are strong Marvellous is the strength and power of grace in some young ones who have been sanctified betimes whereby they have been enabled to do him some notable service in the world In youth as the Body is most strong and active so the Soul is most vigorous and lively and therâ—…fore most fit to be employed by the Lord. Seâ—…k then Gods Kingdom and Righteousness in the time of Youth because this is the most acceptable time God is best pleased therewith 2. The time of youth is the most seasonable time There is a time for all things saith Solomon Eccl. 5. 1. The time of youth is the most sâ—…asonable time to seek the Kingdom of God There are four things requisite in seeking Gods Kingdom to all such as would obtain it 1. The Breaking of the heart for sin 2. The Breaking of the heart from sin 3. The Opening of the heart to Christ. 4. The Furnishing of the heart with Grace The time of Youth is most seasonable for all 1. You must get your heart broken for sin if ever you would enter into the Kingdom of Heaven you must mourn for sin here or weep for sin for ever you must sowe in tears if you would reap in joy The time of youth is most seasonable for this your sorrow is like to be loss heavy and more kindly The heart hath a natural hardness but if it hath got a contracted hardness it will with more difficulty be broken if ever it be broken Custom in sin will take away sense of sin and if you continue in the practice of sin you will feel a senselesness and stupidity grow upon your spirit and Conscience more tender and timorous at first by degrees will grow feared as with a hot Iron and be past feeling Bring your hearts therefore now under the hammer of the Word that they may be broken the longer you deferre the harder you will finde it to repent 2. You must get your hearts broken from sin you must turn from your evil wayes otherwise iniquity will be your ruine The longer you continue in sin the harder it will be to leave sin custom will be a second nature to you the changing whereof will be like changing the skin of the Aethiopian and taking away the spots of the Leopard When sin is rooted and riveted in you if so be you should turn from it it will be with unexpressible tearings and divulsions of spirit It is a hard thing to irradicate old habits which at first in the tender years may be done with more ease Therefore Dear young ones labour to get sin rooted out of your hearts betimes Get sin mortified before it hath got too much life and strength oppose sin before it hath got too much head and power which you may do with more facility and success 3. You must open your hearts and give entertainment unto Christ if you ever expect to have the gate of Heaven opened unto you and to be entertained by Christ in his Kingdom Such as shut the door of their hearts against Christ when they are young will finde if Christ doth not withdraw and leave knocking that the door will be faster bolted and barred within against him the longer you hold it out the more will Sathan strengthen the Fort against Christ and more easily beat off whatever assaults are made upon you by the Word and Spirit Christ will come in most willingly to them that open to him presently and the match will quickly be made up if in youth you hearken to the motion Let me beseech you therefore my dearly beloved young ones to open the door to Christ without any further delay by me he standeth now and knocketh for entertainment what answer shall I return that you have harboured lusts there where his lodging should be and would not part with them that you put me off till a further day untill you had a little longer tasted the sweets of sin O take heed of such carriage of heart towards Christ Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit if you be not willing to open to Christ now you will be more unwilling to morrow do it then presently may I be instrumental to joyn the Lord Jesus Christ and you together in marriage receive him into your hearts and accept of him to love honour and obey him and do it heartily and resolvedly and he is yours 4. You must get your hearts furnished with grace if ever you hope to share in the glory of Gods Kingdom Grace is glory in the seed and glory is grace in the flower grace is glory in the root glory is grace in the fruit grace is glory in the first-fruits glory is grace in the harvest You must get the seed sown the root planted or no flower no fruit no harvest is to be expected you must get the Kingdom of Gods grace within you Luk. 17. 21. if ever you would be admitted into the Kingdom of his glory And the time of youth is the most seasonable time for the getting of grace no time like the Spring for setting of this Plant of grace in the heart in the youth the heart is more plyable and like the yielding Wax more ready to receive the impressions of the Spirit 3. The time of youth is the most safe time If you make it your first care to seek the kingdom and righteousness of God you are most likely to finde and be successefull but if you make delayes you run your selves upon great uncertainties there is danger that you will never obtain if you do not seek whilest you are young The danger lyeth in three respects In respect of 1. The Uncertainty of Life 2. The Uncertainty of the Means 3. The Uncertainty of Gods working by the Means 1. In respect of the uncertainty of Life no Age â—…s secure and fenced against the arrowes of Death Some flowers are nipped in the bud some Springs run into the Sea so soon as they arise the thred of Life in some is quickly cut and the Candle blown â—…ut within a while after it is lighted You may dye whilest you are young and if you do not seek Gods kingdom and righteousness now you may not have â—…ime to seek these things at all 2. Your danger is in respect of the uncertainty of the Means of Grace you have now means and opportunities of seeking hereafter you may be deprived of the means if you be not deprived of your lives You have calls now hereafter you may be placed where you shall be out of call you now are planted in a fruitfull soil where the Sun shines and the Dews of the Word do fall if you remain fruitless God may remove you out of his Garden or he may withhold the dews and cause the Sun to retreat into a cloud He may either take away the Means of grace from you or take away you from the Means and if you do not seek and obtain whilest you enjoy the Means are you like to
do it when you are deprived 3. Your danger is in respect of the uncertainty of Gods working by the Means though he should continue them unto you the winde blowes where and when it listeth In youth you may feel the sweet breath of the Spirit moving upon your hearts if you do not hoist up sail when you have a fair wind possibly you may never have such a winde again as long as you live God may swear in his wrath that his Spirit shall no longer strive with you God calleth upon you when you are young if you refuse you may hereafter call and cry and seek and knock and not be heard or answered and the door be shut up against you for ever See Prov. 1. 24. to the 31. Mic. 3. 4. Zacb. 7. 11 12 13. We read of Esau's weeping for the blessing to no purpose and the foolish Virgins going to buy Oyl when it was too late and our Saviour telling Jerusalem that their day was spent and the things which belonged to their peace were hid from their eyes There are many that neglect the things of Gods Kingdom when they are young that have their day of grace set upon them before their lives be half spent God doth leave off calling and the Spirit doth leave off working and they are given up to a judiciall hardness as Act. 28. 26 27. The time of youth then is the most safe time Hearken then O ye young men and be perswaded in this your day to minde the things which belong unto your peace and to seek Gods kingdom and righteousness Seek this first that is timely before other things and that you may seek so as to obtain SECT VI. 2. You must seek Gods Kingdom and Righteousness First that is Chiefly and above other things These things must have the chief of your study and care and labour you must make it your business and look upon it as your chief business if business about the world have more of your time because of your engagements in your particular callings yet this should have more of your care and heart Better miscarry in any business than in this business better miss of an Estate than miss of Gods Kingdom better be a poor begger than remain a guilty sinner better the body be cloathed with rags than the soul be without the white robes of Christs Righteousness better the body were starved than to have the soul damned the greatest poverty and misery in this life which can befall you is not to be compared with the eternal misery of Hell which in the neglect of the duty of the Text you cannot escape And suppose you should gain the whole world what is that in comparison with the gain of the Crown of Glory what is earthly riches compared with heavenly treasures 1. The worth then of Gods Kingdom which is an Inheritance beyond any purchase except that of the blood of Christ and the excellency of this Righteousness which when it is imputed doth bring with it pardon of sin the favour of God the peace of Conscience and sometimes the unspeakable joyes of the Holy Ghost which the whole World were you possessed with it could not procure Where this Righteousness is imparted it doth include all the graces of the Spirit which are the choicest Jewels the chiefest Ornaments the best Riches the least measure of which is of more worth than ten thousand worlds and will stand you in more stead in a dying hour and be of only signification and advantage when you come forth of the body and appear naked stripped quite naked and bereaved of all earthly enjoyments before the Judgement-seat of God I say the worth and excellency of Gods Kingdom and righteousness should move you to seek after it above all other things 2. The necessity of this Kingdom and Righteousness should further stirr you up to employ herein your chief care It is the Unum Necessarium the One thing necessary other things you may have and you may be without but you must have a title to Gods Kingdom or else you cannot be happy you must have Gods Righteousness imputed and imparted or else the guilt of sin will remain and you will continue servants and slaves to sin and cannot escape the punishment of sin the dreadfull and eternal punishment of sin in Hell There is a necessity of the thing and there is a necessity of seeking it chiefly or else you are not like to obtain especially if you consider 3. The difficulty of obtaining it is no easie thing to get to Heaven you must labour if you would enter into this Rest Heb. 4. 11. you must strive if you would enter in at the strait gate because many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13. 24. You must take the Kingdom of Heaven by violence if you would take it at all Matb 11. 12. not as if there were opposition from within for God is willing to entertain you the Lord Jesus is ready to set open the door before you the Spirit is ready to help you but there is opposition about the walls as it were of the place Sathan he buildeth Forts and strong Holds and casteth forth his fiery darts to drive you off when you make any attempt this way You will meet with opposition from the Devil and the World and chiefly from within your selves when you do in good earnest set your faces towards Heaven therefore you had need labour and strive and make it your chief care and business to get into this Kingdom You are in a Sea as it were where there are waves of trouble beating upon you a tide of inward corruptions working against you and a boisterous winde of temptation to carry you back you had need to row hard if you will get to the Haven You are travelling in the narrow path where there are many by-paths and many enemies to oppose you you had need look well to your way to get on the spiritual Armour and fight the good fight of Faith if you would obtain the Crown at the end of your way and at last lay hold on Eternal Life To conclude let me exhort you so to seek that you may finde so to run that you may obtain so to fight that you may overcome that after all your travail and pains you may sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of God 1 JOH 2. part of the 14 Verse I have written unto you Young Men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and you have overcome the wickea one THE Author or Penman which was employed in writing this Epistle was John the Beloved Disciple The chief subject of this Epistle or duty which herein he exhorteth unto is Love Love to God and Love one to another The Persons to whom he writes this Epistle are all Believers in the general and particularly according to the three Ages of Men he dedicateth his Epistle unto Fathers unto Little
them to believe because some here proved hypocrites and fallen quite away who have made as high a profession as any and therefore that they are all alike Moreover that some whom all account to have been sincere have committed as great sins as the most wicked on occasion as Davids murder and adultery and then Satan doth employ his instruments some to invent and raise slanders on many sincere persons especially the most faithful Ministers of the Gospel and others to divulge them and endeavoureth what he can that all might believe them that young onâ—…s especially may hereby be prejudiced against all Professors and by consequence be kept from obedience unto the Gospel That you may overcome this prejudice know 1. That iâ—… is very irrational to conclude that all Professors of the Gospel are hypocrites because some are so I believe you will not be kept from taking money because some have proved to be brass silvered over Though all be not gold that glistereth yet all gold glistereth The counterfeit of sincerity iâ—… an argument that there is sincerity and if the falling away of some doth evidence hypocrisie the standing and perseverance of others in the waies of God to their lives end doth evidence that they are sincere 2. If some that are sincere have fallen grosly yet let me tell you that there are but few sincere ones whom God doth suffer all their daies to fall into such sins Young Joseph had opportunity inticements secrecy to commit adultery wiâ—…h his Mistress and yet he stood he did not dare to do that great wickedness and sin against God And I believe there are thousands of sincere and humble Christians that would chuse rather to be torn to a thousand pieces than to commit that or any other gross sin It was a noble Christian spirit in that young man who when inticed by a Harlot to commit adultâ—…ry and he could not defend himself with his hands they being tyed bit off his tongue that the pain thereof might quench all natural desires aften the pleasure which she most obscenoly provoked him unto 3. That such of Gods children that have fallen into sin have not fallen oftenâ—… have not layn long have not lived in a course of sin have bitterly bewailed it been deeply humbled for itâ—… and as God hath permitted this that backsliders might not dâ—…spair of mercys that all might see where their strength lyeth not in themselves but in God and that they all might stand upon their watch and take heed of dallying with temptations so those persons have risen again by repentance and been more careful in their walking afterwards 4. Since the report of some sins which are fastened upon some Professors and Ministers through the cunning of the Devil to prejudice people against the waies of God are meer lyes and slanders and abominable falshoods therefore you should take heed of hearkning to such reports and believing them without sufficient proof It is the rule of the Apostle not to receive an accusation against an Elder but before two or three witnesses 1 Tim. 5. 19. 2. The wicked one doth endeavour to raise prejudice in the minds of young ones to keep them from obedience to the Gospel against the way that Professors walk in Representing it 1. As an uncertain Way 2. As a difficult Way 3. As an unpleasant Way 4. As a reproachful Way 5. As a dangerous Way 1. The wicked one doth represeâ—…t the Way of the Gospel that Professors walk in as an uncertain Way That Professors are divided some say this is the way and some say that is the way and therefore he would perswade young ones to hold on in their course of sin until all sides are agreed and then let thâ—…m come into the way To overcome this prejudice of the wicked one know 1. That you must never think to come into the waies of God nor obtain the Kingdom of Heaven if you stay till all are agreed because this is not likely ever to be in this world If you should resolve not to eat till all the Clocks in the City should strike twelve together you must resolve to starve and die So if you will resolve not to come into Gods waies till all Professors are agreed you must resolve to die in your sins whatever uncertainty there be apprehended in the way to Heaven be sure the way of sin you are walking in is the way to Hell 2. That there is a necessity as the Apostle speaks that there should be heresies that they which are approved might be made manifest 1 Cor. 11. 19. There are two wayes whereby God doth trye his people and make manifest their sincerity One by persecutions when persecutions arise many hypocrites drop off and flinch away and leave the sincere to bear the brunt The other is by Errour and Herefie and here some hypocrites that have held out under some kinde of persecutions do fall away and drink in the poyson of damnable errors unto the destruction of their souls but the sincere hold fast the Truth and it is impossible that they should be deceived because of Christs promise undertaking and the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ in them 3. That though the great disagreement is between the orthodox and heretical yet there may be a disagreement between the orthodox the sincere amongst themselves but it is only in circumstantials of Religion not in Fundamentals and all of them be in the same way to Heaven and meet at the Journeys end where they shall disagree no more 4. That the way of God is certain the uncertainty is from our own blindness Qu. But what shall poor ignorant persons do that have but weak judgements mean parts to understand which is the right way Answ. 1. I answer First that such are not so often and so foully mistaken as those who have great parts and lean to their own understandâ—…ngs 2. Let such therefore be humble and keep close to the Ministery and Ordinances of Christs appointment that they may not be led out of the way when they break over this hedge they will wandeâ—… in the mist and darkness and hardly finde the way again 3. Let them apply the Promises which God hatâ—… made of pouring out his Spirit upon simple oneâ—… Prov. 1. 23. and of leading them by his Spirit intâ—… all truth Joh. 18. 13. 4. Let them do and practise the will of God which they know and they shall be established in the knowledge of the doctrine of Christ John 7. 17. 2. The wicked one doth represent the way thaâ—… Professors walk in as a difficult way There are many hard sayings that they cannot hear there arâ—… heavy yoaks which they cannot bear there are difficult duties required which they cannot perfâ—…rm he would perswade young ones that they will nevâ—… be able to walk in such a difficult way therefore they had better hold on in the more easie waâ—… of sin To overcome this prejudice of the wicked onâ—… know 1. That the
But diligently and faithfully use all other means first if other considerations do not move you to that Relation This Treatise would swell into too great a bulk should I speak thus largely concerning every sin therefore I shall be more brief in the rest 2. Young men take heed of Drunkenness You are strong in body be not strong to drink unto excess This sin will distemper your body intoxicate your spirit and destroy your soul take heed of it it is one of the fruits of the flesh Gal. 5. 21. and such as commit it cannot have any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven 1 Cor. 6. 10. think of the bitter cup of Gods wrath hereafter which you must drink of if you exceed the measure in your sweet cups here Take heed of frequenting those places I mean Taverns and Alehouses where the temptation doth chiefly lye neither go into those places often neither stay in those places longer than need doth require Take heed of the company of drunkards turn away from them if they tempt you shake them off if they hang upon you choose sober persons for your associates and familiars Take heed of the ungodly practice of drinking Healths a heathenish custom too much in use amongst some loose Christians I might say a hellish custom which the Devil doth put men upon that it might be a shooing-horn to drunkenness You are halt perswaded to be drunk when you are perswaded to drink a health forbear it it is an occasion of much sin 3. Young men take heed of Gluttony especially in these leasure dayes wherein so much time and cost is layed out in Feasts This Gluttony is called by our Saviour sursetting which he warneth his Disciples against Luk. 21. 34. Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and that day overtake you at unawares Here Gluttony and Drunkenness are coupled together as being much of the same nature the one is drinking to excess the other is eating to excess then our Saviour biddeth take heed of overcharging their hearts when the body is overcharged with meat the heart is overcharged the Soul is overcharged as well as the Body and therefore unfit for the service either of God or Man Then he commandeth them to take heed lest at any time they overcharge themselves with such excesses it is not lawfull at any time neither on ordinary dayes neither on extraordinary dayes not on Feasting dayes God alloweth his people to feast but not to gluttonize they may eat for necessity and something for delight but they must never eat unto excess to distemper and discompose themselves for action And lastly he subjoyns an awakening Consideration lest that day overtake them at unawares lest the day of Judgement overtake them if not of the generall Judgement yet of their particular Judgement lest Death should surprize them and the wrath of God should surprize them at unawares and they should be taken away in the act of this sin as Psal. 78. 30 31. Whilest the meat was in their mouths the wrath of God came upon them and slew the fattest of them 4. Young men take heed of Gaming Some sports are lawfull and innocent and needfull at some times for the health of the body but take heed your affections be not set upon any Sports and than you spend not more time in them than is needfull But there are other Games that are useless and hurtfull that are thieves of money and time and unlawfull such as Carding and Dicing which being pure Lottery and Lottery being a sacred thing should not be made use of in Games as I conceive no more than Oaths in common discourse Cards may well be termed the Devils Books and Dice the Devils Game look not into those books though they have no sense in them yet they will strangely bewitch you to spend hours and nights together in turning them over Throw not away your time with the Dye you can never recover what you lose I mean your precious time not to say any thing of the danger you will be in of spending all you have as some who have been worth many thousand pounds at night have not been worth a thousand pence by the morning There is no exercise of the body in thâ—…se Games and I am sure there is a corrupting of the Minde and a loss of the precious time and what plea can you have for such Games Have you no employment for your time Is it not pity that so many golden hours should run waste Be not enticed to this sin by Friends be not perswaded to it by custome if you will do as the most do you must go where the most goe and that is to Hell Think if you lay upon your death bed whether this sin of Gaming would not trouble you and whether those will not have more peace that our of Conscience have forborn to touch a Card or Dye all their life-time 5. Young men take heâ—…d of Quarrelling forbear gaming and you will be out of the occasion of many quarrels Take heed of a contentious spirit In your young blood and strength of body you are apt to have that which the world falsly terms a high spirit and may be ready to offer affronts and injuries to others and be able to bear none but let me tell you that such a spirit is a low base spirit a mean ignoble spirit The high spirit indeed is such a spirit as is most like the Spirit of Christ he who had the most noble soul that ever God created and his Spirit was humble and meek who did injury to none but bore all injuries patiently who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not when he was smitten he did not return blow for blow This was noble Young ones labour to be like unto Jesus Christ in meekness and patient bearing injuries and reproaches Strife and contention comes from beneath and is termed James 3. devilish but meekness and patience cometh down from above and will truly ennoble you a meek and quiet spirit not onâ—…y in women but also in young men is their ornament and before God of great price 1 Pâ—…t 3. 4. 6. Young men take heed of Swearing It is the express command of our Saviour Matth. 5. 34 37. I say unto you Swear not at all c. that is in your ordinary discourse but let your communication be yea yea nay nay for whatever is more than these cometh of evil If you will be Christs Disciples you must obey him What advantage can you get by this sin What honour is it to swear What pleasure can you finde in it be sure it will bring damage it provoketh God to punish he hath threatned to curse swearers We read Zach. 5. 2 3. of a flying Roll the length twenty cubits the breadth ten cubits which is interpreted to be the curse that goeth over the face of the Earth to cut off him that stealeth on
upon this sacred time which God hath sanctified and you ought to keep holy 12. Young men take heed of a frothy spirit Some young ones are full of froth and vanity very toyish and foolish without any solidity or seriousness It is time for you now to put away childish things get the vanity of your minds emptied let the frothiness and levity of your spirits be curbed by the fear of God an awful apprehension of his omnipresence and all-seeing eye put your spirits under the Government of the Lord Jesus Christ. 13. Young men take heed of Scoffing If you have wit let it not vent it self in scurrility in jesting and jeering at others which the Apostle eauâ—…oneth against as inconvenient and unbecoming the Gospel Ephes. 5. 4. Do not mock at others infirmities but pity them let nothing be the object of your scorn except it be sin neither should you scoff at others for their sins but labour to reduce them by your friendly admonitions Above all take heed of fcoffing at any for their holiness and strict walking which is an undoubted character of a prophane and carnal heart and such persons as do so are scorned by God and most contemptible in his eyes 14. Young men take heed of Pride Do not over-value and esteem your selves do not conceit an excellency in your selves above others but with lowliness of mind esteem others above your selves If you have any gifts and attainments that may be useful glorifie God with them in your sphere be thankful for them and withall be so well acquainted with your imperfections and secret corruption of heart that you may be humble Be not proud of gifts of mind much less of strength and beauty of body and least of all of hair which is but an excrement or of clothes which are a badge of mans Apostacy Remember that pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall That God looketh upon the proud afar off when he hath a respect to the lowly Psal. 138. 6. That God resisteth the proud when he giveth grace to the humble 1 Pet. 5. 6. 15. Young men take heed of Gensoriousness of rash judging of others Take the caution of our Saviour against this sin Matth. 7. 1 2 3. Judge not that ye be not judged for with what judgement ye judge ye shall be judged and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you again And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye and considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye If you censure others you will be censured again be sure ye will be judged and condemned by God you are apt to spy little faults motes in others be acquainted with the beam in your own eye with your own greater faults and you will not then be so forward to judge Take one more Scripture which cautioneth you against this sin Jam. 4. 11 12. Speak not evil one of another he that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law He doth in effect say that the Law which condemneth this sin is not so fit a Law But if thou judge the Law thou art not a doer of the Law but a Judge There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Who art thou that judgest another 16. Young men take heed of Procrastinating your Repentance Do not put off this great work until to morrow remember what hazards you run how uncertain life is how unlikely that ever you should repent if you do not improve your youthful season for it Set about the work presently break off your sins by repentance presently and make your peace with God without further delay left you be cut off from the Land of the living before you are aware and hereafter there will be no room for repentance 17. Young men take heed of â—…nal security You have health and strength and peace and prosperity it may be 〈◊〉 and never tasted the bitter cup of Affliction and therefore may be apt to be secure and secretly hope that this state will last that your Mountain is so strong that you shall never be moved that you shall never come into Adversity Alas you are little acquainted with the World Man is born to trouble as the sparks flye upwards crosses and cares and losses and sickness and pain and many miseries are the attendants of this Life and you must look sooner or later in one measure or other to have your share be not secure but prepare lest being unprovided the miseries of this life be more irksome and unsupportable 18. Young men take heed of carnal Confidence You may be apt now to put your trust in Arms of flesh to repose much confidence in Friends or Means and some external props but you will finde them all like broken reeds or a foot out of joynt and where you have the greatest hope and trust you are like to meet with the greatest disappointment Cease then from Man whose breath is in his nostrils trust not in uncertain riches stay not upon any Creature but put your trust in the Lord who is omnipotent and faithfull in him you may be secure as to the greatest evil and you may have confidence of all needfull supplies 19. Young men take heed of Rashness Be not rash in your Promises lest you repent or be found unfaithfull Be not rash in your Undertakings in your engagement in any business especially take heed of rashness in changing your condition Remember that Proverb That Youth rideth post to be married and lodgeth in the Inne of Repentance In all the weighty affairs of your life Pray to God earnestly for his guidance consult with wise and faithfull friends and seriously deliberate things in your own mindes Observe the rule of the Word and let your design be the glory of God 20. And lastly young men take heed of Unsteadfastness Be not inconstant in your resolutions as to civil affairs and undertakings but especially take heed of inconstancy and unstedfastness in the wayes of God Take heed of a wavering unsettled minde of backslidings and revoltings from God let not your Zeal degenerate into Lukewarmness and your present Forwardness end in Apostacy But watch stand fast in the Faith quit your selves like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13. and with full purpose of heart stick close unto the Lord AuÌ„ 11. 23. Labour to keep your selves from these sins of Youth which the wicked one would draw you unto that so you may be victorious and if you overcome you shall eat of the tree of Life which is in the Paradise of God Rev. 2. 7. You shall not be hurt of the second death v. 11. You shall eat of the hidden Manna and have the white stone wherein the new Name is written which none-can read but they that receive it v. 17. You shall have the Morning Star v. 28. You shall be cloathed in White Raiment and Christ will confess your Name before his Father and before the Angels ohap 3. 5. You shall be Pillars in the Temple of God and go no more out and have the Name of God written upon you v. 12. You shall sit with Christ on his throne as he overcame and is set down with his Father on his throne v. 21. My most dearly beloved young men labour thus that you may be such young men as are commended in the Text to be strong that the Word of God may abide in you and to overcome the wicked one SECT VIII AND now I shall shut up my whole Discourse with a few words for encouragement of you in these Duties 1. This will be your Wisdome whoso is wise will observe these things Read one place concerning Davids wisdom upon this account Psal. 119. 98 99 100. Thou through thy commandements hast made me wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with me I have more understanding than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy precepts Remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom it is the chief part of Wisdom and they have the best understanding that keep his Commandements Psal. 111. 10. 2. This will be your Glory This will be an or-nament of Grace unto your head and like a Chain about your neck Prov. 1. 9. It will make you shine like Lights in a dark World and it will not only render you truly honourable but also tend exceed-ingly to your Masters glory 3. This will be your Advantage It will bring in the truest purest surest and most lasting gain 4. This will be your Safety This will shelter you under the wings of the Almighty secure you in times of great Judgements here and from storms of future wrath 5. This will be your Peace Great peace have they that love Gods Law and nothing shall disturb them This will yield peace and comfort to you in Life this will bear up your spirits in the hour of Death and at length procure for you a Crown of Glory which fadeth not away Be strong then O ye young Men because in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not Let the Word of God abide in you because of the Treasure laid up for you And overcome the Wicked one because of the Crown of Glory which shall be set upon the head of the Conquerers Vincenti Corona dabitur FINIS
the sins of their Youth 2. That seek the Kingdom and righteousness of God least who seek these things after a sort but it 〈◊〉 by the by they do not make it their business â—…hat seek but it is in a slothfull careless manner â—…hat seek but do not strive to enter in at the streight â—…ate that do not seek heartily diligently chiefly â—…hat seek the things of the world in the first place â—…nd the things of Gods Kingdom afterwards and as â—…ose things will suit with their secular interests â—…nd earthly concernments as if Mammon were to 〈◊〉 preferred before God and Earth were of more â—…orth than Heaven and the Body more excellent than the Soul I might here both speak of the siâ—… of those persons and shew how they dishonour God of the folly of those persons and shew how they arâ—… injurious to themselves But it is the next word 〈◊〉 chiefly intend SECT III. Use 2. OF Advice and that to Young Men to puâ—… in practice the duty of the Text Seeâ—… first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness The chief composition of this Auditory at thiâ—… time being young men and the occasion of this Sermon being the desire of young men I shall therefore address my self wholly unto you that arâ—… young It is a goodly sight to behold so many oâ—… you come together to hear something for your soulâ—… good I had several Texts propounded to my thoughts to speak unto this I thought might be a suitable and seasonable as any Your forwardness to hear maketh me hope you will be forward to obey O that my Doctrine might now drop like the dew and that my words of advice out of the Word oâ—… God might be like the rain falling upon the tendeâ—… grass which causeth it to spring Let it not be likâ—… water falling upon so many rocks which maketâ—… no impression or like rain upon barren ground which bringeth forth briars and thorns instead oâ—… hearbs meet for the Masters use you know thaâ—… such ground is nigh unto cursing and burning Heb. 6. 8. Receive then Dear Youths the word of Advicâ—… which I now give you in the name of my Lord anâ—… Master from whose mouth the Word did first proceed Seek first the Kingdom and righteousnesse of God There is a generation of old ones who are going off the stage of the world and you are comeing on in their room ere long they will lie down in the dust and you not long since did spring out of it they are almost come to their Journeys end and you are setting forth on the way they are even arrived at the Port and you are now putting forth to Sea It is of the greatest concernment in the world to take and follow good advice at the first before you are engaged too farr Here therefore I shall put you in minde that there are two wayes or passages in which all the children of men are travelling the one is the way of sin the other is the path of righteousness The way of sin is broad an open beaten road you may easily know it by the multitude of Travellers it is the course of the world Your Parents when they bring you into the world set you down in this way and many yea most of them go before you in it It appeareth to you the smoothest and fairest way it may seem a delightfull way to you at the first strewed with roses such company such enticements you may have in this way as may render it most desireable if you take Sense and Flesh for your guides and counsellers But let me warn you before-hand that you walk not in this way you will quickly finde the pleasurâ—…s in this way to drop and fade the flowers will wither the Sun will be clouded the delights of sin will vanish and heavy griefs and bitter sorrows and vexation of spirit will succeed and blot out all the sweet relish you have had of unlawfull enjoyments You will finde your selves bereaved and disappointed in that satisfaction and happiness you looked and hoped for it a sinfull course It is a dangerous way there arâ—… unseen snares in it and you will receive secret buâ—… deep and mortal wounds which are beyond the arâ—… of man to cure It is the way which leadeth to destruction Matth. 7. 14. It is the high road to Hell thither it will bring you And if there be some sensual sweetness in the beginning of the way think what bitterness there will be at the end thereof Think how terrible Death will be unto you after a life of sin but think how dreadfull the punishment of Hell will be when you are let thorow the gate of death into that place of extream and dreadfull torment There is another way namely the path of Righteousness the way of Holiness which is narrow and hath a strait gate which you must go thorow if you would get into it namely the gate of Regeneration It is a way that is difficult to finde tedious and irksome at first it is a weeping and sorrowfull way at the entrance few there be that finde it most are discouraged by the narrowness and difficulty of it from putting their feet into it But it is the way of Life it is the way to the Kingdom it is the way of Peace it is the way of God it is the way to Heaven The difficulty is chiefly at the first the sorrows are mostly in the pangs of the New Birth in conflicting for passage thorow the strait gate weepinâ—… may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning Trouble may be your companion for a while but peace and sweetness succeed in its room If you walk steadily you will finde it to be a way of such pleasure and delight as you never did finde or can finde in the way of sin And if there should be clouds and rain and stormy windes of trouble and temptation in the Journey yet the latter end will be Peace be sure there will be rest and happiness in the Kingdom into which death will convey your Souls after they are seperated from your Bodies there you will finde fullness of joy and pleasure for evermore So that you have here Life and Death set before you Heaven and Hell eternal Happiness and eternal Misery the latter at the end of the way of sin and the former at the end of the way of Holiness And which will you choose if you will run with the wicked in the same excess of riot if you will follow the multitude to do evil if you will walk according to the course of the world fulfilling the desires of your flesh and make provision for the satisfaction of its lusts you will be found at last in the number of the children of wrath and the wrath of God will certainly come upon all such Children of disobedience If you will live after the flesh you shall die you shall not escape the stroke of eternal death you cannot avoid the
disappoint and vexation to your selves besides the displeasing of God hereby But let your desires follow your love let them be carried forth chiefly and most strongly towards God and the things which concern his Kingdom and Glory your own peace and salvation Because you lie under the guilt and power of sin without a Christ labour in the first place afâ—…er strong earnâ—…st thirsting desires after Jesus Christ and his Righteousness that you may have your sins pardoned and hearts renewed Cry out None but Christ none but Christ give us a Saviour or else we are lost give us Christ or else we die and perish eternally Let your strong wishes be O that we had an interest in Christ O that our hearts were united and joyned to Christ O for a drop of his blood to sprinkle our consciences O that he would undertake for us that he would be our Advocate to plead for us and reconcile us unto the Father Let your prayers be Lord thou hast given thy Son for us give thy Son to us thou holdest forth thy Son help us to lay hold on him thou callest us to thy Son by thy Word draw us to thy Son by thy Spirit thou hast put thy Son to death for sin and accepted of the sacrifice which he hath offered O that our sins might be forgiven upon his account Let your desires go forth strongly after the favour of God there are many that say Who will shew us any good Lord shew us thy face Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us Desire earnestly with David the presence and communion with God in his Ordinances as Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after to dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord c. And Psal. 42. 1 2. As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God my soul thirsteth for God for the Living God when shall I come and appear before God! Many young men have earnest desires after the company of their friends that are of pleasant conversation let your desires be carried forth most earnestly after the company and communion with God in his Ordinances wherein the chiefest pleasure is to be found Therefore prize and desire Ordinances for the sake of God because they are the means of bringing you and God together of joyning your hearts unto the chief good and if you desire the company of men let it be the company of Gods Children who are the excellent of the Earth Labour for strong desires after the Image of God that you may be holy as he is holy after conformity to Christ in his death by dying to sin and readiness to suffer for his sake in his Resurrection by your newness of life Let your dâ—…sires be strong after the Spirit that he might be given to you and abide in you desire every grace of the Spirit in the highest measure and content not your selves with any degree desire the comforts of the Spirit the joyes of the Holy Ghost desire strength for every duty that you might be made use of to glorifie God in your generation that you might be kept from sin rather than from any evil that you might be made victorious over all your spiritual enemies especially let your desires be carried forth with the greatest strength after the Crown of glory the undefiled and never-fading inheritance in Heavâ—…n after the beatifical Vision and full fruition of God in the New Jerusalem the perfection of holiness and happiness which is reserved for hereafter the fulness and eternity of joy in Gods glorious presence and desire the hastening of Christs second appearance that he would come quickly and put you into the possession of that Inheritance which he hath purchased and prepared for you 4. Young men labour for strong Hope Young men usually are big with hope and expectation of some great things in the world they hope for such an â—…state and then that they shall be content such deâ—…ights and sensual enjoyments and then they shall be â—…appy and satisfied but they that are elder and have â—…ad greatest experience finde the world and all â—…hings in it to be empty and vain and their hopes â—…ave been frustrated however being unacquainted â—…ith higher things their hearts are still most irraâ—…ionally set upon the world but I would exhort â—…ou young men to have higher hopes than worldâ—…ings and let your hopes be strong Do not hope for â—…ch in the creature it hath not what you hope for â—…ut let your hope be in God let your expectation be â—…rom him only Do not hope for much here below â—…his is not the place of your rest and happiness but â—…et your great hopes be of things above as your â—…esires should be strong after them so your hopes â—…hould be strong of them Hypocrites have some â—…ind of hopes but they are thin weak hopes like â—…he Spiders web Job 8. 14. which is easily torn in â—…ieces by the wind the wind of affliction doth rend â—…he hopes of Hypocrites from them they have hopes â—…ut such as quickly perish and are cut off Job 13. 14. They are like the giving up the Ghost Job 11. 20. When they give up the Ghost their hopes give up â—…he Ghost they and their hopes perish together beâ—…ause they are groundless and presumptuous Labour â—…herefore for a strong hope such a hope as is well grounded which will end in fruition and never in disappointment and make ashamed Let the object of your hopes be God and the things which are above and let the bottom the foundation of your â—…opes be those two immutable things the Apostle â—…peaketh of Heb. 8. 17 18 19 20. Wherein God willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of Promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oatb that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entreth into that within the Vail whither the fore-runner is for us entred The two immutable things which are the foundation of our hope are Gods Promise and Gods Oath his Promise This is the Promise which he hath promised even eternal life Job 2. 25. His Oath which he sware by himself to Abraham and in him to all his children Surely blessing I will bless thee Heb. 6. 13 14. which doth include eternal blessedness God who cannot lye giveth his Promise and his Oath God who can do whatever he will and will do whatever he hath promised here is a good ground for your hope to build upon let your hope be strong let it be a strong anchor to your soul sure and stedfast and that it may be so it must not be cast downwards like those of ships which
Young men labour for Strength to fight not with men not with one another you must take heed of a quarrelsome and contentious spirit but get strength to fight with your spiritual enemies which of all enemies are the strongest and most dangerous Young ones you are called to be Souldiers in your most tender years when you engage your selves to be Christs disciples you list your selves under his Banner you wear his Livery and carry his Colours you have need then of strength that you get Victory over your enemies the Devil the Flesh and the World which warr against Christ and warr against your own souls Those that warr with men have need be strong in body and you that are to warr with sin and Sathan and the allurements of this present evil world had need be strong in Spirit You have need of strength to resist strong temptations to subdue strong corruptions and to get the victory over such strong enemies 4. Young men labour for Strength to Dye It is a great thing to dye and hard thing to dye as a Christian it requireth strength to resign up the Soul when sickness and death come which none can escape but you may be called to lay down your Lives for the restimony of Jesus Christ you may be deprived not only of Liberty and Estate and all the comforts of this life but also of Life it self too if you will cleave to Christ and hold fast his Truths this you must prepare for and resolve upon otherwise you do not reckon what it may cost you to be a Christian and you do not accept of Christ upon the terms of the Gospel you have need of great strength to be enabled to dye for the sake of Christ. Thâ—…nk that you may be called to dye for Christ and if you should that this would be the most honourable death that you cannot keep your life long and cannot lose it upon a better account that if at such a time you should seek to save it you would within a while lose not only your natural life some oâ—…her way but lose eternal life and be eternally miserable Thus To what you should be strong SECT III. 3. THe Third thing is to shew In whom you should be strong Negatively you must not be strong in your selves either to do or suffer or fight or die for in your sâ—…lves you are utterly insufficient for any of these things of your selves you can do nothing if you undertake any duty in your own strength you will fail either in the thing or in the manner of performance if you fight in your own strength with your spiritual enemies they will be too hard for you you will be wounded and beaten to the ground If you think to suffer or die for Christ in your own strength you will start aside when you are put upon the tryall You have read of the self-confidence of Peter Deny thee I will dye first and yet he denyed his Master when he was tryed you know not what spirits you are of you are not yet it may be acquainted with the deceitfulness of your own hearts be not self-confident be not strong in your selves But Affirmatively Be strong in the Lord as the Apostle doth exhort Eph. 6. 10. Finally Brethren be strong in the Lord and the power of his might Our Saviour telleth his Disciples Joh. 15. 5. Without me ye can do nothing and they found it to be so therefore the Apostle doth disclaim all self-sufficiency 2 Cor. 3. 3. Yet however weak and nothing as he acknowledgeth himself to be he telleth us Philip. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ strengthening me Let me then direct you to the right fountain of strength apply your selves to the Lord I cryed unto the Lord and he heard me saith David and strengthened me with strength in my soul Psal. 138. 3. Beg of the Lord that he would strengthen you with might by his Spirit in the inner man as Eph. 3. 16. When you feel your strength to fail or decay apply the Promise which God hath made of renewing the spiritual strength Isa. 40. 31. Thus much for the First Duty Young men labour to be strong SECT IV. 2. YOung men labour that the Word of God may abide in you There is a two-fold Word of God 1. The Essential Word which is Christ the Son of God Joh. 1. 1. 1 Joh. 5. 7. 2. The Written Word which is the Scripture 1 Thess. 2. 13. I shall speak concerning the Word of God in both acceptations 1. Let the essential Word of God let Christ abide in you Let Christ abide in your hearts And here are two things I would exhort you unto 1. To get Christ into your hearts 2. To keep Christ in your hearts 1. Labour to get Christ into your hearts young men be perswaded now to receive Jâ—…sus Christ into your hearts The time of your youth is the best time to receive Jesus Christ if you do not receive Christ now it is a great question whether you will ever receive him very few that refuse Christ when they are young ever are perswaded to accept of him afterwards Christ stands now at the door and knocks if any will open to him he will come in Rev. 3. 20. Christ knocks by Judgements by Mercies by Word by Ministers by his Spirit when you feel some secret movings and stirrings upon your spirit to thrust out sin and let in Christ when you have inclinations and perswasions to receive Jesus Christ then Christ is knocking by his Spirit open then the door comply with those motions and give Christ entertainment he is the best inhabitant that ever you received untill Christ be received some base lusts will inhabit your hearts and which is the best Inhabitant judge ye Christ where he inhabiteth doth ennoble Lust doth debase Christ doth beautifie Lust doth deform Christ doth enrich Lust doth impoverish Christ doth purifie Lust doth desile Christ doth cure Lust doth distemper Christ giveth peace and comfort Lust doth bring trouble and is the parent of eternal sorrow and woe O then give entertainment forthwith unto Jesus Christ now you may have him and all in him all with him if you refuse him now you may never have another proffer of him made unto you so long as you live And if you would receive Christ you must part with sin if you would receive him you must lay hold on him by Faith Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God even to them that believed on his Name 2. Labour to keep Christ in your hearts Seek him seek him diligently till you finde him and having found him hold him keep him carefully when he knocks let him in when he is in keep him there embrace him close in the arms of your Faith and Love bring not in any Inhabitants which may justle him out of his Lodging let Christ abide in you without disturbance 2. Let the