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
shall cease from breathing on earth and therefore young men as you would bee high in heaven as you would have a great reward a full reward a massie weighty Crown O labour to be good betimes labour to get acquaintance with the Lord and an interest in the Lord in the spring and morning of your days The seventh Motive or consideration to provoke and incite you to bee good betimes is to consider that 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 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem saying I remember thee Jer. 2.2 the kindness of thy Youth the love of thine esspousals when thou wentest after mee in the wildernesse in a land that was not sown Ah! how kindly how sweetly did the Lord take this at their hands that they followed him in their youth while their bones were full of marrow while they were strong and fit for service while nature was fresh lively and vigorous In the Law God called for the first of all things Exod. 23.19 hee required not only the first fruits but the very first of the first The first of the first-fruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God God is the first being the first good and therefore deserves the first of the first and the best of the best T is truely said of God that he is Omnia su per omnia the first and the best is not too good for him who is goodness it self God in that of Leviticus 2.14 is so passionately set upon having the first of the first that he will not stay till the green ears of Corn be ripe but will have the green ears of corn dryed in the fire least he should loose his longing As many young women and sickly children cannot stay till the fruit be ripe but must have it while it is green even so saith God my heart my desires are so vehemently set upon the first fruits the first things that I cannot stay I cannot satisfie my self without them and what would God teach us by all this but to serve him with the first-fruits of our age the prim-rose of our child-hood the morning of our youth God hath given you of the best do not put him off with the worst with the worst of your time the worst of your days the worst of your strength least he swear in his wrath that you shall never enter into his rest The eighth Motive or Consideration to provoke you to bee good betimes to seek and serve the Lord in the morning of your youth is Early Converts will never have cause to say as that despairing Pope said the Cross could do him no good because he had so often sold it away to consider that this may bee a special means to prevent many black temptations and an encouragement to withstand all temptations that you may meet with from a tempting Devil and a tempting World an early turning to the Lord will prevent many temptations to despair many temptations to neglect the means openly to despise the means secretly many temptations about the being of God the goodnesse faithfulnesse truth and justice of God temptations to despair temptations to lay violent hands on a mans self temptations to question all that God hath said and that Christ hath suffered arises many times from mens delaying and putting off of God to the last all which with many others are prevented by a mans seeking and serving of the Lord in the spring and morning of his youth It is reported of the Harts of Scythia that they teach their young ones to leap from bank to bank from rock to rock from one turfe to another by leaping before them by which means when they are hunted no beast of prey can ever take them so when persons exercise themselves in godliness when they are young when they leap from one measure of holiness to another when they are in the morning of their days Satan that mighty hunter after souls may pursue them with his temptations Heb. 11 Gen. 39 Dan. 31. ult but hee shall not overtake them he shall not prevail over them As you see in Moses Joseph Daniel and the three children these knew the Lord and gave up themselves to the Lord in the prime and Prime-rose of their Youth and these were all temptation-proof Satan and the World pursued them but could not overtake them when the Devill and the World had done their worst the young mens bows abode in strength Gen. 49.23 24 and their hands to resist were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob Ego non sum ego said that young convert when tempted I am not the man that I was Luther tells of a young Virgin that used to resist all temptations with this Christianus sum I am a Christian Early Converts may say when tempted as hee tell mee not Satan what I have been but what I am and will bee or as hee in the like case whatsoever I was Bernard Beza I am now in Christ a new creature and that is it which troubleth thee or as hee Augustin Such as thou art now I was once but such as I am now thou wilt never be said Diogenes to a base fellow that told him he had once been a forger of money the more desperate my disease was the more I admire the Physitian Yea thou mayest yet strain it a peg higher and say the greater my sins were the greater is my honor As the Devils which once Mary Magdalen had are mentioned for her glory when Pyrrhus tempted Fabritius the first day with an Elephant so huge and monstrous a beast as before hee had not seen the next day with money and promises of honour hee answered I fear not thy force I am too wise for thy fraud Ah! Young men Young men as you would be free from the saddest and darkest temptations and as you would be armed against all temptations O labour as for life to be good betimes seek and serve the Lord in the morning of your Youth no way like this for the preventing earthquakes heart-quakes stormy days and winter nights c. The ninth Motive or Consideration to stir up young men to be good betimes to seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of their youth is to consider the worth and excellency of souls A soul is a spiritual immortal substance Luk. 23.43 Mat. 10.28 Act. 7. ult it is capable of the knowledge of God it is capable of union with God of communion with God Phil. 1.23 and of a blessed and happy fruition of God Christ left his fathers bosome for the good of souls Heb. 2.13 14 15 16 he assumed mans nature for the salvatition of mans soul Christ prayed for souls he sweat for souls he wept for souls hee bled for souls Isa 63.3 4 he hung on
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
seek the Lord to day Otho the Emperor slew himself with his own hands but slept so soundly the night before Plutarch reporteth the like of Cato that the grooms of his Chamber heard him snort Young men I will suppose you to be good accountants now if you please to count the number and mark the age of the Sacrifices in the old Testament you shall finde more Kids and Lambs offered than Goats and old Sheep You have no lease of your lives you are not sure that you shall live to Isaacks age Gen. 27.1 to live till your eyes wax dim you are not sure that you shall live to Jacobs years and die Heb. 11.21 leaning upon the top of a staff Job 36.14 You read of them who die in their youth and whose lives are among the unclean Slip not the present season neglect not this day of grace let not Satan keep your souls and Christ any longer asunder by telling of you As out of the boughs of a tree are taken wedges to cleave it in peeces so out of our own lusts Satan works Engines to destroy us that you are too young that hereafter will bee time enough Austin tells us that by this very temptation the Devil kept him off from receiving of Christ from closing with Christ Seven years together hee could no sooner think of inquiring after Christ of getting an interest in Christ of leaving off his sinful courses c. but Satan would bee still a suggesting thou art too young to leave thy drunkenness thou art too young to leave thy Dalilahs to leave thy Harlots till at last hee cryed out how long shall I say it is too soon why may I not repent to day and lay hold on Jesus Christ to day c. Ah young men this is your day this is your season if you will not now hearken and obey you may perish for ever Caesar had a letter given him by Artemidorus that morning hee went to the Senate wherein notice was given him of all the conspiracy of his murtherers so that with ease hee might have prevented his death but neglecting the reading of it was slain hee slipt his season and dyes for it Ah! how many for sliping gracious seasons and opportunities have died for ever Soul-opportunities are more worth than a thousand worlds mercy is in them grace and glory is in them heaven and eternity is in them Fifthly To provoke you to bee good betimes consider how just it is with God to reserve the dregs of his wrath for them who reserve the dregs of their dayes for him how can a husband embrace that wife in her old age who hath spent all the time of her youth in following after strangers Will any man receive such into his service who hath all their dayes served his enemies and received such wounds blows and bruses that renders them unfit for his service Ah young men young men Deut. 32.6 do not thus foolishly and unwisely requite the Lord for all his patient waiting his gracious wooing and his merciful dealing with you Ah! do not put off God to old age Multa senem circumveniunt incommoda Horatius Many are the inconveniences that do encompass an old man for old lame and sick Sacrifices rarely reach as high as Heaven Is not old age very unteachable in old age are not men very unapt to take in and as unapt to give out In old age oftentimes men are men and no men they have eyes but see not ears but hear not tongues but speak not feet but walk not An aged man is but a moving Anatomy or a living Mortuary now how unlovely how uncomely how unworthy nay how incensing how provoking a thing must this needs bee The reproach of the evil of wickednesse is not to bee added to old age Solet enim senectus esse deformis infirma obliviosa edeutula luerosa indocilis molesta saith Plutarch in Apothegm Rom. For old age useth to be deformed weak forgetful toothlesse covetous unteachable unquiet when men will dally with God and put him off till their doting dayes have overtaken them till their spring is past their Summer overpast and they arrived at the fall of the leaf yea till winter colour have stained their heads with gray and hoary hairs How provoking this is you may see in those sad words of Jeremiah Jer. 22.21 22. I spake unto thee in thy proserity but thou said'st I will not hear this hath been thy manner from thy youth that thou obeyest not my voice But will God put up this at their hands no therefore it follows in the next verse Surely thou shalt bee ashamed and confounded for all thy wickednesse Oh that young men would let this Scripture lye warm every morning upon their hearts that so they may not dare to put off God and provoke him to their own confusion though you are young and in your strength yet are you stronger than God can you make your party good with him if you will needs bee a provoking provoke them that are your matches and do not contend with him that is mightier than you that can command you into nothing or into Hell at pleasure Sixthly consider that the sooner you are good on earth the greater will bee your reward in Heaven the sooner you are gracious Psal 58.11 Gen. 15.1 Psal 19.11 the more at last you will bee glorious you read in the Scripture of a reward of a great reward Matth. 5.12 Heb. 10.35 John 2.8 and of a full reward now those that are good betimes that know seek serve and love the Lord in the spring and morning of their youth they are in the fairest way of gaining the greatest and the fullest reward And this I shall make clear by that which follows First The sooner any man begins to bee really good the more good hee will do in this world Now the more good any man doth on earth the more glory hee shall have in Heaven Therefore my beloved Brethren 1 Cor. 15.58 bee yee stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. Mans wages mans reward shall bee according to his works hee that doth most work here shall have most reward hereafter God will at last proportion the one to the other 2 Cor. 9.6 the reward to the work Hee which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and hee which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully Though no man shall bee rewarded for his works yet God will at last measure out happinesse and blessednesse to his people Rom. 2.5 6 7. according to their service faithfulnesse diligence and work in this world Grace is glory in the bud and glory is grace at the full glory is nothing else but a bright constellation of graces happinesse nothing but the quintessence of holinesse Grace and glory differ non specie sed gradu in degree not kind as the
plenae sunt there he will store up mercies new and old there hee will treasure up all plenty rariety and variety there he will lay up all that heart can wish or need require O the many drops of myrrhe that falls from Christs fingers upon their hearts O the many secrets that Christ reveals in their ears O the many love letters that Christ sends to these O the many visits that hee gives to these O the turns the walks that hee hath in Paradise with these there are none in the World for experience and intelligence to these Ah! Young men young men as you would be rich in the best riches beginne to be good betimes as there is no riches to spiritual riches so there is no way to be rich in these riches but by beginning to be good in good earnest betimes As for worldly riches If there were any happiness in riches the Gods would not want them saith Seneca Philosophers have contemn'd them and prefer'd a contemplative life above them and shall not Christians much more the Prophet calls them thick clay which will fooner break the back than lighten the heart they cannot better the soul they cannot enrich the soul Ah! how many thred-bare souls are to be found under silken cloaks and gowns how often are worldly riches like hang-men they hide mens faces with a covering that they may not see their own end and then they hang them And if they do not hang you they will shortly leave you they make themselves wings and fly away when one was a commending the riches and wealth of Merchants I do not love that wealth said a Heathen that hangs upon ropes if they break the ship miscarrieth and all is lost He is rich enough saith Jerom that lacketh not bread and high enough in dignity that is not forced to serve This worlds wealth that men so much desire May well be likened to a burning fire Whereof a little can do little harm But profit much our bodies wel to warm But take too much and surely thou shalt burn So too much wealth to too much woe do's turn It was an excellent saying of Lewis of Bauyer Emperour of Germany hujusmodi comparandae sunt opes quae cum naufragio simul enatent such goods are worth getting and owning as will not sink or wash away if a shipwrack happen but will wade and swim out with us we see such are the spiritual riches that will attend those who in the spring and morning of their youth shall know the Lord and serve the Lord and get an interest in the Lord and thus much for the third motive The fourth motive to provoke young ones to be really good betimes is to consider that the present time the present day is the onely season that you are sure of time past cannot be recalled and time to come cannot be ascertained Heb. 3.15 To day if you hear his voice harden not your hearts Behold now is the acceptable time 2 Cor. 6.2 The whole Earth hangs on a point so doth heaven and eternity on an inch of opportunity now is the day of Salvation some there bee that trifle away their time and fool away their souls and their salvation to prevent this the Apostle beats upon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the present opportunity because if that be once past there is no recovering of it therefore as the Marriner takes the first fair wind to sail and as the Merchant takes his first opportunity of buying and selling and as the Husbandman takes the first opportunity of sowing and reaping So should young men take the present season the present day which is their day to be good towards the Lord to seek him and serve him and not to post off the present season for they know not what another day another hour another moment may bring forth that door of grace that is open to day may be shut to morrow that golden Scepter of mercy that is held forth in the Gospel this day may be taken in the next day that love that this hour is upon the bare knee intreating and beseeching young men to break off their Sinnes by repentance to return to the Lord Isa 27.4 5 to lay hold on his strength and be at peace with him may the next hour be turned into wrath Ah! the noble motions that have been lost the good purposes that have withered the immortal souls that have miscarried by putting off the present season the present day Paul discoursing before Felix of righteousnesse Act. 24.25 temperance and judgment to come and in this discourse striking at two special vices that Felix was particularly guilty of he falls a trembling and being upon the wrack to hear such doctrin he bids Paul depart for that time and he would call for him at a convenient season here Felix neglects his present season and we never read that ever after this he found a convenient time or season to hear Paul make an end of the subject he had begun So Christ made a very fair offer to the Young man in the Gospell Go and sell that thou hast Mat. 21 22 23 24 and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven here Christ offers heavenly treasures for earthly treasures unmixt treasures for mixt treasures perfect treasures for imperfect trealures satisfying treasures for unsatisfying treasures lasting treasures for fading treasures but the young man slips his opportunity his season and goes away sorrowfull and we never read more of him Ah! Young men young men do not put off the present season Often consider what the damned would give were it in their hands for one season of grace for one opportunity of mercy do not neglect the present day there is no time yours but the present time no day yours but the present day and therefore do not please your selves and feed your selves with hopes of time to come and that you will repent but not yet and lay hold on mercy but not yet and give up your selves to the Lord next week next mouth or next year for that God that hath promised you mercy and favour upon the day of your return he hath not promised to prolong your lives till that day comes when a Souldier was brought before Lamacus a Commander for a mis-behaviour and pleaded he would do so no more Lamacus answered non licet in bello his peccare no man must offend twice in War So God especially in these Gospel days wherein the motions of Divine justice are more smart and quick than in former days happily will not suffer men twice to neglect the day of grace Heb. 3.2 and let slip the seasons of mercy Ah young men young men you say you will bee good towards the Lord before you die but if you are not good towards the Lord to day you may dye to morrow nay justice may leave him to bee his own executioner to morrow who will not repent nor
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
ever we should have our old hearts turned our millions of Sin pardoned our vile natures changed and poor souls saved c. I Answer that there is hope even for such as you are all the Angels in heaven and all the men on earth cannot tell but that you even you may obtain mercy and favour that your souls dye not with the Lord nothing is impossible and for the grace of the Gospel nothing is too hard now this I shall make evident by an induction of partilars thus First Mat. 20 1â—â—â—17 The Roman penny was seven pence half penny All were not called nor sent to work in the Vineyard at the first-hour some were called at the third-hour others at the sixth others at the ninth and some at the eleventh God hath his several times of calling souls to himself the eleventh hour was about five in the afternoon an hour before Sun-set when it was even time to leave work and yet at this hour some were called imployed and rewarded with the rest Some of the fathers by the several hours mentioned in this Parable do understand the several ages of man viz. Childhood youth middle-age and Old-age wherein poor souls are called and converted to Christ the scope of the Parable is to signify the free-grace of God in the calling of some in the spring and morning of their days and in the calling of others in their Old-age in the evening of their days But Secondly Abraham in the Old Testament Gen. 12.4 Joh. 3.1 2 3 4. ch 7.50 and Nicodemus in the New were called and converted in their old age when there were but a few steps between them and the grave between them and eternity therefore let not the gray-headed sinner despair though his spring be past his summer over past and he arrived at the fall of the leaf But Thirdly Divine promises shall be made good to returning souls to repenting souls to beleeving souls Isa 1.18 Jer. 3.12 Isa 43.22 23 24 25 Isa 57.17 18 Jer. 5â— 5 John 3.16 Mar. 16.16 be they young or old 2 Chron. 30.9 The Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you if you return unto him Joel 2.13 And rent your heart and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for hee will abundantly pardon or hee will multiply to pardon More of this you may see by reading the Scriptures in the margent all sorts of sin shall bee pardoned to all sorts of beleeving and repenting sinners The new Jerusalem hath twelve Gates to shew that there is every way access for all sorts and ranks of Sinners to come to Christ He was born in an Inn to shew that hee receives all comers young and Old poor and rich c. But Fourthly The Lord hath declared by Oath a greater delight in the conversion and salvation of poor sinners whether they are young or old than in the destruction and damnation of such Ezek. 33.11 As I live saith the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will ye dye O ye house of Israell two things make a thing more credible 1 The quality or dignity of the person speaking 2 The manner of the speech Now here you have the great God not onely speaking promising but solemnly swearing that hee had rather poor sinners should live than dye bee happy than miserable therefore despair not Oh aged sinner but return unto the Lord and thou shalt bee happy for ever But Fifthly Vna guttula plus valet quam caelum terra Luther One little drop is more worth than heaven and earth there is vertue enough in the precious blood of Jesus Christ to wash and cleanse away all sin not only to cleanse away the young mans sins but also to cleanse away the old mans sins not only to cleanse a sinner of twenty years old but to cleanse a sinner of fifty sixty yea a hundred years old 1 Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin not simply from sin but from all sin there is such a power and efficacie in the blood of Christ as is sufficient to cleanse all sorts of sinners from all sorts of sins there is vertue in the blood of the Lamb to wash out all the spots that are in the oldest sinners heart and therefore let not old sinners despair let not them say there is no hope there is no help as long as this fountain the blood of Jesus Christ is open for all sorts of sinners to wash in But Sixthly The call and invitations of Christ in the Gospel are general and indefinite excluding no sort of sinners Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man mark the indefinitenesse of personal admittance hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and hee with mee let the sinner bee old or young a green head or a gray head if hee will but open the door Christ will come in and have communion and fellowship with him So in that Mat. 11.28 Isa 55.1 John 7.37 Rev. 22.17 turn to these Scriptures and dwell upon them they all clearly evidence the call and gracious invitations of Christ to bee to all sinners to every sinner hee excepts not a man no though never so old nothing shall hinder the sinner any sinner the worst and most aged sinner from obtaining mercy if hee bee willing to open to Christ and to receive him as his Lord and King John 6.37 But Seventhly Christs pathetical lamentation over all sorts and ranks of sinners declares his willingnesse to shew mercy to them O Jerusalem Jerusalem saith Christ Luk. 19.41 42. weaping over it that thou hadst known in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace Psal 81.13 c. O that my people had hearkened unto mee Christ weeps over Jerusalem so did Titus and so did Marcellus over Syracuse and so did Scipio over Carthage but they shed tears for them whose blood they were to shed but Christ weeps over the necks of those young and old sinners who were to shed his blood As a tender hearted Father weeps over his rebellious Children when neither smiles nor frowns neither counsels nor intreaties will win them or turn them from their evil waies So doth Jesus Christ over these rebellious Jews upon whom nothing would work But Eighthly and lastly though aged sinners have given Christ many thousand denyals yet he hath not taken them but after all Psal 65.1 2. Rom. 10.21 and in the face of all denyals hee still re-inforces his suit and continues to beseech them by his Spirit 1 Joh. 5.2 3. by his word by his wounds by his blood by his messengers and by his rebukes to turn home to him to embrace him to beleeve in him and to match with him that they may bee saved eternally by him all which bespeaks gray-headed sinners not to despair nor to dispute but to repent return and beleeve that it may go well with them for ever Consider seriously what hath been spoken and the Lord make you wise for eternity There are three other Books lately published by Mr. Brooks 1 Precious remedies against Satans devices or salve for Beleevers and unbeleevers sores being a companion for those that are in Christ or out of Christ that slight or neglect ordinances under a pretence of living above them that are growing in spirituals or decaying that are tempted or deserted afflicted or opposed that have assurance or want it 2 Cor. 2.11 2 Heaven on Earth or a serious discourse touching a well grounded assurance of mens everlasting happiness and blessednesse discovering the nature of assurance the possibility of attaining it the Causes Springs and Degrees of it with the resolution of several weighty questions Rom. 8.32 33 34. 3 The unsearchable Riches of Christ or meat for strong men and milk for babes held forth in two and twenty Sermons from Ephesians 3.8 preached on his lecture nights at Fishstreet-hill All three Printed for and sold by John Hancock at the first shop in Popeshead-Alley next to Cornhill 1657. FINIS