I would ask such as give up themselves to the satisfying their carnal appetite making their Bellies their Gods whether they do not think that they must one day answer for the good Creatures of God which they have vainly consumed If they make any question thereof hearken to what the Wise Man speaketh Eccles. 11. 9. Rejoyce O Young Man in thy Youth and let thine heart chear thee in the days of thy Youth but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into Iudgment As if he had said Take thy course O Young Man give up thy self to thy Lusts and please thy sensual appetite eat drink be merry but know thou shalt one day full dearly answer for the same CHAP. XXIII Of Moderation in Sports and Recreations II. BE moderate in thy Sports and Recreations Spend not too much of thy precious time therein Certainly if thou didst but seriously weigh and consider how much work lieth before thee and how little time remaining for the doing of it thou wouldst not trifle away so much thereof in vanity and pleasure but wouldst rather spend the greatest part of that time thou canst
enough to keep them when they are old which is a sinful anxiety however vailed under the appearance of providence against future necessity whereby they do but anticipate their cares and create a needless Distraction to themselves 2 The manner of labouring when temporal things are preferred before spiritual and Heavenly therefore our Saviour addeth but labour for the meat which endureth to everlasting life that is chiefly and especially Look how much more excellent the soul is than the body things eternall than those that are temporal so much more ought we both in our judgements and affections to prefer and pursue spiritual grace and Heavenly glory before these temporary trifles 3. The measure of labouring when we never think we have laid up enough but are continually and eagerly seeking after more our hungry hearts crying still in our ears Gather Gather lay up for the dayes to come When we cannot be content with food convenient but seek after more than is needful both for the present and future maintenance of the charge God hath committed to us It is recorded of Esau that though he was a Prophane earthly-minded man yet could say to his Brother Iacob I have enough Gen. 33. 9. Oh then what a shame is it for such as make a profession of Religion and would seem to be of the seed of Iacob yet cannot say they have enough Oh how many Christians herein come short of Esau Should you by your extraordinary care and pains attain to a considerable estate here what would be your advantage thereby Happily you may wear better cloaths fare more deliciously provide greater portions for your Children and at last go to Hell with the more credit than the poorer sort And is this a priviledge to be so much desired and laboured after to descend with pomp into the pit Consider I beseech you how little good your wealth can do you Can it free you from cares Can it lengthen your dayes Can it keep you from the Dropsie Feaver Gout or other bodily Diseases Can it preserve you from death or obtain the pardon of your sins You may indeed procure the Popes pardon but will God sell you a pardon for money Had you all the wealth in the World it could not purchase Heaven for you nor free you from hell no nor procure you a drop of water to cool your tongue or quench your thirst there O who would lay out himself wholy upon that which cannot help him in his greatest distresses Riches avail not in the day of wrath I beseech you therefore in the name of Christ to cast out this Worldliness and cherish it no longer know it will prove a Murtherer of your souls it will cheat you of everlasting happiness and entice you into Hell by pretences of profit and advantage It is observable that we 〈◊〉 not in all the Scripture that any Saint was guilty of this sin of setting his heart upon the World and seeking immoderatly after earthly riches We read of Aarons Idolatry Lots Incest Noahs Drunkenness Davids Adultery Peters denial of his Master But where do you read in Scripture of any Saint that was overcome with this sin It is not to be denyed but that as the seeds of all sin are in the best of men so likewise the seeds of this sin but that any Saint was given up to the power thereof we do not read How should this consideration stir you up to a greater watchfulness against the same For the better taking you off from an immoderate seeking after worldly riches weigh these few considerations 1. Consider the Vanity of all earthly things which appeareth by the Testimony of Solomon whom God for his Wisdom chose as it were to be the Fore-man of a grand-Inquest empanelled to make enquiry into the state of the World and the things therein Having seen and experienced and suck d out the juice and even extracted the Spirits of all worldly things to make the fuller proof of what there was in them at length he gives in his verdict that they were meer vanity not only vain but vanity in the abstract and therefore altogether ineffectual to render a man truly happy which he layeth down in this proposition Eccles. 1. 2. Vanity of Vanities vanity of vanities all is vanity that is All worldly things are most vain for thus the superlative degree in the Hebrew is usually expressed as the highest Heaven is called the Heaven of Heavens the most excellent Song the Song of Songs All worldly things are said to be extreamly vain 1. Because there is no permanenâ—…y in them Being all subject to change and corruption 2. Because they are false and deceitful deceiving such as trust in them They promise much content and satisfaction but they are so far from yielding the same that they often bring much grief and trouble of mind 2. Consider they are not only vanity but vexation of Spirit Eccles. 2. 11. Though riches are nothing in themselves yet are they full of power and activity to inflict vexation upon the spirit of a man For there is vexation in getting them vexation and care in keeping and vexation in parting with them So that Worldliness is not only a sin but a torment and vexation it is its own punishment Most sins carry a delight in their face as this also doth but they have a sting in their Tails That which is so beautiful in thine eye will be gall in thine heart and Wormwood in thy belly As those that live godly so thou also that wilt live worldlily must suffer tribulation and through those many tribulations must thou enter into the Kingdom of everlasting darkness 3. Consider that they are empty and unsavoury yielding no true contentment to them who enjoy them For how many do we see abounding with wealth who yet have unquiet and discontented spirits whereby it appears that it is not in the power of outward things to satisfie the heart of man True it is these worldly riches promise contentment and the Worldlings heart deceiving him makes him believe that when he hath raised his Estate to such a proportion he will then rest satisfied and contented but when he hath obtained the Estate where is the contentment He shall not feel quietness in his Belly but in the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits Job 20. 20 22. Be wise O Young Man if thou hast no more Grace yet learn more Wit than thus intensely to mind and immoderately to seek after earthly things which when thou hast them cannot add one Cubit to thy contentation It is God alone that can satisfie the otherwise insatiable heart of man That Soul that seeketh contentment in any thing below God is like to have the same success with that unclean Spirit which sought rest in dry places The full Bags or Barns will be as empty things as his dry places thou mayst seek rest in them but wilt find none 4. Consider that worldly riches as they are unsatisfactory so
company welcom and acceptable unto all Yea it will win the hearts of all with whom you have to do and even knit them unto you Davids courteous carriage made all the servants of Saul to respect him Yea it is said All Israel and Judah loved him 1 Sam. 18. 16. On the other side Churlishness Bitterness Testiness and such other Vices which are contrary to this Vertue alienate mens minds from them yea and exasperate them against them But withal take notice that this courtesie and gentleness must neither make thee an Hypocrite and Dissembler nor over-familiar with thy Inferiours especially such as are in subjection under thee For Gods Image which all Superiours carry must be respected of them and accordingly must they carry themselves Nor yet must this make any over-remiss in reproving Offenders for so would this comely Vertue be turned into an hurtful and dangerous Vice indeed it serveth to sweeten reproofs that they may be better accepted Be courteous to all but beware of connivence much more of compliance with evil men in their sins Let not pretence of being courteous draw thee aside to be vicious III. Carry thy self humbly towards all men thinking better of others than of thy self The truth is that man who well knoweth himself knoweth more of himself of his own weakness and vileness than he can know of most others and therefore he may well have a meaner esteem of himself than of others especially such as are of his Rank and betwixt whom there is not too too palpable a difference If he have apparently better gifts than others yet his humble mind will make him think that others may have more true inward grace and sincerity because he knows more of the deceit of his own heart than he can of others This Vertue of Humility though it be primarily seated in the heart yet from thence it extendeth it self to a mans outward conversation and proves a most lovely and adorning Grace which doth adorn our Christian Profession and obtaineth favour both with God and Man whereas a proud haughty spirit is hated both of God and Man Solomon ranketh haughty eyes in the first place among such things as the Lord hateth and his Soul abhorreth Prov. 6. 17. As for man he naturally hateth pride in another though he love and like it in himself which is a great condemnation of the sin of pride But as for the humble and lowly-minded man he doth exceedingly gain the hearts and affections of others unto him Humility is so comely and graceful a Grace that it makes him who is decked therewith amiable and gracious in every mans eye Whereas none are more disdained than the proud none are better respected both by God and Man than the humble for it is abundance of Grace that makes men humble as it is abundance of Fruit that maketh Trees most bow God highly prizeth them and accordingly bestoweth his choicest graces on them Men usually lay up their richest Wines in the lowest Cellars and God lays up his choicest mercies in the lowest hearts Yea God himself delights to dwell in the humble Soul Isa. 57. 15. God hath but two Thrones the highest Heavens and the lowest hearts He overlooks the frame of Heaven and Earth to look on a poor humble heart Isa. 66. 1 2. not with a bare look of intuition but with a look of favour complacency and delight Though the Lord be the most high yet hath he respect to the lowly Psal. 38. 6. They are Gods Iewels in high esteem with him yea they are Gods Glory Isa. 4. 5. They give all glory to God and therefore God loves to exalt them to honour So that Humility is the readiest way to Honour Many make it the chief design and the main business of their lives to contrive how they may be great and honourable in the World and often it is that Honour flies from them as the shadow from him that pursues it But if they would study to be humble and so carry themselves towards all they would find that the speediest way to exaltation For saith Christ himself Mat. 23. 12. Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted even to honour here if God sees it good for him but howsoever to glory hereafter which is the highest and best preferment for Mat. 5. 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven True Humility stands in being low in our own eyes and being content to be low in the eyes of others Get this Heart humility and that will prevent those thoughts which would puff thee up in thy self and those lofty carriages which tend to set thee up in the World Let it be thy care to approve thy self in all good Conscience towards God and let him alone to take care of thy good name among men IV. Be as serviceable to others as thou canst As it was the meat and drink of our blessed Saviour to be doing good unto others So let it be thy meat and drink even thy chief delight to be doing all the good thou canst Let not any opportunity of doing good slip out of thy hands but as the Wise Man adviseth Eccles. 9. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might that is whatsoever ability or opportunity of service God affordeth unto thee either in thy general or particular Calling improve it with all care and diligence endeavour with thy might to do all the good that possibly thou canst in thy Generation This we find was the mind of our Saviour for saith he Joh. 9. 4. I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day Now what was the work of Christ but to do all manner of good as any opportunity was offered whether by word or deed The phrase used by the Evangelist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to work the work is an Hebraism and implieth a thorow acting or doing of a thing a doing it heartily and that with all care and diligence Thus should we make it our chief care and endeavour yea the main and principal work of our lives to do all the good we can in the world accounting that the happiest time in which we can do the most good And surely it is the greatest honour we are capable of here to be any way serviceable to God and his people and that which will bring much peace and comfort to our Souls and Consciences Be not a man for thy self be a common good be willing to serve thy Generation Let it not be said of thee It had been as well for the World if this man had never been born CHAP. XXVIII Of Mercy towards such as are in misery which implieth both a compassionate heart and an helping hand V. BE merciful towards such as are in misery Luk. 6. 36. This mercifulness or mercy is such a compassion of the heart whereby a man is moved to help and succour others in their misery So
special relative duties which are incumbent upon Masters and Governours of Families in reference to those under their charge A. 1. Let your houses be daily perfumed by a Morning and Evening Sacrifice of Prayer and Praise unto God Both which were appointed under the Law Exod. 29. 38 39. and this shadowed what was to be performed under the Gospel God renews his mercies to you every Morning and protects you every night from manifold dangers whereunto you are subject and can you be so ungrateful and unmindful of him who is every moment so mindful of you as not to offer up unto him a Morning and an Evening Sacrifice 2. Let the Word of God be frequently read in your Families which is not only the Foundation of Faith and the Well-spring of Saving Wisdom but also the ground of Godliness and the Guide of Practice able to make you wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3. 15. We cry out against the Pope and Popish Clergy for locking up the Scriptures in an unknown Tongue from the Laity not suffering them to have a Bible in their Mother-tongue whereas many Masters amongst us deal much alike with those under their charge who if they do not lock up the Scriptures from them yet neither do they unlock them to them by causing them to be read among them Certainly did you seriously consider the benefit that might redound to your servants by a frequent hearing the Word read you could not but be more frequent therein Are any of them addicted to Drunkenness Lying or Swearing who knows but upon hearing the threaâ—…nings in Gods Word denounced against those sins they mâ—…y for the â—…ime to come abhor and avoid the same Or are any of thy servants unprofitable and disobedient unto thee who knows but upon hearing the duties of servants read out of the Word of God where they are commanded to be obedient to their Masters in all things and to serve them not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ with singleness of heart as Ephes. 5. 5 6. they may become more obedient and profitable unto thee So that methinks for thine own good as well as theirs thou shouldst cause the Word to be frequently read in thy Family 3. Set some time apart in every Week to Catechize those under thy charge teaching them the chief Principles of Religion than which there is no better means to keep them from the errours of the times If he be worse than an Infidel who provides not for the bodies of those in his Family what then is he who takes no care of their Souls neglecting to instruct them in the Principles of the Oracles of God Content not thy self with a dead distracted manner of serving God but stir up thy self to a lively spiritual performing those holy duties thou takest in hand To draw near unto God with our bodies and honour him with our lips when our hearts and spirits are removed from him is no better than a mocking of God which he abhors and detests V. As a means and help for the constant performing these Family-duties have special care of the choice of thy Yoke-sellow that thou marry a Vertuous woman one who is related to Christ at least one that liketh and approveth the best things If thy Wife be not a promoter of Godliness in the Family she will be a hinderer thereof The Scripture in setting forth the wickedness of Iehoram renders this as the reason thereof that he had the Daughter of Ahab to Wife 2 Chron. 21. 6. Therefore O Young Man in seeking after a Wife it will be thy wisdom 1. To look more after righteousness than after riches to inquire more after her Piety than after her Portion to know rather with what Religion she is indued than with what Estate she is indowed Alas what is the richest Portion the most exquisite Beauty and the rarest parts in comparison of a mind inobled with Grace and Verâ—…ue A Wife as well as an Husband is the greatest outward comfort or cross in the world So that to err once in the choice of a Wife is in a manner to be undone for ever Therefore O Young Man be sure thou seek unto God by Prayer for his direction and assistance in this great work upon which much of thy future happiness or misery doth depend 2. Next to Piety Prudence and Discretion is to be looked at in a Wife For wisdom exceeds solly as much as light exceeds darkness Eccles. 2. 13. And indeed what is Beauty without discretion but as a Iewel of Gold in a Swines snout Prov. 11. 22. And Solomon by way of commendation setteth forth a prudent Wife to be a special gift and principal blessing of God such as excelleth all other temporal blessings whatsoever 3. Marriage-affection requires some external amiableness that she be a pleasing person in whom thou mayst delight Though as the Wise Man speaketh Prov. 31. 30. favour be deceitful and beauty vain because they are subject many ways to decay and vanish away yet favour and beauty may serve for the rooting and settling of affection at the first 4. In regard that Marriage is the Foundation of a Family and Posterity a Portion is not to be contemned though not chiefly to be desired Therefore in seeking a Wife let not wealth and riches be chiefly in thine eye as if thou wert going about a Purchase and wert to Wed not the Woman but her Wealth but look more to her inward goodness than to her worldly goods Lastly For a conclusion of the whole In the careful observation of all these directions give diligence to make thy Calling and Election sure It will not suffice me to press thee to do something that so thou mayst have hope I would perswade thee to thy whole duty that so thou mayst have assurance that it shall be well with thee And less than I have here advised thee to will not suffice thee to make sure for everlasting He must be an Universal Christian that will be an assured Christian there is as much required to assurance as is required in the whole Scripture Well what sayst thou wilt thou henceforth adventure thy Soul on conjectural and deceitful hopes or wilt thou set to it to make sure for Heaven What shall I say more to perswade thee Give me leave e're I dismiss thee to urge upon thee an argument or two Whatever thou hast to do here make sure for hereafter For. 1. Nothing temporal can be made sure 2. If things eternal be made sure it 's no great matter though things temporal remain at the greatest uncertainties 1. Nothing temporal can be made sure This World is a World of uncertainties The riches of it are uncertain riches 2 Tim. 6. 17. The pleasures of it are uncertain pleasures worldly Friends are uncertain Friends The Wheel of Providence is ever turning Now one 's at the top of the Wheel and then another and another and he that was just now at the top by