and destruction from the Almighty upon the Children of Men. A day that all are enough warned of a day that few duly provide for This is that day that shall decide that great Case which hath so long depended that shall resolve that Question of all Questions which to this hour hovers and passes to and â—ro so thoughtfully in all mens minds Then shall the Lord shew who is holy and who are his This is that day wherein the World to its utter astonishment as Iosephs Brethren troubled at the unexpected â—ight of one so little looked for so little delighted in shall yet once again hear and see more of Christ That the residue oâ— the great work of Redemption might be finished and the Kingdom delivered up according to the earnest longing of the whole Creation in the fulness of its glory to the Father This is once more that day wherein grace and grace alone shall find favour in the eyes of God Hypocrisie shall then shelter none Estates shall then buy off none It is the just Judge of the whole Earth who sitteth then upon our trials and a righteous judgement according as every mans Case shall then be sound he will impartially pass None can here plead ignorance oâ— say they heard not of it Enoch the seventh from Adam so long ago prophesied of this so openly that who would might understand it Behold he cometh with ten thousand of his Saints We cannot make our selves strangers to it The blind and the deaf both heard and saw it The poor Heathen awaked as amazed men and said one to another This World will one day have a tragick end and we shall all be certainly judged for what we now do Their Philosophers they freely yielded it Their Sybils and Poets dayly sung of it And all flesh may now without further thought or doubt sit down and confess with the Apostle 〈◊〉 We know we must all none excepâ—ted appear before the judgement seat of Christ in the solemnest case that ever was tried to receive of him according to the things done in the body whether they be good or whether they be evil 2 Cor. 5.10 Oh Young Man Young Man how often hast thou seriously thought of this day A day wherein these eyes of thine shall see Christ himself coming in the clouds with great power and glory from the brightness of whose presence Heaven and Earth shall be ready to flee away Then shalt thou see thâ—se Royal Officers of State the Angels of Heaven so numerously up and down amongst us attending their Masters business summoning the Graves of the Earth calling to the Waters of the Sea to deliver up their dead almost now forgotten that have been so long since committed to them Then shalt thou hear the shrill voice of the last Trumpet sounding that solemn Call to all Flesh Arise ye dead and come unto judgement Oh how loth will the Sinner be to rise at the ringing of this Watch-bell How little heart will he have to put on his old cloaths of sinful Flesh and appear in them before the Lord How loth to meet with his body in so sad a place upon so sad an occasion that they may now together as joyless Companions receive the bitter wages of all their former sins Then shall you see the Prophets Vision dry bones live indeed then shall the dead awake from their Long sleep the Father with the Son the Poor with the Rich and go to receive every one their several Sentence from the Lord. Then must the Sun be content to be darkned and the Moon to the amazement of all beholders shall become as bloud Then must the Stars like withered leaves fall from their places The Flouds roaring the Earth flaming the Elements melting the Heavens like a Scrowl of Parchment passing away and almost all Flesh shreeking and crying out In vain have we flattered our selves in vain have we put far from us the evil day Notwithstanding all our lothness it is come even the day of his wrath and who can stand before him Then comes forth the definitive Sentence from the Judge's own lips to the godly on the right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared so long by me desired so affectionately by you Enter ye now at length once for ever into the joy of your Lord. Then also comes forth that heart-wounding Condemnation on the left hand Depart from me ye Cursed go go cursed ye are and shall now to your own everlasting smart feel it far from any rayes of blessedness shining upon you shall your place henceforth be and your condition as far from rest or ease Depart from me ye Cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Then shall that slighted word Eternity trampled so much under foot now be found and felt a ponderous thing indeed This oh this shall make the night of Sinners sorrow so doleful to him there shall never never never more arise or shine any day upon him Never so many aking hearts never so many pale faces seen together since the World began Then shall the stout hearted be spoiled and he that knew not how to brook the feâ—r of the Almighty here on earth his spirits shall then fail him apace his heart shall thenceforth meditate terrour and his own tongue confess his punishment is now become greater than he knows either how to avoid or how possibly to bear This great day is to the pious young man the Memorial of all Memorials a cogent and constraining argument to bring him into Gods Vineyard As the Apostle calls it the terrour of the Lord and he is willing it should perswade him He goes up to his Watch-tower he concludes with himself what ever lies neglected this day must be timely provided for and he prepareth unfainedly as he is able for it 1. He first spreadeth his hands toward heaven and draweth with much humility toward God Having been so exceeding sinful hitherto he is loth to be false or further dilingenuous now He freely confesses guilty And what could easily enough be proved against him if he should go about to deny it he filially acknowledgeth passing sentence upon himself as one whom God for his manifold and hainous sins most righteously might condemn Yet still hoping the Lord will give him the benefit of his reading and the blessed favour of that sweet Scripture He that judgeth himself shall not be judged of the Lord. 2. He then beforehand entreats the Judge himself for the Lord in his stupendious mercy allows it to become his Advocate He dares not indeed trust his Case in any meaner hands He now putteth the very hopes of his life in his Saviours righteousness saying That and that alone is the righteousness that can answer for him in times to come 3. He lastly resolves to set the straightest steps to take the greatest heed to his whole Conversation doing those things
your evil waies for why why indeed will ye die oh house of Israel Such are the Fathers bowels toward us too too regardless of our selves What answer as the Father piously said can ever be solidly made if such bowels of love such dear such free salvation as this should be ungratefully slighted Oh let your hearts even melt and your very souls be dissolved within you If the Lord be willing be not you unwilling neither let these tender arms of mercy be spread forth all the day long in vain Behold the Lord Jesus Christ at the Fathers right hand making continual intercession and the poor of the flock are his care the weary and broken in spirit the Objects of his pity It is their names he bears on his breast-plate and commends with such endearing arguments unto the Father Suppose your selves hearing him calling to you and arguing with your trembling thoughtful hearts on this wise Wherefore thinkest thou poor soul was I numbred amongst the transgressors and made a man of sorrows Wherefore was my Side pierced with the Spear my Head with Thorns and my dearest Bloud poured forth What dost thou conceive should move me to take upon me Humane Nature and become so near akin unto thee if it had not been to perform the office of a Kinsman and take the right of thy Redemtion upon me What could have perswaded me to sustain the bitter the accursed death of the Cross if it had not been to save such as thou art from thy sins Hast thou no need of my Righteousness What shall I do for thee What dost thou want What is it thy thirsty affections most pant after for thy souls good Speak freely and forbear not I am now ascended to my Fathers right hand and able to relieve thee Where are thy Prayers and I my Self will present them to my Father as from me perfumed with the sweet incense of my righteousness and he will shew favour unto thee Oh blessed encouragement here is the Golden Scepter held sorth indeeâ— What answer wilt thou now return to all this such overflowing love of so dear a Saviour Sit down with thy self poor Heart Advise by meditation what to aske and then send forth Faith and Prayer as the trusty and successful Messengers to fetch in supply Go thy waies take thy life in thy hands as once Hester did present thy Petition and say as she still did If I have found favour in thine eyes oh Lord let my life the life of my soul be given me at my request Do thou cry and he will hear He will graciously wash thy leprous soul in his own bloud and send his blessed Spirit as the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel to prepare and bring thee safely to glory Behold also the holy Angels of God waiting ready to rejoyce in your even in your Conversion There is not the meanest the poorest of you but your Repentance might become an occasion of much joy in Heaven It is a fresh feast to those noble Creatures to see the least encrease of the Kingdom of God To see though but one single sheep added to the flock of Christ. So precious is Grace so dearly is the recovery of a lost soul esteemed on high I might further tell you the damned themselves even groan unto you saying as in the Parable Oh! take warning by us and come not into this place of torments There is not one no throughout the whole Creation there is not so much as one that can heartily say unto you Go on in evil waies and prosper I charge you before the elect Angels and as you tender their comfort I charge you by the flaming pâ—ins and cries of the damned and as you would be loath to share with them iâ— all their Mâ—series take heed take serious heed to the saving of your souls All the divine threatnings of God stand naked and open before you as the hand-writing upon the wall that stand not there for nought They sound as so many shrill Trumpets from Mount Ebal and they also charge you to break off your sins by repentance Or else as sure as God is in Heaven iniquity will one day become your ruine All the sweet Promises are lastly appointed to attend your encouragement and furtherance in your Salvation They are sent forth in Gods name to invite you to his blessed kingdom and to assure you from him whatever pains you faithfully take heavenward your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. These are the Christians choice Feast and Banquet the Promises that you so joyfully should study that speak so comfortablie and withall as truly to the wearie soul. God himself hath made them and he will fulfil them It is the Concern of his glorie to make good the word that is gone out of his lips his faithfulness lies at stake therein Whosoever cometh unto him thus filiallie quoting and relying upon hiâ— Fathers word he will in no wise cast him out Come you and welcome Your work is good your wages will be great your fellow Servants the Excellent of the Earth your Master you are to go unto the lovingest the â—blest the Faithfullest the justest the kâ—ndest that ever was served Whaâ— can you possibly scruple Or where can you mend your selves Speak your hearts and spare not What danger think you can come of being safely reconciled unto the Lord What hinderance shall this be to any to be made an Heir of the Crown of life What wrong to others to save our selves What discredit to become a Child of the most High What Embasement of spirit to be renewed in our minds to the blessed Image of God Or what sadness can this ever occasion to be intituled to everlasting joyes We must even blush and holily fall out with our selves in the language of the Father saying as he Whence oh my soul whence is this horrid this strange and unreasonable thing that thou wilt be under no Command accept of no mercy heavenward Men may revile and our own wretched hearts may suspect the holy Counsels of God but the waies of the Lord are right and happy is that man that chooseth to walk therein He shall be able to lift up his face with Comfort not ashamed of his God nor disappointed of his hope â—hen the greatest pâ—rt of the World â—n the very depths of all distress and horrour shall call but alas in vâ—in 〈◊〉 Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them Awake then I beseech you for the Lords sâ—ke while it is yet the morning of your life the flower of your yeâ—rs Let your life be what indeed â—ll our lives ought to be a living Epistle a fair exemplification of the Gospel thâ—t men may see in you what in Primitive times the very Heathen saw so legible in Christians then The true portraiture of your Saviours life the just account of his Doctrine in the answerableness of your deportment and conversation Awake and arise
lamentations over him He that converses but the least with their Wâ—itings will soon understand what sorry titles of honour what mean and sad descriptions they bestowed upon their own nature and its present condition in the World The pattern of frailty the spoile of time the sport of fortune the very picture of sickleness silthiness from the birth too too much a least all his life no better than a feast for worms in death This was the Language they generally gave of Man and they thought they miscalled him not Poor men they were eye witnesses indeed of the sickness they saw things were ill but they scarce understood the rise and cause of the disease They could only cry out in the generall as one of them bitterly did Woe woe is me and yet what is it that I cry out so mournfully of Oh! it is the manifold miseries we lie exposed unto Dear Youths you must be perswaded to sit down and apply the Story The case is naturally yours the case is too truly every mans Oh! smite upon your breasts in a due sense of these things and say with David I Lord I am the man It is I who have thus sinned against heaven and am no more worthy to be called thy Son Fourthly This being your wound where shall we now find any balm or healing for it We are not likely you see to stay long here on earth â—nd without pardon of sin we can never expect to come at heaven The love the dear love of God through sin is already lost the life of grace extinguished a debt and guilt the saddest the greatest that ever were conâ—racted the comforts of this present life decayed the strength and sting of death exceedingly encreased We may now too truly name our selves Magor-Missabib fear and terrour round about Yet be not too much dismaied there is hope in Israel concerning our case And I may and must though not without much trembling invite you this day to Iesus Christ. Oh! hunger and thirst after him and his righteousness that in him your sins may be covered and your souls cloathed with the garments of salvation It is not Musick it is not Wine that a condemned person desires but a Pardon Go you and do likewise I told you even now a saddening story I may now bring you tidings of a more welcome one Oh! receive it as becomes you in the Lord. The Father of mercies hath from his Sanctuary looked down upon our low estate He saw we were sold for bond-men and for bond-women falling into the hands of Satan and misery for ever There was no eye to pity us Our own strength and righteousness departed from us The redemption of our souls likely to cease for ever In these great streights his bowels were moved to have compassion on us His own arm undeserved undesired brought salvation to us The work was great and he trusts no meaner Person than his own Son with it Him the Father sends and seals Him he gives to death and raises up to life and all for this sweet end that he might be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to such poor Creatures as You and I are Behold the love wherewith the Father hath loved us The Son accepts it As it was written in the Volume of Gods Book he is content to come If his Death will procure our Life he goes willingly to it He submitteth himself by imputation to be made sin who yet actually knew no sin that we worthless we might be made the righteousness of God in him In pursuance of this unsearchable and unutterable love it is that the Spirit of God so often knocks at our hearts That the Ambassadors of Christ are sent in such earnestness unto us to beseech us to be reconciled unto God That the Word of the Lord is left as his Agent alwaies Resident in our houses to treat with us that we might receive the pardon of sin and live This is that rich grace which the Prophets so long ago enquired after and prophesied of And this in the Lords name I humbly encourage and exhort you in Pardon of sin may verily be had only seek it aâ—ight Turn not the grace of God I charge you into wantonness Boast not you as if your condition were therefore out of danger because there are it may be some soveraign Antidotes in the shop or a rich Cordial in the glass The sick man may nevertheless languish and die if he makes not a real use of them Oh! go humbly to the Lord go by Prayer go by Faith go with a full purpose of heart that if the Lord shall please to speak peace you will no more return to folly Prostrate your selves spread your case before him tell him it is not Corn or Wine or Oyl that you come for but the light of his Countenance Tell him oh tell him it is the pardon of your sins and justification in the bloud of his Son that is to you the mercy of all mercies which you above all things stand in most need of and that if he would please to give you leave this is all your desire and humble boldness by the hand of faith to touch his golden Scepter to take hold of his tender mercies in Christ and live It may be he will say as in the Gospel Son arise Daughter arise be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee I could even bitterly mourn that this sacred mercy this fundamental mercy is no more in all our thoughts Men may weary themselves in wide discourses to find out wherein their chief happiness consists and who is at length the happy man But alas the wise man needs not glory in his wisdom the rich man may forbear boasting in his riches We may once for all once for ever conclude with David It is he and none but he whose sins are pardoned whose iniquities in Christ are covered who is the truly blessed man before the Lord. Fifthly If God shall shew this great mercy in the fifth place be you careful to return the answer of a good conscience and give up your selves intirely and unfâ—inedly to the Lord in a truly gracious life Therefore indeed hath the dear grace of God appeared in the world to enoble our conversations above the principles or course of nature to an higher life the life of grace And if any shall ask more narrowly what Christianity means We may answer in the language of that holy man This is the sum of the Christians Religion to live free from sin and wickedness in the world It is manifestly the highest testimony and commendation that we poor creatures are ever able to give to Religion when we do not barely complement it Ephraim-like with goodly words but practically offer our selves such as we are to the service of it endeavouring to acquit our selves in the just performance of great and gracious things The
Divulge not their infirmities though many lest the Curse of Cham overtake you for adding to their weakness your wickedness These things it may be the Lord may thus order for your trial for the more kindly and genuine expression of your duty Hearken unto thy Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is old Where the hedge is lowest God repairs it strongest that our duty might still remain inviolable If they be as Iacob in any straights be you as Ioseph their staff or like the pious Stork the nourisher of their Age. If God shall hereafter shine upon you and raise your future condition to an honour amongst men Hide not your eyes from your meaner Parents Acknowledge them chearfully Honour them willingly Behave your selves in their presence very respectfully Say still as that King of France Though I be now Superiour to many others I am still Inferiour to my Parents The glory of the Aged is their experience and their wisdom The glory of the young man is his modesty and submission And we may truly say as the Apostle in a case not altogether unlike He that honoureth not his natural Parents whom he hath seen how shall he honour his heavenly Father whom he hath not seen Your Parents have hitherto cared for you with an exceeding great care and what shall now be done for them Oh! requite their affectionate tenderness toward you with a filial Ingenuity and Respectfulness toward them He were hard-hearted indeed and unnatural beyond expression who could requite his Parents evil for all their good Secondly As Servants in relation to your Masters Be ye indeed their Servants to whom you yield your selves to obey Your very relation speaks you not your own but theirs If you receive their wages do not your own much less Satans work Be you to your several Masters as Eleazar once to Abraham religious prudent industrious and faithful in all your Masters business Interesting the Lord as he by humble prayer in all your undertakings Careful as he also was though at the greatest distance from your Masters eye Speaking as he likewise did becomingly of the Family in the hearing of strangers and very desirous as he still shewed himself that your Masters affairs might prosper under your hands Such a Servant the heart of his Master shall rejoyce and easily trust in him Such a Servant we may truly say is already preferred to an higher place The Apostle plainly tels us that such serve the Lord Christ and shall of him receive the reward of inheritance Faithful Servants whatever others do God will take a particular care of them and will see that their wages shall not be abridged or detained from them Their Masters may account with them for their outward service but when they have so done God will assuredly yet further requite them an hundred fold because they have done this thing in the singleness of their hearts serving their Masters as in the sight of God and for his sake You are ready it may be sometimes too dejectedly to sit down and complain That the Orbe and Sphaere in which you are placed is low and mean and so indeed comparatively it is but still it is such that the Lord reckons his very Gospel stands capable of receiving great lustre much honour from you and your gracious carriage It is you that in so particular a manner may adorn the doctrine of God and our Saviour To be saved by the Gospel is much but to be an ornament to the Gospel seems more yet this may the meanest the poorest Servant be And oh what praise like the widows mite above the stately gifts of richer ones doth it offer to the name of the Lord when a Child of God intituled to heaven can bring down his heart willingly to stoop and serve him in the meanest capacity which he shall please to set him in here on earth Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall sind so doing Be ye then satisfied rest your selves contented in the condition wherein the Lord hath called you Service may seem some Eclipse but still as the Eclipse it needs noâ—â—e total Your nobler part your soul without the least injury to your service may nevertheless fairly enjoy a divine liberty Service and freedom the Lord himself tells us are sweetly compatible You may be servants to others accordin to the flesh and yet as truly the Lords freemen walking in much liberty of Spirit Cast not away your encouragements Let not the comforts that are so peculiarly suâ—ed to your condition seem mean in your eyes A vertuous Epiâ—letus may at any time live sâ— better and more honourably upon his poor service than a vicious Nero upon a whole Empire Your service in your several places for the present it is not your Mâ—sters advantage only but your own alsâ— it is your preparation and making ready for your selves against the 〈◊〉 wherein we may all too â—ruly conclude â—vil courses under anothers roof are rarely mended very selâ—om redressed when we come to live under our own Be â—â—â—eful to serve the Families wherein you â—â—r preâ—en◠〈◊〉 diligently cherfully and 〈◊〉 now and in that sweet habituâ—l â—â—â—â—sition you shall grâ—w up and becoâ—e a blessing to yours whenever God shall make you 〈◊〉 by your selves CHAP. VI. Characters of the truly vertuous Young Man First Negative I Have thus far exhorted you I shall now endeavour once more to write the Vision before you and make it what I can as in the Prophet plain upon the Tables that you may see as in a glass what manner of young persons I have been recommending and am still setting before you for your imitation 1. I shall first describe them by their negative Characters what they are not That you may therein understand what you also ought to keep your selves free from 2. I shall describe them by their affirmative Characters what they plainly are That you may therein see what you likewise ought to be First Negatively the Young Person of vertue or hopefulness he is 1. Not one that â—ver râ—viles Religion or religious people Oh! no Though as yet he hath not much understanding in these things yet he sees Religion it is sacred The preserver of a most divine Correspondency between Heaven and Earth Our Prerogative above the Beasts The sweet means of our Converse with the Lord The greatest appeal that can be made The highest claim that man can possibly say toward Eternity Contempt herein he finds it so odious hat all Ages have even trembled at it and the very Heathen would never bear it against their sorry Idols much less dares â—e contumeliously offer it against the true God This is Crimen laesae Majestatis High Treason against the throne and dignity of Heaven Vengeance in these cases is very particularly the Lords And he will surely and soon enough see to the repaying of
the hardest terms And he that ventures upon so hainous a sin while he is young oh what a monster may he become ere he die 8. Not one that abuses himself or the good Creatures of God unto drunkenness Oh! no It is not for young men to drink wine nor for the lovers of vertue to mingle strong drink He hath heard the most holy men in Religion the most renowned amongst the Nations the most Honourable in their several Ages were all of them men of great abstinence He fears sacrificing to Bacchus would be a breaking off with Apollo and falling into drunkenness a drowning of those rare jewels Understanding Memory and Senses And therefore for their sakes whether he eats or drinks that Golden Rule of Solomons is still his memorial In due season for strength and not for drunkenness The Grave that undesired thing how is it visited by thousands and ten thousands before its time and what Bill of mortality can be made of it but only this It was their cups which were the bearers and brought the dropsie corpse so soon thither Oh! what mean we to complain so unkindly of the shortness of life when it is our own hand our own intemperance that cuts the thread and hastens death But thus as a great Writer observes The Drunkard will needs have his lust though it costs him his very life Men may through softness flatter and with words too smooth tell us the drunkard is no mans soe but his own but the Lord hath other Language wherewith to salute him Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim Woe to him that dares thus deface the Image of God upon him that being born a man yet chooses to make himself a beast Woe to him that saies to Conscience bow thou down and Sense shall stamp upon thee that plucks reason from the chair and sets up a Phaeton there madness and fury to overthrow the Chariot and proclaim his own shame before all Woe to him that fills every Table with vomits that selleth his heart to work wickedness and becomes the Devils Dequoy to draw others to all excess of riot and at last to drown them with himself inperdition Woe to him that by one sin makes way for others for legions to follow that by Drunkenness makes way for Contentions for Murders and for Uncleanness Woe to him that hath forsaken the Lord the Fountain of living waters and makes his belly his God that mans end will be destruction Yea lastly Woe once more to him that makes so many weeping eyes so many aking hearts in his sad Family at home The Children cry there is no bread The dear Mother sighs and replies Whence my Babes can I satisfie you My Husband alas is no longer my praise in the gates but goes from me to sit with vain persons till the wine and strong drink inflame him foolishly talking all the day there as the Sons of Belial of matters not convenient for them while we poor we are left to naked walls to raggs and hunger at home Oh Drunkard Drunkard What hast thou done Thou hast even consulted shame to thine House reproach to Religion poverty to thy Estate diseases to thy Body everlasting danger to thy precious Soul infection to all that shall ever keep thy company sorrow of heart to thy tender Family which thou oughtest to have been a crown of rejoycing unto Therefore hear thou the Word of the Lord thou that hast so often enlarged thy desires as hell after other cups Thus faith the Lord Thou shalt surely drink of a cup of bitterness and trembling from the fury of the Lord. Thou shalt be drunk but not with wine thou shalt be overcome but not with strong drink Then mayest thou fall and rise no more Thus even thus shall Adonijahs feasts break up with amazement and Belshazzars cups with trembling You are it may be almost wearied with this long Relation but from such considerations should we gather up instruction and warning for our own Souls The Spartans were wont when at any time their Servants were drunk to bring them in presence before their Children that the odiousness of their carriage might breed the deeper hatred of the vice You have also now seen the Drunkard in some part of his vileness though in modesty much hath been forborn of that filth and leudness wherewith he might too truly be charged Oh that you may never commit such folly in Israel Let who will live in revelings and excess drown not you a noble mind in slouds of drunkenness Let the counsel which Cyrus once gave his Souldiers be your measure what is truly convenient for you and not what would overcharge nature unto drowziness nor inflame it unto madness The drunkard may jovially call for much now but this he may and cannot but know the score runs dayly on and his reckoning will be very sore in the great day 9. Not one that is profuse or riotous in any of his expences Oh! no where Frugality is not our Steward and Treasurer we shall have but little imployment for Liberality as our Almoner He that will needs be lavish in his superfluities will soon find himself though but little to his own comfort unavoidably straightned in his very necessities It was the sharp yet just observation of the Satyrist when Rome had once parted with their former vertuous Frugality they became forthwith a sad spectacle of all manner of vice and debauchery Their fall must be our Young Mans and indeed all mens caution and warning It may be thought too inferiour for a vertuous mind an heart aiming at heaven to stoop so low as the regard and looking after these pecuniary matters But it is no dishonour to be faithful and wise in that which is least as well as that which is greatest The Sun takes care to cherish the sorry Hyssop by the wall as well as the lofty Cedar in Lebanon And he that hath an earthly indigent Body as his Souls poor kindred lying upon his hand to be dayly provided for must not disdain to take some thoughts for those due accommodations that are fit for it The evils are very sore which are under the Sun on both sides There is that neither regards what he hath nor what he needeth but sensually Epicurus-like rusheth forth into all excess There is also that possesseth much and yet Tantalus-like he even famisheth in the midst of his abundance and hath not an heart to allow himself to taste in the least measure of the good thereof So rare is the true use of present things It is left to our care and wisdom to sail warily between both these rocks The truly prudent and gracious person takes himself allowed on the one hand to eat his bread with gladness and to rejoyce before the Lord in all that he putteth his hand unto What God hath given him he wisely partakes of it and keeps his enjoyments from rust by
ye ambitious of his Honour but I must say Be ye imitatâ—rs of his Industry Accounting with yourselves as the Father piously of old that labour is the honourable Schoole of Vertue wherein your proficiency would soon appear to all Such an one Solomon at a great distance foresees what advancement he would soon come to Seest thou a man diligent in his business he shall stand before Kings he shall not stand before mean persons These things are and most justly may be the Young Mans Lecture they walk with him they talk with him Wherever he goes he is still pondering of them He considers his outward man and observes godly diligence inherits a blessing while negligence goes cloathed in rags He considers his inward man and fears if time be carelesly lost here Eternity of happiness will very hardly be found hereafter He that labours not painfully in hiâ— Calling both Spiritual and Civil here on Earth his heart is not right in the sight of God his own Conscience will tell him he hath no lot nor parâ— in that rest which remains for the people of God in Heâ—ven CHAP. VII Affirmative Characters what the vertuous Young Man is and ought to be YOu have now received some Negative Characters and description of the Young Person that is worthy of commendation and love indeed That we might plainly understand what he is not what he ought not to be And oh that you likewise may cordially hate the work of them that thus turn aside and for your parts unfainedly meditate a better course of life We will now look to the right hand Affirmatively and consider what the vertuous Young Person is and ought to be in whole heart are the waies of God We might almost make our boâ—st here and say in some measure as in the Psalms Grace is poured into his lips and he is much fairer than the common Race of the Children of men He is one whose mind is richly inlayed like the Kings Daughter all glorious within curiously wrought by the hand of the Spirit There may you find the Prophets Vision Ierusalem pourtraied upon a tyle Much of the very glory of Heaven it self drawn upon his tender soul His heart is as a living Temple for the Holy Ghost His thoughts and affections as perfumed Odours aspiring and ascending continually as pillars of Incense heaven-ward He cometh forth out of the purple morning of his youth as the Bridegroom out of his Chamber as the Sun out of the dawning East and rejoyceth to run the Godly Race More particularly 1. He is one that chooseth the fear of the Lord with his whole heart For he knoweth it is to God he stands or it is to God he falls Others are vain others are profane but so dares not he because of the fear of the Lord. He believes the Scripture and accounts it no burden no sadning but a Jewel well worth his carefullest preserving and laying up The fear of the Lord is his treasure Wherever this is wanting he reckons that place an habitation of Dragons undesirable unsafe for any man to live in And Abraham said Surely the fear of God is not in this place and they will stay me He hath heard all true wisdome wherever it is may be found out and known by this This is its first and great principle The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom This is to him as the due ballast to the Ship which makes the Vessel indeed loome somewhat deeper but keeps it from tossing too lightly upon the uncertain waters It composeth his whole Conversation to great sobriety and stedfastness There is a sleighty sort of profession too frequently up and down the world in these last daies without much mixture of this weighty grace in it But he easily concludes that mans Religion will soon prove as salt that hath lost its savour and quickly go out into some stinch Oh! what shipwrack of faith and all good conscience must needs follow there where the heart stands in no awe of God The Father long ago gave over that man as an hopeless Patient He will soon be out of his way in point of conversation that sets light by the true fear of God in point of affection It is a sad note but it is a true one That man that will not fear God willingly shall be made though little to his comfort to do it by force What most would seem to refuse none shall be able to exclude That dread of God which they flee from shall pursue them and overtake them between the straits God will be we never so loath be feared of all But woe be to that man who having refused filial feâ—re as a grace is constrained to lie under the scourgings of a judicial trembling as his torment for ever and ever The Lord preserve you from it But now it is still a note as comfortable on the other hand to every true Child of God that accepts his gracious fear chearfully the Lord will himself become their shelter and City of refuge that their hearts may quietly return to their rest and need no more be amazed at any terrour outwardly God would not have his dear people fear the fears of others Only let us sanctifie the Lord of Hosts iâ— our hearts and he shall be for a Sanctuary unto us The case is truly weighty on both sides The serious Young Person takes it up goes with it into the Sanctuary and there weighs it before the Lord and at length comes forth cordially contented that the just fear of God should be to him as to the Patriarks of old the great Badge and Cognizance of his Religion 2. He is one to whom the Lord Iesus Christ is exceeding precious He loves his Father he loves his Mother but still saies Jesus Christ alone he and none but he can be my Saviour He could herein even break forth into an holy triumph and begin with the Father to sing the Songs of the Lamb The Saviour is born oh glorifie the Lord. He hath appeared on Earth be ye henceforth lift up ye everlasting Gates The Bridegroom is shortly returning again oh light your Lamps and go out to meet him Sing to the Lord in the joy of this salvation Oh! let all the earth praise the Lord. The Iron though senseless willingly moves toward the Loadstone and is loth to part any more from it Christ is his Load-stone and his heart is even constrained and drawn out with great affection after him If the presence of the Sun be that which alone makes day to the dark world The enjoyment of Christ is more to him the light of life that makes a day of grace the chief of his comforts his heaven his all He could say wiâ—h pious Suenes in the midst of the greatest discouragements I will follow my Saviour in liberty and bondage in prosperity and adversity in life and death Whilest the smallest thread of life
the readiest and loveliest way thereunto He therefore rests not as too many fondly do in a thin verbal commendation but presseth still further after the most familiar acquaintance with these sacred and only evidences of his heavenly inheritance making much conscience of putting in practice that faithful advice of the Ancients Wisely to contract his occasions in the World that he may have the more leasure and freedom to read and meditate and that day by day in the good word of God He remembers with himself the Tables of old were carefully kept in the Arke And that he might never lose his Bible he laies it up safely in his best Cabinet his very heart 6. He is one that willingly prepares and composes himself to some honest calling wherein he may live afterward serviceable and comfortably in his Generation He is loth to come into the world as an useless Cipher or to stand in it as a Tree that cumbers the ground and therefore often forethinks with himself how he may appear in his time with somewhat of true worth upon the Stage He reckons his life as a Lamp which should be giving some light to others while it spends it self And is very prone to conclude with him who was wont to say There is too little difference between him that is dead indeed and him that lives dead in point of usefulness The Lord hath committed to all some Talents for improvement though with great variety To some more eminently those of the inward man for counsel and direction To others more manifestly those of the outward man for labour and exercise It will be expected at all our hands that we bind not up our Lords Talent in a Napkin but as we are individually qualified we should address our selves and chearfully attend our measure of service to the good of the whole We are all of us Gods witnesses that throughout the whole Creation from the Angel in heaven to the Hyssop by the wall from the Sun in the Firmament to the waters in the hidden veins of the Earth all of them labour to perform those good offices which God in his wisdom hath created them unto Thus is uselesseness to all these a thing unknown The industrious Young Man is willing to take example from them and desires not to stand idle in the Market place while all other Creatures are thus diligently at work in the Lords Vineyard His first care is in the choice of his Calling Wherein he observe â—00 many miscarry Some by unadvisedness therein bind themselve as it were Apprentices to continual temptations and in effect necessitate themselves to the promoting and service of what no man should abet or shelter sin and vanity in the World Others again match themselves to imployments which their dispositions can never affect and so toil in them as the Slave in the Turks Gallies heavily and unwillingly all their daies These Rocks he endeavours wisely to shun And therefore aims that his Calling may he in its nature just and lawful In its discharge comporting with a publick good and serviceable to his private support In its kind he remembers the Lacedaemonians wisdom and seeks to have it in some measure suited to his own abilities and inclinations And because in these things he is young unexperienced and very subject to mistake he refers himself very far to the riper judgement and disposal of his Friends His next care is concerning his due carriage in his Calling Having thus chosen he now setles his mind reckons his Calling the Sphaere and Station which God hath set him in and studies henceforth how to adorn his Province A homely Cottage well kept may yield a delightsome abode And the meanest Calling may be highly beautified by a wise carriage in it He is very desirous to be truly dexterous and skilful in it His affections are even enflamed having observed the Scripture to take such an honourable notice of Tubal Cain as being an Instructer of Artificers So lovely is ingeniousness even in these lower things before the Lord. For the encouragement whereof he is pleased to record it as proceeding from his own Spirit That Bezaliel was so skilful about the work of the Tabernacle See saies God and let no man slight it I have called Bezaliel by name and have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and all manner of workmanship It is his God that teacheth even the Plowman his discretion He is further willing to be heartily painful Chearfully submitting himself to that great Law which is now unalterably imposed on all flesh In the sweat of our brows to eat our bread He flatters not himself with great expectations of building his nest on high Duty is his the Lord hath left that with him Disposal is the Lords and he is contented it should rest there A blessing from God that indeed he counts much upon and joyes greatly in it but as concerning the World he easily sees all things are and will be here full of disappointments vanity and vexation of spirit He takes himself concerned be his Calling never so plain to commend his endeavours and all their success by prayer to the Lord in the Language of the Psalmist Let the beauty of the Lord my God be upon me establish thou the work of my hands yea the work of my hands establish thou it Thus our Young Man chooseth and thus he travelleth in his Calling He that passeth by may justly break forth and say The Lord be with you we bless you in the name of the Lord. 7. He is one that is easily contented with almost any food and raiment He sees the time of his life in the whole of it is like to be but short and he concludes with himself it were very preposterous very unbecoming if our thoughts about such inferiour things as these should be very long Fond cares about the body prove commonly as Absalom that stole away the hearts of Israel from one more righteous than himself from David his Father These also too frequently entice away the strength of the mind after them they love to hunt abroad but they even starve the precious soul and leave that neglected and disrespected enough at home He therefore shares the dividend as equally as he can between them both Somewhat he is sensible he owes to both and is willing to wrong neither His soul shall have the first fruits as an offering due to that The remains and gleâ—nings he thinks will be enough and may well serve for the body In his diet he hears plainness and temperance breed the kindliest health and constitution of body the freshest agility and liveliness of mind preserving life so dearly desired of all with much sweetness and freedom from diseases through the blessing of the Lord unto gray hairs Such are the fruits of Temperance it makes a fair amends in the end whether it pleaseth or no for the present These
let iâ— no wanâ— its due pâ—ofessors Fifâ—hly Say not Alas I know nâ—â— what to do far wiser than I the pâ—udâ—m the ancient are at great câ—ntâ—oversie aboâ—â— Religion who can tell where to pitch It is true it is too sadly true There are many pious men that may and doubtless have much sweet communion with the Lord who yet through the straightness and frowardness of their own hearts will have but little each with other Thus men wrangle themselves into a life too joyless to themselves too dishonourable to the Lord. Cadmus Teeth of strife seem every where sown and coming up very thick We might justly renew Erasmus his sad complaint of the former Age Contention lives while love and sweetness dies Tenets of faith are usually multiplied while sincerity goes as palpably down the wind Such is our wound oh that God would drop into it the balsom of love oh that he would bind it up and become our healer But because men can or rather will agree no better refer thy self and thy thoughtful heart to God and his Word Give credence in the strength of his grace to what he is there pleased to express or promise to thee Depend upon him according to all that he hath there allowed thee And compose thy self to be intirely at his command Aiming that whenever thou comest to die thou mayest resign thy self to God with these few words unfainedly breathed forth I have in my weak measure kept the word of thy patience on earth And now oh Lord be thou pleased to remember thy Servant according to this word of thine wherein thou hast caused me and I upon thy invitation have taken boldness for to hope Religion however pulled several waies is of it self a quiet and striseless thing Holy indeed but harmless Divine but still shining forth in much plainess and simplicity And be you as near as you can of that Religion which gives Glory to God on high on earth peace and good will toward men Oh! that the Lord would hasten such sweet times of refreshment from his own presence amongst us In the mean season if you see somewhat of inferiour diversity in gracious hearts a peculiar feature as it were upon several faces who have yet somewhat of true life and beauty shining in each be not too much amazed Remember Solymans great delight at the variety of flowers in his Garden professing himself highly pleased in this Though they were various they were still sweet and comely flowers Or rather call to remembrance the Fathers pious and ingenious Allusion Iosephs Coat may be of several colours so it be without a rent If you also see uncomely contentions even unto Paroxysm's and the utmost bitterness as once between the Apostles themselves it sadly was step in and tell them they are brethren desire them to be kinder to each other The Master is at hand If you shall lastly see and hear great controversies and little agreement yet know there is a true and plain way that leadeth unto life The way fating upon though a fool needs not erre therein Go 〈◊〉 to God and he will shew thee 〈◊〉 â—â—w and living way which conducteth unto himself There are many oh that they were not so many that quarrel themselves carnally to Hell be thou cordial with God laborious in the profession of his name so shall hearty Faith and unfained obedience become thy safe and honourable convoy unto Heaven Whoever quarrel in other things no man shall blame thee no man shall charge thee with folly for these Sixthly Say not lastly I have a greater discouragement yet behind then I almost dare make known some of my Friends are not so willing to have me mind such things or meddle much with Religion It is a sore temptation where the Complaint is true What shall that poor Child do whom God hath spoken to as once to the children of Israel in the Land of Egypt and his very heart even melts within him opening it self day and night as Daniels window toward Ierusalem and yet all the countenance he hath from the Family is like that churlish speech of Pharaoh He is idle he is idle encrease his burden and let him not go to â—erve the Lord This is indeed the â—rial of all trials wherever it falls A 〈◊〉 straight which needs tears rather â—han words Oh that none would lay this stone â—f stumbling before young people â—est it unhappily revives that undesired â—â—gh used by some in the Primitive 〈◊〉 Our Parents are become unto us 〈◊〉 the Ostrich in the wilderness and almost the murderers of our souls It 〈◊〉 hard for any to be an hindrance â—here they ought rather to be a furâ—erance To be found a real offence 〈◊〉 discouragement to the least of Christs little ones Here have we cause to renew the â—mentation in the Prophet and say â—he children are once more come to the â—â—rth and there wants strength to bring 〈◊〉 Here will be need of much wisâ—ome and choiceness of spirit more â—â—an such tender years commonly atâ—â—in unâ—o to cut the tread aright so 〈◊〉 obey the Lord as to shew the utâ—ost tenderness of disobeying or disâ—â—easing Friends and yet so to fulâ—â—ll our respect to them as not to forget we still owe as the Father well states it a far greater unto God The Lord himself put the everlasting arms underneath and bear up those discouraged children whose hard lot this is till he hath brought them with joy to his own bosome But this case blessed be God is rare the case of very few and I hope none of yours Be you modest I charge you Cast not the blame upon others to excuse your selves God easily sees through such pretences and understands right well where the fault still chiefly lies You know not the heart of a Parent It is natural to them though evil and too regardless of themselves to desire the welfare of their Children Your Parents have been often instilling good things have been previously laying in ponderous memorials upon your tender minds They have with much câ—re brought you up to reading They have procured you that treasure of all treasures the Bible they have recommended it to you as your Saviours Legacy where you may find the words of eternal life your safest guide your best Friend when they are gone So that you may justly confess as St. Austine concerning his Mother Monica with how great solicitousness of heart they have often admonished you in the Lord. Whose Counsels you ought to receive as Iunius the instructions of his Father Scarce ever without tears So greatly might the weight of the Argument so greatly might the authority of the Speaker affect and move you And must it now be objected or dare you now say your Friends are unwilling with your souls good It is likely they would not have you pretend Religion to be stubborn against them It is very likely they would not have
pray know It is no less than Life or Death that now stands before you waiting for your Yea or Nay It is so small or inferiour matter of little moment of light consequence that you are now to give your answer in It is Heaven it is Eternal life I need say no more it is your own happiness for ever and ever how can you turn your backs upon it Yea further know there have been those among the poor Heathens that never durst think thus lightly of sin as you do They alwaies held it the greatest evil and the sorrows of it the heaviest sorrows in the whole world There have been tender hearted Ninevites that have come to God at one call and gladly closed with their own mercy And there yet are at this day how backward soever you may be thousands filially returning as the Prodigal with tears of joy to their Fathers house longing for him and welcome to him going where there is what they and you likewise want Bread of life and change of Rayment that you might be cloathed Oh why should you stand out against such sweet mercy and harden your selves so unnaturally to your own destruction You might yet further know though it will be sad enough to know it there is never a Companion of yours with whom you have now sinned but shall be ready to witness against you Never a leaf in all your Bible but shall be enough to condemn you Ministers Parents Friends and Foes shall all come forth against you And oh how cutting will it be to be made a spectacle of scorn to God to Angels and to Men How wounding to thy astonished heart to become an everlasting By word upbraided of all pitied of none It is the condition will they say that he hath long ago deserved and let him bear it This as an holy man rightly observed will make thy load and burden heavy indeed Yea God himself who here hath wooed and so often so long even waited to be gracious shall then set every sin in order before you and make your guilty Consciences with everlasting blushings to own them Then saies the Father shall it be said in the audience of Heaven and Earth Behold the man and all that ever he did let it be had in everlasting remembrance whether it be good or whether it be evil Then shall your selves also look back upon that dear Salvation that you have negligently lost that wretched misery that you have wilfully brought upon your selves and sinke down with heart-breaking sighs and horrour at the Bar of Christ. Then may you be ready to take your last leave of all comfort and say Farewell my day of Grace which is now gone and never more to shine upon such a wretch as I am Come in all ye my hainous sins and the bitter remembrance of you The Lord hath sent you to stand as adversaries of terrour round about me Sting as so many fiery Serpents in this bosome of mine and spare not Oh! that you might have leave to make an utter end and rid me out of all my pain Oh how will the tears trickle down to see the Lord so gracious so loving to others and yet so justly severe and full of indignation towards you To see those that prayed while you slept that so willingly kept the Lords Sabbaths while you as constantly profaned them to see those that â—â—isely redeemed that time which you so lavishly wasted to see those very persons so well known to you it may be your near acquaintance in the Kingdom of God and your selves shut out Then though never till then will the heart that hath held out as long as ever it could begin to falter and fail Then shall the lips break forth with that righteous acknowledgment I am undone undone for ever and my destruction is of my self Oh my dear Friends my bowels even yearn for you Hast thou but one blessing oh my Father bless our Young People even them also that they may turn to thee and live But I cannot thus leave you My Errand I confess is now even done but your duty henceforth to be taken up and still carefully carried on I may justly say of this whole Letter as once the Roman Oratour well said to his Son It will be of more or less service to you as you make it truly practicable in the sequel of your life Counsel stored by us in Books and neglected in life it is like the coâ— vetous mans bags of Gold which lie wholly dead and no good use made of them Suffer me then once more for greater sureness sake to rehearse my Message again unto you It is you Dear Youths to whom I am as the Father affectionately said in this Paper to apply my self It is you who have yet seen but the third hour of the day with whom the Message whether it lives or whether it dies must now be finally left You are desired in the higest Name that can be used in the Name of the great and most glorious God who made the Heavens and the Earth and gave you that breath you breathe between your Nostrils You are desired in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who freely shed his precious bloud in a readiness to redeem and cleanse you from all your sins You are desired in this great and dreadful Name and by all the respect you bear unto it to remember your Creator in the daies of your Youth You are desired to strive to enter in at the straight Gate You â—â—e desired to accept the richest the greâ—â—est gift that God himself ever bâ—stows upon any his own dear Son You are desired to be kind to your own Souls and to lay up a good foundation agâ—inst times to come You are desired to come and live with God for ever Dear Youths what do you purpose to do in this great matter These are not Requests to be slighted these are not Requests to be denied Such a capacity for mercy how would the damned prize it oh let not the living set light by iâ— This short moment how meanly soever you may think of it once wretchedly lost and an Age will not recover Eternity it self as long as it is will never restore the like advantages to your souls again And now are you oh are you at length willing to go about this blessed work and become happy for ever if there may be yet any hope in Israel concerning your case Behold the arms of Mercy are open ready to imbrace you whatever is past how unkind how hainous soever God is ready to forgive willing to forget it He calls Heaven and Earth to record if you miscarry let the blame lie where it ought it shall not be his As I live saith the Lord I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that he turn from his wicked way and live Turn ye oh now unweariedly doth the Lord renew his call turn ye from