that hangs over it because of the last thirty years too successful Contrivances to debauch the Nation in order to Slavery and Popery might be diverted or at least confined to such as are too far engaged or obstinate to admit a Reformation That every Child and Youth who shall read this Book may as many of you already do thus contribute to my Hopes and Share in the Benefit thereof shall be the Prayer of Your Compassionate Friend Daniel Williams THE CONTENTS THE Context explained to Page 5. Vanity considered as its natural Frailty p. 7 8 9. Vanity in a moral sence in General 10 11 12. Particularly as to eight Sins to which Youth is prone 1. The folly of Youth in the Concerns of Eternity explained and demonstrated from p. 13. to 17. Directions against Folly from p. 18 to 21. 2. The Inconsiderateness of Youth with Directions against it from p. 21. to 24. 3. The Obstinacy of Youth described disswaded from with Directions against it from p. 25 to 33. 4. Anger and violent Passions of youth described disswaded from with Directions from p. 33 to 37. 5. Youths idleness and mispence of time described disswaded from with Directions from p. 37 to 43. 6. The Levity and inordinate Mirth of young people described disswaded from with directions to get Sobriety from pag. 43 to 51. 7. The sin of Lying described disswaded from with Directions against it from p. 51 to 55. 8. Fleshly Lusts viz. Drunkenness Gluttony and Vncleanness described and disswaded from from p. 55 to 57. Directions against Gluttony and Drunkenness from p. 58 to 61. Directions against Vncleanness from p. 61 to 67. The Vanity of Youth as it consists in their living to no valuable purposes demonstrated from p. 68 to 74. The Vanity of Youth as it lives to destructive purposes from p. 74 to 77. An Account how Childhood and Youth became vain where Original Sin is treated of from p. 77 to 82. An Enquiry why Youth continues vain where also the possibility of their healing is spoken to from p. 82 to 90. The Reasons why many young people do grow more vain daily from p. 90 to 92. Inferences from the whole Doctrine 1. The dismal Aspect of the World p. 92 93. 2. Parents and Masters care and pains in the Education of youth urged and directed suitably to the Disease of youth from p. 94 to 97. 3. The reasonableness of youths subjection to the Rebukes and Restraints of Superiours p. 97 98. 4. Attentiveness to Advice needful and fit p. 98 99. Exhortations 1. A serious Examination of the present state of youth whether they are still vain or no urged p. 99 100 2. They are called to admit Directions answerable to their present Condition 1. A Call to young people still vain with Directions and Arguments for their present casting off their Vanity from p. 100 to 110. 2. Advice proper for such young Ones as are serious from p. 110 to 121. A plain youths Catechism from p. 110 to the end Ecclesiast ch 11. v. 10. last clause Childhood and Youth are Vanity THis present Meeting is for the spiritual advantage of you Children and young People Your good we Ministers must intend and it s your Interest and Duty to regard and improve these helps as well as elder Persons for your Souls are are as Immortal as the Aged God hath a right to govern you being you are his Creatures He hath given you a Rule of Life he observeth your Hearts and Carriage with concern Young Ones shall be arraigned at Gods Tribunal and judged by the Rule contained in his Word according to what they have been and done Heaven and Hell are before you one of them will be the eternal dwelling of the youngest in this Assembly and considering that most of Mankind dye when young Heaven and Hell are fuller of Young People than of such as arrived to a greater Age. Do such Considerations affect you ought they not to make me serious and importunate with your Souls And with yours especially because Youth is under great indispositions to all that is serious and saving Oh let us look earnestly for a blessing to him who is the God of the Spirits of all Flesh Numb 16. 23. and therefore is able to impress and manage your Spirits tho' unruly and vain The Author of this Book is Solomon will you regard what a Great Man saith He was King of Israel in its most prosperous State Are a wise Mans dictates to be heeded He was the wisest of meer Men. But above that this Book was the result of great Experience he speaks his feeling as well as his Judgment yea he records these things as a Penitent after great offences and therefore must represent things according to their truth and importance especially since he was inspired by the Infallible Spirit in what he here delivers I shall not look further than the 11th verse to lead you to my Text. 1. There he doth by a sharp Sarcasm reprove the sensual delights of Young People rejoyce O Young Man c. it s such a saying as Christs to his Disciples Sleep on and take your rest Mar. 14. 41. It 's not said by way of approbation but he exposeth the Sensualist by disdain which may affect some People more than a direct Reproof and God for our good condescends to try all ways Surely you that think sensual pleasure the greatest happiness you are capable of will suspect that it is not what it appears to your foolish minds whon God by the Wisest Man doth thus Ironically brand it he loads you with scorn while you fondly please your selves with these poor delights as your only Paradice God keep me from that as my Portion which God accounts my reproach Obj. But may not a Young Man rejoyce Answ. Yes no doubt thou oughtest to delight thy self in the Lord Psal. 37. 4. yea thou mayst delight moderately and holily in Objects of sence but that 's not the rejoycing here exposed The following words explain the nature of this forbidden joy it 's that evil pleasure which thou takest in walking in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes q. d. Oh vile Creature how base art thou become that confinest thy pleasures to and resolvedly wallowest in the delights that come by following the vain imaginations of thy carnal heart and meer gratifying thy sences What a bruit art thou that sportest thy self in a disregard of God and unseen things and valuest the time of Youth only as it fits thee to execute what is sinful and relish what is sensual Is this rejoycing becoming thee as a reasonable Creature made for and suited to things of so far a higher nature Is thy correspondence to the Objects of Faith quite gone art thou so sunk and buried in flesh Is there no spiritual light or love to govern thy desires and pleasures If this be the merry Young Man what an object of contempt is he in all his mirth even in
all the World Holy Angels are not always strangers to thy Carriage and Discourses and mayst not thou blush at their Remarks Devils do oft impress thy Fancy and put those things into thee which thou thinkest and talkest of these Enemies of thine do gladly behold thee unmanning thy self wounding thy Soul and corrupting others with thy foolish Speeches and Actions Thy silly Companions observe thee and receive the Contagion to which their own Inclinations make them apt And is it nothing with thee that thou conversest with People ready to be diverted from seriousness and forward to be vain by thy Example Alas thou becomest accessory to all the evil they shall propagate and wilt be condemned in their thoughts if God give them Repentance or cursed by them in Hell if they dye impenitent Thy ungrave Deportment sometimes is seen by such as are wise and good those despise thee and pity thy Madness when thou pleasest thy self as being airy and witty 4. Be not an unconcerned Stranger to the State of the World where enough daily occurrs to make thee serious Canst thou be light and altogether vain in a World so full of Sin and Misery how many dismal Objects dost thou see and hear of what Cruelty in one Man to another how oft is the Church oppressed what Judgments and Calamities are thy Neighbours under what dangers is the Land of thy Nativity exposed to Most of the Earth lies in Ignorance Idolatry and subject to the Devil's Empire 1 Ioh. 5. 19. how many Souls are bemoaning their own sins and ready to despond under Doubts and Fears where is there a Family but groaneth under some disaster and canst thou play the Buffoon as if Childish toys diverted thee from all sense of these things 5. Awe thy Soul with the importance of sacred things so as not to dare to entertain a light thought concerning them much less to speak jestingly of them Every Scripture truth is a beam of Divine Light it 's revealed by the eternal Spirit to Mankind for to direct their Faith and Practice 2 Tim. 3. 16. and dare a poor Worm that shall be judged thereby affront Heaven by ridiculing its Discoveries Young Man they cannot be matter of Jest which the holy and wise God is intent on and the Hearts of all devout Persons are deeply exercised with Are such things to be sported with by Man which the very Devils tremble at Canst thou chuse but be seriously affected with the Matters of Religion if thou believe these are the things the Incarnation Sufferings Death and Testimony of the Son of God referr to These are the things which great Miracles have attested These are the things which the various Operations of the Holy Ghost on Souls design and the Ministry of Angels subserve These are the things which the Devil is so industrious to oppose These are the things a Gospel-Ministry is established for and about which all pious Ministers are so intent and importunate These are the things which most affect and govern all such who are freed from the Dominion of their Lusts and can dye with hopes These are the things which if totally disregarded expose Mankind to all bruitish Villanies in this World and endless Tortures in another 6. Abstain the Society of light Persons and observe the danger of excessive Mirth There 's that levity in thy temper which inferrs danger by vain Persons and thou art inconsiderate if the latter doth not force thee to say of Laughter it is mad and of Mirth what doth it Eccl. 2. 2. Yea sorrow is better than laughter for by the sorrow of the Countenance the Heart is made better Eccl. 7. 3. 7. Acquaint thy self with those purer and higher Joys which a serious Temper lead to There be delights of a higher Nature than what thou pursuest they would soon render these unsuituble to thy taste as well as contemptible to thy judgment No holy young Man would exchange the feast of his heavenly Father for thy Swinish husks Luke 15. 16 23. there 's no present emptiness nor following bitterness in Spiritual Delights The sence of Gods Love Peace of Conscience the lively hopes of Glory the satisfaction of well-doing the serenity of a composed Soul the ease of a rectified Nature as far as the Faculties are delivered from Sin and healed by Grace do constitute a delight so real and refined as if thou once taste will make thee reflect on thy past Joys with shame and disdain See Psal. 4. 6. Cant. 2. 3 4. 7. Young People are prone to lye This Sin appeareth in Childhood and then such a habit is contracted as they hardly are delivered from It 's now true of many They go astray as soon as they be born speaking lies Ps. 58. 3. You lye to your Parents to excuse your Faults You lye to God in breaking your Baptismal Vow You lye to your Equals for pleasure or gain You speak falsly to revenge your selves on such as you are angry with Oh how oft do you speak otherwise than you think and contrary to what you know deceiving them to whom you speak Consider thou Child lay to Heart O young Man that Lying is a horrid Sin Herein thou imitatest the Devil who is the Father of a Lye and the first Liar Iohn 8. 44. Thou art contrary to God who is a God of Truth to him lying Lips are an abomination Prov. 12. 22. He is so incensed by this Sin that he allots every Liar his Portion among the worst of Sinners Rev. 22. 15. Oh Child wouldst thou get to Heaven then thou must not lye Art thou afraid of burning in Hell for ever then fear a Lye Wouldst thou be a Child of God He tells thee his Children are such as will not lye Isa. 63. 8. It 's the Charge of God to thee Put away lying and speak the truth Eph. 4. 25. Darest thou say I will not regard what the Lord saith to me Alas he will punish thee for a lie worse than thy Father or Master can punish thee for any Fault Young Men allow not your selves in this Iniquity let no Master force you to lye in your Trade much less do you use it in your Discourse it 's a mean thing it 's destructive to Humane Society and the bane of Conversation What is a greater Reproach than to be a Liar What is esteemed a worse Affront than to say thou lyest Great are the mischiefs to Mens Repute Estates Peace by a false Tongue and in vain be all pretences to Religion if the Tongue be not bridled as to this fault Iam. 1. 26. How hateful is it to debase so noble a thing as Speech in deluding thy Brother in thy Communication with him Quest. How shall a Young Man avoid Lying Answ. 1. Love Truth and despise what would allure thee to quit it in thy Speech It 's the Character of him that shall inhabit God's Temple He speaketh the Truth in his heart Psal. 15. 2. To speak the Truth argues a
government of Fear as old Folks be Oh my Friends what but Grace can win thy Consent to Christ now when the Devil and the World are strongly bidding for it You are like to reap the largest Harvest because you have the longest Seed-time You young ones that do fear the Lord betimes you are like to be the more remarkable in the Heavens All the Blessings that belong to the oldest Saint belong to you and Christ as truly loves you The youngest Believer in this place may rejoyce in all the fulness of Christ as his Store-house and Security he may read over all the greatest Promises of the Gospel with Comfort as his own We bless God for you bless God for your selves that hath adopted you for his so soon and thereby prevented much Sin and made you early Blessings for your sake we hope the Gospel will not be removed from England how happy are each of you your Parents can die comfortably now that you are in Christ Your Friends look with joy upon you as secure in your better part Oh the comfortable Aspect that every such Soul affords I will give you a few words of Advice Directions to such as are Converted in Youth 1. Be watchful over your selves because some Vanity remains in the best while here Satan would more gladly overcome you than others and he knows there 's matter for temptation to work on in thee Youthful years are subject to youthful Lusts Young Timothy himself was warned of them by wise Paul 2 Tim. 2. 22. Therefore don't venture on Occasions of Vanity don't venture into temptations to sin Nothing but perfect Grace perfectly heals the Sin of your Constitution Young ones you don't think you are perfect you are not thoroughly clean therefore walk carefully walk watchfully take care of Voluptuousness for there is some unruliness in thy Appetite still Take care of wanton Dalliance for there is some Disposition to Uncleanness 1 Tim. 5. 2. Still take care of evil Company Youth may be ensnared tho they are good Avoid all frothy Society for Youth is apt to be perswaded to loss of Time and Levity Therefore walk with watchfulness in whatever you are doing You are not in Heaven tho in a State of Grace you are not perfect tho upright therefore keep a jealous Eye while your green years continue 2. Keep humble and modest as to your Opinions for Truth admits the Disquisitions of Age and a long Study Young People think every Notion they have gotten is infallible and every plausible Reason is with them unanswerable But let me tell you you will change your judgments it may be before you dye And too much confidence in Youth leads a Man to Scepticism in Age Be not wise in your own conceits Prov. 3. 7. You are subject to error in deep things your knowledge can be but superficial if you live long you will blush at your present confidence And therefore don 't presently take up Notions determine not hastily difficult points make no noise about singular Opinions and do not rashly censure men that are wise and aged whose deep thoughts are preferrable to a voluble Tongue or luxuriant Fancy 3. Design and furnish your selves for great service for God in the World I would earnestly bespeak a mercy for the next Age resolve an eminency in Holiness I would have every young Convert here resolve to be one of the highest Saints Resolve to do much for God's Name and Gospel and if you have hopeful Abilities resolve to be great Blessings to your Countrey Side with the best Cause and best Men. You may live to have greater Opportunities to serve God than we have had you may do so and I hope you will do so The Lord furnish our Youth with Abilities transcendant to ours as their work is like to be above ours O my Friends I would have you therefore prepare your selves get your Heads well enlightened get your Hearts well enflam'd with Love to God and Men. Labour to be industrious in your Calling that you may have Estates to do good withal for Idleness and waste make Persons too poor to do great Service whence they live as Shrubs though planted young Study good Catechisms as a guard against Errors Lay up rules of Prudence for your Conversation but beware of crastiness and little base designs Observe your Constitution that sickliness may not prevent your Use. Get such an Elocution as may advantage what you speak c. 4. Admit the helps and put your selves under all the instituted Engagements of Christs Members Admit the helps Sirs we have good Books carefully peruse them Read the Scriptures Ay and labour to be well furnisht and skilld in them from your Youth 2 Tim. 3. 15. Set your selves to hear Sermons especially put your selves under the Labours and Conduct of the best Ministers Contrive every one of you to sit under that Ministry that truly understands and plainly and powerfully urges the great things of the Gospel viz. The Mysteries Promises and Laws of our Redeemer I tell you why I say this Young ones are apt to like the Preacher that has Fancy rather then Weight strong Affections rather than Judgment that has vain Gingles rather than solid Truth and that is earnest for small matters above essentials Oh take it from me to Day all Hearers savour of their Pastor Give me therefore a Pastor that 's likest to ripen for a Heavenly Life and not to amuse me with little fine-spun Notions where light carries not it's Evidence Preferr moderate Pastors above others Men who are more intent on the great things of the Gospel than lesser matters Men who allow for different Conceptions in others knowing themselves are imperfect Men who insist on no terms of or bars to Communion but what Christ hath made If God do not deliver the growing Age from a Contentious Dividing Uncharitable Temper I shall say the next fiery struggles will hazard the Life of Religion and sacrifice Love the very Heart of Religion to every trifle and disputable Notions which hath sorely wounded us Value Moderate Men wise Men are always such Your furious dividing Bigott is unacquainted with himself incapable of taking up the body of Divine Truths as they stand in their order and place Hence one thing fills his mind and that commonly the least and all his Zeal is laid out in that while he confounds Truth and Error Few Men have heads clear enough to distinguish Truth Truth and Error lye oft so near that the Man that has not the clearest judgment and the conduct of the Spirit will easily fail much more such whose parts are low and whose uncharitable Temper exclude the assistances of the Spirit Further I call you Young ones to attend to the Lords Supper You are dedicated to God by Baptism in the right of your Parents that was not thy act but theirs for thee that was not in thy own right but in thy Parents right The first solemnizing of thy own Profession is