made it easie the Current of sin running has made the Channel wider and the opposition less O therefore for the Lords sake begin this day to consider the Devil is grown more impetuous by thy Consent And I can tell thee to day and let the youngest of you observe it That if thou continuest wicked thou wilt be yet more and more so And thou wouldst now blush to think what Wickedness thou wilt hereafter come to As Hazael when it was foretold him by the Prophet what Cruelties he should commit cries out Is thy Servant a Dog 2 King 8. 13. c. Thus I have finished what I intended in the Explication I now come to the Use. First by way of Inference the Lord set it home Some own'd great good on this day twelve-month may more receive good to day The Inferences then are these Inf. 1. How dismal a sight doth this Truth afford us of this World Childhood and Youth is Vanity Ah Lord how true then is it that even the whole World lies in Wickedness 1 Joh. 5. 19. the greater part doth so for Young People are many more than old ones The chief part of Age is Vanity the best part of Time is Vanity Childhood is the time fittest to learn in Youth is the time fittest to act in and yet both these are Vanity Oh how little are heavenly Designs carried on by Young Ones Oh how little is God worshipp'd and serv'd by Young ones How few of them are engag'd in their own true Concerns Dreadful that in Youth we will do nothing and in Age we can do nothing Oh who loves God and is not grieved who loves Souls and is not melted All men come sick into the World and most men grow more diseased by their stay there All come miserable and most help on each others Ruine and encrease their own Oh how many go off the Stage and have reason to wish would to God I had perish'd before I saw the light So like Hell is this present State that i'ts a wonder we are able to take any Delight therein God is serious with pleople in their younger Years and they heed it not Ministers are earnest with young People and they regard it not Ah poor Wretches they think we have nothing to do with them Oh Young Ones help us to mourn to day for I am calling on Men to mourn for you who in your Youth yield your selves up to your Lusts and thereby are injurious to Christ and cruel to your own Souls and will you be unmoved Inf. 2. What Care is incumbent on Parents and Masters in the managing of Young Persons Youth is vain and that bespeaks a suitable carriage O Parents you don't beget Angels but sinful Children you breed up corrupt ones and not perfect ones Few are sanctified in the Womb and therefore you should deal with Children as with deprav'd and corrupt Persons as with them whose Childhood and Youth is Vanity The very Distemper directs Parents and Masters in their duty and carriage towards their Children I shall especially name Parents in my Directions 1. Children are Ignorant Oh therefore take you occasion to instruct them Alas canst thou let thy Children be unacquainted with God and insensible of their own Misery or the way of their escape What must thy Child be inspir'd or it must perish for want of knowledge If it must know pray who is fittest to teach it Upon whom does it lye in point of Duty as it does upon you And who has the Advantage of doing it as thou hast Who is so like to prevail with thy Child as thy self None faithfully dedicates his Child to God in Infancy that will not carefully instruct him when of age to learn 2. Youth have unruly Appetites and therefore don't indulge them Oh that every Parent here had but his Heart open to what I say and I speak it out of pity to the Souls of Young ones 'T is an ill practice in Parents to feed their Child by the cravings of i'ts Lust and not by their own Judgment I will tell you the Mischief of it besides the laying a foundation of distemper in Age it gives the Appetite an ungovernable force Children being alwayes indulg'd in what they crave they cannot deny themselves any thing they desire and by the same rule that they must now eat what and when and drink what and when they will while they are under thy care they will be drunk and Whore c. when they grow in years their Reason cannot bridle it then as thine which ought to guide them neglects to do it now Oh dreadful thing that any Childrens Appetites should come from under their Parents tuition unbridled I look on nothing a greater Reproach to Parents And what 's the ground of all Wickedness in the World more than an Inordinate Appetite yet how few Parents do help to cure it while cureable whereas an Appetite curbed in Childhood would endure a denial in Age. 3. Youth have violent Humours and Selfishness and therefore don 't foolishly gratifie them A Child left to himself brings his Mother to shame Pr. 29. 15. Oh what a Devilish Sight how pleasing to Satan to see Children cocquer'd and Youth indulg'd It 's peevish then all must be done to please it it 's obstinate and it must have it's will it 's revengeful and it must not be check'd this is the way of most Parents And 't is just with God that Child should break your Hearts whose Will you never broke How many poor Creatures will have cause in Hell to curse their Parents Dreadful that they prove the worst Enemies to their Children under a pretence of fondness 4. Youth have many Lusts and are prone to sin therefore be afraid for them and prevent all Occasions Iob knew this Iob 1. 5. He went and offer'd Sacrifice lest his Children should have sin'd and cursed God in their hearts Oh that Parents would consider what brittle Vessels Children be what dry'd tinder Youth is Occasions though small over-rule Young Persons What then Oh then be perswaded to choose the Company of your Children for them see that it be of their own Sex and Virtuous Put them to Trades and such Trades as have the least Snares set them in Families where most Good is to be got and least evil to be catch'd Find them business and fulness of Employ and cut out their time for them Parents learn this Wisdom that your Children have no time for Idleness Marry them as soon as convenient if so be you are not very certain of their Sobriety 5. The Vanity of Youth is deeply rooted therefore be importunate pleaders and sharp Correctors If advice prevail not 't is not an easie thing to cure a Child of it's Vanity or Youth of it's Folly Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a Child the Rod of Correction will drive it far from him Prov. 22. 15. And withhold not correction from thy Child and he shall not dye Prov. 23.
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
I fear thou dost not know what it is to be saved Salvation with thee is only being kept out of Hell as a place of Torment when thou hast sin'd thy fill but there is little more to commend Heaven to thee If there be not vain sports Revelling and the like carnal Enjoyments thou canst not tell how Heaven should be a happy State thô better than Hell But is not this the grossest Folly What to think that Salvation which contains no Vision of God no perfect Holiness of Heart no full Conformity to Christ no ravishing sense or Communications of the Divine Love no hand in God's Praises Foolish Youth there 's no Heaven but what principally includes these that is not Salvation which wants any of these Let me ask thee art not thou foolish if thou judgest Salvation to be what it is not art thou not foolish to think it to be another thing than God describeth it to be art thou not a Fool that fanciest that cannot be a happy State unless it wants what all good Men account to be Happiness and unless it includes such wicked and bruitish things as Heaven must keep and cleanse us from Oh poor Creature thus foolish do thy Notions of eternal Life discover thee to be Ans. 2. Thy Folly appeareth in that thou fanciest thou canst be saved in another way than that which leads to it To convince thee of this consider that 1. Christ is the principal Way to Life Ioh. 14. 8. He as a Priest by offering up himself merited Life for such as repent believe and obey him He as a Prophet teacheth Men the Author Means and Nature of the Terms of Life He as King applies his Purchase by the Spirit subdues Impediments fits the Soul for and judicially admits it into Glory Now Child dost thou hope to live for ever and neglect Christ is it not Folly to expect Life and despise a Saviour yea trample his Blood under thy Feet is it not Folly to hope to be saved by Christ and yet believe the Devil rather than him and prefer the Dominion of others before his Government 2. Faith Repentance and Holiness are a way to Heaven subordinate to Christ I say subordinate to Christ for they could not save thee but for a Christ Sinners had never obtained them but by a Christ and they tend to save as they refer to Christ whose atonement is the only purchasing Price But yet they are a way to Life No Man shall ever get to Heaven without them Christ hath resolved without Faith no Man shall have Pardon by his Merits and therefore all the savingly enlightned do believe that they may be justified Gal. 2. 16. He appoints us to repent that our sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come Act. 3. 19. and limits the number of the saved to such as obey him Heb. 5. 9. Now young Man is it not Folly in thee to expect Heaven when thou hast nothing which Christ hath instituted as a means of that Glory Doth he as our Law-giver declare that he will and must suspend thy Salvation 'till thou believe and wilt thou madly say he will save me though I do not believe dost thou know what he 'll do better than himself Yea your Folly is greater in that Christ hath not only suspended Life on these Conditions but he hath expresly declared that they shall for ever perish that do not in these things submit to him and yet thou art confident What greater Folly than for an unholy one to look for Glory when God saith Without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. and All the wicked shall be turned into Hell Psal. 9. 17. is it not Folly to remain impenitent and yet be in hopes of Heaven when Christ saith Except you repent you shall all likewise perish Luk 13. 3. Will not you own your Madness that look'd for Life in your Disobedience when you shall hear our Lord saying Slay these mine Enemies that would not that I should reign over them Luk. 19. 27. Is it not an establish'd Rule under the Gospel He that believeth not shall be damned Mar. 16. 16. Unbelief and Hell are certainly connected as Faith and Heaven 3. Thy Folly appears yet more in that thou fanciest thou canst be saved in a way contrary to Salvation and certainly leading to Hell Wouldst not thou judge him a Fool that intending for Dover yet chuseth the Road to York are not they Fools who desiring Health refuse Physick and take nothing but Poyson Thy behaviour exceeds the grossest of these Instances What barrs any one from Heaven but the dominion of sin and that Conscience justly chargeth thee with Doth not God declare that to be carnally minded is death Rom. 8. 6 thou art so minded and yet expectest life Is not God express that no Whoremonger nor unclean Person nor covetous hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of God Eph. 5. 5 And also that the abominable and all Liars shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone Rev. 21 Is he not as positive that no Fornicator Reviler Thief or Drunkard can be saved 1 Cor. 6. What can be plainer than that in being such as these thou destroyest thy self These Vices lead to destruction and God warns thee against foolish self-deceit by hoping for a better issue than Ruine by such a Course Oh sottish Youth will Theft Drunkenness Swearing Prophaneness think you lead to Heaven after all these discoveries of God's resolves what will damn thee if such Vices will not who can be damned if thou be saved will a provoked God lye for thy sake No no his Threats will take hold of thee notwithstanding thy silly dreams Children you see I have described the Folly of all Young Ones who are wicked I have chosen this great Instance viz. They mistake their true Happiness and the Way to it I might open this great sore beyond this Alas Young People are generally ignorant of God and themselves they know neither good nor evil aright they commend what they ought to dispraise they chuse what they should reject they make a mock of the greatest Mischiefs as Sin and Hell they rarely understand Men or know how to carry it aright for this World or for Eternity they mistake Truth for Error are governed by appearances rather than realities Where shall I stop if I intend a full attempt of the Folly of Youth Quest. What shall I that am Young do to heal me of my Folly Answ. 1. Beg Wisdom of God by fervent Prayer Iam. 1. 5. If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask it of God c. Thou wantest Wisdom thou art bid to ask it Thou art encouraged to ask for he giveth it to such as ask yea he gives liberally and he will not upbraid thee with thy past Folly when thou settest thy self to get Wisdom Nothing will heal thy Folly but wisdom and a prayerless creature is never like to obtain it