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A64999 Words of advice to young men delivered in two sermons at two conventions of young men, the one Decemb. 25, 1666, the other Decemb. 25, 1667 / by Thomas Vincent ... Vincent, Thomas, 1634-1678. 1668 (1668) Wing V452; ESTC R11106 64,706 122

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their posterity Dear young men labour to overcome this temptation of the wicked one by the delight and pleasure of sin by taking into your most serious thoughts these few Considerations 1. Consider that all the pleasures of sin are low mean empty thin unsatisfying pleasures they are sensual and br●…itish A beast can finde 〈◊〉 pleasure in the most of them than you can do who are capable of higher pleasures these delights may please your sensual appe●…te but they cannot satisfie your rational souls they may satiate and glut the senses but they cannot content the heart The Devil and lust may promise full satisfaction and contentment if you will commit such and such sins but they alwaies fall short in the performance I would ask these three questions of the most luxurious persons 1. Whether ever they found so much pleasure in any sin as they expected and desired 2. Whether the choicest of their pleasures have not in a short time brought a weariness and trouble upon their spirits 3. Whether this weariness and trouble hath not been more irksome and grievous to them than their sensual pleasures have been pleasing and delightful yea let me add a fourth If amongst the choicest and chiefest of their delights in which thev finde most sweetness they had but one delight without change and variety whether that delight would not quickly lose its nature and prove a torment to them If they were bound alwaies to eat or continually to drink or without intermission to be alwaies in the act of adultery would not this be more bitter than sweet These pleasures are unsatisfying the soul can be satisfied with nothing beneath the enjoyment of God by whom and for whom it was made 2. Consider the shortness of these pleasures The Apostle calleth them pleasures of sin for a season Heb. 11. 25. And as he saith of some meats that they perish in the using Col. 2. 22. so some pleasures they perish in the enjoying the enjoyment of them doth put a period unto them and those that are most durable they quickly flit away as a cloud or vapour which if not blown away by the wind they vanish of their own accord If the stormy wind of outward affliction do not puff out the candle of wicked mens joy yet the daies of old age are drawing on in which they shall say They have no pleasure in them Eccles. 12. 1. Death be sure will sweep them all away there will be no sinful pleasures in the other world 3. Consider the sting of the pleasures of sin which is not in the mouth but in the tail Grief and wounds and piercing sorrows will be the issue of sin Sin hath a far differing aspect in the temptation before it is committed and in the reflection after it is committed especially when they begin to be plagued for it In the temptation sin lookerh fair and beautiful and with a pleasant countenance but in the r●…flection it is black grizly and terrible Hence it is that wicked men who can delight themselves so much in the fore-thoughts of sin when they are enticed unto it yet cannot endure to look back on sin with fore-thoughts of the account they must give unto God for it Sin though never so pleasant will in a short time produce more bitterness a thousand-fold than ever it did yield sweetness Besides the lashes and stings of conscience which sensualists sometimes have in their secret retirements how are they if any thing awakened at their latter end even utterly consum●…d with terrours But O the horrible anguish that will seize upon th●…ir spirits so soon as they are separated from their bodies O the tearings that they will feel of the never-dying Worm when they are clapt in the dark dungeon of Hell where they will be under the immediate impression of the wrath of the sin-revenging God! If sensualists did but believe and seriously consider the pains which they must endure in body and soul for ever for their sinful pleasures it would quench their desires after them If the Drunkard did see Dives instead of his bowls and goblets of rich wine begging for a drop of water to cool his tongue surely they would sooner drink poison than drink unto excess I●… filthy forn●…cators did but know what dreadful horrour doth now possess and fill the parted souls of those which have lived in that sin surely they would rather take a Toad into their bosomes than embrace the bosome of an Harlot 2. The second Temptation whereby the wicked one draweth young men unto the commission of sin is by the glory and repute of it Not long after our Saviour was baptized he was led into the wilderness and tempted by the wicked one and amongst other temptations this was one the discovery and proffer which he made unto him of the glory of the world if he would fall down and worship him Luk. 4. 5 6 7. And with the proposals of glory and repute in a way of sin he doth perswade young men to the practice thereof in the management of which Temptation 1. He doth represent unto them the waies of God as reproachful the service of God as ridiculous the people of God as the most contemptible persons under the Sun as base ignoble and mean-spirited people hiding the high dignity and honour the Lord hath conferred upon them 2. He covereth the shame and disgrace of sin he doth what he can to hide from their consideration the filthiness and loathsome nature of it and what confusion of face will be the consequent of sin at the last 3. He putteth a glorious attire upon sin and painteth it over with such fair colours and representeth it unto them with such a varnish of brightness and beauty that it seemeth to them very desirable He useth many arts to bring sin into credit and employeth his cursed Agents to commend sin with the highest Elogiums as if it were a noble thing and worthy of great repute to encourage young men by acclamations of bravery of spirit when they aspire to be wicked in a high degree 4. And so fourthly joyning in with the lust of Pride and a desire of esteem he doth provoke them to do any thing which may make for their repute But dear young ones labour to overcome this temptation of the wicked one whereby he would draw you to sin by the glory and repute of it which that you may do consider 1. That sin hath no repute except it be amongst the vilest persons whose esteem thereof doth render it so much the more odious and abominable 2. That the Holiness of God is his most glorious Attribute and therefore sin which is directly opposite hereunto can have no real glory in it therefore sin is the only abominable thing which he hateth therefore he lightly esteemeth he looketh upon afar off he scorneth and despiseth he loatheth and abhorreth all the workers of iniquity 3. That the honour of sin is empty vain windy short transitory like the
one side and him that sweareth on the other side God threatneth to condemn swearers Jam. 5. 12. Above all things swear not lest ye fall into condemnation Take heed of the horrid oaths of the roaring Blades in our times and take heed of more petty oaths of faith and troth take heed also of cursing and taking Gods Name in vain remembring that the Lord will not hold such guiltless 7. Young men take heed of Lying See Eph. 4. 25. Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth You would not speak lyes if the party you spoke them unto did know and could prove them to be lyes the intent of lyes being to cover God knoweth your lyes you cannot cover any thing from him and God being Truth loveth truth and hateth lyes and hath threatned lyars to give them their portion in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21. 8. Take heed of accustoming your selves to this sin of lying whilst you are young it will be hard ever leaving it Whatever advantage you may think to get by a lye I am sure your damage will be greater Whatever credit you may think to get by a lye your dishonour is greater Whatever fault you cover by a lye you do hereby the more aggravate it Whatever kindness you may think to do another by a lye you do your selves a thousand-fold more injury Though you may account lyes but words and words but wind yet for such words you will be condemned and such a wind as one saith is sufficient to blow your souls into Hell 8. Young men take heed of Unfaithfulness You that are Apprentices or Servants take he●…d of unfaithfulness to your Masters that you do not wrong and d●…fraud them in the least remembring that dreadful threatning that God will be avenged upon all defrauders 1 Thes. 4. 6. They may not know your fraud and deceit but God is privy to it and the vengeance will be fearful which one day he will recompence unto you for this sin Read the duty of servants in this regard Tit. 2. 10. where they are warned against purloining and exhorted to shew all good fidelity that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Be faithful to your Masters as to their estates their money and goods be careful as if they were your own do not wrong them or any else whilst young remembring that you must make restitution as ever you hope for salvation if you be able to do it and be faithful to them as to their counsels do not blaze abroad their secrets do not make known their infirmities serve them with all uprightness and fidelity as if you were to serve Christ himself for indeed he will count it so and hath promised a reward to faithful servants beyond what their Masters can give Eph. 6. 8. Col. 3. 24. 9. Young men take heed of Disobedience Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well pleasing to God Col. 3. 20. For this is the first Commandment with promise Ephes. 6. 2. Servants be obedient unto them which are Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ not with eye-service as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart Ephes. 6. 5 6. Here is a copy of your duty take heed of the contrary sin which the wicked one will be busie to tempt you unto In disobeying Parents and Governours you are disobedient unto God and displease Christ your great Master if they be strangers to Christ you ought to obey them except in those things which are unlawful Young ones that are yet under Governm●…nt take heed of disobedience as obedience will be rewarded by Christ so disobedience will be punished by him at his second appearance Be not disobedient to Governours and behave not your selves irreverently towards the aged and gray-headed for you ought to honour the silver-hair 10. Young men take heed of Idleness Do not loiter away your time especially the time of your youth Time is very precious the time of your youth is most precious the choicest and chiesest it is your seed-time your gathering-time you are now more active and fit for employment you may happily spare a month better if you should live beyond fifty years than an hour now your whole time is short the time of your youth will be slipt away quickly manhood and old age will steal on you before you are aware but you ●…ie whilst young You can call no time yours 〈◊〉 the present O how precious is the present hour I think if the damned had but one hour given them how they would esteem and improve it I have heard of a Lady at her death who had mis-spent the ●…ime of her life groaned out in her air breath this sad speech with bitterness and earnestness 〈◊〉 thousand worlds for one quarter of an hour 〈◊〉 Take heed of lavishing away your time in sin and va●…y let not an hour pass without doing something fill up your whole time with duty you may can and drink and sleep but let not the concernments of your body devour too much of your precious time let them not have more of your time than is necessary more than is duty Redeem your time double your diligence remember how much of your time is irrecoverably gone how much of your work is still to do remember how neer you are to eternity when time shall be no more therefore apply your hearts to wisdom and whatever your hands finde to do do it with all your might Take heed of idleness in your particular callings be diligent in your secular imployments the diligent hand maketh rich but the slothful person is brother to him that is a great waster Take heed of idleness of spiritual sloth in your general Callings Take heed of wholly neglecting the duties of Gods Worship either publick or family or closet of neglecting to hear or read or pray and take heed of negligence in these duties there is a curse denounced against such as do the work of the Lord negligently Jer. 48. 10. You must not be slothful if you would be followers of them who through faith and patience have inherited the Promises Heb. 6. 12. 11. Young men take heed of Sabbath-breaking Do not idle away this day as too many young men do in the fields in visits in vain company much less in Taverns or Alehouses in drinking and greater wickedness than all the week besides Value the Sabbath day above all the daies of the week spend it in the duties of Gods immediate Worship you may get something in the shop en the week day you may get more in Gods House and Ordinances on the Lords day spiritual light and life and strength and peace and joy Gods favour Jewels of grace evidences for Heaven are worthy your seeking do not lose such benefits as these by profaning the Sabbath-day by suffering worldly business to entrench