of the Apostle generally Let all things be doâ—â— decently in loue without dissimulation being as the spring from whence our reuerence and honouring one of another should proceede and the end likewise to bee loue out of a pure heart and of good conscience and of faith vnfaâ—â—ed Thirdly and last of all let euerie young man according to the prescript rule of Gods worde take heede vnto his way of godlinesse and religion to redresse cleanse the same which indeed is the most profitable vocation of all others for as the Apostle saith Godlinesse is great gaine and for bodily exercise it profiteth little but godlinesse is profitable vnto all things which hath the promise of the life present and of that that is to come Salomon also Prou. 14. 27. saith that The feare of the Lord is a well-spring of life to auoid all the snares of death it is a most precious jewell the comfort glory and value whereof surpasseth all vnderstanding the straight way whereof albeit displeasant hard to the flesh for a time yet it is most delectable pleasant to the spirit and soule for euer It is a tree hauing albeit gall in the roote yet hony in the top whose fruit endureth for euer And in the feare of the Lord is an assured strength Therefore seing it is more amply spokeÌ„ of before I cease now with this exhortation only of th' Apostle to al yong men concerning the same Let euery one embrace the grace of God that bringeth saluation vnto all men which hath appeared and teacheth vs that wee should denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and that we should liue soberly and righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the mighty God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ who gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquitie and purge vs to be a peculiar people vnto himselfe zealous of good workes forgetting that which is behinde and endeuouring our selues to that which is before and following hard toward the marke for the price of the hie calling of God in Christ Iesus hauing our conuersation in heauen continually from whence wee looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ counting all thinges dung that wee may win him and may bee found in him endeuouring onely that wee may know him and the vertue of his resurrection and the fellowship of his afflictions and bee made conformable to his death that at last we may be fashioned likewise vnto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able euen to subdue all things vnto himselfe In the meane time whatsoeuer things are true whatsoeuer things are honest whatsoeuer things are iust whatsoeuer things are pure whatsoeuer things pertaine to loue whatsoeuer things are of good report if there bee any vertue or if there be any praise let vs thinke on these things to doe the same and the God of peace shall be with vs here by grace and wee with him for euer hereafter in glory We must redres our waies the Prophet saith here In taking heede thereto according to Gods word We must not then read heare or know onely the word of God but practise do the same in purging taking heed to our waies according thereunto It is that good seed that Christ speakes of which must not only be receiued with ioy but must be retained and laid vp in a good and honest heart to bring forth good fruite according to the measure of Gods grace We must doe as Israel did Exo. 19. 7 8. and 24. 3. when Moses proposed Gods Commandements vnto them they answered All that the Lord hath commanded wee will doe not heare or know them onely So Moses commandement and exhortation to the people Deut. 4. 6. Behold I haue taught you ordinances and lawes as the Lord my God hath commanded me that yee should doe euen so within the land whither yee goe to possesse it keepe them therefore and doâ— them for that is your wisedome c. The peoples desire to Moses againe was chap. 5. 27. Goe thou neare and â—eare all that the Lord our God saith and declare thou vnto vs all that the Lord our God saith vnto thee and wee will heare it and doe it The condition also that God maketh by Moses that hee will exalt blesse them is chap. 28. 1. If thou shalt obey diligently the voyce of the Lord thy God and obserue and doe all his Commandements which I command thee then the Lord thy God will set thee on high and all these blessings shall come vnto thee c. So 19. 9. Keepe therefore the wordes of this couenant and doe them that yee may prosper in all other thinges that yee shall doe So 30. 14. The word is very neare vnto thee euen in thy mouth and in thy heart for to doe it Iohn the Baptist Matth. 3. 8. said vnto the Pharisies that which all men shoulde doe Bring forth fruits therefore worthy of amendement of life And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees therefore euery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite is heweâ— downe and cast into the fire And Christ our Sauiour saith Matt. 7. 17. Euery tree is knowne by his fruites for euery good tree bringeth forth good fruit and a corrupt tree bringeth forth euill fruits A good tree cannot bring forth euill fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit For doe men gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles Therefore so let our light shine before men that they may see our good workes and glorifie God our heauenly father For as in Morall Philosophie it is said Omnis virtus in actione consistit all vertue consisteth in action so truely in diuine and true Philosophie it may be likewise said that all Religion and Christian vertues consisteth in practise and not in pratling of them onely The figge-tree that Christ accursed had a faire shew by his leaues a farre off that he was like to haue fruit also but because he had none therefore by Christs curse hee withered presently It is not a faire shew likewise or pretence and profession of religion that God doth accept but wee must with our outward shew haue the inward substance and life of Religion good workes proceeding of true faith and loue Wee must not onely professe in word but in deede and action also imitating not onely Christs sayings but his holy life and doings Luke 6. 46. hee saith But why call you mee Master Master and doe not these thinges which I speake A seruant not onely acknowledgeth his Maister in word but must also in deede hee must not onely heare and know his Masters will but except hee doe it also hee shall be beaten with many stripes Luk. 12. Mat. 7. 21. Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord saith our Sauiour shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen but hee that doth my Fathers
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
is how to redresse vice and ouercome sinne in his mortal members that Gods free Spirit may make his aboad and comfortable habitation in his soule The diligent care of the other is how to represse and oppresse vertue and godlines that it take no roote in his soule nor bring forth no acceptable pleasant fruit before God but that as a sinke of iniquitie it may abound and yeelde forth out of the aboundance thereof rotten and vnsauorie smells in thought word and action The one seeketh to purge himselfe from the least spot of sin that might make him displeasing in his fathers sight yea hee abhorreth from the very appearance of euill or the least meane that might draw or perswade him any way thereunto The other seeketh the foulest puddle or mire of sin wholy in body and soule not caring to tuÌ„ble pollute himselfe as a filthy swine thereinto and as a dogge deuouring sinne griedily which deuoureth his soule and returning euer to his vomit he embraceth all occasions of sinne hee headlong runneth vnto the brinke of destruction as it were with cart-ropes of iniquitie he is swiftly carried as the oxe to the slaughter or the foole to the blocke vnto the bottomles pit of perdition The one for the least sinne he committeth that stayneth his soule hee heapeth and powreth out tears vpon tears as a treasure to be laid vp in a bottel before God that thereafter hee may reape the fruite of his seed sowed in tears in the ioyful and plentifull haruest of the Lord when he shall find true rest and comfort to his soule The other in his greatest sinnes hee most reioyceth and with Lamech vaunteth of his vngodly furie and crueltie of impietie inferred to his owne soule hee heapeth sinne vpon sinne vntill the day of wrath as a treasure and with all griedines filleth the cup of iniquitie to the full til God in his iust iugment giue to him also the full cup of his fierce wrath and indignation and make him drinke out the very dregs thereof for as he soweth so he shall reape The one sort being the children of the light and the day they walke in the light and doe the workes thereof therfore they shall enioy the cleare and endlesse light of that heauenly new Ierusalem which is the bright countenance of the Lambe The other being the children of darkenesse and the night they delight to walke in the wayes of darknes and to doe the workes thereof therefore with the prince of darkenesse they shall bee at last cast into vtmost darkenesse where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Finally as euerie tree is knowne by his fruite so by their works you shal know and discerne betwixt godly and vngodly yong men as a good yong tree bringeth foorth best fruite in the spring while it is yong so a godly yong man bringeth forth best fruits of vertue and pietie in his tender yeeres and spring of his youth not delaying till the cold winter of old age come wherein eyther no fruit at all or if any nothing but sowre grapes are to be expected but as no man can gather figs of thornes nor seeke for honie out of the viper so from those that consume their best age and prime of youth in all lustfull licentiousnesse outlaw liuing in sinne and slauish libertie of iniquitie nothing can be expected but that the haruest shall be like the spring wherin they shal reape the fruit of their labours and their seed time of wickednes shall bee rewarded with the measure of bitter seuere punishment when the axe shall bee put to the root of the tree and euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall bee cut downe cast into vnquenchable fire The examples of both these sorts of yong men we haue in the Scripture set before the eyes of all youthes in this age to learne by and behold Of the one whom they should follow the examples of yong Abel vprightly sacrificing vnto God the first fruits and fat of the flocke as they should the first fruits and fat of their youth in vprightnesse and holinesse of life of yong Isaac exercising himselfe in prayer alone in the field of yong Iacob in suffering many wrongs obeying the good counsell of his parents fearing their displeasure dealing faithfully in an holy and humble mind with all men of yong Ioseph refusing the way of sinne and adulterous lust suffering patiently rewarding good for euill and being a comfort and reliefe to his old father and his whole family of Moses refusing to bee counted the sonne of Pharaohs daughter to bee esteemed the sonne of God and a faithful seruant in his whole house of yong Dauid in trusting euer stedfastly and beleeuing in Gods mercy towards him suffring much aduersitie and still sticking fast vnto the Lord who deliuered his enemies so oftentimes in his handes and his life out of theirs of yong Salomon in seeking the true wisedome of God before honour or riches of yong Samuel zealous and faithfull in Gods sanctuarie in his youth there seruing him of yong Daniel in walking with an holy and vpright heart before the almighty of yong Timothie brought vp froÌ„ an infantin the true knowledg feare of God a glorious starre painfull instrument in his Church of the children of the elect Ladie 2. epist. Ioh. 1. 4. whoÌ„ the beloued Apostle of Iesus Christ found walking in the trueth as God had commanded and therefore reioyced with such like examples which are set before the eyes of all youth according thereunto to reforme and coÌ„forme themselues in all things that they may obtaine that rich reward of eternall life whereof they are already in possession Of the other sort which wee should eschue and abhorre is malicious murdering and hypocriticall Cain who was accursed of God vaunting Lamech bragging of his strength furie to commit sinne in his youth Ham dishonouring contemning Noah his father Esau in being a griefe to his parents heart a profane A theist and persecutor of his godly brother Absolon a bloodie vnnaturall proud wicked sonne to his father Dauid whose end was a shamefull and sudden death Elies two sonnes who oppressed Gods people committed most vile filthinesse in Israel and were at last the death and heart-break of their old father and their owne destruction Ammon incestuous with his sister whose reward was cruel death and sudden destruction the young men of Sodome who in their filthinesse were consumed with fire brimstone Zimri and Cozbi in their burning lust thrust thorow by zealous Phineas with many other such examples of those who in the time of their youth fulfilled their owne lusts and wicked affections til they tasted of the full cup of Gods fierce wrath to their vtter destruction which was their sâ—al end lameÌ„table conditioÌ„ such therfore let vs abhor with their course of wicked life as we would eschue their feareful end most cursed death Râ—hoboam by his yong counsellers in obeying
and doe not then follow the chiefe Pastor Iesus Christ onely who hath gone before vs in a most perfect and holy example of life as for him hee riseth or falleth to his owne Master and is to be left to God whose seruant he is For that the hearing and knowledge onely of Gods voyce and word is improfitable to our saluation without the practising of the same in an holy life and conuersation by a true faith in Christ the Apostle Paul testifieth Rom. 2. 13. For the hearers of the law saith hee are not righteous before God but the doers of the law shall bee iustified And the Apostle Saint Iames 1. 22. giueth an expresse coÌ„mandement to all Christians saying Be ye doers of the word and not hearers onely deceiuing your owne selues so that we deceiue our selues greatly when we thinke that we haue done our dutie when we haue heard and knowne Gods word no the diuell and reprobates doe so also but to vs who looke to bee saued by Christs blood passion the word of God must bee powerfull to saluation God working with it in our hearts begetting and increasing a liuely and true faith in vs which must shew it selfe by the fruite of charitie and good workes when God speaketh vnto vs vttereth his voyce by our ordinary Pastors we must take heed if we haue that inward feeling which the Apostles confessed they had at the hearing of Christ Luke 24. 32. for the same spirit which wrought in them then worketh so now also in the hearts of the Elect And they sayd betweene themselues did not our hearts burne within vs while hee talked with vs by the way and when hee opened to vs the Scriptures Let vs consider if we haue this fire of the mouing and quickning spirit of God who worketh together with his word in our hearts let vs examine if by this powerfull operation of hearing Gods word faith and repentance bee begotten or encreased in our hearts Let vs try againe if this repentance bee true by abstaining by Gods grace euer thereafter from sinne that it raigne not in vs and if our faith bee liuely by not onely abstaining and abhorring so from euil but also doing good and godly workes according to our power the measure of our faith and Gods grace in vs following the example of the poore widow albeit we haue but little yet thereof to impart somewhat to Christs members laying it vp so in his treasurie then we are the truesheep for the Pastour maye preach and we duely heare his voyce but except he goe before in a holy life and we follow after in a sanctified conuersation talke that wee haue faith as wee will yea that thereby wee could remooue mountaines cast out Diuells and worke many miracles as many reprobates shall pleade at that day in Christs name wee are notwithstanding but as tinckling cimballs if wee haue not charitie and good workes and shal receiue that fearefull Away from mee I know you not Christ is offered to vs in his word we must not onely take him in our mouth by hearing but by a liuely and true faith wee must chew and eate him by vnfained loue charitie digest him and by our good workes holy conuersation shew that we are renewed ingrafted and growne in him so that hee may be not onely ours but vs and wee not only his but him he is that fruitfull vine if we be then in him we must bee fruitfull branches the fig-tree was commanded to be cut downe because it did beare no fruit the naturall Oliues were reiected because they lost their fatnesse if they had beene the sonnes of Abraham they had done the workes of Abraham if we be the sonnes of God by adoption and true members of Christ wee must learne of him for hee was humble and meeke wee must be holy as he is holy else wee haue no parte in him It is not enough to heare the Kings seruants message but without excuse wee must come to his supper and eate of the fat killed calfe in the white wedding garment of holinesse and a godly life Hee that saith that hee loueth God and yet hateth his neighbour he is a lyar and he that saith that hee loueth God and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar also the reason is giuen by the Apostle plainely 1. Iohn 5. 3. For this is the loue of God that we keepe his Commandements and his Commandâ—ments are not greeuous And also In this wee know that wee loue the children of God when wee loue God and keepe his Commandements The thing that Iesus Christ the first the last sheweth that hee tooke notice and knowledge of in the seuen Churches to whom he writes in the Reuelation and vnder their name to his whole Church militant to the end is I know thy workes Reuel 2. 2 9 13. 19. and 3. 1 8 15. Also when that glorious Iudge of all flesh shall come and all his holy Angells with him and shall sit vpon the throne of his glorie there to iudge and reward all the Nations of the earth that shall be gathered before him hee shall iudge euery one according to his workes for in that great and last day he shall say vnto the sheep at his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father inherit yâ—e the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world the reason For I was hungred and ye gaue me meate I thirsted and yee gaue me drinke I waâ— a stranger and you lodged me I was naked and you clothed me I was sicke and you visited me I was in prison and you came to me And the contrary shall hee say to the reprobate goates at his left hand who did not the same and must depart into euerlasting paine For albeit it be most true that faith onely iustifieth before God whosoeuer beleeueth that Christ is the Sonne of God shall bee saued because God he seeth the heart and searcheth the most inward deepest cogitations thereof and many hath beleeued with the theefe at the last houre and in Gods mercy haue beene saued so onely by faith Yet as the Apostle saith Iam. 2. 24. Wee see that of workes a man is iustified and not of faith onely because wee cannot enter into the heart to perceiue and behold the inward faith but by the fruits wee see it onely and that a man by such a fruitfull true liuely faith is iustified for good workes which alas in these daies are rare as faith loue their roote is colde and almost none left vpon the earth are the way wherein wee must walke to iustification albeit not the matter or cause thereof they are not the euidence of our faith as saith the Apostle Iames 2. 18. Shew me thy faith out of thy workes and I will shew thee my faith by my workes There is their nature vse they are the assurance to vs of our election and the makers sure of the same and
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
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.