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
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
to be saued And Christ Iesus the way it self teacheth vs the same duty wheÌ„ he coÌ„maÌ„deth Search the Scriptures for it is they that testifie of me Let all young men therefore who desire to bee esteemed true Christians and hauing a name to be alive in Christ not to bee dead inquire of their owne waies carefully narrowly vnpartially acknowledging truely and in most submissiue manner confessing before the throne of almighiy God their errors and manifold enormities with an earnest and hearty desire to know and practise wherewith they may redresse and purge their waies and walke in the immaculate and holy waies of God and his commandements and for all propone and set before their eyes the example of that forenamed young man onely in the Gospel that imitating him they may addresse themselues in prayer and meditation to Iesus Christ and his word making it their chiefe care and inquirie to know and practise how they may attaine vnto eternall life Blessed is the condition of such a young man who doth so and who in all humilitie doth daily prostrate himselfe vpon the knees of his heart before the throne of the maiestie of God earnestly desiring and wishing with the same Prophet in the 5. verse O that my waies were directed to keepe thy statutes O Lord. Happy is the estate of such a young man and farre happy shal it be hereafter whose delight is in Gods word care to reforme and conform his waies according thervnto As woful dangerous is the conditioÌ„ of the contrary of all such who like vnbridled horses vntamed colts swine wallowing in the mire puddle of vncleannes onely rauished in the hote furie of the lustes of their affections and led by the fearefull hand of sinne and vaine pleasures of the flesh vntill blindlings as the Oxe is led to the slaughter or the foole to the blocke they bee drawne downe the staires of perdition and headlongs precepitat in the deepe gulfe and pâ—t of vtter destruction because in time of their youth they neither enquired obserued nor examined their wayes nor by Gods word sought to redresse and purge the same Now concerning the first thing particularly to bee considered in the question or first part of this Verse which is the person concerning whom the same is mooued He is set downe to be a Yong man so described by the adiunct of age albeit some others as Augustine meaneth a newe or regenerate man hereby albeit decrepite in age as Aristotle in his Ethicks distinguisheth betwixt Iuuenis etate Iuuenis moribâ—â— Disputing de Idonco auditore Ethices Generally therefore indefinitely without limitation or exemption of any that the person concerning whom this question is propounded is saide to bee a yong man whither poore or rich noble or ignoble mightie or impotent the princes or the beggers sonne or what soeuer he be we learne First that this exhortation as al Gods word is indifferently spoken to all yong men For with God there is no respect of persons and therefore that all yong men great or smal should hearken thereunto and apply the same particularly to their owne consciences For from the kings sonne to the poore beggers all are his creatures alike and God their only Creator their beginning is all one for out of the dust were they taken and their end equally shal be al one for to dust they shall returne all came equally naked out of the wombe and all shall goe the same way to the graue and corruption Sickenes coÌ„meth alike Deaths Sythe cutteth downe both as grasse equally all liue one naturall life vpon the earth and draw their breath equally and all liue one supernaturall life in Iesus Christ equally the naturall food of the mortall bodies of both is the same to wit meate and drinke the supernaturall food of the immortall soules of both is likewise the same euen the body and blood of Iesus Christ who hath redeemed both alike by his death and sanctifieth both alike by his viuificating spirit vnto the life of righteousnesse one Iudgement abideth both without respect and one reward is to both the pledges of the kingdome of God which are his Word and Sacraments are alike offered and should be alike administrated to both the mightiest Monarch as the poorest begger boh are equally the sonnes of the first Adam the poorest begger aswell as the mightiest Monarch is equally the sonne and member of the second Adam Iesus Christ if in him he obey Gods wil and apply to his soule his promises by faith as in the first Adam he disobeyed Gods wil by misbeleeuing of his threatnings yea as Lazarus was preferred before Diues so are many outcasts of the world before the mightiest Powers and Princes thereof Gods law equally bindeth both great small his threatnings for sin appertaine equally to both and are alike executed vpon them without any exception or exemption of persons as his sweet promises of mercy belongeth also and are equally offered to both All are alike admonished in his woorde taught and rebuked by the same and before all mens eies indifferently is set downe therein life and death to choose Therefore let no man rich or poore exempt himself from the exhortations admonitions reprehensions or any part of the word of God but as they are spoken to all so particularly let euery one apply them to his owne soule and conscience they are the King of kings statutes binding and pertaining to all his subiects as well of highest as of lowest place and degre and especially let euery yong man whatsoeuer he be hearken to this Exhortation of Gods word and spirit in this place and learne Whereby to redresse his wayes The second obseruation and Lesson here-upon which the Prophet would haue euery one to marke and consider is this That in our youth and first age we must begin then to serue God in vprightnes and holines of life without any further delay or procrastination of time not sacrificing our childehood or youth to the idoll of our owne affections and the deuill as these Idolaters did their children to Molech and thinking that God will accept of our decrepite cold old age when coldly we shall offer the same vnto him but as hee will haue the euening sacrifice of age so wil he haue the morning oblation of youth as he hath giuen life to al ages so by all ages he wil be serued and being all to all by all in all he wil be worshipped The Lord is Alpha and Omega the first and the last the beginning and the end he will be honored therfore as well in the Alpha or the beginning of our youth and first age as hee will in the Omega or end of our last olde age hee is strength and giueth strength to all in this our strength then of youth we must not rise against God and runne with the diuill but as Gideon in his strength was commanded by Gods angel to rise against the
Midianites fight against his enemies so by Gods owne word and the holy messenger of his spirit euery yong man is commanded in the strength of his youth to rise against fight and subdue his owne corrupt affections which are enemies to God and his own saluation so that in our youth we must begin and serue God amend and redresse our waies according to his word not excluding but in euery age wee haue neede and must doe so and the rather seeing a maiori ad minus if Gods word serue to redresse a yong mans way who burneth in his lusts and affections much more serueth it to redresse a man in ripe age his affections being theÌ„ more cooled but chiefly in youth we haue most neede by Gods word to cleanse and redresse our waies for sundry reasons First because our nature then which contraries grace is strongest and so wee are more apt and readie to bee led away by our lustes and to bee drawne in the chaine of our affections by Sathan into a farre countrie of sinne from our owne fathers house with that prodigall sonne to abuse and riotously to consume Gods liberall giftes and manifolde graces bestowed vppon vs in pouertie nakednesse and famine of all goodnesse feeding our filthy vncleane lustes of the flesh and greedily feeding and eating with them Therefore in most dangerous estate wee must take the best and straitest heede when our enemie is within walls then most strongly and couragiously must hee bee resisted when wee finde our nature most inclining to obey sinne then must wee striue and wrestle with GOD in most earnest prayers and hold him fast vntill hee giue vs his blessing and the strength of his Spirite to striue also and preuaile with sinne that our nature by his grace may bee reformed our will made conformable and inclining to his and that in soule and bodie wee may bow in obeying his Commaundements Secondly our youth is the beginning of our pilgrimage and in it we must enter in either at the broad way which leadeth vnto euerlasting destruction or at the narrow way which leadeth vnto euerlasting ioy and saluation The true way is Iesus Christ and his righteousnes I am the way the veritie and life who as he is the way so he is the end of the way eternall saluation as he is God so he leadeth vnto God and to the kingdome of God his father and is the ease and rest of all that commeth loaden or wearie vnto him Therefore in thy youth and entring in thy pilgrimage see thou enter in this way and if thou wouldst finde this way to walke therein desire God to opeÌ„ thy eies that thou mayst see this narrow way Search the Scriptures saith the way it selfe for they are that testifie of me When thou hast found him in his word and known him by his word as the sheepe doth the true sheep-heard apply him then by a liuely faith to thy soule and take hold of the way and hauing found knowne applied and taken hold of him then apply thy whole course of life in thought word and deede vnto this way euer walking therin Be you holy as I am holy saith he Learne of me for I am humble and meeke Moses was commanded to pull off his shooes because the ground hee did stand vpon was holy If thou stand tâ—â—n vpon that holy ground ground-stone Iesus Christ walke in that sacred pure way thou must seperate and cast from thee all filthinesse of sinne and corruption If thou wouldst walke with that vnspotted Lambe thou must walke clothed with that white long robe of sanctitie righteousnesse purchased and washed in his blood beleeue Christ Iesus in thy heart confesse Christ Iesus with thy mouth and shew Christ Iesus and him image in thy life and conuersation so hast thou enterd so doost thou walke so shalt thou attaine to the end of this true and ioyfull way All other waies are by-waies the leader and ladder Sathan a manslaier a lyer from the beginning and the end of al such is Gods fierce wrath and eternall perdition hee leadeth thee from the true Citie of Ierusalem in his deceitfull by-waies to rob thee of the good gifts of God bestowed vpon thee and to kill body soule and cast it into vtter darkenesse like a wise Vlisses harken not to this Syren who would allure and draw thee so to no sweete harmony but to destroy the ship of the body and precious loading of thy soule for which christ shed his precious blood vpoÌ„ the rocks of eternal destruction to be his pray Auoide this Scylla and Carybdis and hold constantly forward in the true way Christ enter and perseuere in it in thy youth when thou art aged thou shalt bee at the end thereof that thou maiest see with the holy Apostle when the time of thy departing is at hand I haue sought a good fight and haue finished my course I haue kept the faith for henceforth is laid vp for mee the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue mee at that day and not vnto me onely but vnto aâ—l them that loue his appearing Lorde grant that euery one of vs may in our youth enter in this course constantly continue therein tâ—ll our â—â—ues end and at our last dissolution we may haue this sure and comfortable perswasion Thirdly we should serue God in our youth chiefly obeying his wil and abstaining from sinne because our youth is as the fat most pleasant vnto God not sinning in it when we may sinne and therefore let vs sacrifice the same vnto him not offering vp the fat morning sacrifice of our youth to Molech the diuell and our sinfull corrupt affections and thinking that the God of Israel wil accept of our leane and lame colde euening sacrifice of weake olde age and so bee serued with the worst after his enemie Sathan In our youth wee must not runne with the diuell and in age thinke to returne vnto God neuer forsaking our lusts nor ceasing to fulfill them in our youth till then in age they forsake vs with the strength to accomplish them wheÌ„ we are strongest wee are weake enough to follow Christ much more vnable when wee are weakest Therefore as Dauid killed Goliah in his youth so let vs seeke to slay that manslayer Sathan in resisting him and kill that Goliah of sin and our corrupt affections which hee vseth as weapons against vs putting off all fleshly armour and arming body and soule with the strength of Gods Spirit putting our trust and sure confidence in Iesus Christ who as by former experience he did ouercome his tentations in his owne person and in the persons of all the Saints his elect members so likewise of his constant loue vnfallible trueth and vnfaileable strength hee will assist and persist with vs vntill wee haue likewise troden him vnder foote As Dauid being young did pull out a Lambe out of the mouth of the Lyon and the Beare so
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
he grew in yeares so he waxed strong in spirit So likewise euery yong man must striue to do to consecrate himselfe from the wombe to the graue in the seruice of God and to deserue that good commendation of Timothy from his childhood to know the holy Scriptures which may teach instruct him in righteousnesse as a Master which may improoue and correct his faults as a Father and make him a man of God absolute perfite vnto all good works The third lesson and obseruation is to fathers of youth as the first was to youth it selfe and it is that as young men in their youth must learne and practise godlinesse in redressing of their waies according to Gods word so the fathers of all youth must beginne to teach the same vnto them and go before their children in good example of life while they are tender and as new vessells fit to receiue and be seasoned with piety Gods commaundement in his word concerning this dutie of parents is Deutronomie 4. 9. But take heede to thy selfe and keepe thy soule diligently that thou forget not the thinges which thine eyes haue seene and that they depart not out of thine heart all the daies of thy life but teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes Againe Deutronomie 6. 7. where hee saith And thou shalt reâ—earse them continually vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thoâ—â—â—riestin thine house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou liest downe and when thourisest vp Moreouer Deutronomie 32. 46. in Moses last exhortation to Israel Then hee saide vnto them Set your hearts vnto all the wordes which I testifie against you this day that you may command them vnto your children that they may obserue and doe all the words of this Law Likewise the Apostle Ephes. 6. 4. And yee fathers prouoke not your children to wrath but bring them vp in instruction information of the Lord. So Psal. 78. 5. How he established a testimony in Iacob and ordained a law in Israel which hee commanded our fathers that they should teach their children Also the practise of all the godly hath euer been so according to this coÌ„mandemeÌ„t of God Adam taught his sonnes to sacrifice and offer to the Lord. The three Angels that came to Abraham they reuealed vnto him the destruâ—tion of Sodome because the Lord did know that he would teach this his iudgement for sinne to the posteritie after him And the Lord said shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I doe For I know him that he will command his sonnes and his houshold after him that they keepe the way of the Lord to doe righteousnesse and iudgement that the Lord may bring vpon Abraham that he hath spoken vnto him Isaac being a young childe yet was well instructed in the typicall seruice of God and things pertaining vnto the sacrifice of the old Law when he asked his father Behold the fire and the wood but where is the lambe for the â—urnt offering And he answered My sonne God will prouide him a lambe c. His exercise also when hee was a young man by his fathers instruction and example was And Isaac went out to pray in the field toward the euening c. So Ioshua in his last commandement exhortation to Israel saith vnto them And if it seeme euill vnto you to serue the Lord choose you this day whom you will serue c. but I and my house will serue the Lord. With sundry such examples in the Scripture where we may see the practise and care of all the godly to haue beene euer in instructing bringing vp their children in the knowledge and feare of God which all godly Christian parents in this age must follow likewise for if God hath established his couenant betweene vs and our seed after vs to be our God for euer how carefull should wee then be that our seede and children may be instructed in the true and perfect knowledge thereof that as hee is their God so they may bee his people as hee is their father so they may proue his children by dutifull loue and obedience to his commandements It is said that Alexander had children borne and brought vp in military discipline and exercise from their infancie in his Campes which made him so victorious and prosperous in battell euen so let all parents bring vp their children from their infancie and cradle in the knowledge and exercise of the Christian warfare of this life in all godlinesse vertue that they may proue couragious and good souldiers vnder their victorious King and Captaine Iesus Christ. And seeing youth is as tabula rasa a new vessell a young tree or Oliue plant as Dauid calleth them like soft waxe to receiue any print inconstant and wauering and most inclining by their owne nature to sinne and vaine pleasure which euen godly Iob suspected in his children albeit well and godly brought vp when he went to sacrifice for them daily fearing it might haue beene that his sonnes in their banquetting had sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts Therefore let all fathers as God hath giuen them children of his grace so with Hannah Samuels mother dedicate and giue them againe vnto the Lord and his seruice in bringing them vp carefully in the feare and reuerence of his holy name season their tender hearts in their youth with the liquor of godlinesse and the true knowledge of the blood of Iesus Christ which must be their life print them with the glorious image of Christ which is true pietie that as he was the resemblance of his father so they may here represent him also in purenes sanctitie of life while they are as yong tender twigges and Oliue branches bow them that way as you would haue them stand when they are growen and olde which is to the obedience of Iesus Christ in whom they must beare fruite and receiue fatnesse write and ingraue the knowledge of his will commaundements in their hearts and mindes that with all their hearts soules and mindes they may honour and serue GOD in all feare and loue a band to holde out all â—inne and so place and set them in the right way see that they constantly continue and perseuere therein and ioyne seuere and strait animaduersion for repressing of their vices as also of cherishing of Gods good graces in them that so they may bee liuely stones in Sion to the glory of God the comfort of his parents and their owne soules saluation So parents making them dutifull to God their heauenly Father he will make them dutifull also and reuerent to them againe otherwise with Elias sonnes they will be a griefe to their hearts and the meanes to bring their gray haires in sorrow to the graue and with Absolon prooue vnkinde and vnnaturall children for being Dauids darling he proued Dauids traitour and the reason is set downe thus 1. Kings 1. 6. And his father would not
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
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
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
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.