by resisting that cruell raging Lyon Sathan who daily seeketh how to deuoure our soules and bodies which the Lambe of GOD hath bought to himselfe Let vs by the strength of Gods Spirit redeeme our selues froÌ„ his destroying iawes and in our youth shewe Gods strength in vs and while wee are young men let vs cast off the olde man of sinne and concupiscence of the flesh and put on Iesus Christ the new man walking with him in righteousnesse holinesse of life a glorious garment and blessed companion As Sampson being a young man killed the Philistims the enemies of God and his people so in our youth let vs endeuour by the speciall assistance of Gods grace strength of his powerfull Spirit to kill ouercome and subdue the cruell enemies of God and our owne soules saluation sin and our corrupt affections whom we beare about in our mortall bodies and who dippeth in the platter with vs yet like so many Iudases seeking to betray vs in the hands and power of our malitious and cruel enemie Sathan they giue vs their sweete milke to drinke but for our destruction they make vs sleepe vpon their knees but to abrace our strength and to make God abrace our name out of the booke of life to betray vs trecherously into the hands of our persecuting enemie and to cut off our heads in the midst of our drunken sleepe of sinne yea they sleep with vs as a snake in our bosom to sting vs to eternall death suspect then their venome and theâ—â— deceitfull wicked purpose let them not keep thee vnder the yoake of their slauerie but keepe them vnder thy commandements rule and subjugate thy necke vnder the light and easie yoake of Iesus Christ to obey him in all the powers of thy soule and members of thy body that so here on earth thou maiest be a member of his body militant and suffering in heauen hereafter a glorified triumphant member in eternal ioyes so thou shalt be happy reioyce that euer thou didst suffer the yoake in thy youth Saul Dauid SalomoÌ„ with many others in the Scripture were called to be Kings being yong men but wee in our youth are called to a more ample glorious and permanent a kingdome to bee kings and coheyres with Iesus Christ the onely begotten and welbeloued Sonne of God in that eternall kingdome of his Father which hee hath prepared for vs taken possession himselfe before vs and granted vs here on earth the pledge of his holy Spirit to begin our ioyes and his holy Sacraments as seales of his kingdome who will then deny such a honour in his youth to be a glorious King with Iesus Christ Salomon in his greatest glory was not so gloriously clothed as one of the white Lillies of the field but when thou shalt bee cloathed with the white long robe of the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ crowned with an incorruptible crowne of glory and life in euer-permanent ioyes eternally to remayne to behold the glorious face of the lambe of God associated to the blessed Angels and infinite companies of the glorified spirits Saynts praising continually and extolling his iustice and the infinite mercy and loue of the Lambe before his Throne in light perpetuall in glory vnspeakeable ioyes that cannot be expressed how blessed and happy shall bee thy estate in this kingdome to day thou art called to it yong to morrow thou knowest not if thou shalt enter by the passeouer of death in full possession thereof while then it is offred possesse thy selfe to day with the pledge and rights of it walke in the true way to it that at thy iourneyes end thou mayst be crowned an immortall King procrastinate therefore no time it is a gift and a great gift when God holdeth out his hand in thy youth to offer thee the rights and pledges of his kingdome the sooner thereby to thy greater comfort to possesse thee with them and yet in the meane time thou pull in thy hand from receyuing them vntill thou prooue the diuels slauerie verily when he hath pulled in his hand agayne froÌ„ offering albeit thou neuer so oft put out thine to receyue when thou shalt seeke it thou shalt not find it but as thou refusedst of God in thy youth to be a king and accepted of Sathan to be a slaue as thou refusedst to remaine in thy fathers house and to eate at his table but wandring in a farre countrie yeelded to be a Farmers hyreling and to eate with swine so except Gods extraordinary mercy the beams of his vnsearchable loue shine vpon thee thou maiest expect in age but terrour and fearefull torment of conscience and hereafter to receyue the iust reward and hyre of thy slauery in the bottomlesse sinck and deepe pit of perdition in endlesse and easelesse torments with Sathan thy master In thy youth then accept to be a king of God receyuÌ„e the rights and pledge of the Kingdome in thy heart shew that thou hast them by thy speeches thy workes and an holy life speake the language of the Kingdome learne it dayly more and more which is prayer and praysing of God the kingdome whereof thou art made an heyre is Heauen wilt thou know thy selfe and make others also know if truely thou belong to this Kingdome let thy thoughts bee heauenly thy words be heauenly gratious to God and man and offensiue iustly to none thy works and actions also heauenly and vpright before God man doing good according to thy power to all euill or the least iniury to none no not to thy enemy but good for euill in word and worke let all thy conuersation and course of life priuate and publike be heauenly as a lampe shining before others that resembling thy Fathers conditions and bearing his image in thy life thou maiest bee knowne to be a childe and sonn of the King of heauen and sometimes to bee a crowned king there thy selfe when thy father shal call thee home from thy trauelling to thy natiue country and kingdome as on earth in good example thou shined as a lampe before others so then in heauen to shine in glory as a bright lampe before his throne But some would thinke that this exhortation of redressing our waies had beene fitter for olde men then for youth because they are nearer death giuing of account of their waies where young men seeth that they may die they â—ee that they die and youth must haue it owne course and therefore their faults are not so much to bee obserued seeing they are rather â—tatis then hominis and so in time enough they may returne from their yong courses when age breaketh them and become good and graue men at last To such I answere that such excuses as these are but impostures of Sathan and the flesh age hath neede to see they end well the claudite of their life with a ioyfull plaudite of the assurance of Gods fauour and youth must take heede also
Midianites fight against his enemies so by Gods owne word and the holy messenger of his spirit euery yong man is commanded in the strength of his youth to rise against fight and subdue his owne corrupt affections which are enemies to God and his own saluation so that in our youth we must begin and serue God amend and redresse our waies according to his word not excluding but in euery age wee haue neede and must doe so and the rather seeing a maiori ad minus if Gods word serue to redresse a yong mans way who burneth in his lusts and affections much more serueth it to redresse a man in ripe age his affections being theÌ„ more cooled but chiefly in youth we haue most neede by Gods word to cleanse and redresse our waies for sundry reasons First because our nature then which contraries grace is strongest and so wee are more apt and readie to bee led away by our lustes and to bee drawne in the chaine of our affections by Sathan into a farre countrie of sinne from our owne fathers house with that prodigall sonne to abuse and riotously to consume Gods liberall giftes and manifolde graces bestowed vppon vs in pouertie nakednesse and famine of all goodnesse feeding our filthy vncleane lustes of the flesh and greedily feeding and eating with them Therefore in most dangerous estate wee must take the best and straitest heede when our enemie is within walls then most strongly and couragiously must hee bee resisted when wee finde our nature most inclining to obey sinne then must wee striue and wrestle with GOD in most earnest prayers and hold him fast vntill hee giue vs his blessing and the strength of his Spirite to striue also and preuaile with sinne that our nature by his grace may bee reformed our will made conformable and inclining to his and that in soule and bodie wee may bow in obeying his Commaundements Secondly our youth is the beginning of our pilgrimage and in it we must enter in either at the broad way which leadeth vnto euerlasting destruction or at the narrow way which leadeth vnto euerlasting ioy and saluation The true way is Iesus Christ and his righteousnes I am the way the veritie and life who as he is the way so he is the end of the way eternall saluation as he is God so he leadeth vnto God and to the kingdome of God his father and is the ease and rest of all that commeth loaden or wearie vnto him Therefore in thy youth and entring in thy pilgrimage see thou enter in this way and if thou wouldst finde this way to walke therein desire God to opeÌ„ thy eies that thou mayst see this narrow way Search the Scriptures saith the way it selfe for they are that testifie of me When thou hast found him in his word and known him by his word as the sheepe doth the true sheep-heard apply him then by a liuely faith to thy soule and take hold of the way and hauing found knowne applied and taken hold of him then apply thy whole course of life in thought word and deede vnto this way euer walking therin Be you holy as I am holy saith he Learne of me for I am humble and meeke Moses was commanded to pull off his shooes because the ground hee did stand vpon was holy If thou stand tâ—â—n vpon that holy ground ground-stone Iesus Christ walke in that sacred pure way thou must seperate and cast from thee all filthinesse of sinne and corruption If thou wouldst walke with that vnspotted Lambe thou must walke clothed with that white long robe of sanctitie righteousnesse purchased and washed in his blood beleeue Christ Iesus in thy heart confesse Christ Iesus with thy mouth and shew Christ Iesus and him image in thy life and conuersation so hast thou enterd so doost thou walke so shalt thou attaine to the end of this true and ioyfull way All other waies are by-waies the leader and ladder Sathan a manslaier a lyer from the beginning and the end of al such is Gods fierce wrath and eternall perdition hee leadeth thee from the true Citie of Ierusalem in his deceitfull by-waies to rob thee of the good gifts of God bestowed vpon thee and to kill body soule and cast it into vtter darkenesse like a wise Vlisses harken not to this Syren who would allure and draw thee so to no sweete harmony but to destroy the ship of the body and precious loading of thy soule for which christ shed his precious blood vpoÌ„ the rocks of eternal destruction to be his pray Auoide this Scylla and Carybdis and hold constantly forward in the true way Christ enter and perseuere in it in thy youth when thou art aged thou shalt bee at the end thereof that thou maiest see with the holy Apostle when the time of thy departing is at hand I haue sought a good fight and haue finished my course I haue kept the faith for henceforth is laid vp for mee the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue mee at that day and not vnto me onely but vnto aâ—l them that loue his appearing Lorde grant that euery one of vs may in our youth enter in this course constantly continue therein tâ—ll our â—â—ues end and at our last dissolution we may haue this sure and comfortable perswasion Thirdly we should serue God in our youth chiefly obeying his wil and abstaining from sinne because our youth is as the fat most pleasant vnto God not sinning in it when we may sinne and therefore let vs sacrifice the same vnto him not offering vp the fat morning sacrifice of our youth to Molech the diuell and our sinfull corrupt affections and thinking that the God of Israel wil accept of our leane and lame colde euening sacrifice of weake olde age and so bee serued with the worst after his enemie Sathan In our youth wee must not runne with the diuell and in age thinke to returne vnto God neuer forsaking our lusts nor ceasing to fulfill them in our youth till then in age they forsake vs with the strength to accomplish them wheÌ„ we are strongest wee are weake enough to follow Christ much more vnable when wee are weakest Therefore as Dauid killed Goliah in his youth so let vs seeke to slay that manslayer Sathan in resisting him and kill that Goliah of sin and our corrupt affections which hee vseth as weapons against vs putting off all fleshly armour and arming body and soule with the strength of Gods Spirit putting our trust and sure confidence in Iesus Christ who as by former experience he did ouercome his tentations in his owne person and in the persons of all the Saints his elect members so likewise of his constant loue vnfallible trueth and vnfaileable strength hee will assist and persist with vs vntill wee haue likewise troden him vnder foote As Dauid being young did pull out a Lambe out of the mouth of the Lyon and the Beare so
that they beginne well the fable of their life if they bee all vppon their pleasures in the beginning and first part it is like to prooue a Tragedie with a lamentable and sorrowfull ende in the last parte If thy youth bee a battle and troublesome at the beginning to subdue thy rebelling affections against Gods Spirit surely thy age the ende of the Comedie shall bring rest ioy victorie and peace vnto thy soule And therefore saith Ieremie It is good for a man to beare the yoake in his youth When Christ came many thousand yeares after hee was promised and did cast out Diuells yet they saide hee did torment them before the time so whensoeuer thou euen in thy olde age goest about to dismisse thy sinnes and pleasures they will say notwithstanding that thou dismissest them before time Sathan is a lyar from the beginning in saying to Euâ— Thou shalt not die so when in thy youth hee saith that it is not time as yet to dispossesse him out of thy heart and dismisse thy sinnes and vaine pleasures of youth hee is a lyer beleeue him not Hee saith Reioyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheere thee in the daies of thy youth and walke in the waies of thy heart and in the sight of thy eyes eate and drinke with the rich foole follow thy pleasures and bee secure for thou hast many yeares before thee thou shalt not die But the trueth of God warneth thee that thou must know for all these thinges God will bring thee to iudgement therfore take away that griefe out of thy heart and cause euill to depart from thy flesh for childhood and youth are vanitie Sathan counselleth vs to remember our selues and our owne lusts in our youth but the spirit of God saith Remember thy Creatour in the daies of thy youth shewing that all the sinnes of our youth proceedeth from our forgetfulnesse of God as all our obedience commeth from this remembrance of him considering that God created vs for this end that in righteousnes and holines we should onely serue him here on earth for a while and eternally hereafter with himselfe in heauen enioy euerlasting felicitie he created vs out of the dust of the earth and wee know not now how soone wee must returne thither againe in childhood youth middle or olde age therefore in all ages we must remember our Creator the end of our creation all things were created for our vse comfort and wee onely for Gods glory therefore let vs so shine before others that they seeing our good works God may be glorified by vs. No child can forget his father God is our father therefore none too yong to remember him this thing the naturall child and sonne of God Iesus Christ taught vs to remember when hee commaunded vs to say Our Father c. Shall wee say so in our mouth being yong and not shew him to be so in our life as we pray so to God so we must professe before man Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not those things which I command you saith Christ Therefore as Abraham beeing commanded by God did rise earely in the morning to sacrifice his yong sonne Izhac so in the morning of thy life earely as thou art commanded likewise by Gods word thou must offer vp thy selfe being yong a liuing sacrifice vnto God hauing the life of Christ which is true righteousnes in thee God requireth the first borne for his offering so God requireth thee when thou art first borne from thy birth with Samuel to bee offred and consecrated to his seruice and obedience So soone as thou art borne thou art baptized in the name of Iesus Christ shewing that when thou art scarce out of the house of thy mothers wombe he will haue thee entered in his house and family when thou canst not goe vnto him thou shouldest creepe vnto him seruing him as thou mayest in all ages In the fayth wherein thou art baptized thou sayest I beleeue c. not I will beleeue hereafter If then in thy youth thou wouldest not bee counted an infidell but a true beleeuer in Iesus Christ thou must shew thy true faith by workes and holinesse of life hast thou receyued Christs name vpon thee see if thou hast Christs nature otherwise thou pertaynest not to him In thy Baptisme thou vowedst and sworest to serue him in holinesse all thy life and receiuedst his name badge wilt thou then presently after in thy youth mocke God keepe still his name but serue the diuell in thy affections and lusts which thou promisedst then to mortifie The first fruits were for Gods seruice in thy youth thou must also bestow thy first fruits vpon the seruice of God and not giuing the first sommer fruit that is sweet to the diuell and the last winter fruit which are sowre grapes to God when wee pray as Christ hath taught vs we say first Hallowed be thy Name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen before that we desire this day our dayly bread if then wee seeke Gods glory and that Gods will may bee done by vs before wee aske that food by which we are preserued and liue how much more should wee seeke the same before our pleasures and the accomplishment and fulfilling of our lustes and â—innes whereby we perish and die Christ saith First seeke the kingdome of heauen and all other things shall bee cast vpon you Philosophie saith â—rimum quaerite bona animi catera aut aderunt aut certe non oberunt First seek the goods of the mind which is vertue piety and other things shall eyther be present or if absent they shall not hinder you if then by Christs commandement we must first seeke after the kingdome of God and by Philosophy to seeke after vertue and pietie to be planted in our minds shall wee then first in our youth seeke after our owne pleasures the kingdome of Sathan and to root in our hearts all vice and vngodlines God forbid when Christ sayeth to vs Follow me with his Disciples leauing our nets and deuises in the sea of the world to catch profit or pleasure we must obey and follow him straight if euer we would be couÌ„ted his Disciples when he asketh vs with Peter if we loue him in our youth we must answere Yea Lord I loue thee and not say when I haue fulfilled the lusts of my youth then I wil loue thee This is the acceptable time this is the day of saluation today if we will heare his voyce for whosoeuer commeth not at Gods callings whatsoeuer he say it is impossible that hee should resolue to come hereafter when hee pleaseth for beeing euill can hee resolue to bee good A dry dead tree which is withered and bringeth no fruite in the Sommer nor buddeth in the Spring can it bring forth pleasant and sweet fruit in the cold winter so eyther nowe in our
must passe and ouercome many temptations of Sathan the flesh likewise walke in the strait and narrow way of holinesse sanctification before thou come to the easie and spacious end of thy way to the full possession of that heauenly kingdome and eternall glorification through Christ Iesus thou must bee in labours before thou rest from labours thou must liue in the Lord before thou canst die in the Lord thou must liue the life of the righteous if thou wouldest wish to die the death of the righteous and thy last end to bee like theirs All the holy Patriarks Prophets Saints and Martyrs of God haue trode this narrow way before they obtayned the recompence of their reward vnto which they had respect if therefore thou haue any respect vnto the same and by hope looke for that which they fully now possesse follow and insist in their footsteps if thou wouldest tryumph and glory with them thou must also couragiously fight with them against the diuell and thine owne corrupt affectionâ— and concupiscence of the flesh which fayne would haue libertie and draw thee in that broad way of destruction but assure thy selfe in thy youth and in the way thereof that the greater liberty of thy flesh and affections here maketh the most strait incarceration and feareful plunging of soule and body in endlesse and easelesse torments of hell hereafter which thou mayest plainely behold and learne by the example of Diues Lazarus whereof the one in the broad way had his pleasures in this life but not a drop of water to coole his tongue after death the strait ende of his way the other had his miseries here without necessaries scarce for the flesh but after death which opened the large end of his way he was carried into Abrahams bosome in eternall ioyes for euer to remaine in their life Lazarus was compelled to beg from Diues crumbes of his bread at their death Diues was compelled to beg from Lazarus a drop of cold water there did straitnesse follow after ease and ease after straitnesse in their seuerall wayes Albeit the rich man in the Gospell walking in the broad way did bid his soule Eate drinke and take it ease for it had much laid vp for many yeeres yet God from heauen had decreed that the strait end of his way shold be neerer then he thought they should fetch his soule froÌ„ him that same night Albeit Nebuchad-nezzar walking in the broad way also in the pride of his heart said Is not this great Babel that I haue built for the house of my kingdome by the might of my power and for the honour of my Maiestie glorying so in the flesh yet he was cast into a great and wonderfull straitnesse while the word was in his mouth and driuen from men as a beast to eate the grasse of the fields Albeit Belâ—hazzar likewise walking in the same large way in the exaltation of his heart against God proclaimed a banquet sitting with his Princes wiues and concubines pampring giuing all pleasure to the flesh drinking wine in the vessels consecrated onely to Gods seruice which were brought out of Ierusalem not glorifying GOD but praysing his Idols of gold siluer and stone yet the end of his way was this the Hand declared on the wall that hee was weighed and found too light his kingdome was ended and giuen to others and that same night he was slayne presently so when he was highest vpon the top of his reioycing hill most suddenly he did fall lowest in the valley of mourning and pit of teares by lamentable destruction the vnexpected strait end of his broad former way The Sodomites knew little how neere fire and brimstone was neere them the primitiue world how neere them was the Deluge and all such that walke in this way of libertie of the flesh how neere subuersion of soule and bodie is at hand Therefore let vs walke in the right way if wee would sitte at Christs right hand let vs be sanctified here if we would be glorified hereafter let vs walke in the true path if we would attaine to the true end thereof and subdue the slesh with the affections thereof to the spirit and yoake of Christs obedience if in body and spirit for euer wee would raigne with him Let vs redresse our owne wayes and let euery one that calleth on the name of the Lord depart from iniquitie as the Apostle commandeth Timothie and in his person all yong men Flie from the lusts of youth follow after righteousnesse faith loue and peace with them that call on the name of the Lord for if any man purge himselfe from these hee shall bee a vessell vnto honour sanctified and meet for the Lord prepared vnto euery good worke Seeing also our course of life here is compared to a Way which wee must redresse according to Gods word therefore let vs walke in this life as in a way warily and working out our saluation in feare and trembling Considering with ourselues 1. First as in a way or iourney no rest is to be expected that is permanent vntill wee come to the end thereof so neither must wee looke for any permanent citie or solide rest in the way or course of this life vntill we come to Iesus Christ being dissolued to be with him who is the true end and rest of the true and narrow way the temple of that spirituall Ierusalem and Citie of all perfect light and ioy For the estate of his Church here is as the Boat wherein vpon the sea hee was with his Disciples euer tossed vp and downe in continuall labour so that except hee were our stay our rest and refuge wee should surely perish Our life here is a Warfare our enemie is euer pursuing as a raging Lyon seeking to deuoure vs therefore wee must be in continual defence of the life of our soules by his strength being armed who gaue his life for our soules vntill vnder his defence hauing fought a good fight and finished our course we be victorious and tryumph with him hauing receyued that immortall and incorruptible crowne of glory which is layd vp for vs and for all them that loue the comming of the Lord Iesus in glorie to glorifie vs with himselfe 2. Secondly in a way we euer goe forward and one step followeth another sicut vnda impelli tur vnda as one waue is enforced by another so also in the way of this our life wee poast to our end and our dayes passe more swiftly then a weauers shittle our life is as a flower that now springeth vp and with a blast fadeth as a water bubble now vp and now downe with an aire of wind as a smoake seene and gone presently as the fat of Lambes which suddenly is dropped away so that whether wee sleepe or wake whether we eate or drinke whether we go or sit still as in a ship wee are caried speedily with full sailes thorow the sea of this
his fellowes Therefore in our youth tender yeares if we would bee accounted or any way esteemed to bee the children of God to be the members of Iesus Christ to be temples of Gods Spirit to haue our names written in that booke of life or euer to exspect participation or enioying of the endlesse and infinite ioyes of heauen then let vs by the assistance and strength of that stronger man Iesus Christ who hath ouercome and subdued all and by the speciall grace of his blessed and powerfull spirit striue to binde expel that vsurping tyrant out of the precious house of our soule and to shut him out of the gates and doores of our hearts that we be none of his possessions or vessells in his house and with all our strength diligence and power seeke to redresse our soule and heart againe and make it fit and meete for the habitation abiding place of that cleane and holy spirit of Iesus Christ onely being sanctified by his grace in all the members of our body faculties of our soule that the Lord of rest may giue rest to our cesciences rest by his cōfortable presence in our harts cōtinually let vs lift vp the celestiall and euerlasting gates of our soules and let the king of glory enter in walke in his waies and redresse by his grace our vncleane and enormous waies of sinne and vnrighteousnes The second word to wit cleansing according to the original word in the Hebrew text which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mundabit is taken likewise by a metaphore chiefly from vessells which vseth to bee made cleane and purged when they are foule or polluted with any thing according to Christs words Matth. 23. 25. in reprehending of the hypocriticall Scribes Pharises who did make cleane the outter side of the cup platter but within were full of hypocrisie and iniquitie So indeede all men young and olde wee are Gods vessells either of honour or dishonour appointed either continually to remaine in his sight or eternally to bee reiected and banished from his glorious presence there is no day also but we are polluted chiefly in youth and desiled with some vncleannes of sinne and our filthy lusts and affections euer doth infect vs therefore continually wee must endeuour and seeke with earnest praiers that wee may cleanse and purge according to Christs commandement first the inside of the cup and platter that the outside of them may be cleane also In our youth wee are as new vessells in Gods house if at any time a vessell be esteemed of or be cleane it is when it is new therefore in our youth let vs chiefly trie and know if wee be vessells of honour if we be surely then we must bee most cleanest for a precious vessell of honour ordained to be in the presence of the Prince is neuer defiled with filthines nor suffered to be put to an vncleane vse chiefly being as yet new but if we finde our selues polluted with filthines in our youth and newnes our soule made the receptacle of stincking lustes and of all impuritie of sinne let vs feare and suspect that except God of his free mercy and grace create and frame vs of a new againe and purge vs from all our iniquities that wee can iudge our selues to be no other but vessells of reiection impurity and dishonour Therefore in youth while the filth of sin sticketh not so fast vpon the vessels of our souls nor the old mā of iniquitie hath not taken so long strong possessiō of the house of our heart as he may plead long custome or defend it let vs purge by the teares of true repētance our filthy blots vncleannes of sin and desire that vnspotted Lambe by his precious bloodshed to purge vs likewise from the guilt thereof let vs by the strength of his gracious Spirit expell that vncleane spirit of sinne and pleasures of the flesh and redresse the roome and house of our soule with open gates to receiue retaine and entertaine with ioy that spirit of all cleannes of ioy and endlesse comfort As Iesus Christ our Sauiour hath commanded let vs first purge make clean the inside of the cup platter that the outside may be cleane also that is let vs begin purge the worme of sinne and corruption from the roote of our hearts and the branches with the fruite of word and deede shall prosper the better begin and purifie the spring and the streames that runneth therefrom shall be the clearer Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh and according as the affection of the heart is so the workes proceed and the members executeth their command This purifying is by true repentance with Marie Magdalen in sorrowing truly for our sinnes and in all humilitie washing his feete with the teares of deepe remorse constantly endeauouring neuer to sinne no more and by a liuely faith in the armes of our soule embracing and apprehending the blood of Iesus Christ and his death as our onely righteousnes obedience and propitiatorie sacrifice before the Father and by good workes and a sanctified holy life shewing our faith and Gods mercy manifested in vs to our liues end to the good example of others and our owne soules saluation This action of cleansing or redressing is set downe in the future time Qui nam mundabit c. Wherewith shal a young man cleanse his way Noting thereby the present estate thereof to bee vnredressed and vncleane Whereby wee learne and may obserue first that howsoeuer we flatter or excuse our selues in any age but chiefly in our youth that our waies nor course of life is not so vncleane nor worthy of reproofe but may be easily borne with soone redressed oramended yet the spirit of God in this place of his sacred word dooth by the mouth of his holy Prophet shew vnto vs that our waies are so vncleane and filthy that it is a very hard difficult thing to redresse or cleanse them their pollutiō being so great which he would signifie by asking interrogatiuely how they shall bee redressed And therefore that in all humilitie and lowest submission of heart in our youth and in all ages wee should acknowledge the infinite greatnes of our transgressions and filthy vncleannesse of sinne which cannot bee cleansed but by an infinite purgation euen by the blood of Iesus Christ in his infinite and vnsearcheable mercy shed for mankinde which wee should daily begge and continually thirst after the same greedily walking worthy hereafter as those who are redeemed with so precious a price Secondly wee may obserue here the markes and difference betwixt a godly and vngodly young man the one consulteth and asketh at God Whereby he may redresse and purge his waies the other consulteth with flesh and blood and asketh counsell at Sathan and his owne filthy lusts and affections whereby hee may defile and pollute his waies The onely care and vigilant studie of the one
let it be negligently woe be to theÌ„ for they preach not the Gospell they feede themselues and not the flocke It is sufficient for them to haue a Lambes skinne the name of a christian although they neuer felt the power of Christ to bee called Bishop or Pastour albeit they neuer ouer-see nor can ouer-see not their flocke but the flockes the sheepe neuer heard nor knew their pastoral voice but their thundering tyrannical iurisdiction they call not nor can they call their owne sheep by name because they haue not any particular flock they leade them not out to pasture neither can their sheep follow theÌ„ because they goe not before except it be by wicked example and giuing offence they come not in at the doore by Christ and his ordinarie lawfull calling but climbes vp another way by manâ—pleasing briberie simonie honors to theeue and to rob kil and destroy like that wicked steward drinking eating and glutting theÌ„selues with worldly honours and riches and with the blood of the sheepe but beating out of Christs sheepfold and house their painefull fellow seruants that seeketh the life and feeding of the sheepe onely they will neither enter themselues nor suffer others to enter they will neither come nor bring to Christ neither will they suffer others many soules perish in their default and great shal be their condemnation who doe so in the worlde to come they haue the sheep-hooke in their hand but neuer applies it to bring them into Christs sheepfold they haue the forme of clouen tongues vpon their heads but not the clouen tongue of Gods Spirit in their heads or hearts to diuide the word aright distribute the same vnto Gods people The world with the riches glory thereof which Sathan offered to Christ is sufficient to make them fall downe and worship him the world the kingdome thereof soundeth sweetly in their eares because they are in loue one with another and their condemnation is all one but the word of God It is written the voyce of the kingdome of heauen is as displeasant vnto them as the same It is written was to Sathan Sell all and follow me was a hard saying to the rich yonug man they beeing of the world to bee selected from the world is as bitter a saying to them yea more bitter to the worldly theÌ„ that potion which the world gaue to Christ on the Crosse vineger and gall mixed together Flint from flint may be sooner pulled asunder the hardest Adamant or Diamond diuided then to diuide and diuorce them from their sweet Dalilah the world and to doe that Gods word shall neuer get place by them These are the causes that that bright Candle is put vnder a bushell by them that that glorious Citie is placed in a low valley that that precious â—ewell is hid vnder the earth lest it be found and had onely in estimation to be hid in mens hearts for if so bee that the stronger man enter the vsurper shall be bound cast out straight if light come darkenesse shal depart as the morning cloudes are driuen before the Sun set vp Gods Kingdome and Lawes and put downe their kingdome and lawes God and Belial cannot be together the aduancement of the Throne of Iesus Christ the Lambe is the detruding of these goates out of their throne the divulgating of his word is the falsifying of theirs therefore they striue to prolong the night as long as they may that the bright day-starre arise not that Light that shineth in darkenesse to discouer them and their workes The cause also why many men chiefly yong men esteeme not nor take such delight in Gods word as they should and care not much albeit it were hid that they neuer heard it much is because mans nature chiefly in youth affecteth libertie of the flesh which it being the word of the Spirit fighteth against and restraineth It is the limits of that narrow way which leadeth to life and therefore will not suffer libertie to wander astray in the wide wilde fields of sinne to death it is the knife that openeth the soare and will haue strictnesse first that ease may follow after when we sinne neuer so little it will like a good master checke vs like a louing father reproue vs and like a wise counseller admonish vs which checking reproofe or admonishing yea for great offences youth can scarse abide Iesus Christ commanded the young man in the Gospell that he should leaue all and follow him if hee would haue eternall life Iesus Christ now commandeth also in his word all yong men that they leaue all their pleasures lustes of youth and vanities and follow his strict and holy life if they would haue eternall life Knowing that all tbat are baptized into Iesus Christ are baptized in his death and like as hee was raysed vp from the dead by the glory of the Father so wee also should walke in newnesse of life His word commandeth vs to flie from the luste of youth and follow after righteousnesse faith loue and peace the yonger to submit themselues vnto their elders and euery one to another to decke themselues inwardly with lowlinesse of minde without fornication adulterie drunkennes whoredome c. knowing that they who doe so shall neuer inherite the kingdome of heauen Eschewing all filthinesse for God hath not called vs vnto vncleannesse but vnto holinesse all foolish talking neither mocking or ieasting which are things vncomely and giuing no place vnto the diuel putting away all bitternesse and anger with euill speaking and all maliciousnesse being courteous one to another and tender hearted forgiuing one another as God for Christs sake forgaue vs and iu all things being followers of God as deare children glorifying him in body and in spirit for they are Gods Which commandements of Gods word are hard and vnpleasant vnto youth except it be seconded with grace Therefore all young men should desire this assisting and renewing grace of God Redeeming the time for the dayes are euill And that considering the season that it is now time that we should arise frrom sleepe for now is our saluation neerer then we beleeued it the night is past and the day is at hand let vs therefore cast away the workes of darkesnesse and let vs put on the armour of light So that we walke honestly as in the day not in gluttony and drunkennesse neither in chambering and wantonnesse nor in strife and eniâ—ying but put on the Lord Iesus Christ and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lust of it and 〈…〉 as he who despiseth these things despiseth not man but God So if any man purge himselfe from thesâ—â— hee shall bee a vessell vnto honour sanctified meete for the Lord prepared vnto euery good worke Amen 1. Sa. 17. 49. 1. Sam. 18. 9. Ps. 119 161. Psal. 119. 157 Verse â—8 27. 35. 36. 37. 133. 134. 41 Reâ— 19. 〈…〉 Ver. 25. 50. 39. Verse 24. Verse 105. Ver. 11 28 Ha. lâ— lu ja Leuit. 12. Vers. 18. 27. 37. 133. Vers. 25. 28. 81. 120. Vers. 157. 161. 93. Vers. 24. Vers. 10. Vers. 11. Vers. 13. Vers. 14â— Vers. 15. Vers. 16. Gen. 6. 5. 1. Cor. 11. 28. The 1. Vse The 2. vse 2. Tim. 4. 7. Lam. 3. 27. Gen. 3. Mat. 8. 29. Eccles 11. 9. Gen. 22. 3 2. Coâ— 6 2. Gâ—n 1. 14. 1. Thes. 5. 22. Vers. 103. Mat. 22. 21. Prou. 23. 26. Maturâ— Luke 2. 46. Properè Psal. 119. 32. Iâ—h 21 25. Rectè Constanter Reu. 2. 10. Prou. 8. 2. Tim. 3. 15. Luke â— 80. The 3. Vse Gen. 18. 17. 19. Gen. 22. 7. 8. Gen. 24. 36. Gen. 17. 7. 2. King 2. Prou 13. 24. Prou. 29. 17. Prou. 22. 6. 1. King 23. 6. Psal. 51. â— Ephes. 2. 3. Gen. 27 46. Gen. 28. 6 7 8. 1. Sam. 2. 23. Iohn 8. 39. 44. Luke 18. 17. Reu. 2. 2. Tim. 2. 19. 2. Tim. 2. 22. 3. We are limitted 4. We take no burdens 1. We desire not our way to be long 6. Our way dangerous Matt. 23. 26. Gen. 4. Vse Vse Exod. 31. 3. Prou. 6. 11. Iob. 32. 7. 1. Tim. 1. 5. 1. Tim. 4 8. Prou. 14. 26. Tit. 2. 12 13. Phil 3. Phil. 4. â— Matth. 6. Mat. 5. 19. Luke 11 28. Ihon 10. Iohn 12. Isa. 61. 2. Mat. 5. 20. Rom. 2. 19. Io. 8. 12. Pet. 3. 18. Mark 13. 1. Pet. 1. 15. Phil. 1. 27. Iere. 23. 29. Ier. 23. 2â— Psal. 119. 14. 24. 40. 72. 93. 97. 103. 2. King 24. Reu. 2. Rom. 6. 3. 4 2. Tim 2. 22. 1. Pet. 5. 5. Eph. 5. 3 4. 1. Thess. 4. 7. Eph. 5. 16. Rom. 13. 11. 1. Thes. 4 7. 2. Tim. 3. 21.
A YONG MANS INQVISITION OR TRIALL Whereby all young men as of all ages may know how to redresse and direct their waies according to Gods word and if they bee in the way of life to saluation or in the way of death to condemnation Together with a godly and most comfortable Meditation and Praier ioyned thereunto GALAT. 5. 25. If we liue in the spirit let vs also walke in the spirit By William Guilde AT LONDON Printed by R. Raworth for Iohn Bache and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-head Pallace 1608. To the most worthy and zealous of Gods trueth the Senate and Citie of Aberdene together with the painefull and faithfull Pastours of the same all grace and peace from aboue constancie in the puritie of the trueth ioy of Gods spirit here and eternall ioy glorie and happinesse with the same spirit in the world to come Amen HIpponicus the Sonne of Hippias a citizen of Athens hauing decreed and appointed to erect and dedicate a certaine Image vnto his natiue soile as a testimony and manifestation of his ardent loue dutifull affection and gratitude towardes the same was counselled and importunately perswaded by his friends and kinsfolks who did heare of his immutable determination thereunto to giue out the same to be framed made by Polycletus an excelleÌ„t grauer of Images in those times but he greatly disassenting from their opinion and reiecting their importunate perswasions answered them that in doing so he should exhibit to the eyes of Athens an image or representation rather of the excellent Art of Polycletus the Image maker then according to his intention the image manifestation of his owne loue regard and affection that likewise it might bee that Athens so should rather respect the one then perceiue so well or regard the other and therefore hee had decreed to manifest his own affection or heart by his owne hand perswading himselfe that the whole to wit the manifestation howsoeuer as his loue manifested proceeding both from himselfe would bee more acceptable to his Athenians then the exact arte of expert Polycletus and that not hauing great occasion to fixe their eyes onely vpon the exquisite worke of the image or representation to say who wrought it they would onely behold the ardent affection represented of him who dedicated the same So likewise with Hipponicus after long and earnest wishing of an occasion whereby I might in some sort also manifest and testifie my dutifull affection regard remembrance and gratitude which I owe to the Athens of my birth education as a small riuer returning to his Ocean I haue decreed to erect and dedicate vnto the same as an image and plainer manifestation of my loue being a young man my selfe this image and representation of a godly and Christian young man trying his waies and by earnest inquiring in consolatioÌ„ with God shewing whereby or how to redresse the same to wit in taking heede thereto according to Gods word vnto the which examplar I wish that euery yong man may as he should coÌ„forme himselfe being inuaded or neuer so little stung with the poisonable serpentine lusts of youth whereof this wildernesse is so ful he may vnto this image erected in Gods word lift vp his eyes thereby therein beholding his dutie and the safetie of his soule which with Hipponicus I perswade my selfe likewise that it shall be so in loue accepted of my natiue Athens and Athenians as in loue and a testimonie of my loue I dedicate the same vnto them In the framing whereof albeit the exact arte of Polycletus be wanting and is not to bee expected yet with him without any suspecting of the contrarie I doe assure and perswade my selfe that the loue of the Dedicatour with his intention to manifest testifie hereby the same will bee more respected and weighed in the ballance of reciprocall loue which couereth many infirmities then the Image thereof dedicated or manner of testification howsoeuer In the which assurance and perswasion I doe rest repose secure satisfie my selfe desiring withall and earnestly wishing that the almightie God of Israel who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth may euer bee the watch-man and wall of the Citie with the sâ—nne of his loue and sincere trueth of his Sonne that hee may euer shine in and vpon it that the Candlesticke thereof may neuer bee remoued nor the Chariots and Horsemen thereof taken away but his blessings may bee vpon his people externally internally eternally Amen William Guilde TO THE THREE Right worshipfull Brethren Sir Iohn Sheffeeld Knight Master Edward and Master William Sheffeeld sonnes to the truely noble and right honourable the Lord Sheffeeld Lord President of Yorke and one of his Maiesties most honourable order of the Garter all encrease of true vertue honour and happinesse here and eternall felicitie with Christ for euer hereafter IT is said of Apelles a most cunning Painter that after he had painted and appointed any peece of worke to be exhibited to a publike view in any open place vsed to lurke priuily behinde the same himselfe to heare the diuers and dissonant opinions censures which the passâ—rs by vsed and did pronounce of his picture and willing to satisfie their curious captious natures withall vsed to excuse himselfe by vnder writing so Apelles faciebat not fecit If Apelles therefore in his age sole and most expert in his arte vsed neuer to expone any picture to publike view without shrowding himselfe as it were both with his boâ—â—d and this forenamed excuse from the captious tongues of the multitude verily the vse of patronage in these our daies wherein so many of carping Zoilus taxing Momus liueth is not onely customable but also altogether necessarie who verifieth the Prouerbe Quot capita tot senteÌ„tiae quaÌ„ varia ora tam varia Iudicia and are busie to be pulling out the mote out of their neighbors eies not coÌ„sulting with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nosce te ipsum to take the beame first oâ—t of their owne Therfore it is right Worshipfull Trinarie that leauing the Viper to the file hos ardeliones 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet this time I haue presumed to shrowd and couer this little Treatise vnder the sheild of your beneuolence and fauour offering and dedicating these small and vnworthy labours of a young man concerning a young mans direction in his life according to Gods word with the hands and heart of all humility dutie and affection to you the yong branches and happy of-spring of so noble a stocke whose roote so to fasten establish in the land wherein hee liueth with honour and in the land of the liuing for euer that the worme of his enemies may neuer preuaile to make any of the least of his branches to wither or decay but they may euer spread and more and more flourish in all godlinesse honour blessednesse I pray almighty God to the glory of his name his Churches comfort and the
seuerall and distinct verses beginning all in the originall Hebrew text with one seuerall letter wherein some will haue a mysterie included But there are three chiefe reasons rendred thereof the first is that it is done and composed so for the greater ornament of the Psalme the matter thereof being so excellent The second is that the excellent doctrine and matter of the Psalme may bee the more diligently noted greater delight estimation had thereof And thirdly that these excellent doctrines abounding so in euerie part and verse of the Psalme being many diuers and so necessarie by this forme of composition and order they may more easily be comprehēded in our memory But Ambrose vpon this same Psalme yeeldeth a fourth reason vse diuerse from the former of the notation of this Psalm so which is thus Vt paruulorum Ingenia primis literarum elementis legendi vsum addiscunt ita nos buiusmodi elementis vsum viuendi As the Ingines or wits of little children saith he by the first elements of letters learneth the vse of reading so let vs by these Elementes learne the vse of liuing The full Alphabet whereby this Psalme is noted noteth to vs the fulnes of the matter therein contained and that wee with our whole affections should fully embrace the same and with all our heart and soule desire it and delight therein The diuersitie of the letters sheweth the diuersitie and plentie of matter that is set before our eies as so many pleasant holesome delicate dishes at a bountifull bāquet The vnitie of all the verses in euery octonarie beginning with one letter doth demonstrate the vnitie of the matter therein contained to the delight whereof if wee will vnite our hearts it is able to vnite vs with God our Father in loue By the octonar number in euery section is declared that as the purification of vncleannesse and the celebration of Circumcision whereby the fore-skin of the flesh was taken away by Gods law was obserued the eight day euen so by the embracing of these doctrines and obseruing of Gods holy Lawe whose excellencie and powrefull effects are set downe in these octonaries our hearts shall be purified and made cleane before God hauing thereby the fore-skin of our heart which barreth out Gods spirit that king of glory from entring into it and our carnall affections taken away our drossie vncleane corruption by the fire of that word and spirit burned vp and consumed and the Image of God Iesus Christ that second Adam restored to vs with whom wee must rise in righteousnesse as by sinne in that first Adam we al did fall and lost that glorious Image of our Creator and God As for the Argument of the whole Psalme In the same the holy Prophet of God exhorteth all the faithfull and members of the true Church of Christ carefully to retaine keepe and obserue the word of God in all sinceritie puritie of truth eschewing all addition or mixture of mans wisedome which is foolishnesse thereunto and worshipping God as hee hath commanded and warranted vs in his word onely As also that not onely wee retaine the same in the sinceritie thereof worship GOD onely according thereunto but also we make it a rule to all our actions practising the same dayly night and day delighting and meditating therein laying and hiding it vp in our hearts and by the sanctificatiō of our life to shew the pietie of our heart thought word and deed agreeing therevnto And because to vnderstand Gods word in respect of our naturall ignorance and in our life to practise the same in respect of the dominion of sinne that he hath gotten ouer vs is not of the strength of man but must be the power worke of Gods holy spirit therefore he mixeth often prayers to open his eyes to make him vnderstand the way of his precepts to direct his steps therein and to let no Iniquitie haue dominion ouer him by this example teaching vs the like dutie There are ioyned also thanksgiuings of the Prophet that already as he confesseth to Gods glory the incouragement of the faithfull hee had found and perceiued in his heart the beginnings of true faith comfort and new obedience to be kindled which earnestly he craues to bee augmented and confirmed in him thereby also in his person teaching vs our dutie to enquire if wee can or haue found Gods graces begun sowed or rooted in our hearts if not as yet to desire the same earnestly if alreadie to craue the increasing and confirmation further thereof and be truely thankfull for that we haue receiued Hee complaineth also shewing the heauinesse faintnesse griefe and feare that he hath conceiued for the horror of his sinnes notwithstanding comforting himselfe and all the godly that are inwardly or outwardly afflicted by relying in faith vpon Gods promise and saluation reuealed and made to him and to all those that beleeue in his name which is and must be the onely ease and comfort to any afflicted soule As also of the multitude greatnesse and crueltie of his enemies that despising Gods lawe themselues did seeke likewise to hinder him from walking therein for whom his eyes notwithstanding did gush out with riuers of water because they kept not the same desiring God therefore to represse their crueltie and wicked enterprise and the more they did seeke to drawe him away from his law and obedience that hee would in his mercie the more confirme and establish him in his statutes shewing thereby the many hinderances that the godly hath euer had and shall continually haue cast in their way by Sathan to hinder their iourney to that spirituall Canaan with their Ioshua Iesus and our dutie therein to bee sorie for their aberring and desire our owne confirmation likewise as hee did shew that they were blessed who walked in Gods law so to the wicked hee sheweth their condition and that their portion is shame and confusion if they will not returne and walke also therein so setting before euery mans eies with Moses life and death to choose The diuision of the Psalme according to the matter therein contained may be in foure parts In the first whereof he sheweth the true felicitie and happinesse of the godly to be placed and consist in the studie beliefe and obedience of the will of God reuealed manifested vnto vs in his word which in respect of the excellencie thereof the desire and estimation wee should also haue of the same in our heart is adorned with many titles proper thereunto In the second part the Prophet for an example to the faithfull earnestly desireth God to informe and confirme him in the knowledge studie beleefe obedience of his reuealed will by the operation of his powerfull spirit who may inlighten his vnderstanding reforme and conforme his will to his owne sanctifie his affections and all the members of his body seeing the same is not in the power of man to doe
to be saued And Christ Iesus the way it self teacheth vs the same duty wheÌ„ he coÌ„maÌ„deth Search the Scriptures for it is they that testifie of me Let all young men therefore who desire to bee esteemed true Christians and hauing a name to be alive in Christ not to bee dead inquire of their owne waies carefully narrowly vnpartially acknowledging truely and in most submissiue manner confessing before the throne of almighiy God their errors and manifold enormities with an earnest and hearty desire to know and practise wherewith they may redresse and purge their waies and walke in the immaculate and holy waies of God and his commandements and for all propone and set before their eyes the example of that forenamed young man onely in the Gospel that imitating him they may addresse themselues in prayer and meditation to Iesus Christ and his word making it their chiefe care and inquirie to know and practise how they may attaine vnto eternall life Blessed is the condition of such a young man who doth so and who in all humilitie doth daily prostrate himselfe vpon the knees of his heart before the throne of the maiestie of God earnestly desiring and wishing with the same Prophet in the 5. verse O that my waies were directed to keepe thy statutes O Lord. Happy is the estate of such a young man and farre happy shal it be hereafter whose delight is in Gods word care to reforme and conform his waies according thervnto As woful dangerous is the conditioÌ„ of the contrary of all such who like vnbridled horses vntamed colts swine wallowing in the mire puddle of vncleannes onely rauished in the hote furie of the lustes of their affections and led by the fearefull hand of sinne and vaine pleasures of the flesh vntill blindlings as the Oxe is led to the slaughter or the foole to the blocke they bee drawne downe the staires of perdition and headlongs precepitat in the deepe gulfe and pâ—t of vtter destruction because in time of their youth they neither enquired obserued nor examined their wayes nor by Gods word sought to redresse and purge the same Now concerning the first thing particularly to bee considered in the question or first part of this Verse which is the person concerning whom the same is mooued He is set downe to be a Yong man so described by the adiunct of age albeit some others as Augustine meaneth a newe or regenerate man hereby albeit decrepite in age as Aristotle in his Ethicks distinguisheth betwixt Iuuenis etate Iuuenis moribâ—â— Disputing de Idonco auditore Ethices Generally therefore indefinitely without limitation or exemption of any that the person concerning whom this question is propounded is saide to bee a yong man whither poore or rich noble or ignoble mightie or impotent the princes or the beggers sonne or what soeuer he be we learne First that this exhortation as al Gods word is indifferently spoken to all yong men For with God there is no respect of persons and therefore that all yong men great or smal should hearken thereunto and apply the same particularly to their owne consciences For from the kings sonne to the poore beggers all are his creatures alike and God their only Creator their beginning is all one for out of the dust were they taken and their end equally shal be al one for to dust they shall returne all came equally naked out of the wombe and all shall goe the same way to the graue and corruption Sickenes coÌ„meth alike Deaths Sythe cutteth downe both as grasse equally all liue one naturall life vpon the earth and draw their breath equally and all liue one supernaturall life in Iesus Christ equally the naturall food of the mortall bodies of both is the same to wit meate and drinke the supernaturall food of the immortall soules of both is likewise the same euen the body and blood of Iesus Christ who hath redeemed both alike by his death and sanctifieth both alike by his viuificating spirit vnto the life of righteousnesse one Iudgement abideth both without respect and one reward is to both the pledges of the kingdome of God which are his Word and Sacraments are alike offered and should be alike administrated to both the mightiest Monarch as the poorest begger boh are equally the sonnes of the first Adam the poorest begger aswell as the mightiest Monarch is equally the sonne and member of the second Adam Iesus Christ if in him he obey Gods wil and apply to his soule his promises by faith as in the first Adam he disobeyed Gods wil by misbeleeuing of his threatnings yea as Lazarus was preferred before Diues so are many outcasts of the world before the mightiest Powers and Princes thereof Gods law equally bindeth both great small his threatnings for sin appertaine equally to both and are alike executed vpon them without any exception or exemption of persons as his sweet promises of mercy belongeth also and are equally offered to both All are alike admonished in his woorde taught and rebuked by the same and before all mens eies indifferently is set downe therein life and death to choose Therefore let no man rich or poore exempt himself from the exhortations admonitions reprehensions or any part of the word of God but as they are spoken to all so particularly let euery one apply them to his owne soule and conscience they are the King of kings statutes binding and pertaining to all his subiects as well of highest as of lowest place and degre and especially let euery yong man whatsoeuer he be hearken to this Exhortation of Gods word and spirit in this place and learne Whereby to redresse his wayes The second obseruation and Lesson here-upon which the Prophet would haue euery one to marke and consider is this That in our youth and first age we must begin then to serue God in vprightnes and holines of life without any further delay or procrastination of time not sacrificing our childehood or youth to the idoll of our owne affections and the deuill as these Idolaters did their children to Molech and thinking that God will accept of our decrepite cold old age when coldly we shall offer the same vnto him but as hee will haue the euening sacrifice of age so wil he haue the morning oblation of youth as he hath giuen life to al ages so by all ages he wil be serued and being all to all by all in all he wil be worshipped The Lord is Alpha and Omega the first and the last the beginning and the end he will be honored therfore as well in the Alpha or the beginning of our youth and first age as hee will in the Omega or end of our last olde age hee is strength and giueth strength to all in this our strength then of youth we must not rise against God and runne with the diuill but as Gideon in his strength was commanded by Gods angel to rise against the
drop of the riuer at such a time or houre shal returne into the Ocean or the returning of such a man vnto the earth shal be at such a determinate speciall time or age No our returning is vncertaine onely then being as a drop of a great Riuer let euery man commit the same to God and endeuour as he came salt with originall corruption from the earth or Ocean so to walke in Gods wayes and the way of this life that hee may returne fresh and purged by Christs blood to the Ocean of the graue and so drinke of that fresh springing riuer which proceedeth from the midst of the throne of God in that heauenly new Ierusalem for euer Our whole life is limitted but to 80. yeares and in one of these as in a poisonable cup or dish of meate death surely lurketh of all then if thou shouldest taste and drinke knowing this wouldst thou not suspect euery one diuide againe euery yeare in 12. moneths thou knowest not in what month or parcell of meate the poison of death lieth euery moneth againe in so many weekes and euery weeke in so many daies yea euery day also in so many houres in which houre or moment thereof sleeping or waking canst thou secure thy selfe from this secret vncertaine poyson suspect then all and liue so alwaies as to die alwaies night or day being prouided and being neuer so yong remember thou knowest not but the poison may bee in the first drop of the cup and yeare of thy youth as well as in the dreg or last dish of olde age when thou art first set at the table of the carefull banquet of life the sword of death is so soone hanged in a small haire aboue thy neck suspect then the same at euery morsell that it fall not heauily vnawares vpon thee but euer haue an eye vpwards thou knowest not if it will fall at thy first sitting downe more then at thy last rising vp as it euer threatneth then so bee thou euer prepared and in time seeke to redresse thy waies Mans breath is in his nosthrels which is the life or combination of soule and body whose dissolution is death Be thou neuer so young then nor so strong when thou letteth out the same thou knowest not certainely if euer thou shalt draw it in againe Let therfore thy soule breath vnto God and thy desire be to walke in his waies and to redresse thine owne All flesh is as the grasse of the field now greene and presently blasted whilest thou art then as the greene plant in thy tender youth expect euer and suspect this withering blast of Death whose sythe shall send thee with withered age alike to the graue and in the short inconstant way of this life walke in his way who is true and eternall life This life is a swift post running fast vnto death whose certaine steps thou canst not marke nor obserue Let thy soule then begin with him in thy first youth and of the contrary run swiftly vnto life and in the way of life which is Iesus Christ. Our life is a dreame now present and presently gone wherein who lieth longest and is most pleased commonly being awaked riseth faintest and most sorrowful Doe not assure thy selfe therefore of the length thereof but suspect the shortnesse in it there is no solide trueth nor rest apprehend therefore in the beginning thereof and in thy youth let thy soule wake and walke in the way of trueth Iesus Christ in whom true rest is onely to be found Pythagoras the Philosopher did set out the double course of this our life by the letter Y. expressing thereby with Christ the double way thereof the one whereof hath a straight passage narrow gate at the first and fewe they are that enter in thereat but in the end there is great comfort and rest for it leadeth vnto eternall happinesse and saluation The other wide large at the beginning whereat many doe enter but in the end they finde great trouble and straightnesse for it leadeth vnto eternall miserie and destruction Both these waies are set before the eyes of euery young man as Biuium Herculis or as life and death to choose This narrow way which leadeth vnto eternall life and saluation in the which euery yong man should walke in the pilgrimage of this life redresse his own waies of youth according therunto is Iesus Christ himselfe I am the way the veritie and life aad no man commeth to the Father but by me Our walking in him and with him must be in righteousnesse and holinesse of life being holy as he is holy The gate of this way is narrow and the passage straight for the liberties of flesh and blood must bee restrained our affections bridled and the whole man captiuated vnder the yoake of the obedience of Iesus Christ. And as through many tentations hee entred into the kingdome of heauen so wee must the same way follow him denying our selues with our crosses taken vp till wee come to the end of our way which is true life and eternall saluation The other broad way which leadeth to destruction and whereat many doe enter is sinne and Satan who is that deceiuing way vnto eternall death which euery yong man should abhorre and flie to enter thereat neuer so little or walke therein neuer so few footesteps in youth The walking in him and with him as hee is an vncleane spirit must be in the impurity and impietie of all sinne and filthinesse The gate of this damnable way in the beginning is broad the passage easie but the end is vtter perdition and straightnesse Where in following Christ wee must subiect the flesh vnto the Spirit they who follow him must abandon subiect and banish Gods cleane Spirit out of their hearts and be subiects and slaues themselues to the libertine concupiscence of the flesh and the vncleane licentious lusts and affections thereof They must refuse the light yoake of the obedience of Iesus Christ to follow him to life take on the heauy yoake of al kind of sinne that may presse downe their soules to the lowest hells and follow Sathan their way and guide vnto eternall torments of fire and brimstone for as hee is a condemned spirit himselfe so the end of the way wherein he leadeth captiuated soules vnder his heauy yoake of slauerie and sinne is death and eternal condemnation for the reward of sinne is death Therefore let euery young man beholding these two waies choose that which leadeth vnto a glorified eternall life in heauen by a sanctified life for a time on earth and walke with and in him who is the resurrection and the life to all them that are saued If thy walking heretofore hath beene in the by-waies of sinne and that broad way of Sathan giuing liberty and full head to thy youthly affections and lusts of the flesh Seeke how to redresse these thy waies hereafter striue violently to enter in at that straight way
turbulent world to the port and hauen of our graue and our refluxe is to that Ocean Let vs watch then carefully and haue the houre-glasse of the number of our dayes euer before our eies that we may apply our hearts to wisedom let vs looke diligently to the precious and most deere loading of our soules once purchased by Christs blood suspect our weake vessels and clay tabernacles acknowledge that we are euer in danger of death and that there is little betwixt vs and him foresee carefully the rockes and daungers before vs haue euer the Compasse of Gods word before our eyes to direct our course and way according thereunto Behold still the Mappe and Carde of that heauenly coast of Canaan towards the which wee intend and attend our course try and spy out the markes whereby wee may know that wee are neere the same or in the right way thereto forget the things that are behinde and haue our eyes forward still on the further banke and by continuall and earnest praiers desire almightie God to saue vs lest we perish to giue vs his spirit to bee our guide and pilot and by his infinite mercy grace to bring vs at last to that wished Land of our blessed Canaan with Ioshua our Iudge and Captaine through all the perills and daungers of this darke desart And chiefly let vs daily striue as in the way of our naturall life so likewise that in the way of our supernatural true life Iesus Christ and his righteousnes we may make some progresse so step forward frō life to life forgetting the world and her whorish intisements behinde vs and bending our forces directly to follow him onely Thirdly in a way also we haue euer certaine limitted bounds which wee must not transgresse nor goe ouer In the way of this life likewise wee haue Gods word and Commaundements as walles on each side to enclose vs which wee must striue to containe our selues within and to redresse our waies according therevnto Christs voice is the walls hedge of his sheepfold ouer which whosoeuer passeth wandreth astray in the fearefull and darke desart of sinne a readie prey to that cruell deuouring beare and raging Lyon Sathan for God as hee is iust and mercifull so hee hath declared and manifested the same plainely in his sacred word his iustice chiefly in the olde testament his mercy in the new his iustice he hath set vp as a wall on our right hand that wee may feare to sinne his mercy as a wall on our left hand that if wee sinne we may know that wee haue a Mediatour Sauiour euen Iesus Christ the man therefore seeing we are set betwixt these two walls let vs walke warily that on the one side beholding Gods iustice wee despaire not nor on the other beholding his mercy wee presume not but with an equall eye beholding both and with an equall pace walking betwixt both in feare and loue of him wee may goe on our way to our iournies end and so worke out the great worke of our saluation Fourthly in a iourney way or race to bee runne euery man who desireth to bee at the end thereof soonest wil make himselfe lightest and not take vp heauie burdens to hinder and wearie him So in this way and race of our life if we haue eyes to see the reward being a crowne of immortall glory if wee haue hearts to consider or vnderstand the preciousnes thereof or a desire to attaine or obtaine the same we must not take on the heauie and hindering burdens of this world and the wearisome vanities thereof to bee impediments in our course but cast off and disburden our selues of these dangerous loadings vsing the thinges of this world as though wee vsed them not and in our youth begin take vp the light and easie yoake of Christs obediēce with our crosses follow him in our hand wee must take the staffe of his worde wee must gird our loynes with his sanctitie and righteousnes and in the footesteps of pure vnspotted innocencie must wee follow him being holy as hee is holy this is the way Sic itur ad astra Fiftly no pilgrime also will desire his way to be long and wearisome but the sooner he may come to the end of his iourney the more he will reioyce In this way and pilgrimage likewise of our life let vs not desire so much to liue long till age that our way may be prolonged but to liue well while wee are young that we may insist constantly in the true way and desire with the Apostle rather to bee dissolued and be with Christ and with olde Simeon after our eyes by faith haue seene our saluation in the armes of our heart wee haue embraced him to desire to departe in his peace and enioy the reward fulnes of our hope And in the meane time seeing in our way chiefly of youth wee haue many impediments cast before vs many fetters and nets for our feete laide to insnare vs manie outward and inward enemies seeking to destroy vs and no wisedome nor strength in our selues to preuent or auoid them therefore let our continuall and humble petition bee to that Lord of strength and wisedome of the Father Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from all euill and so in a way of this life let vs walke as in the way according to the word and way of Iesus Christ redressing our bywaies And hauing these considerations before our eyes vntill by that true and liuely way Christ wee attaine to the end thereof eternall life and endlesse rest for euer The action set downe in this question is Whereby shall a young man redresse his way according to the vulgar translation but according to the originall and Hebrew text it is Whereby shall a young man cleanse or purge his way The first to wit redressing is a metaphore taken from a house which being vncleane or out of order vseth to bee redressed and trimmed vp for the guests it should receiue according vnto the Parable and wordes of Christ concerning the vncleane spirit who departed out of the man whom he possessed and wandred in dry places seeking rest and finding none therefore he decreed with himselfe to returne backe againe to his former lodging and tooke with him other seauen vncleane spirits worse then himselfe who returning found the house dressed and wel garnished for them and there they aboade so that the last conditio◠of that man was worse then the first And so truely it is in all ages but chiefly in youth that our soules and bodies which should be the temple and tabernacle of Gods holy and cleane Spirit who can abide no impuritie is polluted daily with the vncleannes of sinne and defiled with the filthie Harpies of our lusts and carnall affections and so we harbour in our heart as it were that vncleane spirit and dresseth vp the same as a house or chamber for him to rest in with
them lost a kingdom to the which he was called by the wicked and furious hote counsellers of our lusts and affections in our youth let vs not also loose the glorious kingdome of heauen to the which wee are likewise called by Gods word Neither as the yong mans loue to his riches made him to forsake Christ let the vncleane loue or desire to follow our youthly pleasures or to fulfill our filthy lusts and affections draw vs from following Iesus Christ our Sauiour and these godly examples and patterns of youth which in his word wee haue here set before our eyes but with yong Samuel when the Lord calleth vs in his Church to heare and do his word let vs so oft answere Lord here am I thy seruant to doe thy godly will speake for thy seruant heareth while the spring and seed time is of our tender yeeres let vs so sowe as wee would reape and so bud as wee would ripen our youth is the day to doe our works in the night of age commeth wherein wee cannot worke in that time wee shall say onely I might haue bin learned I might haue bin so or so if I had vsed my time aright but winter is come before I thought on seed-time and Times bald backe-side is turned to mee but the heary forehead which I might haue caught holde by is already past therefore the wise man saith Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth whiles the euill dayes come not nor the yeeres approach wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them whiles the sunne is not darke nor the light nor the moone nor the starres nor the cloudes returne after rayne when the keepers of the house shall tremble and the strong men shal â—ow themselues the grinders shall cease because they are few and they waxe darke that looke out by the windowes c. describing so metaphorically the infirmities of old age They who stept in first when the Angel came downe and troubled the waters of the poole Bethesda were cured of their disease so if we would be cured of our soules disease and leprosie of sinne wee must striue to step in first before others in our youth without lingring to be washed with the blood of Christ and liue a pure vnspotted life Ioseph before the time of famine came laid vp aboundance of corne prouidently for the same so before the leane and crinkled yeeres of age come we must prouidently in the Sommer of youth with the Bee and Ant gather and lay vp food for our soules filling the store-houses of our heart full with the knowledge and true feare of God to be our comfort and ease in that time that here in the world to come we may bee accounted among the number and of the sort of those forenamed who dedicated their youth and first fruites thereof to God their heauenly Father and now do enioy the ioyful recoÌ„pence of their labours with Iesus Christ in the presence of the Lambe for euer to remaine The answere that is made vnto this question is this In taking heed thereto according to thy word that is by these meanes a yong man may redresse his wayes and course of life if according to the rule and prescript of thy holy worde O Lord hee take heed thereto diligently and straitly marking examining and iudging the same and rectifying all his waies and actions by the direct line and rule of thy commandements This answere is made by way of prayer or confessioÌ„ to God or as it were by resolution froÌ„ God In taking heed thereto according to thy word thereby shewing and teaching all men that to know will or doe aright as God hath commanded according to his word is not of our strength neither can flesh and blood reueale it vnto vs but our heauenly Father it is the gracious worke of his glorious Spirit who as the knowledge of Gods will proceedeth of his speciall Illumination so the acting and doing of the same in an holy and vpright life is of his speciall grace and powerfull operation also who giueth thee knowledge will and power to doe the same Velle perficerâ— by enlightning our vnderstanding reforming our wicked will and conforming the same vnto the holy and perfect wil of God and with his coÌ„mand to rise from the sleepe and death of sinne to a new and sanctified life giuing vs a power and flowing light and life from himselfe to doe so as when Christ our Sauiour said Talitha cumi or Lazarus arise c. and at that last day when it shall be said Rise dead folke come to iudgement and so in all Gods word when hee commandeth to repent beleeue bring forth good fruit or so we must not thereby thinke because God commandeth so therefore that we haue knowledge or free-will to doe or not doe so but with the command there floweth a concomitating power and vertue from Gods spirit to the hearts of the faithfull predestinate for saluation to doe this command as a further induration to harden the hearts of the sonnes of reprobation in their stiffe-necked disobedience to Gods will euen as at the words of Christ the fig-tree withered free wil then and strength of our selues to know and doe euill wee haue for it is according to our nature for by nature wee are the children of wrath and all the imaginations of our heart are onely euill continually from our very infancie and it is the worke of our flesh for the flesh coueteth against the spirit but to know will or to do well we haue no power at all but it is Gods sanctifying Spirit who giueth both and it is aboue nature yea it is the worke of the Spirit against nature Therefore let vs not trust to our owne knowledge or wisedom for it is darkenesse foolishnesse nor thinke of our owne will or strength that we can doe or truely desire or know that which is good being so peruerse and wicked but with the Prophet after his example acknowledg al our knowledge of his will or of the right way to saluation to proceed onely from the illumination of his good spirit and that the will or strength to doe and performe the same is onely his owne free worke in mercie also and let vs by earnest prayers as in all ages so chiefly in our youth implore his holy helpe to teach vs according to his word how to walke in his wayes and to take heed to our owne in greatest difficulties consult with him who is true light and wisedome and in whom is no changing in greatest tentations by continuall prayer let vs flie to him that with his all-sufficient grace he may euer assist vs when Sathan would not only buffet but kill deuoure our soules with the poyson of sinne and our owne lusts and in all things let him be our onely refuge resolution and comfort continually In taking heed thereto c. this action of taking heed to our wayes in the answere
hath reference to the action of redressing or cleansing the same in the question as if hee would say by taking heed to his wayes according to gods word a young man may redresse or purge the same The purging therefore or redressing of the waies of youth whereby euery yong man may insist persist in the right way of holinesse to saluation must bee in marking straightly and in taking heed carefully to the whole course of his life in thought word and deede directing and instituting the same according to the rule and expresse direction of the word of God in the which night and day he should meditate exercise himselfe continually that therby his whole life and all the waies thereof may bee kept spotlesse and cleane from all corruption of sinne and the filthy lusts of the flesh Therefore let all young men apply all the actions waies of their life to this touchstone of Gods word let them take diligent heede to thought word and deede marke them narrowly examine and iudge them diligently and vnpartially according to this rule and square that by God himselfe they bee not strictly marked here and seuerely examined iudged and rewarded in the world to come If they finde their waies to bee in some measure conformable to Gods word for none are perfite desire Christ to helpe their imperfection praise God for his mercy and this measure of sanctification desiring increase thereof and confirmation If by taking heede vnto their waies and due examination thereof they finde them disagreeable vnto the word of God then humbly prostrate themselues in true repentance and contritenesse of a broken and rent heart before the tribunall of that great King and Iudge whom they haue offended desire earnestly remission and cleansing of their sinfull waies by the precious bloodshed of Iesus Christ vow and performe reformation and conformation of their waies hereafter according to Gods word by a renewed and sanctified life and to that effect beg importunately with that poor widow froÌ„ the iust Iudge of all meÌ„ his holy sanctifying spirit to be their directer leader in that way of saluatioÌ„ to the end thereof This way of yong men vnto which they shold take heed according to Gods word so diligently is threefold 1. Their way of particular and lawful vocatioÌ„ 2. Their way of christian ciuill manners And 3. their way of true godlines the perfectioÌ„ of all According to this rule of the word of God let euery young man therfore I say take heed examin First his way of the ordinarie and particular vocatioÌ„ God hath called him to if in the same he hath behaued himselfe vprightly vsed aright the talent that God hath giueÌ„ him for that effect for to none of his seruants but God hath allotted giueÌ„ some special taleÌ„t gift fit to be vsed in a special particular vocation wherby in some measure they may be profitable to church CoÌ„monwealth from the Son of the Prince that sitteth on his throne to the sonne of the poorest begger by the hie way side to some hee hath giuen a quicke wit and diuerse inclination to diuers kindes of learning as Diuinitie the Lawes Phisicke c. wherein seuerally by euery one his glory may bee aduanced and the Church or Common-wealth in some measure profited to others hee hath giuen of his spirit in wisedome vnderstanding and knowledge to worke in all manner of workemanship as hee did to Bezaleel and Aholiab fitting them for seuerall mechanicall and handiecrafts and for some one particular of these two kindes of vocation that God hath giuen euerie one from his cradle a naturall inclination and speciall gift therfore if education bee ioyned it doth euidently appeare by experience Let euery young man then noble or ignoble consider take heede vnto this way of vocatioÌ„ according to Gods word that if God hath fitted him by some speciall gift and inclination he loose not spend nor hide his talent by idlenes for feare of the punishment that Christ hath mentioned in his worde therevnto for idlenesse and delicacie was the sin of the primitiue world that drew downe that fearefull deluge vpon theÌ„ idlenesse was the sin that câ—ied down fire brimstone vpon Sodome It is the impouerisher and destroyer of a Kingdome Citie house or man as industry is the enricher The one crieth for Gods curse on a people or person the other for a blessing Idlenes is the doore to let in sinne and the diuell euen in the godliest When Adam was idle from dressing the garden he was tempted to eate of the forbidden fruit and did fall and wee in him when Dauid was idle hee was drawen in adulterie and murder when Sampson was idle from the warres he fell a whooring with Dalilah and fearefull destruction came vpon him The little vnreasonable creatures of God condemneth it therefore Salomon Prou. 6. 6. referreth the sluggard to the Pismire to behold her wayes and bee wise and Virgil saith of the Bees Illae continuo saltus â—yluasque peragrant Excudunt ceras mella tenacia fingunt Venturaeque hyemis memores aestate laboreÌ„ Experiuntur in mediuÌ„ quesita reponuÌ„â— Not like the Grashopper who singeth all the sommer but starueth in winter as many Gentlemens sonnes in their youth are idlely brought vp by their parents but in the winter of olde age must beg or try many vnlawfull shifts because they cannot frame themselues to worke nor were not in their youth trained vp to vertue It is a pittie that such should liue in a Kingdome or commonwealth but haue the Apostles Law He that laboureth not let him not eate And a greater pitty it is to see or suffer such idle bringing vp or rather bringing downe to pouertie and destruction in a ciuill or well instituted kingdome or commonwealth God our heauenly father euer worketh in propagating conseruing and gouerning of his creature so that if once hee should withdrawe his hand all should perish our soule also which resembleth him is called by Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a continuall operation As God then is euer occupied in doing of good so should we be and in so farre as we are idle so farre wee depart from likenesse to God and our owne soule The blessed and holy Angels also are euer occupied either in continuall praising of God their Creator or in doing his message for preseruation ministring to the godly and punishing of the wicked whereof many examples are in the Scripture the glorious Sunne in his swift motion compasseth the earth continually and assure thy selfe whosoeuer thou be that albeit thou bee idle from applying thy minde or exercising thy selfe in vertue while thou art young the diuell hee is not idle who compasseth the earth too and fro to intice thy minde to vice and lay snares before age come to draw thee to destruction and a shameful end Neither think albeit thou be a Noble or Gentlemans sonne or heire that
of the Apostle generally Let all things be doâ—â— decently in loue without dissimulation being as the spring from whence our reuerence and honouring one of another should proceede and the end likewise to bee loue out of a pure heart and of good conscience and of faith vnfaâ—â—ed Thirdly and last of all let euerie young man according to the prescript rule of Gods worde take heede vnto his way of godlinesse and religion to redresse cleanse the same which indeed is the most profitable vocation of all others for as the Apostle saith Godlinesse is great gaine and for bodily exercise it profiteth little but godlinesse is profitable vnto all things which hath the promise of the life present and of that that is to come Salomon also Prou. 14. 27. saith that The feare of the Lord is a well-spring of life to auoid all the snares of death it is a most precious jewell the comfort glory and value whereof surpasseth all vnderstanding the straight way whereof albeit displeasant hard to the flesh for a time yet it is most delectable pleasant to the spirit and soule for euer It is a tree hauing albeit gall in the roote yet hony in the top whose fruit endureth for euer And in the feare of the Lord is an assured strength Therefore seing it is more amply spokeÌ„ of before I cease now with this exhortation only of th' Apostle to al yong men concerning the same Let euery one embrace the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men which hath appeared and teacheth vs that wee should denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that we should liue soberly and righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes forgetting that which is behinde and endeuouring our selues to that which is before and following hard toward the marke for the price of the hie calling of God in Christ Iesus hauing our conuersation in heauen continually from whence wee looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ counting all thinges dung that wee may win him and may bee found in him endeuouring onely that wee may know him and the vertue of his resurrection and the fellowship of his afflictions and bee made conformable to his death that at last we may be fashioned likewise vnto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able euen to subdue all things vnto himselfe In the meane time whatsoeuer things are true whatsoeuer things are honest whatsoeuer things are iust whatsoeuer things are pure whatsoeuer things pertaine to loue whatsoeuer things are of good report if there bee any vertue or if there be any praise let vs thinke on these things to doe the same and the God of peace shall be with vs here by grace and wee with him for euer hereafter in glory We must redres our waies the Prophet saith here In taking heede thereto according to Gods word We must not then read heare or know onely the word of God but practise do the same in purging taking heed to our waies according thereunto It is that good seed that Christ speakes of which must not only be receiued with ioy but must be retained and laid vp in a good and honest heart to bring forth good fruite according to the measure of Gods grace We must doe as Israel did Exo. 19. 7 8. and 24. 3. when Moses proposed Gods Commandements vnto them they answered All that the Lord hath commanded wee will doe not heare or know them onely So Moses commandement and exhortation to the people Deut. 4. 6. Behold I haue taught you ordinances and lawes as the Lord my God hath commanded me that yee should doe euen so within the land whither yee goe to possesse it keepe them therefore and doâ— them for that is your wisedome c. The peoples desire to Moses againe was chap. 5. 27. Goe thou neare and â—eare all that the Lord our God saith and declare thou vnto vs all that the Lord our God saith vnto thee and wee will heare it and doe it The condition also that God maketh by Moses that hee will exalt blesse them is chap. 28. 1. If thou shalt obey diligently the voyce of the Lord thy God and obserue and doe all his Commandements which I command thee then the Lord thy God will set thee on high and all these blessings shall come vnto thee c. So 19. 9. Keepe therefore the wordes of this couenant and doe them that yee may prosper in all other thinges that yee shall doe So 30. 14. The word is very neare vnto thee euen in thy mouth and in thy heart for to doe it Iohn the Baptist Matth. 3. 8. said vnto the Pharisies that which all men shoulde doe Bring forth fruits therefore worthy of amendement of life And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees therefore euery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite is heweâ— downe and cast into the fire And Christ our Sauiour saith Matt. 7. 17. Euery tree is knowne by his fruites for euery good tree bringeth forth good fruit and a corrupt tree bringeth forth euill fruits A good tree cannot bring forth euill fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit For doe men gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles Therefore so let our light shine before men that they may see our good workes and glorifie God our heauenly father For as in Morall Philosophie it is said Omnis virtus in actione consistit all vertue consisteth in action so truely in diuine and true Philosophie it may be likewise said that all Religion and Christian vertues consisteth in practise and not in pratling of them onely The figge-tree that Christ accursed had a faire shew by his leaues a farre off that he was like to haue fruit also but because he had none therefore by Christs curse hee withered presently It is not a faire shew likewise or pretence and profession of religion that God doth accept but wee must with our outward shew haue the inward substance and life of Religion good workes proceeding of true faith and loue Wee must not onely professe in word but in deede and action also imitating not onely Christs sayings but his holy life and doings Luke 6. 46. hee saith But why call you mee Master Master and doe not these thinges which I speake A seruant not onely acknowledgeth his Maister in word but must also in deede hee must not onely heare and know his Masters will but except hee doe it also hee shall be beaten with many stripes Luk. 12. Mat. 7. 21. Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord saith our Sauiour shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen but hee that doth my Fathers
will which is in heauen Many will say vnto me in that day Lord Lord haue we not by thy name prophesied and by thy name cast out diuells and by thy name done many great workes And then will I professe to them I neuer knew you depart from mee yee that worke iniquitie Whosoeuer then heareth my words and doth the same is like the wise man that buildeth his house vpon a rocke c. Seeing God soweth the seede of his word in our hearts hee looketh for a ripe haruest of good works if he hath planted vs as vines in his vineâ— yard or oliue branches in the stock Christ he looketh that in him wee should bring forth sweete grapes and shew that wee liue in him by bringing forth good and pleasant fruit in him Gal. 5. 25. If we liue in the spirit let vs walke also in the spirit Wee must not like that barren and vnprofitable fig-tree Luk. 13. 7. delay to giue fruite to our Maister from yeare to yeare lest we be cut down and throwne ouer the hedge for euer in his fierce wrath but in our youth and tender age we must bud and bring forth sweete pleasant fruits such as he expecteth Christ Iesus abolished the curse of the Law by his comming but hee came not to take away the Law it selfe and the Prophets but to fulfill them As hee therefore perfitly obeyed Gods Lawe so that there was no sinne at all found in him so must his members here on earth striue in some measure to obey Gods Lawe and to come to that perfection that is here permitted by Gods Spirit to the elect to attaine vnto and that there be no sin found raigning in them For there is none no not one man in this world but sinne is found in him neither was there euer any other waies except Iesus Christ God and man but wee must striue and endeuour by the powerfull operation of Gods sanctifying Spirit assisting vs euery one of vs that if sinne abide in vs and the law of sin bee in our flesh yet that it beare not dominion or ouer-rule ouer vs but that in the spirit wee may haue the law of righteousnesse subiugating and weakening the other daily more and more till at the last by grace both soule and body bee captiuated vnto Christs obedience and take on his yoake that both likewise hereafter may bee in and with Christ victorious and triumphant in glory Amongst Pastours Whosoeuer shall obserue and teach Gods Commandements their reward shall be great they shall be called great in the kingdome of heauen so amongst the hearers and flocke Blessed are they that heare the word of God and keepe it The true Pastour maketh his voice sound like Arons bells before his flocke And the sheepe heare his voyce and hee calleth his owne sheepe by name and leadeth them out And when hee hath sent forth his owne sheepe hee goeth before them and the sheepe follow him for they know his voyce Where to see the necessity of good works doing of Gods word therin we may consider the dutie both of the true Pastours of Christ and of the true sheepe of Christ with both their markes whereby so they may bee easily knowne the one not to bee Woolues in Lambs skins theeues robbers and hirelings the other not to bee sheepe of another Pastour or pasture True Pastours here then must goe before their sheepe first by an incorrupt doctrine or voyce and secondly by the footesteps of an incorrupt conuersation and life Concerning the first Christs charge to Peter is Louest thou me tâ—en feede my flocke So that Pastours loue to Christ is approued before God to their owne conscience and before men by feeding only his flocke the woe of the contrary whereof is set downe plainely Ezek. 24. 2. Wo â—ee to the shepheards of Israel that feede themselues should not the sheepheards feed the flockes Also 2. Tim. 4. 1. Pauls charge to Timothie I charge thee therefore before God and before the Lord Iesus Christ which shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing and in his kingdome Preacâ— the word be instant in season and out of season improue rebuke exhort with all long suffering doctrine So here is Christs charge and the Apostle of Christs charge the one to Peter the other to Timothy and so to all Ministers that they should make their flockes heare their voice and sound the same before them For as Iohn was a voice in the wildernesse to prepare the way of the Lord at his first comming in humilitie so they must bee now voices crying in the desart of this world to prepare the way against the Lords second comming in glorie by Repent bringing low euerie high vnhumbled hill and by Beleeue exalting and comforting againe euery low valley and humbled soule in Gods presence so they must loose and binde open and shut set life and death before euery one and Wâ—e bee to them if they preach not the Gospell or therein loue their owne glory and praise of men more then the glory of God seeing the King hath sent them out to call all men to his banquet to eate of the fat calfe God hath made them Angells to cry before that last day Rise dead folke in sinne prepare to come to Iudgement cast off the corruption of the lustes of the flesh put on renouation of the spirit be sanctified in body and soule that in both hereafter you may be also glorified they haue concredit to them the trumpet of Gods voice at whose sound the high and proud walles of the Iericho of euery mans heart must fall and therefore must compasse them blow the trumpets diligently and often They are sent that they should preach the Gospell to the poore heale the â—roken hearted preach deliuerance to the captiues and recouering of sight to the blind that they should set at libertie them that are bruised and that they should preach the acceptable yeare of the Lord. This then is the voyce that they should vtter and this is the voyce the true sheepe should follow and know Concerning the second marke of true Pastours to wit their going also before their flocke in good example and holy life according to their owne voyce doing the same Christs charge likewise to his Apostles is Matt. 5. 16. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heauen The neglect and transgression whereof hee sheweth in the Scribes and Pharisies whose righteousnesse except theirs exceeded hee telleth his Disciples they should neuer enter in the kingdome of heauen Matt. 23. 2. in these wordes saying The Scrbes and Pharisies sit in Moses seate and therefore whatsoeuer they bid you obserue that obserue and doâ— but after their workes doe not for they say and doe not as alas too many such in these our daies doe The Apostlte Paul also Rom. 2. 21. to this effect saith
whosoeuer hath time meanes and opportunitie as few are but hath in some measure to doe good workes whereby their election may be confirmed to their owne conscience their faith in Christ shewed and testified before the world God their heauenly Father thereby glorified and his children their brethren therby strengthened and yet notwithstanding doth not verily howsoeuer they say that they haue faith Gods Spirit word testifieth the contrarie and that it is a dead faith they brag of which Sathan himselfe hath and trembleth verse 19. which being dead in it selfe can neuer apprehend nor apply that true life of the soule Iesus Christ and his righteousnesse the godlies onely comfort for faith worketâ— with by works as the fire doth by heate through workes is faith made perfit as the Apostle testifieth and as hee reasoneth Iames 2. 14. What auâ—â—leth it my brethren though a man saith hee hath faith when he hath no workes can the faith saue him For if a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily foode and one of you say vnto them depart in peace warme your selues and fâ—ll your bellies notwithstanding you giue them not those thinges which are needefull to the body what helpeth it Euen so the faith if it haue no workes is dead in it selfe And after confirmation of this by the example of Abraham Rachab he concludeth For as the body without the spirit is dead euen so the faith without workes is dead Wee see then that as workes without faith iustifieth not For whatsoeuer is done without faith is sinne euen so faith without workes being dead iustifieth no maÌ„ before God and that it is neither sufficient to Pastour to preach and know Gods word except in practising it he go before his flocke by good workes nor that it is sufficient to the people or sheepe who would bee accounted of Christs sheep-folde to heare or know Gods voyce except they also follow and practise the same by good workes following the holy and vnspotted life of Iesus Christ the Lambe in whom they hope to bee saued Let therefore Pastor and people old and yong from the highest to the lowest striue by a holy life and fruitfull of good workes to shew themselues to bee true branches in Iesus Christ the vine and liuely members of his blessed body and as he who hath called vs is holy so let vs be holy in all manner of conuersation as becommeth the Gospel of Christ zealous of good workes Not hearing or knowing our Masters will onely but in taking heed to our wayes to redresse the same according to his word and will reuealed therein executing and doing the same and when we haue done all that we can doe confessing and acknowledging our selues to be vnprofitable seruants so shall we be assured in our owne consciences by Gods spirit that we are sheepe of his pasture and children of his inheritance so shall wee bee knowne by the world by our confession and profession of Christ in an holy and christian life to be members of his Church and Kingdome also and so at last we shall be found worthy in Christ to walk with the Lambe when he who gaue his life for vs here shall giue vs eternall life with himselfe for euer hereafter According to thy word that is making thy holy word O Lord the rule and square according vnto the which we may take heed vnto our wayes and redresse the same We see then here first the excellencie and great vertue and vse of the word of God It is a rule according vnto the which wee may and should redresse purge and rectifie our sinfull vncleane and erronious wayes It is that breath of God which breatheth life in the face of the soule of man as by the word of God in the first creation was man raysed out of the earth and placed in the garden of Paradise so by this word of God which is neere vs in our mouth and heart is the new creation and regeneration of the heart of man whereby his soule is raysed from earthly and carnall affections and placed in the pleasant garden of Christs church to eate of the tree of life and liue with him for euer It is the voyce of God that is dayly heard in the garden of his Church not onely asking euery Adamite and sinner but shewing him also where and in what estate he is by sinne and Sathan calling him not to a curse for sinne but a blessing and inuiting him to come to the seed of the woman to that tree of life and second Adam Father and Sauiour of our spirits Gods word is a Lampe that shineth euer in the candlesticke of his true Church to direct our footsteps in the path to life euerlasting with himselfe It is that two-edged Sword that powerfully proceedeth out of his owne mouth which pierceth thorow the inward cogitations of the heart to redresse the same and diuideth the marrow of the bones to giue fatnesse to the soule It is that seed which beeing sowed and layd vp in a good and honest heart maketh euery Christian to bring foorth acceptable fruit vnto Gods glory and their owne soules comfort It is the Power of God to saluation to all them who beleeue the same It is that Instrument or Spade which diggeth about the rootes of our hearts to make vs sweet and fruitfull to our long suffering and patient Master lest we should be pulled vp by the rootes ere the axe of Gods wrath should bee put to our rootes and wee be cut downe and throwen ouer the hedge of the vineyard into vnquenchable fire Gods word is that Snedding knife which cutteth away the rancke leaues of sinne which with their darkenesse doe ouer-shadow our soules and keepe away that comfortable ripening sunne of Gods fauour to shine vpon vs that our sowre grapes may become sweet It is a Hammer to beat downe euery high exalted hill or proud cogitation of the heart that as Gyants would rebell and fight against God It exalteth euer the low valley or humbled dejected soule euen to the throne of God in confidence boldnesse It is that sâ—â—ngstone of the sonne of Dauid whereby euerie Christian and souldier of Israel must kill that mighty Gyant the reuiler of God and enemie of his seruants who seeketh not to giue their bodies to the fowles of the ayre but their precious soules to the hell-crowes of sinne and the deuouring vultures of eternall torments It is the knife whereby the fore-skin of euery Christians heart is circumcised and cut away before hee can be in the new couenant of grace or be counted a true Israelite in spirit it is the gladdest tidings that euer came to the soule and the true testimony or witnesse-bearer of Iesus Christ search the Scriptures for they testifie of him it is a Christians life My words are life saith light and life and without the comfort of the same our life is death and our light Cimerian darknesse