cordially tendred I hope none of you into whose hands it may fall will say as once Antipater King of Macedonia did when one presented him with a book treating of happinesse his answer was Ou Scholazo I have no leisure Ah! Young men and women young men and virgins as you tender the everlasting welfare of your souls as you would escape hell and come to heaven as you would have an interest in Christ a pardon in your bosomes as you would be blessed here glorious hereafter find time find leasure to read over and over the following treatise which is purposely calculated for your eternal good But before I go further I think it needful in some respects to give the world some further account of other reasons or motives that hath prevailed with mee once more to appear in print and they are these First Having preached a Sermon occasionally upon those words on which this following discourse is built I was earnestly importun'd to print the Sermon by some worthy friends I did as long as in modesty I could withst and their desires judging it not worthy of them but being at last overcome and setting about the work the breathings and comings in of God were such as hath occasioned that one Sermon to multiply into many Luther tells us that when hee first began to turn his back upon Popery hee intended no more but to withstand Popish pardons and selling indulgencies yet neither would God or his enemies let him alone till hee resolved with Moses not to leave a hoof of Popery unopposed c. God many times in the things of the Gospel carries forth his servants beyond their intentions beyond their resolutions But Secondly The kinde acceptance and good quarter that my other peeces have found in the world and those signal and multiplyed blessings that have followed them to the winning of many over to Christ and to the building up of others in Christ hath incouraged mee to present this Treatise to the World hoping that the Lord hath a blessing in store for this also Gracious experiences are beyond notions and impressions they are very quickening and encouraging Thirdly That I might in some measure make up others neglects whose age whose parts whose experiences whose graces hath long called upon them to do something considerable this way and that they may bee provoked by my weak assay to do better and to make up what is wanting through my invincible infirmities and spiritual wants and weaknesses which are so many as may well make a sufficient Apology for all the defects and weaknesses that in this Treatise shall appear to a serious judicious eye But Fourthly The love of Christ and souls hath constrained mee to it 2 Cor. 5.14 2 Cor. 12.15 Solus amor nesci◠difficultates Love knows no difficulties as there is an attractive so there is a compulsive vertue in divine love Love to Christ and souls will make a man willing to spend and bee spent hee that praies himself to death that preaches himself to death that studies himself to death that sweats himself to death for the honour of Christ and good of souls shall bee no looser in the end divine love is like a rod of Myrtle which as Pliny reports makes the traveller that carries it in his hand that hee shall never bee faint or weary Divine love is very operative si non operatur non est if it do not work it is an argument it is not at all divine love like fire is not idle but active hee that loves cannot bee barren love will make the soul constant and abundant in well doing God admits none to heaven saith Justin Martyr but such as can perswade him by their works that they love him The very heathen hath observed Seneca that God doth not love his children with a weak womanish affection but with a strong masculine love and certainly they that love the Lord strongly that love him with a Masculine love they cannot but lay out their little all for him and his glory But Fifthly I observe that Satan and his instruments are exceeding busy and unwearied in their designs attempts and indeavours in these dayes to corrupt and poyson It is said of Marcellus the Roman General that he could not bee quiet Nec victor nec victus neither Conquered nor Conquerer such a one is Satan to defile and destroy the young the tender the most hopeful and most flourishing plants among us Latimer told the Clergy in his time that if they would not learn diligence and vigilance of the Prophets and Apostles they should learn it of the Devil who goes up and down his Dioceses and acts by an untired Power seeking whom hee may destroy when the wolves are abroad the Shepheard should not sleep but watch yea double his watch remembring that hee were better have all the bloud of all the men in the world upon him than the bloud of one soul upon him by his negligence or otherwise Satan is a Lyon not a Lamb a roaring Lyon not a sleepy Lyon not a Lyon standing still but a Lyon going up and down as not being contented with the Prey the many millions of souls hee hath got he seeks whom he may sip up at a draught as that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the 1 Pet. 5.8 imports his greatest design is to fill hell with souls which should awaken every one to bee active and to do all that may bee done to prevent his design and to help forward the salvation of souls Chrysostome compares good pastors Chrys in Mat. Ho. 15. to fountains that ever send forth waters or Conduits that are alwayes running though no pail bee put under But Sixthly and Lastly 1 Cor. 15. ult I know the whole life of man is but an hour to work in and the more work any man doth for Christ on earth the better pay he shall have when hee comes to Heaven 2 Cor. 9.6 Every man shall at last reap as he sows Opportunities of doing service for Christ and souls are more worth than a world therefore I was willing to takehold on this not knowing how soon I may put off this earthly Tabernacle 2 Pet. 1.13 14 and remembring that as there is no beleeving nor repenting in the grave Eccl. 9.10 So there is no praying preaching writing nor Printing in the grave we had need to be up and doing to put both hands to it and to do all wee do with all our might John 9.4 knowing that the night draws on upon us wherein no man can work A Christians dying day is the Lords pay day that is a time to receive wages not to do work And thus I have given the World a true account of the Reasons that moved me to print the following discourse before I close up I desire to speak a word to young persons and another to aged persons and then I shall take leave of both My request to you who are in
Reproof from 79. to 84 The several evils that most properly attends youth as 1 Pride from 84. to 87 2 Sensual pleasures and delights from 87. to 93 3 Rashnesse from 93. to 96 4 Mocking and Scoffing at Religious men and religious things from p. 96. to 98 5 Wantonnesse from p. 98. to 101 Use of Exhortation to exhort young persons to be good betimes and motives moving thereunto as 1 It is a high honour to be good betimes from p. 102. to 106 2 Christ gave himself for sinners when he was in the primerose of his age from p. 106. to 111 3 It is the best way in the world to bee rich in spiritual experiences from p. 111. to 116. 4 The present time is the only time that you are sure of from p. 116. to 122 5 It is just with God to reserve the dregs of his wrath for them who reserve the dregs of their dayes for him from p. 122. to 125 6 The sooner you are good on earth the greater will be your reward in heaven from p. 125. to 134 7 The Lord is very much affected and taken with your seeking of him and following after him in the spring and morning of your youth from p. 134. to 136 8 It will prevent many sad and black temptations from p. 136. to 140 9 Consider the worth and excellency of souls from p. 140. to 144 10 God will at last bring young men to a reckoning from p. 144. to 155 Quest Whether in the great day of account the sins of the Saints shall bee brought into the judgement of Discussion and discovery or no the negative proved by divers arguments from p. 155 to 171 Directions to such as would bee good betimes as would know and love seek and serve the Lord in the primrose of their dayes as 1 Take heed of putting the day of death a far off from p. 171. to 177 2 If you would bee good betimes take heed of leaning to your own understanding from p. 177. to 182 3 If you would be good betimes take heed of flatterers and flattery from p. 182. to 191 4 If you would seek the Lord in the spring and morning of your dayes then take heed of engaged affections to the things of the World from p. 191. to 197 5 If you would be good betimes then you must take heed betimes of carnal reason c. from p. 197. to 201. 6 Take heed of comparing your selves with those that are worse than your selves from p. 201. to 207 Secondly As those six things must be declined so several other things must be practised if you would be good betimes as 1 If you would be good betimes then you must labour to be acquainted with four things betimes as 1 You must labor to acquaint your selves with the scripture betimes p. 207. to 219 2 You must acquaint your selves with your selves betimes from p. 219. to 226 3 If you would be good betimes then you must acquaint your selves with Jesus Christ betimes from p. 226. to 228 Now there are six things which you should be thorowly acquainted with concerning Jesus Christ As 1 If you would be good betimes then you must know that there is every thing in Christ that may incourage you to seek him and serve him p. 228. to 230 2 If you would be good betimes then you must know betimes that Jesus Christ is mighty to save p. 230 to 234 3 Then you must know betimes that there is a marvellous readinesse and willingness in Christ to imbrace and entertain returning sinners c. p. 234. to 236 4 If you would be good betimes then you must know betimes that Jesus Christ is designed sealed and appointed by the father to the office of a Mediatour from p. 236. to 240 5 If you would be good betimes then you must know betimes that there is no way to salvation but by Jesus Christ p. 240. to 246 6 If you would be good betimes then you must know betimes that the heart of Jesus Christ is as much set upon sinners now hee is in heaven as ever it was when he was on earth p. 246. to 249 4 If you would bee good betimes then you must acquaint your selves with those that are good betimes 249. to 254 2 If you would be good betimes then you must shun the occasions of sin betimes from p. 254. to 262 3 If you would be good betimes then you must remember the eye of God betimes from p. 262. to 265 4 If you would be good betimes then you must hearken to the voice of conscience betimes from p. 265. to 269 5 If you would be good betimes then you must know wherein true happiness lyes betimes from p. 269. to 272 6 Lastly If you would be good betimes then you must break your covenant with sin betimes Now to work you to that you must alwaies look upon sin under these six notions 1 You must look upon sin under the notion of an enemy from p. 272. to 277 2 Vnder the notion of bonds c. from p. 277. to 279 3 Vnder the notion of fire six resemblarces between sin and fire from p. 279. to 289 4 Under the notion of a Theif c. from p. 289. to 292 5 Vnder the notion of a burden c. from p. 292. to 296 6 Vnder the notion of a Tyrant c. from p. 296. to 299 1 Object It may be time enough hereafter to seek and serve the Lord c. This Objection answered four waies from p. 299. to 304 2 Object If I should seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of my daies I should loose the love and favor of such and such friends and Relations Four Answers to this Objection c. from p. 304. to 311 3 Obj. I shall meet with many reproaches Eight answers to this Objection from p. 311. to 326 4 Object Most men give liberty to themselves and walk in waies more pleasing to the flesh This Objection answered five waies from p. 326. to 339 5 Ob. The last I shall mention is that God is a God of mercy in him are bowels of mercy yea a sea an Ocean of mercy he delights in mercy c. Five answers to this Objection from p. 339. to 349 Lastly The Old mans doubts resolved in eight several answers from p. 349 to the end FINIS ERRATA PAge 12. line 22. Alarm for Atome p. 54. l. 5 it for that p. 55. l. 20. were for was p. 70. l. 21. add to p. 86. l. 7. Sybian for Lybian Reader What other defects thou meetest with thou art desired in love to pass over by reason of the Authors absence from the Press THE Young-Mans Duty AND EXCELLENCY 1 KING 14. ch 13. v. And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him for hee only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam The Young mans
the Cross for souls he trode the Wine-Press of his fathers wrath for souls he dyed for souls hee rose again from death for souls Ioh. 14.1 2 3 he ascended for souls he intercedes for souls and all the glorious preparations that he hath been a making in heaven this sixteen hundred years is for souls Ah! young men young men do not play the Courtier with your precious souls the Courtier doth all things late hee rises late dines late sups late goes to bed late repents late Ah Sirs the good of your souls is before all and above all other things in the World to be first regarded and provided for ' and that partly because O anima Dei in signita imagine desponsata fide donata spiritu Bern. it is the best and more noble part of man and partly because therein mostly and properly is the Image of God stampt and partly because it is the first converted and partly because it shall be the first and most glorified Ah! Young men Young men if they bee worse than Infidels 1 Tim. 5.8 that make not provision for their families what monsters are they that make not provision for their own souls this will bee bitterness in the end Caesar Borgias being sick to death lamentingly said when I lived I provided for every thing but death now I must dye and am unprovided to dye this was a dart at his heart and it will at last be a dagger at yours who feast your bodies but starve your souls who make liberal provision for your ignoble part but no provision for your more noble part If they deserve a hanging who feast their slaves and starve their Wives that make provision for their enemies but none for their friends James 4.2 3 Hos 7.13 14 how will you escape hanging in hell who make provision for every thing yea for your very lusts but make no provision for your immortal souls Wee hate the Turks for selling Christians for Slaves and what shall we think then of those who sell themselves their precious souls for toyes and trifles that cannot profit who practically say Callenuceus relates this story what once a prophane Noble man of Naples verbally said viz. that hee had two souls in his body one for God and another for whosoever would buy it Ah young men young meâ— do not pawn your souls do not sell your souls do not exchange away your souls do not trifle and fool away your precious souls they are Jewels more worth than a thousand worlds yea than Heaven and earth if they are safe all is safe but if they are lost all is lost God lost and Christ lost and the society of glorious Angels and blessed Saints lost and Heaven lost and that for ever Grandensis tells of a woman that was so affected with souls miscarryings that shee besought God to stop up the passage into Hell with her soul and body that none might have entrance Ah! that all young persons were so affected with the worth and excellency of their souls and so allarmed with the hazzard and danger of loosing their souls as that they may in the spring and morning of their dayes enquire after the Lord and seek him and serve him with all their might that so their precious and immortal souls may bee safe and happy for ever but if all this will not do then in the last place Tenthly Consider young men that God will at last bring you to a reckoning hee will at last bring you to judgement Rejoyce O young man in thy youth Eccles 11.9 and let thy heart chear thee in the dayes of thy youth and walk in the wayes of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee unto judgement In these words you have two things 1 An ironical concession hee bids him rejoyce c. hee yeelds him what hee would have by an irony by way of mockage and bitter scoff Now thou art young and strong lively and lusty and thy bones are full of marrow thou art resolved to bee proud and scornful to indulge the flesh and to follow thy delights and pleasure well take thy course if thou darest or if thou hast a minde to it Hierom still thought that that noise was in his ears surgite mortâ—i venite ad judicium arise you dead and come to judgement if thy heart bee so set upon it Rejoyce in thy youth c. The second is a commination or a sad and severe praemonition But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement will bring thee these words import two things first the unwillingnesse of youth to come to judgement secondly the unavoidableness that youth must come to judgement but how soon you shall bee brought to judgement is only known to God Augustine confesses in one of his books that as long as his conscience was gnawed with the guilt of some youthful lust hee was once insnared with the very hearing of a day of judgement was even a Hell to him Histories tell us of a young man who being for some capital offence condemned to dye grew gray in one nights space and was therefore pittied and spared Ah young men young men that the serious thoughts of this great day might put you upon breaking off the sins of your youth and the dedicating of your selves to the knowledge love and service of the Lord in the spring and flower of your dayes An young men consider the errours of your lives the wickednesse of your hearts the sinfulnesse of your wayes and that strickt account that ere long you must bee brought to before the Judge of all the World The Heathens themselves had some kinde of dread and expectation of such a day and therefore when Paul spake of judgement to come Felix trembled though a Heathen The bringing into judgement is a thing which is known by reason Act. 24.25 The Philosophers had some dreames of a severe day of accounts as appeareth by Plato's Gorgi as many passages in Tully c. and is clear by the light of nature wherefore in Austria one of the Nobles dying who had lived fourscore and thirteen years and had spent all his life in pleasures and delights never being troubled with any infirmity and this being told to Frederick the Emperour from hence saith hee wee may conclude the souls immortality for if there bee a God that ruleth this world as Divines and Philosophers do teach and that hee is just no one denyeth surely there are other places to which souls aster death do go Eneas Sylvius and do receive for their deeds either reward or punishment for here wee see that neither rewards are given to the good nor punishments to the evil Ah young men 2 Cor. 5.9 10 11. knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord and the terrour of this day Oh that you would bee perswaded to flee from the wrath to
his word as you may see by comparing these scriptures together Deut. 29.18 19 20. Psal 78.36 Psal 36.1.2 Job 17.5 Ezek. 12.24 Dan. 11.21 32 34. Ps 12.2 3. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak Karath signifies any cutting off either by death or banishment c. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaketh proud things And as God declares sadly against them in his word so hee hath declared terribly against them in his works as you may runne and read in his judgements executed upon Ahabs flattering Prophets and upon Haman and upon Daniels Princely false accusers c. And why then will not you stop your ears against those wretches that the hand and heart of God is so much against Again A preacher in Constantines time presumed to call the Emperour Saint to his face but he went away with a check Euseb de vit Const l. 4.4 As God declares against them so good men detest them and declare against them as you may see by comparing these Scriptures together Psal 5.8 9 10. Prov. 2.16 Prov. 7.21 Prov. 28.23 Job 32.21 22. 1 Thess 2.5.20 Prov. 20.19 Meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips Why so why because a man that flattereth his Neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet Prov. 29.5 The Hebrew word Mahhalik from hhalak that is here rendred flatterer signifies a smooth boots a soft butter-spoken man because flatterers useth smooth soft speeches Also the word signifies to divide because a Flatterers tongue is divided from his heart Flatterers have their nets and those that give ear to them will bee taken to their ruine A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it The Hebrew word and a flattering mouth worketh ruine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prov. 26. ult A flattering mouth ruines name Dahbah signifies such aviolent forceing of one as he cannot stand it signifies to throw down to drive on forwards till a man fall into destruction same estate body soul life Valerian the Roman Emperour used to say Non acerba sed blanda not bitter but flattering words do all the mischeif When Alexander the Great was hit with an Arrow in the siege of an Indian City which would not heal hee said to his Parasites you say that I am Jupiters son but this wound cryes that I am but a man Now shall good men detest them and abhor them as they are the pest of pests the plague of plagues and will you own them will you take pleasure in them to your ruine here and hereafter the Lord forbid Oh say to all flatterers as hee to his Idols Hos 14.8 Get you hence for what have I more to do with you Nay once more consider that not onely the good but the bad not onely the best but some of the worst of men have manifested their detestation of Flatterers and flattery Leo the Emperour used to say occulti inimici pessimi a close enemy is farre worse than an open When a Court Parasite praised Sigismund the Emperour above measure the Emperour gave him a sound box on the ear When Aristobulus the Historian presented to Alexander the Great book that hee had written of his glorious acts wherein hee had flatteringly made him greater than he was Alexander after he had read the book threw it into the River Hydaspes and said to the Author it were a good deed to throw thee after it When the Flatterers flattered Antigonus hee cryed out mentiris mentiris in gutture Hae virtutes non laetent in me thou liest thou liest in thy throat these vertues that thou speakest of I have not in me but I am like a Leopard that have ten black spots to one white Augustus Caesar and Tiberius Caesar were deadly enemies to flatterers insomuch that they would not bee called Lords by their own children A good Symbole is attributed to Trebonianus Gallus viz. Nemo amicus idem et adulator no Flatterer can be a true friend Aristippus the Philosopher seeing Diogenes washing of herbs for his dinner said if Diogenes knew how to make use of Kings hee need not live upon raw herbs as he doth to which Diogenes replyed that if Aristippus could content himself with herbs hee need not to turn Spaniel or to flatter King Di nysius for a meals meat Ah! Young men Young men shall God shall good men shall bad men detest and declare against Flatterers and flattery and will not you turn a deaf ear upon them yea fly from them as from a Serpent and shun them as you would shun hell it self if you do not the very Heathens but now cited will rise in judgement against you Flatterers are the very worst of sinners The Flatterers told Caesar that his freckles in his face were like the starres in the Firmament they bought and sold Aurelius the Emperour at pleasure And Augustus complained when Varrus was dead that hee had none now left that would deal plainly and faithfully with him So men may gain by Flattery they will bee like Harpaelus who said Quod Regi placet mihi placet that which pleaseth the King pleaseth mee When Astyages set his own Sonne before him to feed upon him O but let every young man say into whose hands this treatise shall fall Quod Deo placet mihi placet that which pleaseth God pleaseth mee I have been the longer upon this out of love to young mens souls Whilest an Asse is stroaked under the belly you may lay on his back what burden you please who are so apt to bee insnared in the Flatterers net if ever you would bee good in good earnest you must abhor Flatterers as the first born of the Devil and as such that are most pernitious to mens happinesse both here and hereafter It is reported of one Oramazes that hee had an enchanted Egg in which as hee boasted himself hee had inclosed all the happiness of the World but being broken nothing was found in it but Wind. Flatterers are the greatest cheaters the greatest deceivers in the world They say of the Crocodile that when hee hath killed a man he will weep over him as if hee were sorry and did repent for what he had done the Application is easy Fourthly If you would bee good betimes if you would seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of your dayes then take heed of engageed affections to the things of the World The Young man in the Gospel took many a step towards heaven Mat. 19 16-24 All these things have I kept from my Youth up what lack I yet Christ makes a very fair offer to him in the next words Jesus said unto him if thou wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow mee thou shalt have heaven for earth a Sea for a drop a
the primerose of your dayes is this if ever the Lord shall be pleased so to own and Crown so to bless and follow this following discourse as to make it an effectuall means of turning you to the Lord of winning you to Christ of changing your natures and converting your souls for such a thing as that I pray hope and beleeve that then you would do two things for me First That you would never cease bearing of me upon your hearts when you are in the mount that I may bee very much under the pourings out of the Spirit that I may be clear high and full in my communion with God and that I may bee alwayes close holy humble harmless and blamelesse in my walkings with God And that his work may more and more prosper in my hand Secondly Psal 66.16 1 Pet. 3.15 That you would by word of mouth letter or some other way acquaint mee with what the Lord hath done for your souls if he shall make mee a spiritual father to you do not hide his grace from mee but acquaint mee how hee hath made the seed that was sown in weakness to rise in power upon you and that First That I may do what I can to help on that work begun upon you that your penny may become a pound your mite a million your drop an ocean Secondly That I may the better English some impressions that have been upon my own spirit since I begun this work Thirdly 1 Thes 2 19 20 2 Cor. 9.2 That my joy and thankfulness may bee increased and my soul more abundantly engaged to that God who hath blest the day of small things to you ponder these scriptures 2 Cor. 7.3 4 13. Phil. 2.2 ch 4.1 Philemon ver 7. 2 John 3.4 And then be ashamed to declare what the Lord hath done for you if you can Fourthly Mat. 25.23 Dan. 12.3 Prov. 11.30 it is better to convert one than to civilize a thousand and will turn more at last to a Ministers account in that day wherein he shall say Loe here am I and the children that thou hast given mee Isa 8.18 such a man with his spiritual children about him shall look on God with more comfort and boldness than those that are onely able to say Loe here am I and the many Benefices here am I and the many Ecclesiastical dignities and glories here am I and the many hundreds a year that man had given and I have gotten But Fifthly Act. 9.3 Isa 6.5 Mal. 2.5 6 7. c. and Lastly The conversion of others is a secondary and more remote evidence of a mans own renovation and conversion Paul was converted himself before God made him instrumental for others Conversion Gods usuall method is to convert by them who are converted I do not remember any one instance in all the scripture of Gods converting any by such who have not been converted first themselves yet I know his grace is free and the wind blows where it lists when it lists and as it lists To aged persons I have a word and then I have done First To Gray-headed Saints Ah Friends ah Fathers would you see your honour your happiness your blessedness then look into this Treatise and there you will finde what an unspeakable honour it is to bee an Old disciple what a glory it is to be good betimes and to continue so to Old age Secondly To white-headed Sinners whose spring is past whose summer is overpast and who are arrived at the fall of the leaf and yet have a hell to escape a Christ to beleeve in sins to pardon hearts to change souls to save and heaven to make sure would such be incouraged from scripture grounds to repent beleeve and hope that yet there is mercy for such let them seriously peruse this Treatise especially the latter part of it and there they may finde enough to keep them from despairing and to incourage them to adventure their souls upon him that is mighty to save There are many things in this Treatise that are of use to all and several things of moment that are not every day Preach't nor read I have made it as pleasureable as time would permit that so it might be the more profitable to the reader and that I might the better take the young man by a holy craft 2 Cor. 12. ch 15.2 Prov. 11.30 which is a high point of heavenly wisdome there being no wisdome to that of winning of souls I shall now follow this poor peice with my weak prayers that it may be soblest from heaven as that it may bring in some and build up others and do good to all and so rest Your friend and Servant in the Gospel of Christ THOMAS BROOKS The Contents THe explication of the words from page 1. to page 10. Doct. That it is a very desirable and commendable thing for young men to be really good betimes this truth proved p. 10 11 12 Twelve Reasons of this point 1 Because he commands it whose Commands are not to be disputed but obeyed from p. 12. to 16 2 Because they have means and opportunities of being good betimes from p. 16. to 20 3 Because then they will have fewer sins to answer for and repent of p. 20 21. 4 Because time is a precious talent that Young men must be accountable for from p. 21. to 26 5 Because then they will have the greater comfort and joy when they come to bee old from p. 26. to 28 6 Because an eternity of felicity and glory hangs upon those few moments that are allotted to them from p. 28. to 33. 7 Because they do not begin to live till they begin to be really good from p. 33. to 36 8 Because the promise of finding God of enjoying God is made over to an early seeking of God c. from p. 36. to 44 9 Because the time of Youth is the choicest and fittest time for service from p. 44. to 47 10 Because death may suddenly and unexpectedly seize on youth youth being as fickle as old age from p. 47. to 52 11 Because it is ten to one nay a hundred to ten if ever they are converted if they are not converted when they are young from p. 52. to 55 12 Because else they will never attain to the honour of being an Old Disciple p. 55.56 The honour of an Old Disciple shew'd in seven particulars 1 All men will honour an Old Disciple from p. 56. to 58 2 God usually reveals himself most to old Disciples to old Saints p. 58. to 62 3 An old Christian an old Disciple hath got the art of serving God p. 62. to 63 4 An old Disciple an old Christian is rich in spirituall experiences from 63 to 67 5 An old Disciple is firm and fixt in his resolutions from 67 to 70 6 An old Disciple is prepared for death from 70. to 73 7 An old Disciple shall have a great reward in heaven from 73. to 79 Use of
c. Secondly Young men must bee really good betimes because they have means and opportunities of being good betimes Never had men better means and greater opportunities of being good of doing good and of receiving good than now Ah Lord how knowing how beleeving how holy how heavenly how humble might young men bee were they not wanting to their own souls Young men might bee good very good yea eminently good would they but improve the means of grace the tenders of mercy and the knocking 's of Christ by his Word Works and Spirit The Ancients painted Opportunity with a hairy forehead Erasmus but bald behinde to signifie that while a man hath opportunity before him hee may lay hold on it but if hee suffer it to slip away hee cannot pull it back again How many young men are now in everlasting chains who would give ten thousand worlds had they so many in their hands to give to injoy but an opportunity to hear one sermon more to make one prayer more to keep one Sabbath more but cannot this is their hell their torment this is the Scorpion that is still biting this is the Worm that is alwayes gnawing Wo wo to us that wee have neglected and trifled away those golden opportunities that once wee had to get our sins pardoned our natures changed our hearts bettered our consciences purged and our souls saved c. * Bellarm. In concione de cruciatibus Gehennae I have read of a King who having no issue to succeed him espying one day a well-favoured youth took him to Court and committed him to Tutors to instruct him providing by his will that if hee proved fit for government hee should bee crowned King if not hee should bee bound in chains and made a Gally-slave Now when hee grew to years the Kings executors perceiving that hee had sadly neglected those means and opportunities whereby hee might have been fit for State government called him before them and declared the Kings will and pleasure concerning him which was accordingly performed for they caused him to bee fettered and committed to the Gallies Now what tongue can expresse how much hee was affected and afflicted with his sad and miserable state especially when hee considered with himself that now hee is chained who might have walked at liberty Now hee is a slave who might have been a King now hee is over-ruled by Turks who might once have ruled over Christians the application is easie Ah young men young men T is storied of Charles King of Sicily and Jerusalem that hee was called Carolus Cunctator Charles the lingerer this age affords many such lingerers c. shall Satan take all opportunities to tempt you shall the world take all opportunities to allure you shall wicked men take all opportunities to ensnare you and to undo you and shall Christian friends take all opportunities to better you and shall Gods faithful Messengers take all opportunities to save you and will you will you neglect so great salvation Plutarch writes of Hannibal that when hee could have taken Rome hee would not and when hee would have taken Rome hee could not Many in their youthful dayes when they might have mercy Christ pardon Heaven they will not and in old age when they would have Christ pardon peace Heaven they cannot they may not God seems to say as Thesius said once go sayes hee and tell Creon Thesius offers thee a gracious offer yet I am pleased to bee friends if thou wilt submit this is my first message but if this offer prevail not look for mee to bee up in arms The third Reason why Young men should bee really good betimes Lord saith Austin I have loved thee late the greater was his sins and the more were his sorrows is because then they will have fewer and lesser sins to answer for and repent of multitudes of sins and sorrows are prevented by being good betimes The more wee number our dayes the fewer sins wee shall have to number As a coppy is then safest from blotting when dust is put upon it so are wee from sinning when in the time of our youth wee remember that wee are but dust The tears of young penitents do more scorch the Devils than all the flames of Hell for hereby all their hopes are blasted and the great underminer countermined and blown up Mane is the Devils Verb hee bids tarry time enough to repent but Mane is Gods Adverb hee bids repent early in the morning of thy youth for then thy sins will bee fewer and lesser Well young men remember this hee that will not at the first hand buy good council cheap shall at the second hand buy repentance over dear Ah young men young men if you do not begin to bee good betimes those sins that are now as Jewels sparkling in your eyes Psal 25.7 Job 13.26 will at last bee milstones about your necks to sink you for ever Among many things that Beza in his last will and Testament gave God thanks for this was the first and chief that hee at the age of sixteen years had called him to the knowledge of the truth and so prevented many sins and sorrows that otherwise would have overtaken him and have made his life lesse happy and more miserable Young Saints often prove old Angels There is nothing puts a more serious frame into a mans spirit than to know the worth of his time but old sinners seldome prove good Saints c. The fourth ground why young men should bee really good betimes is this viz. because time is a precious Talent that young men must be countable for the sooner they begin to bee good the more easy will bee their accounts especially as to that great Talent of time Cato and other heathens held that account must bee given not only of our labour but also of our leisure at the great day it will appear that they that have spent their time in mourning have done better than they that have spent their time in dancing and they that have spent many dayes in humiliation than they that have spent many dayes in idle recreations I have read of a devout man who when hee heard a clock strike hee would say here is one hour more past that I have to answer for Ah young men as time is very precious so it is very short time is very swift it is suddenly gone in the 9. of Job and the 25. vers My dayes are swifter than a Post they flee away they see no good The Hebrew word Kalal translated swifter than a Post signifies any thing that is light because light things are quick in motion The Ancients emblem'd time with wings as it were Sophocles Phocilides not running but flying Time is like the Sun that never stands still but is still a running her race the Sun did once stand still yea went back but so did never Time Time is still running and flying it is a bubble a shadow
a dream can you seriously consider of this young men and not begin to bee good betimes surely you cannot Sirs if the whole earth whereupon wee tread were turned into a lump of gold it were not able to purchase one minute of time Oh the regreetings of the damned for mis-spending precious time Who is there among us that knows how to value time and prize a day at a due rate Sen. Epist Oh what would they not give to bee free and to injoy the means of grace one hour Ah with what attention with what intention with what trembling and melting of heart with what hungring and thirsting would they hear the Word Time saith Bernard were a good commodity in hell and the traffick of it most gainful where for one day a man would give ten thousand worlds if he had them young men can you in good earnest beleeve this and not begin to be good betimes Ah! young men and women as you love your precious immortal souls A heathen said hee lived no day without a line that is he did something remarkable every day as you would escape hell and come to heaven as you would bee happy in life and blessed in death and glorious after death don't spend any more of your precious time in drinking and drabing in carding dicing and dancing don't trifle away your time don't swear away your time don't whore away your time don't lye away your time but beginne to bee good betimes because Time is a Talent that God will reckon with you for Ah! young men and women you may reckon upon years many years yet to come when possibly you have not so many hours to make ready your accompts it may bee this night you may have a summons and then if your time bee done and your work to be begunne in what a sad case will you bee will you not wish that you had never been born Seneca was wont to jeer the Jews for their ill husbandry in that they lost one day in seven meaning their Sabbath O that it were not too true of the most of professors both young and old that they loose not onely one day in seven but several days in seven Sirs Time let slip cannot bee recal'd the foolish Virgins found it so and Saul found it so and Herod found it so Mat. 25.5 Judg. 3.23 Heb. 3.17 18 19. and Nero found it so the Israelites found it so yea and Jacob and Josiah and David though good men yet they found it so to their cost The Egyptians draw the picture of Time with three heads the first of a greedy Wolf gaping for time past because it hath ravenously devoured the memory of so many things past recalling The Second of a crowned Lyon roaring for time present because it hath the principallity of all actions for which it calls loud The Third of a deceitfull Dogg fawning for time to come because it feeds some men with many flattering hopes to their eternal undoing Ah! young men and women as you would give up your accounts at last with joy concerning this Talent of time with which God hath trusted you begin to be good betimes c. The fifth Reason Why young men should bee really good betimes and that is because they will have the greater comfort and joy when they come to bee old Seneca though a Heathen could say beleeve me true joy is no light thing the 71 Psalm 5. 17 18. compapared Thou art my hope O Lord God thou art my trust from my youth O God thou hast taught me from my youth and hitherto I have declared thy wondrous works Now also when I am old and gray headed O God forsake mee not untill I have shewed thy strength unto this Generation and thy power unto every one that is to come Polycarpus could say when old thus many years have I served my Master Christ and hitherto hath hee dealt well with mee if early converts live to bee old no joy to their joy their joy will bee the greatest joy a joy like to the joy of harvest Isa 9.3 a joy like to their joy that divide the spoil their joy will bee the soundest joy the weightiest joy the holiest joy the purest joy the strongest joy and the most lasting joy the carnal joy of the wicked the glistering golden joy of the world-ling and the flashing joy of the hypocrite is but as the crackling of thorns under a pot to the joy and comfort of such who when old can say with good Obadiah that they feared the Lord from their youth If when you are young your eyes shall bee full of tears for Sinne when you are old your hearts shall bee full of joys Such shal have the best wine at last Oh! that young men would beginne to bee good betimes that so they may have the greater harvest of joy when they come to be old c. t is sad to be sowing your seed when you should be reaping your harvest t is best to gather in the summer of youth against the winter of old age The Sixth Reason Why young men should bee really good betimes and that is because an eternity of felicity and glory hangs upon those few moments that are allotted to them it was a good question the young man propoposed Luk. 10.25 what shall I do to inherit eternal life I know I shall bee eternally happy or eternally miserable eternally blest or eternally cur'st eternally sav'd or eternally damn'd c. O what shall I do to inherit eternal life my cares my fears Aeteruitas est semper et immutabile esse The old Romans were our that thought Eternity dwelt in Statues and in Marble monuments my troubles are all about eternity no time can reach eternity no age can extend to eternity no tongue can express eternity Eternity is that unum perpetuum hodie one perpetual day which shall never have end what shall I do what shall I not do that I may bee happy to all eternity I am now young and in the flower of my days but who knows what a day may bring forth the greatest weight hangs upon the smallest wyers an eternity depends upon those few hours I am to breath in this world O what cause have I therefore to bee good betimes to know God betimes to beleeve betimes to repent betimes to get my peace made and my pardon seal'd betimes to get my nature changed my conscience purged and my interest in Christ cleared betimes before eternity overtakes mee before my glass bee out my Sun set my race run least the dark night of eternity should overtake mee and I made miserable for ever I have read of one Myrogenes who when great gifts were sent unto him hee sent them all back again saying I onely desire this one thing at your Masters hand to pray for mee that I may be saved for eternity O that all young men and women who make earth their heaven Luk. 15.19 20 pleasures
their Paradise that eat the fat and drink the sweet that cloth themselves richly and crown their heads with rose-buds that they would seriously consider of eternity so as to hear as for eternity and pray as for eternity and live as for eternity and provide as for eternity That they may say with that famous Painter Zeuxes Aeternitati pingo I paint for eternity we do all for eternity we beleeve for eternity wee repent for eternity wee obey for eternity c. O that you would not make those things eternal for punishment Cur ea quae ad usum diuturna esse non possunt ad supplicium diuturna deposces Ambrose in Lu. 4. T. 5. that cannot bee eternal for use Ah! young men and women God calls and the bloud of Jesus Christ calls and the spirit of Christ in the Gospel calls and the rage of Satan calls and your sad state and condition calls and the happiness and blessedness of glorified Saints calls these all call aloud upon you to make sure a glorious eternity before you sail out into that dreadfull Ocean All your eternall good depends upon the short and uncertain moments of your lives and if the threed of your lives should bee cut before a happy eternity is made sure woe to you that ever you were born Do not say O young man that thou art young and hereafter will bee time enough to provide for eternity for eternity may bee at the door ready to carry thee away for ever Every days experience speaks out eternity to bee as neer the young mans back as t is before the old mans faâ—â— O graspe to day the diadem of a blessed eternity least thou art cut off before the morning comes though there is but one way to come into this world yet there is a thousand thousand ways to bee sent out of this world well young men and women remember this as the motions of the soul are quick so are the motions of divine justice quick also and if you will not hear the voice of God to day if you will not provide for eternity to day God may swear to morrow that you shall never enter into his rest it is a very sad and dangerous thing to trifle and dally with God his word his offers our own souls and eternity therefore let all young People labour to bee good betimes and not to let him that is goodness it self alone till hee hath made them good till hee hath given them those hopes of eternity that will both make them good and keep them good that will make them happy and keep them happy and that for ever if all this will not do then know that ere long those fears of eternity of misery that begets that monster Despair which like Medusa's head astonisheth with its very aspect and strangles hope which is the breath of the soul will certainly overtake you as it is said Dum Spiro Spero so it may bee inverted Dum Spero Spiro other miseries may wound the spirit but despair kills it dead my prayer shall bee that none of you may ever experience this sad truth but that you may all bee good in good earnest betimes which will yeeld you two heavens a heaven on earth and a heaven after death The seventh Reason Why young persons should be really good betimes and that is because they do not beginne to live till they beginne to bee really good till they beginne to bee good they are dead God-wards and Christ-wards and heaven-wards and holiness-wards till a man beginnes to bee really good hee is really dead Phil. 2.1 and that first in respect of working Respectu operis his works are called dead works Heb. 9.14 the most glistering services of unregenerate persons are but dead works because they proceed not from a principle of life and they lead to death Rom. 6.21 and leave a sentence of death upon the soul till it bee wash't off by the bloud of the Lamb. Secondly Respectu honoris Hee is dead in respect of honour hee is dead to all priviledges hee is not fit to inherit mercy who will set the crown of life upon a dead man The crown of life is only for living Christians Rev. 2.10 The young Prodigal was dead till hee begunne to bee good till hee begunne to remember his fathers house and to resolve to return home My Son was dead but is alive Luk. 15.24 and the Widow that liveth in pleasure is dead while shee liveth 1 Tim. 5 6 As t is a reproach to an old man to be in Coats so t is a disgrace to be an old babe i e. to be but a babe in grace when old in years Heb. 5.12 13 14. When Josaphat asked Barlaam how old hee was hee answered five and forty years old to whom Josaphat replyed thou seemest to bee seventy true saith hee if you reckon ever since I was born but I count not those years which were spent in vanity Ah! Sirs you never begin to live till you beginne to be good in good earnest There is the life of vegetation and that is the life of plants secondly there is the life of sense and that is the life of beasts Thirdly there is the life of reason and that is the life of man Fourthly there is the life of grace and that is the life of Saints and this life you do not beginne to live till you beginne to bee good if a living Dogg is better than a dead Lyon as the wise man speaks Eccl. 9.4 and if a Fly is more excellent than the heavens because the Fly hath life which the heavens hath not as the Philosopher saith what a sad dead poor nothing is that person that is a stranger to the life of grace and goodness that is dead even whilst he is alive Most men will bleed sweat vomit Meconas in Seneca had rather live in many diseases than dye And Homer reporteth of his Aâ—hilles that he had rather be a servant to a poor Countrey Clown here than to be a King to all the Souls departed purge part with an estate yea with a limb I limbs yea and many a better thing viz. the honour of God and a good conscience to preserve their natural lives as hee crys out Give mee any deformity any torment any misery so you spare my life and yet how few how very few are to bee found who make it their work their business to attain to a life of goodness or to beginne to bee good betimes or to bee dead to the world and alive to God rather than to bee dead to God and alive to the world this is for a lamentation and shal be for a lamentation that natural life is so highly prized spiritual life so little regarded c The eighth Reason Why young persons should bee really good betimes and that is because the promise of finding God of enjoying God is made over to an early seeking of God Prov. 8.17 I
simple young man among many whereas late times afford greater store Ah! too many of the youths of this age in stead of flying from youthful lusts they post and pursue after youthful lusts Chrysostome speaking of youth saith it is difficilem jactabilem Chrysost Homil. 1. Ad populum fallibilem vehementissimisque egentem fraenis hard to bee ruled easy to bee drawn away apt to bee deceived and standing in need of very violent reines The Ancients did picture youth like a young man naked Lapide with a vail over his face his right hand bound behinde him his left hand loose and Time behinde him pulling one thread out of his vail every day intimating that young men are void of knowledge and blinde unfit to do good ready to do evil till Time by little and little make them wiser Well young man remember this that the least sparklings and kindlings of lusts will first or last cost thee groans and griefs tears and terrors enough These five are the sins that usually are waiting and attending on youth but from these the young man in the text was by grace preserved and secured which is more than I dare affirm of all into whose hands this treatise shall fall But though these five are the sins of youth yet they are not all the sins of youth for youth is capable of Other sins attends youth as 1 Ignorance 1 Cor. 14 20. 2 Falshood Psal 58.3 3 Excessive love of liberty 4 Impatience of councils and reproofs Jer. 31.18 19. 5 Impudency Isa 3.5 6 A trifling spirit Eccles 11.10 7 Prodigality Use and subject to all other sins whatsoever but these are the special sins that most usually waits and attends on young men when they are in the spring and morning of their youth I shall now hasten to the main use that I intend to stand upon and that is an use of Exhortation to all young persons Ah sirs as you tender the glory of God the good of your bodies the joy of your Christian friends and the salvation of your own souls bee exhorted and perswaded to bee really good betimes It was the praise and honour of Abijah that there was found in him some good thing towards the Lord in the Primrose of his child-hood Oh that it might bee your honour and happinesse to bee really good betimes that it might bee to you a praise and a name that in the morning of your youth you have begun to seek the Lord and to know and love the Lord and to get an interest and propriety in the Lord now that this Exhortation may stick and take Encouragements to Young men I beseech you seriously to weigh and ponder these following motives or considerations First 1. Motive consider It is an honour to bee good betimes A young Saint is like the morning star hee is like a pearl in a gold Ring It is mentioned as a singular honour to the beleeving Jews that they first trusted in Christ that wee should bee to the praise of his glory Ephes 1.12 who first trusted in Christ this was their praise their crown that they were first converted and turned to Christ and Christianity So Paul mentioning Andronicus and Junia doth not omit this circumstance of praise and honour Rom. 16.7 that they were in Christ before him Salute Andronicus and Junia my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners who are of note among the Apostles who also were in Christ before me And so it was the honor of the house of Stephanas 1 Cor. 16.15 that they were the first fruits of Achaia it was their glory that they were the first that received and wellcomed the Gospell in Achaia T is a greater honor for a young man to out-wrastle sinne Satan temptation the world and lusts than ever Alexander the Great could attain unto 2 Sam. 19.15 It was Judah his praise and honor that they were first in fetching home David their King Ah! Young men and women it will bee your eternal praise and honor if you shall before others if you shall bee the first among many who shall know the Lord and seek the Lord who shall receive the Lord and imbrace him who shall cleave to the Lord and serve him who shall honor the Lord and obey him who shall delight in the Lord and walk with him The Romans built Vertues and Honours Temple close together to shew that the way to honor was by vertue and indeed there is no crown to that which goodness sets upon a mans head all other honour is fading and withering Adonibezeck a mighty Prince Judg. 1.7 is suddenly made fellow commoner with the Dogs Dan. 4.28 And Nebuchadnezzar a mighty conqueror turned a grazing among the oxen And Herod reduced from a conceited God Act. 12.23 to bee the most loathsome of men living carrion arrested by the vilest of creatures upon the suit of his affronted Creatour Est 7.10 And Haman feasted with the King one day and made a feast for Crows the next I might tell you of Bajazet and Belisarius two of the greatest Commanders in the world and many others who have suddenly fallen from the top of worldly honor and felicity into the greatest contempt and misery but I shall not at this time But that honour that arises from mens being gracious betimes is such honour that the world can neither give nor take it is honour it is a Crown that will still bee green and flourishing it is honour that will bed and board with a man that will abide with a man under all tryals and changes that will to the grave that will to heaven with a man Ah Sirs It is no small honour to you who are in the spring and morning of your days that the Lord hath left upon record several instances of his Love and delight in young men 1 Sam. 16.11 12 13 hee chose David a younger brother and passes by his elder brothers hee frowns upon Esau Rom. 9.12 13 and passes by his door and sets his love and delight upon Jacob the younger brother he kindly and lovingly accepts of Abels person and sacrifice Gen. 4.3 4 5 6 and rejects both Cains person and sacrifice though hee was the elder brother Among all the Disciples John 13.23 John was the youngest and the most and best beloved There was but one young man that came to Christ Mar. 10.19 20 21. and hee came not aright and all the good that was in him was but some moral good and yet Christ loved him with a love of pitty and compassion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek word signifies to speak friendly and deal gently with one and so did Christ with him all which should exceedingly encourage young men to be good betimes to be gracious in the morning of their youth no way to true honour like this but Secondly The sacrifices in the Law were young Lambs and young Kids to shew that Christ our
come to cast away the Idols of your souls to repent and bee converted in the Prim-rose of your youth that your sins may bee blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Act. 3.19 or else woe woe to you that ever you were born I have read a story of one who being risen from the dead and being asked in what condition hee was hee made answer no man doth beleeve no man doth beleeve no man doth beleeve And being further asked what he meant by that repetition hee answered no man doth beleeve how exactly God examineth how strictly God judgeth how severely hee punisheth Oh that the waies of most young persons did not declare to all the world that they do not and that they will not beleeve the dead and terrour of that day that will admit of no plea nor place for Apology or appeal The Turks have a tradition and frantick opinion that wicked men shall at the great day carry their sins in latchels after their Captain Caine but well would it bee for them if this should bee all their punishment in that great day the highest and last Tribunal can never bee appealed from or repealed Now if for all that hath been said you are resolved to spend the flower of your daies and the prime of your strength in the service of sin and the world then know that no tongue can express no heart can conceive that trouble of mind that terrour of soul that horror of conscience that fear and amazement that weeping and wailing that crying and roaring that sighing and groaning that cursing and banning that stamping and tearing that wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth that shall certainly attend you when God shall bring you into judgement for all your loosnesse and lightnesse for all your wickednesse and wantonnesse for all your prophaneness and basenesse for all your neglect of God your grieving the comforter your trampling under foot the blood of a Saviour for your dispising of the means for your prizing Earth above Heaven and the pleasures of this world above the pleasures that bee at Gods right hand Chrysosteme speaking of this day saith for Christ at this day to say depart from mee is a thing more terrible than a thousand hells Chrysost Hom ad Pop. Antioch Oh how will you wish in that day when your sins shall bee charged on you when justice shall bee armed against you when conscience shall bee gnawing within you when the world shall bee a flaming fire about you when the gates of Heaven shall bee shut against you and the flame of Hell ready to take hold of you when Angels and Saints shall sit in judgement upon you and for ever turn their faces from you when evil spirits shall be terrifying of you and Jesus Christ for ever disowning of you how will you I say wish in that day that you had never been born or that you might now bee unborn or that your mothers wombs had proved your Tombs O how will you then wish to bee turned into a bird a beast a stock a stone a Toad a Tree O that our immortal souls were mortal O that wee were nothing Joan Damasc et Author Anonym de quat Noviss Imprâ—ss Daven Anno. 1494. O that we were any thing but what we are I have read a remarkable story of a King that was heavy and sad and wept which when his brother saw hee asked him why hee was so pensive because saith hee I have judged others and now I must bee judged my self And why saith his brother do you so take on for this it will hapily bee a long time ere that day come and besides that it is but a flight matter The King said little to it for the present Now it was a custome in that Countrey when any had committed Treason there was a Trumpet sounded at his door in the night time and hee was next day brought out to bee executed now the King commanded a Trumpet to bee sounded at his brothers door in the night time who awakening out of his Sleep when hee heard it arose and came quaking and trembling to the King How now saith the King what 's the matter you are so affrighted I am saith hee attached of Treason and next morning I shall bee executed why saith the King to him again are you so troubled at that knowing that you shall bee judged by your Brother and for a matter that your Conscience tells you you are clear off How much more therefore may I bee afraid seeing that God shall judge mee and not in a matter that my conscience frees mee off but of that whereof I am guilty and beside this if the worst come is but a temporary death you shall dy but I am liable to death eternal both of body and soul I will leave the Application to those young persons that put this day afar off and whom no arguments will move to bee good betimes and to acquaint themselves with the Lord in the morning of their youth But now to those young men and women who beginne to seek serve and love the Lord in the Primerose of their days the day of judgement will be to them melodia in aure ubilum in corde like musick in the ear and a jubilee in the heart Act. 3.19 20 21 22. Mic. 7.7 8 9 10 11. Rev. 19.6 7 8 9 10. Mat. 25.34 to v. 41. this day will be to them a day of refreshing a day of redemption a day of vindication a day of coronation a day of Consolation a day of Salvation it will bee to them a marriage day a harvest day a pay day now the Lord will pay them for all the Prayers they have made for all the Sermons they have heard for all the tears they have shed in this great day Christ will remember all the individual offices of love and friendship shewed to any of his now hee will mention many things for their honor and comfort that they never minded now the least and lowest acts of love and pity towards his shall bee interpreted as a special kindnesse shewed to himself Now the Crown shall bee set upon their heads 2 Tim. 4.8 Mal. 3.17 18 and the Royall Robe put upon their backs now all the World shall see that they have not served the Lord for naught Now Christ will pass over all their weaknesses and make honorable mention of all the services they have performed of all the mercyes they have improved and of all the great things that for his name and glory they have suffered Quest But here an apt question may be moved viz. Whether at this great day the sinnes of the Saints shall bee brought into the judgement of Discussion and discovery or no whether the Lord will in this day publikely manifest proclaim and make mention of the sins of his people or no I humbly judge according to my present light that he will not and my
shall bee sought for and there shall bee none and the sins of Judah and they shall not bee found for I will pardon them whom I reserve and those words and passeth by in the aforecited seventh of Micha 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the 18. according to the Hebrew Vegnober Gnal is Gnabar hee passed over and passeth over God passeth over the transgression of his heritage that is hee takes no notice of it as a man in a deep muse or as one that hath haste of businesse seeth not things before him his mind being busied about other matters hee neglects all to minde his businesse As David when hee saw in Mephibosheth the feature of his friend Jonathan took no notice of his lamenesse or any other defect or deformity So God beholding in his people the glorious image of his Son winks at all their faults and deformities which made Luther say do with mee what thou wilt since thou hast pardoned my sin and what is it to pardon sin Isa 40.1 2. but not to mention sin Fifthly in his not bringing their sins into the Judgement of discussion and discovery doth best agree to those expressions of forgiving and covering Blessed is hee whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered Psal 32.1 In the original it is in the plural Blessednesses loe here is a plurality of blessings a chain of pearls The like expression you have in the 85. Psalm and the 2. vers Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people thou hast covered all their sin Selah For the understanding of these Scriptures aright take notice that to cover is a Metaphorical expression covering is such an action Sic velantur ut in judicio non revelentur which is opposed to disclosure to bee covered is to bee so hid and closed as not to appear Some make the Metaphor from filthy loathsome objects which are covered from our eyes as dead carkasses are buried under the ground some from garments that are put upon us to cover our nakedness others from the Egyptians that were drowned in the red Sea and so covered with water others from a great gulf in the earth that is filled up and covered with earth injected into it And others make it in the last place an allusive expression to the Mercy-seat over which was a covering now all these Metaphors in the general tend to shew this that the Lord will not look he will not see hee will not take notice of the sins hee hath pardoned to call them any more to a judicial account As when a Prince reads over many treasons and rebellions and meets with such and such which he hath pardoned he reads on he passeth by hee takes no notice of them the pardoned person shall never hear more of them hee will never call him to account for those sins more So here c. When Caesar was painted hee put his finger upon his scar his wart God puts his fingers upon all his peoples scars and warts upon all their weaknesses and infirmities that nothing can bee seen but what is fair and lovely Thou art all fair my Love and there is no spot in thee Can. 4.7 Sixthly it best agrees to that expression of not imputing of sin Psal 32.2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile So the Apostle in that Rom. 4.6 7 8. now not to impute iniquity is not to charge iniquity not to set iniquity upon his score who is blessed and pardoned c. Seventhly and lastly it best agrees with that expression that you have in the 103. Psalm and the 11 and 12. vers For as the Heaven is high above the Earth so great is his mercy towards them that fear him As far as the East is from the West so far hath hee removed our transgressions from us What a vast distance is there betwixt the East and the West of all visible latitudes this is the greatest and thus much for the third Argument The Fourth Argument that prevails with mee to judge that Jesus Christ will not bring the sins of the Saints into the judgement of discussion and discovery in the great day is because it seems unsutable to three considerable things for Jesus Christ to proclaim the infirmities and miscarriages of his people to all the world First It seems to bee unsutable to the glory and solemnity of that day which to the Saints will bee a day of refreshing a day of restitution a day of redemption a day of coronation as hath been already proved now how sutable to this great day of solemnity the proclamation of the Saints sins will be I leave the Reader to judge Secondly It seems unsutable to all those near and dear relations that Jesus Christ stands in towards his Isa 9 6. Heb. 2.11 12 Ephes 1.21 22 Rev. 19.7 John 15.1 John 2.1 2◠hee stands in therelation of a Father a Brother a head a Husband a Friend an Advocate now are not all these by the law of relations bound rather to hide and keep secret at least from the world the weaknesses and infirmities of their near and dear relations and is not Christ is not Christ much more by how much hee is more a Father a Brother a Head a Husband c. in a spiritual way than any others can bee in a natural way c. Thirdly It seems very unsutable to what the Lord Jesus requires of his in this world the Lord requires that his people should cast a mantle of love of wisdome of silence and secresie over one anothers weaknesses and infirmities Prov. 10.12 1 Pet. 4.8 Hatred stirreth up strifes but love covereth all sins loves mantle is very large love will finde a hand a plaister to clap upon every sore Flavius Vespasianus the Emperour was very ready to conceal his friends vices and as ready to reveal their vertues So is divine love in the hearts of the Saints If thy Brother offend thee Mat. 18.15 go and tell him his fault between him and thee alone if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother As the Pills of reprehension are to bee gilded and sugred over with much gentlenesse and softnesse so they are to bee given in secret tell him between him and thee alone Tale-bearers and Tale-hearers are alike abominable Heaven is too hot and too holy a place for them Psal 15.3 now will Jesus Christ have us carry it thus towards offending Christians and will hee himself act otherwise nay is it an evil in us to lay open the weaknesses and infirmities of the Saints to the world and will it bee an excellency a glory a vertue in Christ to do it in the great day c. A fifth Argument is this it is the glory of a man to passe over a transgression Prov. 19.11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger and it is his glory to passe over a transgression or to passe by
treasure for a mite a crown for a crum I but the young mans affections were strongly engaged to the things of the world Multi amando res noxias sunt miseri babendâ— miseriores August in Psal 26. and therefore he turns his back upon Christ and goes away sorrowful because he had great possessions O the madness the folly of this young man who to enjoy a little temporal felicity hath bid an everlasting farewell to Christ and Glory in that Gen. 13.2 it is said that Abraham was very rich in Cattel in silver and in gold the Hebrew word Cabedh that is here rendred rich signifies heavy it signifies a burden to shew us that riches are a heavy burden and a hinderance many times to heaven and happinesse and this young man in the Gospel found it so to his eternal undoing Though the Load-stone cannot draw the Iron when the Diamond is in presence yet earthly possessions did draw this young mans soul away when Christ the Pearl of price was present the World is a silken net and this young man found it so the world is like Golden fetters and this young man found it so the world is like sweet poyson and this young man found it so They are dulce venenum a sweet poyson Bern. for hee had drunk so large a draught of it that there was no room in his soul for Christ or heaven for grace or glory Some say that when the Serpent Scytale cannot overtake the flying Passengers shee doth with her beautiful colours so astonish and amaze them that they have no power to pass away till she have stung them such a Serpent the World proved to the young man in the Gospel it did so affect him and take him so amaze him and amuze him that hee could not stir till it stung him to death When the Moon is fullest it is furthest from the Sun so the more men have of the World the further commonly they are from God and this the young man in the Gospel made good Many have ventured life and limb If money were thrown to the dogs they would not so much as smell at it the greater is their folly and madnesse that will go to hells gates for it and many a better thing to gain the things of this World and yet after all they have got nothing at all Achans golden wedge proved a wedge to cleave him and his garment a garment to shrow'd him The whole world is circular the heart of man is triangular and wee know a circle cannot fill a triangle yea if it be not filled with the three persons in Trinity it will bee filled with the world the Flesh and the Devil The World may be resembled to the fruit that undid us all which was fair to the sight smooth in handling sweet in taste but deadly in effect and operation Ah! Young men young men have none of you found it so The World in all its bravery is no better than the Cities which Solomon gave to Hiram 1 King 9.13 which hee called Cabul that it to say displeasing or dirty the World will afford nothing but trivial Flowers surrounded with many bryers O the Vanity the uncertainty the imperfection of all things below if a man should weigh his pay and his pains together his miseries and his pleasures together his joys and his sorrows together his mercies and his crosses together his good daies and his bad dayes together will he not conclude vanity of Vanity and all is Vanity It was a wise and Christian Speech of Charles the fift In my other Trearises you may read more of the vanity insufficiency impotency mutability uncertainty and inconstancy of the World and to them I refer you to the Duke of Venice who when hee had shew'd him the glory of his Princely Palace and earthly Paradise instead of admiring it or him for it onely returned him this grave and serious memento Haec sunt quae faciunt invitos mori these are the things which make us unwilling to dye it was a good saying of one to a great Lord upon his shewing him his stately house and pleasant Gardens Sir you had need make sure of heaven or else when you dye you will bee a very great looser Ah! Young men Young men t is onely heaven that is above all winds stormes and tempests nor hath God cast man out of Paradise for him to think to finde out another Paradise in this world the main reason why many young men dote upon the world is because they are not acquainted with a greater glory men ate Acorns till they were acquainted with the use of Wheat Rev. 12.1 The woman had the Moon under her feet when shee was cloathed with the Sun and had a Crown of twelve stars upon her head Ah! Young men were you but cloathed with the Sunne of Righteousness and had you a crown set upon your heads by the hand of faith you would have all the things of this world which are as low Heb. 11.24 25 26 27 35. ch 10.34 bespotted and mutable as the Moon under your feet well young men as ever you would be good betimes sit loose from the things of this world be no longer worshippers of this Golden calf and never let the World that should bee but your Servant become your Lord O Oh let not the Devil and the World have more service for an ounce of gold than Christ shall have for the Kingdome of Heaven Ah young men the world and you must part or Christ and you will never meet you cannot serve God and Mammon Mat. 6.24 The two poles shall sooner meet than the love of Christ and the love of the world Fifthly if you would be good betimes if you would know seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of your youth then take heed betimes of carnal reason Gal. 1.15 16. take heed of consulting with flesh and blood many a hopeful young man hath been undone temporally and undone eternally by hearkening to those evil counsellors Cicero a Heathen could say that man would not bee so wicked and do so wickedly were it not for his reason Carnal reason is an enemy yea an utter enemy nay it is not only an utter enemy but it is enmity yea enmities Rom. 8.7 An enemy may bee reconciled but enmity can never bee reconciled Carnal Reason is not only averse but it is utterly averse to all goodnesse it builds strong holds and syllogisms against the most glorious Gospel-truths and accounts the precious things of Christ as a strange thing carnal Reason will make God and Gospel do homage to it when carnal Reason is in the Throne Christ and his truths must all bow or bee judged before its bar Ah young men young men as ever you would bee good betimes stop your ears against all carnal Reasonings within you carnal Reason judges the choicest things of the Gospel to bee meer foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1.23
off the branches and it grew again they cut down the body and it grew again Isedore the Monk was very much out who vaunted that hee had felt in himself no motion to sin forty years together they cut it up by the root and still it lived and grew untill they pulled down the stone-wall till death shall pull down our stone-walls Sin will live this fire will burn Wee may say of sin as some say of Cats that they have many lives kill them and they will live again kill them again and they will live again so kill sin once and it will live again kill it again and it will live again c. Sin oftentimes is like that Monster Hydra cut off one head and many will rise up in its room Fifthly Fire is of a penetrating nature Isa 1.5 6. Rom. 7.13.17 Sin is malum Catholicum A Catholick evil Quodcunque in peccato peccatum est whatsoever is in sin is sin it peirceth and windeth it self into every corner and chinck and so doth sin winde it self into our thoughts words and works it will winde it self into our understandings to darken them and into our judgements to pervert them and into our wills to poison them and into our affections to disorder them and into our consciences to corrupt them and into our carriages to debase them Sin will winde it self into every duty and every mercy it will winde it self into every one of our enjoyments and concernments Hannibal having overcome the Romans put on their armour on his shoulders and so by that policy they being taken for Romans won a City but what are Hannibals wiles to sins wiles or Satans wiles if you have a minde to bee acquainted with their wiles look over my Treatise called Precious Remedies against Satans Devices Sixthly and lastly Fire is a devouring a consuming Element Psal 21.9 it turns all fuel into ashes It is a Woolf that eats up all 2 Pet. 2.5 6. Pro. 6.32 Eccles 9.18 Prov. 13.13 ch 20.29.1 Pro. 11.3 ch 15.25 ch 21.7 so Sin is a fire that devours and consumes all it turned Sodom and Gomorah into ashes it hath destroyed the Caldaean Persian and Graecian Kingdomes and will at last destroy the Roman Kingdome also this Woolf ate up Sampsons strength Absoloms beauty Achitophels policy and Herods glory c. It hath drowned one world already and will at last burn another even this Oh the hopes the hearts the happinesse the joyes the comforts the souls that this fire Sin hath consumed and destroyed c. Peter Camois Bishop of Betty in France in his draught of Eternity Num. 75. tells us that some devout personages caused those words of the Prophet Isaiah to bee written in letters of gold upon their chimny peeces Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire Isa 33.14 who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings Ah young men young men I desire that you may alwaies look upon sin under the notion of fire yea as such fire as laies the foundation for everlasting fire for everlasting burnings and this may work when other things will not I have read of a grave and chaste Matron who being moved to commit folly with a lew'd Russian after some discourse shee call'd for a pan of burning coals requesting him for her sake to hold his finger in them but one hour hee answered it is an unkind request to whom she replyed that seeing hee would not do so much as to put one finger upon the coals for one hour she could not yeild to do that for which shee should bee tormented both body and soul in hell fire for ever The application is easy c. Fourthly If you would break with Sin betimes if you would arm against Sin in the spring and morning of your dayes then you should look upon Sin under the notion of a Thief and indeed Sin is the greatest Theif the greatest Robber in the World it robbed the Angels of all their glory 2 Pet. 2 4 Gen. 3 it robbed Adam of his Paradise and felicity and it hath robbed all the Sons of Adam of five precious Jewels the least of which was more worth than heaven and earth 1 It hath robbed them of the holy and glorious Image of God which would have been fairly engraven upon them had Adam stood c. 2 It hath robbed them of their son-ship and of sons have made them slaves 3 It hath robbed them of their friendship Well did one of the fathers call Pride and Vain-glory the sweet spoiler of spiritual excellencies and a pleasant theif and made them enemies 4 It hath robbed them of their communion and fellowship with Father Son and Spirit and made them Strangers and Aliens 5 It hath robbed them of their glory and made them vile and miserable It hath robbed many a nation of the Gospel and many a parish of many a happy guide and many a Christian of the favour of God the joyes of the spirit and the Peace of Conscience Oh the health the wealth the honor the friends the relations that Sin hath robbed thousands of Nay It hath robbed many of their gifts their arts their parts their memory their judgement yea their very reason as you may see in Pharoah Nebuchadnezzar Belshazzar Achitophel Haman Herod and those Babylonish Princes that accused Daniel And so in Menipus of Phenicia who having lost his goods strangled himself And so Dinarcus Phidon at a certain losse cut his own throat to save the charge of a cord And so Augustus Caesar in whose time Christ was born was so troubled and astonished at the relation of an overthrow from Varrus Suetonius that for certain months together he let the hair of his beard and head grow still and wore it long yea and other whiles would run his head against the doors crying out Quintilius Varrus deliver up my Legions again by all which it is most apparent that Sin is the greatest thief in all the World Oh then who would not break league and covenant with it and be still in pressing of God to do justice upon it c. Fifthly Nah. 1.1 Hab. 1.1 Mal. 11 If you would break with Sin and arm and fence your selves against Sin betimes then you must look upon sinne under the notion of a burden betimes and indeed sin of all burdens is the heaviest burden in all the world Innumerable evils have compassed me about Psal 40.12 mine iniquities have taken hold upon mee so that I am not able to look up they are more than the hairs of my head therefore my heart faileth me and again Mine iniquities are gone over my head saith the same person as an heavy burden Psal 38.4 they are too heavy for mee to bear Sin is a weight that easily besets poor souls Heb. 12.1 it is a burden that so troubles them and puzzles them that so curbs them and girds them Rom. 7.13 ult that so presses and oppresses
them as that it wrings many bitter tears from their eyes and many sad and grievous sighs and groans from their hearts Again As Sin is a burden to Christians so it is a burden to heaven Judâ— 6 it made heaven weary to bear the Angels that fell no sooner had they sinned but heaven groans to be eased of them and it never left groaning till justice had turned them a groaning to hell Again Numb 16.26.35 as Sin is a burden to Heaven so it is a burden to the earth witness her swallowing up Korah Dathan and Abiram their Wives children Goods servants c. Ah! Sinners your sins makes the very earth to groan they make the earth weary of bearing you Oh! How doth the earth groan and long to swallow up those earthly wretches whose hopes whose hearts are buried in the earth these shall have little of heaven but enough of earth when they come to dye Cornelius Alapide tells a story that he heard of a famous Preacher Rom. 8.19 20 21 22 23 who shewing the bondage of the Creature brings in the Creature complaining thus Oh! that wee could serve such as are Godly Oh! that our substance and our flesh might bee incorporated into godly people that so wee might rise into glory with them Oh! that our flesh might not bee incorporated into the flesh of sinners for if it bee we shall go to hell and would any creatures go to hell Oh! we are weary of bearing sinners wee are weary of serving of sinners thus the creatures groan thus the creatures complain the Sinners sins forcing them to it c. Again Sin is a burden to God Behold I am pressed under you Amos. 2.13 as a cart is pressed that is full of shcaves by this plain pithy countrey comparison God shews how sadly hee is pressed and oppressed how sorely hee is wearied and tired with those peoples Sins Divine patience is even worn out Justice hath lift up her hand and will bear with them no longer God seems to groan under the pressure of their Sinnes as a Cart seems to do under a heavy load of this God complains by the Prophet Isaiah Isa 43.24 Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins thou hast wearied mee with thine iniquities I am as weary of your Sins as a Travelling woman is weary of her pains saith God Sin was such a burden to God that he sweeps it off with a sweeping Floud Gen. 7. c. Again Luk. 22.44 A strange watering of a garden Bern. 1 Pet. 2.24 Sin is a burden to Christ it made him sweat as never man sweat it made him sweat great drops of clotted or congealed bloud Sin put Christs whole body into a bloudy sweat it made him groan pittiously when he bare our Sins in his body on the Tree Sin made his soul heavy even to the death and had he not been one that was mighty Isa 6.6 yea that was all-mighty he had fainted and failed under his burthen And thus you see what a burthen Sin is to man to the Creatures to heaven to earth to God to Christ and therefore as you would break with Sin betimes look alwayes upon it as a burden yea as the greatest and heaviest burden in all the world c. Sixthly and Lastly If you would break Covenant with Sin and arm and fence your selves against it betimes then you must look upon it betimes under the notion of a Tyrant Tit. 3.3 and indeed Sin is the worst and greatest Tyrant in the world Other Tyrants can but Tyranize over our bodies but Sin is a Tyrant that tyranizes over both body and soul as you may see in the sixth and seventh of the Romans Sin is a Tyrant that hath a kinde of jurisdiction in most mens hearts it sets up the Law of Pride the Law of Passion the Law of Oppression the Law of Formality the Law of Hypocrisy the Law of Carnality the Law of Self-love the Law of Carnal-Reason the Law of unbeleef and strictly Commands Subjection to them and proclaims fire and sword to all that stand out this Saints and sinners good men and bad do sufficiently experience Sin is a Tyrant of many thousand years standing Thales one of the seven Sages used to say that few Tyrants lived to be old but it is far otherwise with this Tyrant Sin Prov. 4.16 and though it hath had many a wound and many a foil and received much opposition yet still it playes the Tyrant all the World over O! the hearts that this Tyrant makes to ake the souls that this Tyrant makes to bleed Pharoahs Tyranny was nothing to Sins Tyranny this Tyrant will not so much as suffer his slaves to sleep They sleep not except they have done mischief their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall The wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt Isa 57.20 21. There is no peace to the wicked saith my God Other Tyrants have been brought down and brought under by a humane power but this cannot but by a divine the power of man hath brought down many of the Tyrants of this World but it is onely the power of Christ that can bring down this Tyrant that can cast down his strong holds 2 Cor. 10.3 4 5 6 c. therefore ingage Christ in the conflict draw him into the battle and in the end the conquest will be yours Vitellius who had been Emperor of all the World yet was driven thorow the streets of Rome stark naked and thrown into the River Tyber c. Andronicus the Emperor for his cruelty towards his People was by them at last shamefully deposed and after many contumelies hanged up by his heels Ptolomy was put on a Cross Bajazet in an iron Cage Phoras broken on the Wheel Lycam cast to the Dogs as well as Jezabel Attales thrust into a Forge King Gath into a Beer-barrel c. But none of these that have tameed these Tyrants that have brought down these mighty Nimrods have been able to tame to bring under the Tyrants the sins the lusts that hath been in their own bosomes many a man hath had a hand in bringing down of worldly Tyrants who notwithstanding have dyed for ever by the hand of a Tyrant within c. And thus much for the directions that young men must follow if they would bee good betimes if they would seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of their dayes The Young mans objections Answered I shall now give some brief Answers to the Young mans Objections and the Old mans scruples and so close up this discourse Ob. But some young men may object and say you would have us to bee good betimes and to seek and serve the Lord in the Prime-rose of our dayes but it may be time enough hereafter to follow this Counsel wee are young and it may bee time enough for us to minde these
So was Joseph Mephibosheth Naboth and in latter times Luther whom they said dyed despairing when hee was alive to confute it And that Beza run away with another mans wifâ— And that Calvin was branded on the shoulder for a Rogue but there would be no end of this stuff should I say all that might be said I Answer the best men have been mostly reproached David was Psal 69.7 Psal 89.50 Psal 119.22 Psal 31.11 Psal 109.25 and Job was Job 19 35. ch 20.3 Job 16.10 and Jeremiah was Jer. 20.7.10 Yea this hath been the common portion of the people of God in all ages of the World in Nehemiahs time it was so Neh. 1.3 And they said unto mee the remnant that are left of the captivity are in great affliction and reproach In Davids time it was so Psal 79.4 and Psal 44.13 14. And in Jeremiahs time it was so Lam. 5.1 Remember O Lord what is come upon us Consider and behold our reproach And in Daniels time it was so Dan. 9.16 Thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us and it was so in the Apostles time Rom. 3.8 And not rather as we be slanderously reported as some affirm that wee say let us do evil that good may come whose damnation is just 2 Cor. 6.8 By honour and dishonour by evill report and good report as Deceivers and yet true so in that 1 Tim. 4.10 for therefore wee both labour and suffer reproach because wee trust in the living God c. And it was so in the Primitive times for when the Christians met together before Sun to pray the Heathens reported of them that they worshiped the Sun Tertullian and aspired after Monarchy and committed Adulteries and unnatural uncleannesses Now who is troubled who complains of that which is a common lot as Cold Winter Sickness Death c. No more should any complain of reproaches it being the common lot of the people of God in all ages yea Christ himself was sadly reproached falsly accused and strangely traduced disgraced and scandalized hee was called a Glutton a Drunkard a friend of Publicans and Sinners and judged to use the Black Art casting out Devils by Belzebub the Prince of Devils Mat. 9.34 ch 12.24 Christ hath suffered the greatest and the worst reproaches why then should you be afraid to wear that Crown of Thorns that Christ hath wore before you there is a great truth in what hee said Non potest qui pati timet ejus essâ— qui passus est hee that is afraid to suffer Tertul. de fuga in persecut cannot bee his Disciple who suffered so much if the Master hath been marked with a black coal let not the servant think to go free I am heartily angry saith Luther with those that speak of my sufferings which if compared with that which Christ suffered for me are not once to be mentioned in the same day But Fourthly I Answer that all reproachers shall at last be arraigned at the highest bar of justice for all the reproaches that they have cast upon the people of God They think it strange or they think it a new world that you run not with them to the same excrss of riot 1 Pet. 4.4 Xenizontai Blasphemountes Wonder and Blaspheme speaking evil of you who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead I am in an extasy saith Picus Myrandula to think how prophane men rail upon those now whom one day they will wish they had imitated It was excellent Counsell that the Heathen Oratour gave his hearers ita vivamus Cic. 4. in Verr. ut rationem nobis reddendam arbitremur let us live as those that must give an account of all at last Chrysostome brings in Christ comforting his Disciples against reproaches speaking thus unto them what is the wrong grievous to you that now they call you Seducers and Conjurers it will not be long before they shall openly call you the Saviours and blessings of the whole world that time that shall declare all things that are now hid shall rebuke them for their lying words against you and shall kindle the splendor of your vertue Mal. 3.17 Mic. 7.9 10 11 1 Cor. 6.3 4 So they shall bee found Lyers evil speakers false accusers of others but you shall bee more clear and illustrious than the Sun and you shall have all men witnesses of your glory Such as wisely and humbly bear reproaches now shall judge reproachers at last But Fifthly I answer that God doth many times even in this life bear sad witness and testimony against the reproachers of his people Gen 12.3 2 Sam. 16.11 12 13 I will bless them that bless thee and I will curse them that curse thee Divine Justice is like Vulcans iron net that took the Gods It apprehends and condemns all that are reproachers and enemies to his people God will even in this life curse them with a witness who curse them that he blesseth Pharoah found it so and Saul found it so and Jezabel found it so and Haman found it so and the Princes of Babylon found it so and the Jews find it so to this very day And Oh the dreadful judgements and curses that God hath poured out upon the reproachers of his name of his Son of his spirit of his word of his Ordinanees and of his people in these dayes wherein we live I might give you many sad instances of such in our days whose feet justice hath taken in the snare men of abstracted conceits and sublime speculations and indeed such usually prove the great wise fools who like the larke soareth higher and higher peering and peering till at length they fall into the net of the fowler and no wonder for such persons usually are as censorious as they are curious Sixthly I Answer Paul rejoyced more in his suffering reproaches for Christs sake than he did in his being wrapt up in the third heaven 2 Cor. 12.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities Crudelitas vestra gloria nostra your cruelty is our glory said they in Tertullian Fire sword prison famine are all delightful to me saith Basil in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong And therefore you have him often a singing this Song I Paul a Prisoner of Jesus Christ not I Paul wrapt up in the third Heaven Hee look't upon all his sufferings as Gods love tokens he look't upon all reproaches as pledges and badges of his Son-ship and therefore joyes and glories under all Christ shewed his love to him in wraping him up in the third heaven and he shewed his love to Christ in his joyful bearing of reproaches for his sake Paul rattles his chain which he bears for the Gospel and was proud of it as a woman of her ornaments saith Chrysostome Now why should that bee matter of trouble and discouragement to you that was
upon examples now will finde that a stinging terrifying question when put home by God or conscience who hath required these things at your hands Isa 1 12. But Fourthly I answer company and allurements to sin will bee found no sufficient excuse for sin If Eve lay her fault on the Serpent Gen. 3. and Adam lay his on Eve God will take it off and lay the curse on both Sauls provocation by the people and by Samuels long stay to offer Sacrifice would not bear him out 1 Sam. 15.14 15 26 27. but for his disobedience hee must lose both his Crown and life The young man in the Proverbs Pro. 7.14 15 21. though tempted and solicited by the Harlot yet hath a dart struck thorough his heart though Jonah did plead Gods gracious inclinations to shew mercy and his fear of being disproved yea and though hee might have pleaded his fear of cruel and savage usage from the Ninevites whose hearts were desperately set upon wickednesse And his despair of ever doing good upon a people so blinded and hardened and that they were Gentiles and hee a Jew and why should hee then be sent with so strange so terrible a message to such a people nothing being more hateful and distasteful to a Jewish Palate but all these pleas and excuses will not bear off the blow Jonah must into the Sea for all this Oculos quos peccatum claudit paena apperit Gre. The eyes that sin shuts affliction opens and Jonab found it so yea hee must to the bottom of hell as himself phrases it it is in vain for the bird to complaine that it saw the corn but not the pitfall or for a fish to plead it saw the bait but not the hook So it will bee in vain for sinners at last when they are taken in an infernal pit-fall to plead company and allurements by which they have been intised to undo their souls for ever Dionysius the Sicilian King to excuse himself from the present delivery of the golden garment hee took from his God Apollo answered that such a robe as that was could not bee at any season of the year useful to his god for it would not keep him warm in the winter and it was too heavy for the summer and so put off his Idol god but the God of spirits the God of all flesh will not bee put off with any excuses or pretences when hee shall try and judge the children of men But Fifthly and lastly Mat. 18.7 I answer that it is a very great judgement to bee given up to follow evil examples a man given up to evil examples is a man sadly left of God wofully blinded by Satan and desperately hardened in sin it speaks a man ripe for wrath for ruine for hell Jer. 6.21 * This particle Behold is sometimes a note of derision Gen. 3.22 2 A Note of Attention often Isa 28.6 Mal. 1.1 Luk. 1.20 3 A Note of Admiration often 4 A Note of Asseveration 5 A Note of Castigation in all these senses we may take it here Behold I will lay stumbling blocks before this people and the Fathers and the Sons together shall fall upon them the neighbour and his friend shall perish Oh! it is a dreadful thing when God shall make the sinful examples of others to bee stumbling blocks to a people at which they shall stumble and fall and perish for ever good had it been for such persons that they had never been born as Christ once spake concerning Judas The Rhodians and Lydians enacted several Laws that those sons which followed not their Fathers in their vertues Varro but followed vicious examples should bee dis-inherited and their lands given to the most vertuous of that race not admitting any impious heir whatsoever to inherit and do you think that God will not disinherit all those of Heaven and happinesse who follow vicious examples doubtlesse hee will 1 Cor. 10.5 12. The fifth and last Objection I shall mention is this God is a God of mercy in him are bowels of mercy yea a Sea an Ocean of mercy hee loves mercy hee delights in mercy and hee is ready to shew mercy to poor sinners when they are even at the last cast when there is but a short stride between them and the grave between them and eternity as wee see in his extending mercy to the Theef and in his giving a pardon into his hand and the assurance of Paradise into his bosome when hee was ready to be turned off the Ladder of life and therefore I may spend the Prim-rose of my daies in following sin and the delights profits vanities and contents of this world and at last cast I may have mercy as well as the Theef God is a God made up of mercy and surely hee will not deny some crums of mercy to a poor sinner in misery c. Now to this Objection I shall give these following answers First God is as just as hee is merciful witnesse his casting the Angels out of Heaven and Adam out of Paradise God is as well all hand to punish as hee is all grace to pardon witnesse all the threatnings the curses the woes that the Bible is filled with from one end to the other witnesse the hell the horrour the terrour and amazement that hee raises in the consciences of sinners witnesse the devastations that hee hath made of the most stately flourishing Towns Cities Countries and Kingdomes that have been in all the world witnesse the variety of diseases calamities miseries dangers deaths and hells that alwaies attends the inhabitants of the world but above all witness Christs treading the Wine-press of his fathers wrath witness his hiding his face from him and the pouring out of all his displeasure and vengeance upon him Zaleucus the Locrensian Lawgiver Valerius lib. 6. cap. 5 thrust out one of his own sons eyes for his transgressing of a wholesome Law which hee had enacted but God the father thrust out both Christs eys for our transgressing of his royal Law Oh! the justice severity of God But Secondly I Answer that there is not a greater evidence of blindness prophanenesse hard-heartedness spiritual madness and hellish desperateness in all the World than to make that an Argument an incouragement to sin viz. the mercy of God which should be the greatest Argument under heaven to keep a man from Sin as all know that have but read the scripture neither are there any Sinners in the World that God delights to rain Hell out of Heaven upon Read Isa 22 12 13 14 15 and Ezek. 24.11 12 13 14 as upon such who by their abuse of mercy turns the God of mercy into a God of clâ—â—ts and goes on out-daring justice it self Deut. 29.19 20. And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he bless himself in his heart saying I shall have Peace God is a God of mercy though I walk in the imagination of
my heart to adde drunkenness to thirst The Lord will not spare him but then the Anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoak against that man and all the Curses that are written in this book shall lye upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven In these words you may observe that God is absolute in threatning to shew that he will bee resolute in punishing Psal 11.5 A lover of Iniquity is a liver in Iniquity upon choice 6. The wicked and him that loveth iniquity doth his soul hate Upon the wicked he shall rain snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup. Ah! That all poor sinners would make these two Scriptures their companions their constant bed-fellows till they are got above that sad temptation of turning the mercy of God into an incouragement to sin Whilst Milo Crotoniates was tearing a sunder the stock of an Oake his strength failing him the clift suddenly closing was held so fast by the hands that he became a prey to the beasts of the field All the abusers of mercy will certainly and suddenly become a prey to the justice of God that will rent and tear them in peices as the Psalmist speaks Psal 50.22 Wo wo to that soul that fights against God with his own mercies that will bee bad because hee is good that will be sinful because he is merciful that will turn all the kindnesses of God that should bee as so many silver cords to tye him to love and obedience into arrows and so shoot them back into the heart of God Abused mercy will at last turn into a Lyon a fierce Lyon and then wo to the abusers and despisers of it But Thirdly In Answer to that part of the Objection concerning the Thief on the Cross I offer these things briefly to your thoughts First Exemplum latronis servati est admirandum non imitandum That as one was saved to teach Sinners not to despair so another was damned to teach them not to presume A pardon is sometimes given to one upon the Gallows but who so trusts to that the rope may be his hire it is not good saith one to put it upon the Psalm of miserere and the neck verse for sometimes hee proves no Clerk and so hangs for it Secondly It is an example without a promise here is an example of late repentance but where is there a promise of late repentance Oh! Let not his late and sudden conversion be to thee a temptation till thou hast found a promise for late and sudden conversion it is not examples but promises that are foundations for faith to rest on he that walks by an example of mercy without a precept to guide him and a promise to support him walks but by a dark Lanthorn that will deceive him well young man remember this examples of mercy increase wrath when the heart is not bettered by them But Thirdly This was a rare miracle of mercy with the glory wherof Christ did honour the ignominy of his Cross and therfore wee may as well look for another crucifying of Christ as look for a sinners conversion when he hath scarce time enough to reckon up all those particular duties which make up the integrity of its constitution But Fourthly I Answer This Theif knew not Christ before he had not refused neglected nor slighted Christ before the Sermon on the Cross was the first Sermon that ever he heard Christ preach and Christs prayer on the Cross was the first prayer that ever he heard Christ make he knew not Christ till hee met him on the Cross which proved to him a happy meeting his case was as if a Turk or Heathen should now be converted to the faith and therefore thou hast little reason O young man to plead this example to keep Christ and thy soul asunder who art every day under the call the intreaties and wooings of Christ But Fifthly and Lastly I Answer The circumstances of time and place are rightly to be considered Now when Christ was triumphing on the Cross over sin satan and the world when he had made the devils a publik spectacle of scorn and derision when hee was taking his leave of the world and entering into his glory Now hee puts a pardon into the Theifs hand and crouds other favours and kindnesses upon him As in the Roman Triumphs the Victor being ascended up to the Capitol in a Chariot of state used to cast certain peeces of coyn among the people for them to pick up which hee used not to do at other times So our Lord Jesus Christ in the day of his Triumph and solemn inauguration into his heavenly kingdome scatters some heavenly jewels that this Theif might pick up which he doth not nor will not do every day Or as in these days it is usual with Princes to save some notorious malefactors at their coronation when they enter upon their kingdomes in Triumph which they do not use to do afterwards So did Jesus Christ carry it toward this Thief but this is not his ordinary way of saving and bringing souls to glory and therefore do not O young man let not the Thiefs late conversion prove a temptation or an occasion of thy delaying thy repentance and trifling away the primerose of thy dayes in vanity and folly And thus much may suffice to have spoken by way of Answer to the Young mans Objections The old mans Doubts Resolved I shall now speak a few words to Old men and so close up Now Is it so commendable so desirable and so necessary for young men to be good betimes to seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of their Youth as hath been sufficiently demonstrated in this Treatise Oh then that I could so wooe aged persons as to win them who yet have put off this great work to seek and serve the Lord before their glass be out their Sun set and their souls lost for ever Oh that that counsil of the Prophet might take hold upon your hearts Jer. 13.16 Give glory to the Lord your God before hee cause darknesse and before your feet stumble thorow age upon the dark mountains and while yee look for light he turn it into the shadow of death and make it gross darkness I but aged Sinners may reply is there any hope any help for us is there any probability is there any possibility that ever such as we are should return and finde mercy and favour with the Lord wee who have lived so long without him we that have sinned so much against him we that to this day are strangers to him yea in arms against him Is there any hope that we white-headed sinners who have withstood so many thousand offers of grace and so many thousand motions of the spirit and so many thousand checks of conscience and so many thousand tenders of Christ and heaven that ever we should obtain mercy that
things hereafter when wee have satisfied the flesh so and so or when wee have got enough of the world and laid up something that will stand us instead and that may oil our joynts when wee are old Now To this Objection I answer First That it is the greatest folly and madnesse in the world to put off God and the great things of eternity with may-bees what Trades-man what Merchant what Marriner so mad so foolish so blockish as to put off a present season a present opportunity of profit and advantage upon the account of a may-bee It may bee I may have as good a season it may bee I shall have as golden an opportunity to get and to inrich my self as this is and therefore farewell to this No men that are in their right minds will argue thus and why then should you especially in the things that are of an everlasting concernment to you I have read of one Monarcho a frantick Italian who thought that all the Kings of the Earth were his Vassals and as frantick are they who wilfully neglect present seasons of grace upon the account of a future may-bee c. Secondly I answer it may bee if thou neglectest this present season and opportunity of grace thou mayest never have another Young men if you will but go into burial places you shall finde graves exactly of your length it may bee mercy may never knock more if thou dost not now open it may bee Christ shall never bee offered to thee more if now thou dost not close with him and accept of him it may bee the Spirit will never strive more with thee if now thou dost resist him and withstand him it may bee a pardon shall never bee offered to thee more if now thou wilt not take it it may bee the Gospel shall never sound more in thy ears if now thou wilt not hear it now set one may-bee against another may-bee set Gods may-bee against thine own may-bee but Thirdly Doubtlesse there are many thousand thousands now in Hell who have pleased themselves and put off God and the seasons of grace with a may-bee hereafter may bee time enough It may bee when I have gratified such a lust It was an unspeakable vexation to King Lysamachus that his staying to drink one draught of water lost him his Kingdome and when I have treasured up so much of the world I will return and seek and serve the Lord but before ever this season or opportunity came justice hath cut the threed of their lives and they are now miserable for ever and now they are still a cursing themselves because they have slipt their golden opportunities upon the account of a may-bee c. But Fourthly and lastly This putting off of God and the present seasons of grace with a may-bee is very provoking to God as you may see if you will but read from the 20. verse to the 33. of the first of Proverbs Nothing stirs and provokes a Master more than his servants putting off his service or his commands with a may-bee it may bee I will it may bee I may do this and that nothing puts a Master sooner into a heat a flame than this nor nothing puts God more into a flame than this as you may see by comparing Psal 95. ver 6. to the end with that 3. of the Hebrews and the 7 8 9 10 11 15 16 17 18 19. read the words and tremble at the thought of a may-bee at the thoughts of putting off of God and the seasons of grace I have read of two who cut off their right hand one for another and then made it an excuse a put off they were lame and so could not serve in the Gallies of Francis the first King of France but this practise of theirs did so insense and provoke the King that hee sent them both to the Gallows I suppose the reader is not so young but knows how to apply it Object If I should begin to bee good betimes and to seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of my daies I should lose my friends I should lose their favour for they are carnal and worldly and had rather I should seek after gold than God the Creature than Christ Earth than Heaven c. Now to this I answer Surely you are out for First This is the high way the ready way to gain the best the surest and the soundest friends Prov. 16.7 When a mans waâ—es please the Lord hee maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him Job â—â— 23 â—,28 When a man falls in with God God will work the Creatures to fall in with him Joseph found it so and Jacob found it so and Job found it so the three Children found it so and Daniel found it so as you all know that have but read the Scripture And many in this age as bad as it is have found that the best way to make friends is first to make God our friend Ah young men young men you shall not lose your friends by seeking and serving of the Lord in the spring and morning of your daies but only exchange bad ones for good ones the worst for the best hee that gives up himself betimes to the Lord shall have God for his friend and Christ for his friend and the Angels for his friends and the Saints for his friends Christ will bee to such First An omnipotent friend Secondly An omniscient friend Thirdly An omnipresent friend Fourthly An indeficient friend Fifthly Luk. 15.7.10 Isa 6.7 8 9. Heb. 4 13. Isa 59.16 17 Isa 44.24 Mal. 3.6 Psa 121.4 â— An independant friend Sixthly An immutable friend Seventhly A watchful friend Eighthly A loving friend Ninethly A faithful friend Tenthly 1 John 4.16 Tit 1.2 Isa 63.9 A compassionate friend Eleventhly A close friend There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother Prov. 18.24 such a friend is Christ and such a friend is as ones own soul a rare happiness hardly to bee matcht Twelfthly An universal friend a friend in all cases and a friend in all places Christ is so a friend to every one of his as if he were a friend to none besides hence it is that they say not onely our Lord our God but my Lord and my God Luk. 1.43 John 20.28 Phil. 4.19 Christ is such an universal friend as that he supplies the place and acts the part of every friend Thirteenthly He is our first friend Psal 90.1 before we had a friend in all the World he was our friend John 13.1 Alexander the Great cannot cut that knot of friendship that is tyed betwixt Christ and his Prov. 8.21 Lastly He is a constant friend whom he loves hee loves to the end Augustus Caesar would not suddenly entertain a league of friendship with any but was a constant friend to those hee loved Amare nec cito desisto nec temere incipio late ere I love as long ere I