Catechism of the Assembly of Divines where all the heads of Religion are proved out of the Scripture which is the fountain and foundation of all and I would have you first to learn the shorter Catechism exactly with the proofs then proceed to the larger Catechism and consession of faith and as you go along labour to understand the meaning of every thing you learn and not only to get a notional understanding but also a spiritual discerning and to mingle these great truths with faith to receive and believe what you finde proved by the Scripture to be the Word of God and therefore most firmly to assent to them For this end you must look up to the Lord and make your prayer to him that he would give you his Spirit to teach and lead you into all truth Besides learning Catechisms you must keep a constant course of reading some portion of Scripture every day and labour to carry about with you something of the Word in your minds which you may entertain your thoughts withall when you get them off from other business 2. Get the Word of God into your hearts endeavour that your hearts may be aâ—…ected with the Word let not only your minds receive light by it but also your hearts receive warmth by it Imitate David in his affections to the Word which you may read especially in the 119. Psalm in his prizing the Word v. 71. The Law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver In his love to the Word v. 97. O how love I thy Law it is my meditation all the day In his desires v. 82. My eyes fail for thy Word saying When wilt thou comfort me And v. 20. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath to thy judgements at all times In his hope v. 81. My soul fainteth for thy salvation but I hope in thy Word In his delight v. 162. I rejoyce at thy Word as one that findeth great spoil 2. Labour to keep the Word of God let the Word of God abide in you do as David Psal. 119. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee And take Solomons advice and encouragement Prov. 4. 20 21 22. My Son attend unto my words and encline thine ear unto my sayings Let them not depart from thine eyes keep them in the midst of thine heart for they are life to those that find them and health to all their flesh There are three things in the Word which you should especially keep 1. The Truths of the Word 2. The Commandments of the Word 3. The Promises of the Word 1. Keep the Truths of the Word buy the Truth whatever pains it cost you but never sell the Truth whatever you may get by it Seek for the Truth as for silver and dig for it as for hidden treasures And having found it keep it as a treasure do not part with it upon any terms If you make shipwrack of faith and a good conscience you will make shipwrack of your souls upon the rocks of perdition and destruction and be drowned in the Ocean of Gods wrath Therefore you must earnestly contend for the Faith that is the Doctrine of Faith the Truths of the Word once delivered unto the Saints Jude 4. You will have attempts made upon you by the Agents of Hell by the Instruments of the Devil to rob you of the Truth and to give you damnable errours instead of soul saving Truths But as you desire the salvation of your souls hold fast the Truths of the Word get on the girdle of Truth let the loyns of your mind be girt about with the Truth Ephes. 6. 14. Let not the Truth hang loose in your minds lest it be snatched away from you but get the Truth girt get it fastned and fixed get it rooted and riveted that you may not be wavering like a wave of the Sea tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine labour for a mind established in the Truths of the Word 2. Keep the Commandments of the Word labour that your hearts may be cast into the mould of this Word get the Law written upon the Tables of your heart as with a Pen of Iron and point of a Diamond and let your life be a fair Copy of the Law let the Precepts of the Word be exemplified in your conversations let all men know what God requireth by your obedience shine as lights in the places where you live that others seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 3. Keep the Promises of the Word look upon the Promises as your great Christian charter as your choice treasure as your store-house where are laid up the most rich provisions Acquaint your selves with the Promises of the Word and apply them lay up the Promises in your heart and make use of them daily plead them at the Throne of Grace fetch supplies from them feed upon them live upon them delight your selves in them go to them for strength when weak for recovery when sick for quickening when dull for softning when hard for enlargement when straitned for succour when tempted for cordials when fainting for comforts when troubled Thus for your second duty Young men labour that the Word of God may abide in you SECT V. 3. YOung men labour to overcome the wicked one By the wicked one we are to understand the Devil who is called the wicked one by way of eminency because the Devil was the first wicked one and is the most wicked one and is the cause of all or most of the wickedness in the world he drew our first Parents unto the first sin and he hath a hand in the greatest sins that are committed by their Posterity and therefore all the wicked are called the children of the Devil Joh. 8. 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do Then this wicked one is overcome when his temptations to sin are resisted and repelled Young men labour to overcome the wicked one The Devil is very busie about young men 1. To prejudice them against Gospel obedience 2. To draw them into the commission of sin I shall give you advice how you may overcome the wicked one's prejudices and how you may overcome the wicked one's temptations 1. The wicked one would prejudice you and so keep you from the obedience of the Gospel and here his prejudices which he would raise in the minds of young men are 1. Against Professours 2. Against the Profession of the Gospel 1. The wicked one doth endeavour to raise prejudices against the Professours of the Gospel in young and tender minds to keep them from Gospel-obedience by representing Professours unto them 1. As rude and illiterate 2. As foolish and unwise 3. As proud and singular 4. As factious and rebellious 5. As hypocritical and wicked 1. The wicked one doth represent the Professours of the Gospel to young ones as rude
WORDS OF ADVICE TO Young Men. DELIVERED IN TWO SERMONS At Two Conventions of YOUNG MEN The one Decemb. 25. 1666. The other Decemb. 25. 1667. By THOMAS VINCENT sometime Minister of Maudlins Milk-street London Prov. 8. 17. I love them that love me and those that seek me Early shall finde me Psal. 119. 9. Wherewith shall a Young Man cleanse his way By taking heed thereto according to thy Word LONDON Printed for Thomas Parkhurst 1668. TO THE Youth of the City of LONDON THE Lord having given me so great room in so many of your hearts I am the more encouraged to put these few words of Advice into your hands Upon your request they were preached in your Ears and it is for your benefit that they are now presented to your Eyes Vox audita perit litera scripta manet That which you only hear you may quickly forget and so the words with the sound perish in the Air when written especially printed words abide and may bring to your remembrance the things which you have heard long ago But if you would have these words in these sheets abide indeed with you better than if they were engraven upon a rock and written with a Pen of Iron and point of a Diamond you must get them transcribed and reprinted I mean upon your hearts Your hearts as yet in a great measure are a rasa tabula like a fair table or white sheet of Paper in which little is written Do not furrow the Table with Conscience-wounding sins do not blot and besmear the Paper with the defilements of Lust But get the Law of God engraven upon the Table of your hearts and the Counsels of the most High given you out of his Word written upon the white sheet within you It is true the youngest of you are defiled with Original sin and are grown more foul with Actual transgressions which none of you can in whole excuse your selves from however for the present you may be free from the more gross pollutions of the World and not arrived to that degree and height of wickedness which the audacious sinners of this vicious Age have attained unto But if you would get the Word written in your hearts it will both make you clean and keep you clean Psal. 119. 9. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word And v. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my hearâ—… that I may not sin against thee Dear Youths my love is great unto your Souls and my desires are earnest after your salvation it rejoyceth my heart to see so many of your faces in my Auditory here it will more rejoyce me if I may see all those faces in Heaven at last and truly I hope that many of you will be my Crown and Glory in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ therefore it is that I preach therefore I have written these Words of Advice unto you the chief heads of which are 1. That you would seek First the Kingdom of God where alone your chief happiness doth lye as the End 2. That you would seek the Righteousness of God which is in his Son that it might be imputed unto you for your Justification and that it might be imparted unto you for your Renovation and Sanctification as the necessary Means to attain this End without which there is no possibility of admittance for you into the Kingdom of God 3. That having obtained Grace in the truth of it you would labour to grow in Grace and to be strong therein that you might be enabled both to do and suffer whatever God calleth you unto 4. That you would get acquainted with the Word of God and endeavour that it may abide and dwell in you richly as the choicest of all Treasures 5. That you would labour to overcome the Wicked one and all his temptations whereby he would draw you unto sin especially those sins which in Youth you are most inclinable unto Beloved young men you live in the dregs of times in a wicked and debauched generation take heed of following a multitude to do evil save your selves from their sins as you desire God should save you from their punishments Come out from amongst them if you cannot in regard of your place be sure to do it in regard of your course and practice refrain too familiar converse with the wicked and profane let your Companions be such as fear the Lord walk in the way of Good Men take that course as the most do that seem to be most serious and to have their faces towards Heaven I have endeavoured to answer and remove the chief prejudices which are raised to discourage and divert from this way You may safely and confidently venture into it and walk in it and you will finde whatever the oppositions and discouragements be therein the end of it to be peace and happiness The Lord grant that this Book may be a Means to keep you from sin and help you forward in the way to Heaven which is the desire and prayer of Your faithfull Monitor and dear Lover of your Souls T. Vincent WORDS of ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN. MATTH 6. 33. But seek ye First the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you THESE words are part of our Saviours Sermon upon the Mount in which he spake with so much authority that the people were astonished at his doctrine for never man spake as he spake The subject of this Sermon is many excellent Promises Precepts Directions Cautions Exhortations backed with Motives and Arguments very needfull for the promotion of Holiness in Heart and Life 1. Our Saviour gives several promises of blessedness both here and hereafter to quicken his Disciples in their endeavours after some choice Graces and qualifications of minde and to incourage them against the outward persecution which for his sake they might meet withall in the world chap. 5. from vers 2. to 15. 2. He directs them how they should behave themselves as Ministers and his Disciples by the similitudes of Salt Light a City set upon a hill unto which they had or should have a conformity from vers 15. to v. 17. 3. He declares the immutability and purity of the Moral Law vindicating it from the corrupt and false glosses of the Pharisees and explaining it in its spiritual reach and meaning 4. He warns them against Hypocrisie in their Religious Services pressing them in their Alms Prayers Fasts to approve the â—…r hearts to God who seeth in secret that they might receive an open reward chap. 6. from v. 1. to v. 19. 5. He exhorts them to lay up for themselves Treasures in Heaven and not to be solicitous about the Provisions of this Life which Exhortation he backeth with six Arguments The first is drawn from the safety of Heavenly Treasures being removed beyond the reach of rust and moth and thies The second from the uncertainty of earthly Treasures which are in
danger of being corrupted and stoln v. 19. 20 The third from the inconsistency of the true love of God with the over-eager love of things here below Ye cannot love God and Mammon v. 24. The fourth from the assurance they might have that the Lord would without their carking care provide as much of these things as he saw needfull for them and that by their experience 1. Of Gods goodness to themselves in things of a far greater moment namely in giving them life which was more than meat and in giving them bodies which was more than raiment v. 15. 2. Of Gods goodness to creatures of far lâ—…ss dignity namely his feeding the Fowls and cloathing the Lillies v. 26. The fifth from their inability to procure these things by their anxious thoughts about them v. 27. The sixth because hereby they did sinfully conform unto the Gentilâ—…s and Heathens v. 32. And then at last our Saviour directs how to obtain these earthly things without such sollicitousness namely by the seeking first of heavenly things as in the Text But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you In which words there are two parts 1. An Exhortation But seek ye First the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness 2. An argument to enforce it and all these things shall be added unto you In the Exhortation there is 1. The Duty seek ye the Kingdom of God and his righteousness 2. The Season or Order in this word First Seek ye first c. In the Argument which is a Promise there is 1. The Things premised these things temporal things such as food raiment and whatever is needfull for the body whereof our Saviour had been speaking 2. The fullness of the Promise All these things nothing shall be wanting 3. The manner of conveyance they shall be added unto you they shall be cast in as appurtenances and over-plus SECT I. I Shall speak only to the former part of the words namely the Exhortation whence we may observe Doct. That it is the great duty of all the Children of men to seek first the Kingdom and Righteousness of God In handling of which point I shall shew 1. What we are to understand by the Kingdom and Righteousness of God 2. What it is to seek this Kingdom and Righteousness 3. What is implyed in this word First 4. That all the Children of men ought First to seek the Kingdom and Righteousness of God 5. Apply 1. What are we to understand by the Kingdom and Righteousness of God There is a three-fold Kingdom of God 1. The Kingdom of his Power 1 Chron. 29. 11. Thine is the Kingdom O Lord and thou art exalted as head above All. 2. The Kingdom of his Grace Luk. 17. 21. The Kingdom of God is within you 3. The Kingdom of his Glory Joh. 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God The Kingdom of Gods Power be sure is not here spoken of some understand hereby the Kingdom of his Grace But I rather think that in this place the Kingdom of God is to be taken for the Kingdom of his Glory where the chief and perfect happiness of men doth lye which our Saviour would have them to seek and not be sollicitous about earthly things which are so empty and transitory And I the rather conceive that it is to be taken for the Kingdom of Glory because the Kingdom of Grace which is the way to Glory is included in the next word namely the righteousness of God as Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace c. There is a twofold righteousness of God 1. That righteousness which is imputed to us whereby we are justified called the righteousness of God by Faith Phil. 3. 9. 2. That righteousness which is wrought in us begun in regeneration when we are renewed after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 24. and in the work of Sanctification is more and more increased and augmented whereby we grow in our spiritual stature untill we come to a perfect man to be perfectly righteous even as Christ Is righteous The Object then which we are to seek is the Kingdom of God the Crown of glory which God hath layd up for his people the Happiness of Heaven as the End and the righteousness of God reconciliation to him through the imputation of his Sons rightcousness and conformity to him through the working inherent righteousness in us by the operation of his Spirit as the way to this Kingdom and necessary means to attain this end 2. The second thing is to shew what it is to seek the Kingdom and Righteousness of God and here two things are implyed 1. A diligent Enquiry after these things 2. A diligent endeavour in the use of means to obtain them 1. A diligent enquiry after these things and that both after the things and after the means such as seek after this kingdom and righteousness they first inform themselves in the nature worth and need which they have of these things and then diligently inquire how they may get a part and iâ—…terest in them First they enquire who will shew us the chief good We see that the Creatures cannot yield us satisfaction we cannot finde any perfect and compleat happiness upon the Earth where shall we finde it And being informed by the Word and Ordinances that God is the chief good that his favour is better than life and that in his righteousness there is the beginning of true happiness and in his Kingdom there is perfection of happiness that in his presence there is fulness and eternity of joy and blessedness and that whilest they remain under the guilt and power of sin they are under the Curse and before they obtain his righteousness and a title to his Kingdom they are in a lost estate their condition for the present is miserable and they are exposed every moment to be thrown into the dark and deep dungeon of Hell where they shall be most horribly and eternally tormented they further being convinced of sin and awakened with the fear of punishment earnestly enquire how they may be delivered from the estate of sin and misery and be brought into a state of salvation as the Jaylour Act. 16. 30. Sirs what must I do to be saved And being told that Christ only can save them from sin and wrath to come they enquire how they may get an interest in Christ and share in his righteousness and being told of the Happiness in the Zion which is above they enquire how they may get a title to the Kingdom of Heaven and ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward as the Church Jer. 50. 5. Such as seek the Kingdom of God to purpose they set their faces towards the heavenly Jerusalem their hearts are set upon it they are resolved to get it whatever it cost them they ask
the sins of their Youth 2. That seek the Kingdom and righteousness of God least who seek these things after a sort but it 〈◊〉 by the by they do not make it their business â—…hat seek but it is in a slothfull careless manner â—…hat seek but do not strive to enter in at the streight â—…ate that do not seek heartily diligently chiefly â—…hat seek the things of the world in the first place â—…nd the things of Gods Kingdom afterwards and as â—…ose things will suit with their secular interests â—…nd earthly concernments as if Mammon were to 〈◊〉 preferred before God and Earth were of more â—…orth than Heaven and the Body more excellent than the Soul I might here both speak of the siâ—… of those persons and shew how they dishonour God of the folly of those persons and shew how they arâ—… injurious to themselves But it is the next word 〈◊〉 chiefly intend SECT III. Use 2. OF Advice and that to Young Men to puâ—… in practice the duty of the Text Seeâ—… first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness The chief composition of this Auditory at thiâ—… time being young men and the occasion of this Sermon being the desire of young men I shall therefore address my self wholly unto you that arâ—… young It is a goodly sight to behold so many oâ—… you come together to hear something for your soulâ—… good I had several Texts propounded to my thoughts to speak unto this I thought might be a suitable and seasonable as any Your forwardness to hear maketh me hope you will be forward to obey O that my Doctrine might now drop like the dew and that my words of advice out of the Word oâ—… God might be like the rain falling upon the tendeâ—… grass which causeth it to spring Let it not be likâ—… water falling upon so many rocks which maketâ—… no impression or like rain upon barren ground which bringeth forth briars and thorns instead oâ—… hearbs meet for the Masters use you know thaâ—… such ground is nigh unto cursing and burning Heb. 6. 8. Receive then Dear Youths the word of Advicâ—… which I now give you in the name of my Lord anâ—… Master from whose mouth the Word did first proceed Seek first the Kingdom and righteousnesse of God There is a generation of old ones who are going off the stage of the world and you are comeing on in their room ere long they will lie down in the dust and you not long since did spring out of it they are almost come to their Journeys end and you are setting forth on the way they are even arrived at the Port and you are now putting forth to Sea It is of the greatest concernment in the world to take and follow good advice at the first before you are engaged too farr Here therefore I shall put you in minde that there are two wayes or passages in which all the children of men are travelling the one is the way of sin the other is the path of righteousness The way of sin is broad an open beaten road you may easily know it by the multitude of Travellers it is the course of the world Your Parents when they bring you into the world set you down in this way and many yea most of them go before you in it It appeareth to you the smoothest and fairest way it may seem a delightfull way to you at the first strewed with roses such company such enticements you may have in this way as may render it most desireable if you take Sense and Flesh for your guides and counsellers But let me warn you before-hand that you walk not in this way you will quickly finde the pleasurâ—…s in this way to drop and fade the flowers will wither the Sun will be clouded the delights of sin will vanish and heavy griefs and bitter sorrows and vexation of spirit will succeed and blot out all the sweet relish you have had of unlawfull enjoyments You will finde your selves bereaved and disappointed in that satisfaction and happiness you looked and hoped for it a sinfull course It is a dangerous way there arâ—… unseen snares in it and you will receive secret buâ—… deep and mortal wounds which are beyond the arâ—… of man to cure It is the way which leadeth to destruction Matth. 7. 14. It is the high road to Hell thither it will bring you And if there be some sensual sweetness in the beginning of the way think what bitterness there will be at the end thereof Think how terrible Death will be unto you after a life of sin but think how dreadfull the punishment of Hell will be when you are let thorow the gate of death into that place of extream and dreadfull torment There is another way namely the path of Righteousness the way of Holiness which is narrow and hath a strait gate which you must go thorow if you would get into it namely the gate of Regeneration It is a way that is difficult to finde tedious and irksome at first it is a weeping and sorrowfull way at the entrance few there be that finde it most are discouraged by the narrowness and difficulty of it from putting their feet into it But it is the way of Life it is the way to the Kingdom it is the way of Peace it is the way of God it is the way to Heaven The difficulty is chiefly at the first the sorrows are mostly in the pangs of the New Birth in conflicting for passage thorow the strait gate weepinâ—… may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning Trouble may be your companion for a while but peace and sweetness succeed in its room If you walk steadily you will finde it to be a way of such pleasure and delight as you never did finde or can finde in the way of sin And if there should be clouds and rain and stormy windes of trouble and temptation in the Journey yet the latter end will be Peace be sure there will be rest and happiness in the Kingdom into which death will convey your Souls after they are seperated from your Bodies there you will finde fullness of joy and pleasure for evermore So that you have here Life and Death set before you Heaven and Hell eternal Happiness and eternal Misery the latter at the end of the way of sin and the former at the end of the way of Holiness And which will you choose if you will run with the wicked in the same excess of riot if you will follow the multitude to do evil if you will walk according to the course of the world fulfilling the desires of your flesh and make provision for the satisfaction of its lusts you will be found at last in the number of the children of wrath and the wrath of God will certainly come upon all such Children of disobedience If you will live after the flesh you shall die you shall not escape the stroke of eternal death you cannot avoid the
Written Word of God the Scriptures abide in you The Book of the Holy Scriptures is the most excellent Book that ever was written It is the Book of God If an Angel should write a book I believe you would get and study such a book were you capable of understanding it much more should you study the Scripture which is of Divine Inspiration This is Gods Book and his only written Book there are not many Books of God to burden your memory you may read it over many times in your Life it is translated into your Mother-tongue that you may read it and it is written for the most part in a plain easie style that you may understand it and it is full of most excellent matter The Matter of the Word is 1. Doctrinal 2. Historical 3. Prophetical 4. Preceptive 5. Promissory In all the Word of God is most excellent 1. The Doctrine of the Word of God is most excellent In the Word you have the highest Doctrines concerning God his one Nature in thrâ—…e Persons concerning Christ his two Natures in one Person concerning the Church the mystical union of Christ the head and all Believers his members concerning mans Redemption by Christs death concerning the way of mans salvation by the Covenant of Grace and the like Look into all the writings of Philosophers and the wisest Heathâ—…ns that ever wrote who have had the greatest learning and largest understanding of things and you shall finde no Doctrine they have taught to be in the least comparable with the Doctrine of the Scriptures What are all the Arts and Sciences in the World what are the most subtle speculations the most accurate and rational discourses concerning the secrets and mysteries of Nature in which the most knowing have been puzzled and fallen short of a full understanding in comparison with the Doctrine of the Word and the mysteries of the Kingdom of God which are revealed in the Scriptures 2. The History of the Word is most excellent In the Word you have the History of the Creation the history of the Old World the history of the Flood the history of the burning of Sodom and Gomorrha with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven the history of Gods calling Abraham and the Patriarchs the history of Gods bringing the Children of Israel out of Egypt with many signs and wonders through the Red Sea and Wilderness into the Land of Promise the history of the Jewish Paedagogy and Gods various dealings with his Church before Christ came but especially you have the history of Christ his birth his life his works his death his resurrection his ascension his session and intercession at the right hand of God the history of the first plantation of the Gentile Church by the Apostles their preaching and success and the like Look into all the Historians which have written and where shall you finde such an history as is in the Scriptures Surely there is no history like to the history of the Bible for antiquity for certainty no history in which you have such concernment as in this history you may read of the memorable acts of some great Princes and famous Captains which may yield some pleasure to your fancy but you are never the better or the worse for what hath been done by these men so many years ago but you are concerned in the history of the Church in the history of Christ the Saviour of the World your salvation and happiness doth depend upon his birth and death and resurrection and appearance in Heaven to intercede for you 3. The Prophesie of the Word is most excellent not to say any thing of Prophesies already fulfilled concerning the children of Israel in the Old Testament concerning the First appearance of Jesus Christ foretold long before In the Word you have Prophesie concerning the calling of the Jewes the destruction of Antichrist the bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles which yet we are in expectation of Especially you have prophecy of the end of the World of the conclusion of Time and of what God will do with the children of men when Time and all the by-us-visible-place shall be no more You have prophecy of the second most glorious appearance of Jesus Christ to Judgement of the Punishment which shall be inflicted upon all the ungodly in Hell of the Reward which shall be given unto the righteous in Heaven This is a great and most sure and most excellent Prophecy Some men have taken upon them to foretell future things and have been foully mistaken and what they have foretold have been but of small moment in comparison This Prophecy of the Word is most sure because the Prophecy of God who knoweth all future things insomuch as he is omniscient and all things depend upon his decree And these things he hath foretold are of the greatest weight of any other things which he hath made known before-hand to us that we might prepare for that which is asar off 4. The Precepts of the Word are most excellent It would be too large to discourse of the Precepts in the Moral Law and the sweet commands of the Gospel where you have such admirable rules for the government of the thoughts heart affections speech behaviour and whole conversation as are not to be found in the Books of the most exact Moralist that ever wrote 5. The Promises of the Word are most excellent Promises of all temporal things needfull Promises of spiritual favours promises of eternal happiness promises suitable to all our wants promises precious of things of the greatest value Promises free without condition of merit Promises sure of a God who is most powerful and most faithful The matter then of this Word of God is most excellent therefore young ones be perswaded to study this Word let this Word of God abide in you 1. Labour to get this Word of God 2. Labour to keep this Word of God 1. Labour to get this Word of God 1. To get it into your minds 2. To get it into your hearts 1. Get the Word of God into your minds so as to understand it so as to believe it And that you may do so I would advise you to take a right method herein that you would begin with the Principles of Religion One that would have a good understanding in the Tongues must first learn the Grammar One that would attain knowledge in the Art and Sciences must begin first with the Principles the Rudiments and Elements of them And so one that would attain a good understanding in the Word of God must begin with the Principles of Religion which are collected together in the most easie way to understand in Catechisms where you have the great fundamental truths of Religion which are necessary to be known believed and practised in order unto salvation set down by way of question and answer And because some Catechisms are very deficient in giving clear light and some are very full I shall above all commend to you the
upon this sacred time which God hath sanctified and you ought to keep holy 12. Young men take heed of a frothy spirit Some young ones are full of froth and vanity very toyish and foolish without any solidity or seriousness It is time for you now to put away childish things get the vanity of your minds emptied let the frothiness and levity of your spirits be curbed by the fear of God an awful apprehension of his omnipresence and all-seeing eye put your spirits under the Government of the Lord Jesus Christ. 13. Young men take heed of Scoffing If you have wit let it not vent it self in scurrility in jesting and jeering at others which the Apostle eauâ—…oneth against as inconvenient and unbecoming the Gospel Ephes. 5. 4. Do not mock at others infirmities but pity them let nothing be the object of your scorn except it be sin neither should you scoff at others for their sins but labour to reduce them by your friendly admonitions Above all take heed of fcoffing at any for their holiness and strict walking which is an undoubted character of a prophane and carnal heart and such persons as do so are scorned by God and most contemptible in his eyes 14. Young men take heed of Pride Do not over-value and esteem your selves do not conceit an excellency in your selves above others but with lowliness of mind esteem others above your selves If you have any gifts and attainments that may be useful glorifie God with them in your sphere be thankful for them and withall be so well acquainted with your imperfections and secret corruption of heart that you may be humble Be not proud of gifts of mind much less of strength and beauty of body and least of all of hair which is but an excrement or of clothes which are a badge of mans Apostacy Remember that pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall That God looketh upon the proud afar off when he hath a respect to the lowly Psal. 138. 6. That God resisteth the proud when he giveth grace to the humble 1 Pet. 5. 6. 15. Young men take heed of Gensoriousness of rash judging of others Take the caution of our Saviour against this sin Matth. 7. 1 2 3. Judge not that ye be not judged for with what judgement ye judge ye shall be judged and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you again And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brothers eye and considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye If you censure others you will be censured again be sure ye will be judged and condemned by God you are apt to spy little faults motes in others be acquainted with the beam in your own eye with your own greater faults and you will not then be so forward to judge Take one more Scripture which cautioneth you against this sin Jam. 4. 11 12. Speak not evil one of another he that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law He doth in effect say that the Law which condemneth this sin is not so fit a Law But if thou judge the Law thou art not a doer of the Law but a Judge There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Who art thou that judgest another 16. Young men take heed of Procrastinating your Repentance Do not put off this great work until to morrow remember what hazards you run how uncertain life is how unlikely that ever you should repent if you do not improve your youthful season for it Set about the work presently break off your sins by repentance presently and make your peace with God without further delay left you be cut off from the Land of the living before you are aware and hereafter there will be no room for repentance 17. Young men take heed of â—…nal security You have health and strength and peace and prosperity it may be 〈◊〉 and never tasted the bitter cup of Affliction and therefore may be apt to be secure and secretly hope that this state will last that your Mountain is so strong that you shall never be moved that you shall never come into Adversity Alas you are little acquainted with the World Man is born to trouble as the sparks flye upwards crosses and cares and losses and sickness and pain and many miseries are the attendants of this Life and you must look sooner or later in one measure or other to have your share be not secure but prepare lest being unprovided the miseries of this life be more irksome and unsupportable 18. Young men take heed of carnal Confidence You may be apt now to put your trust in Arms of flesh to repose much confidence in Friends or Means and some external props but you will finde them all like broken reeds or a foot out of joynt and where you have the greatest hope and trust you are like to meet with the greatest disappointment Cease then from Man whose breath is in his nostrils trust not in uncertain riches stay not upon any Creature but put your trust in the Lord who is omnipotent and faithfull in him you may be secure as to the greatest evil and you may have confidence of all needfull supplies 19. Young men take heed of Rashness Be not rash in your Promises lest you repent or be found unfaithfull Be not rash in your Undertakings in your engagement in any business especially take heed of rashness in changing your condition Remember that Proverb That Youth rideth post to be married and lodgeth in the Inne of Repentance In all the weighty affairs of your life Pray to God earnestly for his guidance consult with wise and faithfull friends and seriously deliberate things in your own mindes Observe the rule of the Word and let your design be the glory of God 20. And lastly young men take heed of Unsteadfastness Be not inconstant in your resolutions as to civil affairs and undertakings but especially take heed of inconstancy and unstedfastness in the wayes of God Take heed of a wavering unsettled minde of backslidings and revoltings from God let not your Zeal degenerate into Lukewarmness and your present Forwardness end in Apostacy But watch stand fast in the Faith quit your selves like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. 13. and with full purpose of heart stick close unto the Lord AuÌ„ 11. 23. Labour to keep your selves from these sins of Youth which the wicked one would draw you unto that so you may be victorious and if you overcome you shall eat of the tree of Life which is in the Paradise of God Rev. 2. 7. You shall not be hurt of the second death v. 11. You shall eat of the hidden Manna and have the white stone wherein the new Name is written which none-can read but they that receive it v. 17. You shall have the Morning Star v. 28. You shall be cloathed in White Raiment and Christ will confess your Name before his Father and before the Angels ohap 3. 5. You shall be Pillars in the Temple of God and go no more out and have the Name of God written upon you v. 12. You shall sit with Christ on his throne as he overcame and is set down with his Father on his throne v. 21. My most dearly beloved young men labour thus that you may be such young men as are commended in the Text to be strong that the Word of God may abide in you and to overcome the wicked one SECT VIII AND now I shall shut up my whole Discourse with a few words for encouragement of you in these Duties 1. This will be your Wisdome whoso is wise will observe these things Read one place concerning Davids wisdom upon this account Psal. 119. 98 99 100. Thou through thy commandements hast made me wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with me I have more understanding than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy precepts Remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom it is the chief part of Wisdom and they have the best understanding that keep his Commandements Psal. 111. 10. 2. This will be your Glory This will be an or-nament of Grace unto your head and like a Chain about your neck Prov. 1. 9. It will make you shine like Lights in a dark World and it will not only render you truly honourable but also tend exceed-ingly to your Masters glory 3. This will be your Advantage It will bring in the truest purest surest and most lasting gain 4. This will be your Safety This will shelter you under the wings of the Almighty secure you in times of great Judgements here and from storms of future wrath 5. This will be your Peace Great peace have they that love Gods Law and nothing shall disturb them This will yield peace and comfort to you in Life this will bear up your spirits in the hour of Death and at length procure for you a Crown of Glory which fadeth not away Be strong then O ye young Men because in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not Let the Word of God abide in you because of the Treasure laid up for you And overcome the Wicked one because of the Crown of Glory which shall be set upon the head of the Conquerers Vincenti Corona dabitur FINIS