whether to God or Man the World or our Fellow Saints 2 Pet. 1.7 Add to Godliness Brotherly-kindness and to Brotherly-kindness Charity An Infant as soon as Born into the World thô it hath not the Bulk Stature and Strength of a Man yet it hath all the Essentials of a Man and is a perfect Man In the New-Birth the Inward Man is perfect in parts all Grace is given that is necessary for all Conditions Ye are inriched in all things in Christ there is a suitableness to the whole Law of God Rom. 7.22 I delight in the Law of God after the inward man VSE To Reprove those that would keep some Commandments but not all Herod did something at the Motion of Iohn the Baptist but he would not leave his Incestuous Marriage with his Brothers Wife Some Persons may be very forward in some good things but they will not leave this or that Sin their Swearing or Lying or Uncleanness or vain Company or Gaming or idle Fashions they refrain some Sins but not all some Duties you shall have them very forward in but not all they are halving it with God There is such an Union betwixt all the parts of the Law of God that one cannot be violated without a breach of all the rest As one leak in a Ship if let alone may sink it so one Sin indulged and allowed may prove the Bane of the Soul And therefore take heed of obeying God by halves and think not to please him or have any true Comfort in thy Conscience by any such Obedience The Young man so far spake well if he had spoke truly All these have I kept Secondly There is another thing that is good in the Reply the Young man maketh that is his early Beginning I have kept all from my Youth It is certainly a good thing to begin with God Betimes and to frame our Hearts to the Will of God as soon as we come to years of Discretion and that upon a three-fold Reason 1. Because it will be a Help to us all our Lives afterwards before Affections are forestall'd and pre-ingaged to begin with God and to have the Inclinations of Youth set right by a good Education to be restrained from our own Will and be train'd up in a way of Abstinence from Bodily Pleasures A sober Education prevents much Sin Psal. 119.9 Wherewithall shall a Young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word Mark it is not Wherewith shall a Young Man guide or direct but cleanse his way When Men are well principled and seasoned in Youth it sticketh by them nay the Vessel is seasoned already The word cleansed presupposeth some Defilement A Child is not like a Vessel which newly comes out of the Potters shop indifferent for good or bad Infusions No the Vessel is fusty already and hath a smatch of the Old man we come seasoned into the World for we were born in Sin and in Iniquity Psal. 51.5 Behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me Well then to begin betimes what good may we get by it Our Work is to stop the growth of Sin and that we do not settle in an evil Course and that will be a great Advantage to us all our Life after On the the other side the want of a good Education is a great disadvantage to Grace a maim hardly cured it leaves a Scar and makes a Man limp as long as he lives if he doth not begin with God betimes thô afterwards he be Converted for when a Man is not framed betimes to God he suffers the Canker of Self-will to fret so deep that Reason Law and Religion hath much ado to bring them to the Denyal of themselves To give you an Instance in Adonijah 1 Kings 1.5 6. Who exalted himself saying I will be King A rough Self-willed Young man he would have Soveraignty and a Crown and not stay for it till David was Dead or submit to the Appointment of a Successor I will be King and why It is said His Father had not displeased him at any time in saying Why hast thou done so He had too much of his Will when he was a Youth As Plutarch noteth of Coriolanus a Noble Roman that for want of a good and seasonable Education being left young under the Tutelage of his Mother and she left him to his own Will was so impatient and wilfull that no Man could hardly converse with him O Christians when Religion begins late and Men have to do with Corruptions habituated and confirmed by long time and loose Education it cannot shew it self with such Lustre and Advantage Therefore it is good to break the Will of Young Ones to train them up to bear the Yoke from their Youth otherwise thô they should be subdued by Grace and in a great measure broken yet this disadvantage remains with them to their Dying day Those that are seasoned well with sober Education either they are not so bad as others or it worse becomes them to do evil and they cannot Sin without many checks of Conscience which others have not Therefore a good and sober Education is a great Advantage to be train'd up from our Youth thô it be but to Moral Vertue 2. While Parents and Governours are careful to season those tender Vessels the Lord is pleased many times to replenish them with Grace from above and to give in his Blessing upon their Education and many have been Converted that way We read of Obadiah 1 Kings 18.12 But I thy Servant fear the Lord from my Youth Iosiah 2 Chron. 14.3 In the eighth year of his Reign while he was yet young he began to seek after the God of David his Father So Timothy 2 Tim. 1.5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned Faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois and thy Mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also His Mother and Grandmother were full of Faith and Sobriety and they were seasoning of him and training him up from his Youth to be acquainted with the Will of God and what a notable Instance of Abstinence and Sobriety did he prove 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation Certainly it is much to have Youth brought up in Knowledge and in the Power of Godliness Families are Societies to be sanctified to God as well as Churches and Governours of Families have a Charge of Souls as well as Pastors of Churches and therefore they should be careful of them and may wait for God's Blessing upon the Education of Youth There be many offer their Children to God in Baptism and they do well in so doing but Educate and Train them up for the World and the Flesh which they renounce in Baptism You will bewail any Natural Defect of your Children and seek to cure it while they are young if they have a Stammering
no Mystery in it but when the Numbers are uneven and odd there is something to be noted these three Years Christ had been labouring with them And Ier. 25.3 From the thirteenth Year of Josiah the Son of Amon King of Judah that is the three and twentieth Year the Word of the Lord hath come unto me and I have spoken unto you rising early and speaking c. Such Passages are but Pledges of the great Process of the Day of Judgment God will call to account then for the time of his Patience and the Means and Mercies you have had O then reflect this Truth upon your Hearts and say I must die and give an account for Time and alas I cannot give an account of one day among a thousand my Time hath been spent in foolish Mirth in troublesome Cares in idle Company in vain Sports and Revellings and how shall I be able to look God in the Face and answer him Do but pass the Account with your selves and if you cannot answer Conscience you will never be able to answer God So much Time spent in Meals and Banquets so much in Visits so much in Sports so much in Sleep so much in Worldly Employments and then think how little a Remainder there is for God! O if we did but now and then cast up our Accounts it would extreamly shame us If you hire a Labourer for the Day and he should come at Night and demand Pay and the Master should say What hast thou done for me would he not be ashamed to say thus much Time have I spent in Meals thus much in loitering and sporting with my Companions thus much in mending my own Apparel and an hour or half an hour in your Work and Service can this Man expect a day's Wages Christians do you believe that there is a God of Recompences and that there will be a Day of Account that you dare loiter thus and waste away your Time that should be spent in God's Service Secondly Consider the baseness and the danger of Pleasures in four Considerations 1. The baser a Man is the more he affects carnal Delights and is addicted this way Eccles. 7.4 The Heart of the Wise is in the House of Mourning but the Heart of Fools is in the House of Mirth That which wise Men prefer certainly is better than that which Fools make choice of Now this is the choice of Fools wise Men know there is more to be gained by grave Exercises and by Spectacles of Sorrow than in the places of carnal rejoycing They know there is nothing to be seen or heard there but Snares or Baits little Wisdom to be gained and little improvement of Grace and Reason to be made 2. All carnal Pleasures are mixed with Grief and leave a Sting and Bitterness in the Issue You never came away from your Sports with such a merry Heart as you do from the Throne of Grace If Men would but consider their Experiences after Duty and after Recreation there 's a Calm and Serenity in the Conscience after the saddest Duties when they are ended Who ever repented of his Repentance they yield some chearing and reviving to the Soul As it is said of Hannah 1 Sam. 1.18 That she went away and did eat and her Countenance was no more sad Prayer gives Ease as the opening of a Vein in a Fever If all come not away alike chearful from the Throne of Grace and this be not a general Rule yet it is no Addition to their Grief that they have been with God rather it is some lessening of their Trouble As the pouring out of a Complaint into a Friend's Bosom though it do not help it is some Ease to the Mind So though God do not come in with a high Tyde of Comfort to the Soul yet it is some Ease we have been with God and presented the case to his Pity there is some spiritual Mirth and Delight kindled at least some lessening of Grief But now not to speak of wicked Men when they come from their Pleasures even the Children of God to whom all things are pure yet because of the tenderness of their Hearts there is always some Remorse after their Pleasures And therefore Solomon propounds it as a general Rule Prov. 14.13 Even in Laughter the Heart is sorrowful and the end of that Mirth is Heaviness it is an Allusion to outward Laughter which causeth Pain by the too much dilation of the Spirits and straining the Body which is a Figure of that Remorse which accompanies all Worldly Joy All Worldly Joy begets a sudden damp upon the Spirit in the departure God will still remember us that we are in our Pilgrimage and compleat Joy is not to be had here that every Rose in the World grows with a Thorn and would teach us to look after more solid Comforts 3. Pleasures if they be not watched will soon make us unfit for Communion with God and for any solemn Duty Eccles. 2.2 I have said of Laughter It is mad and of Mirth What doth it Solomon in the former Verse was resolved to make an Experiment and to let loose his Heart to Carnal Pleasures that he might see what would come of it to loosen the Reins and turn his Heart loose to carnal Pleasure and what was the Issue O it is mad it soon transports the Mind and puts Reason out of frame it makes a wise Man to be like a mad Man as mad Men in their freaks of Mirth have little use of Reason And of Laughter it said What doth it that is whither hast thou carried me whither art thou now going and carrying my Soul Satan hath a greater advantage upon you in your Sports than in your Business therefore to affect them is but playing with the Baits and as the Bird sings in the Fowler 's Snare so do we in the midst of Temptation If Christians would but consult with their Experience how often have we smarted when we fall into it A poor Beast fallen into an Hole will not fall into the same Hole again Tho we see the Inconveniency of it yet our Hearts are addicted 4. It is a sign Men have not received the Power of Grace when they are immoderately addicted to Pleasures It is a Description of the carnal State Titus 3.3 We our selves also were sometimes foolish disobedient serving divers Lusts and Pleasures So much Grace as you have so much Victory and Command over your selves and therefore when Men are wholly led by Sense they are at a great distance from the Life of Grace Therefore as we would not be accounted carnal we should be more sober in this kind we may use Pleasures but should not serve Pleasures but rejoice as if we rejoiced not If we use a thing it is for some other end we enjoy the End and use the Means You may use Pleasure for to quicken the Mind and revive the Body that it may be quick in the Service of God and not unfit
The Day of the Lord will come as a Thief in the Night Here is our Day because God affords Time to us as a Space and Season of Repentance and Reformation but the Day of Judgment that is the Lord's Day the Day of Recompence Rewards and Punishments Vse 1. To reprove them that delay the Work of Repentance and their Change of State There is nothing more usual than Delays and Put-offs Some are full of Imployment and after their Business is a little over then they will think of saving their Souls Luke 9.59 Suffer me first to go and bury my Father still there is something in the way Others when they have arrived to such a Degree of Wealth and made such Provision for their Families then they will look after their Souls Others when their youthful Heats are spent then they dream of a devout Retirement and a religious Age there is nothing more usual The Lord knows these are our inward Thoughts still there is something in the way when we should act holily righteously and godly This is Satan's last shift to elude the Importunity of a present Conviction by a future Promise As a bad Debtor promises Paiment for the future to be rid of the importunate Creditor though he means no such matter so we make Promises for the future Felix when his Conscience boiled dreams of a more convenient Season Acts 24.25 Go thy way for this time when I have a more convenient Season I will send for thee And Matth. 22. when they were invited to the Wedding the Answer is not scornful but civil it is not non placet but non vacat they do not deny but make Excuse they had present Business and were not at leisure to comply with God's Will Always God comes Unseasonably in the Sinner's Esteem Reckoning and Account and Satan's usual Clamour is when we begin to be serious and mind our Salvation Art thou come to torment us before our time Matth. 8.29 The Devil would fain have a little longer Possession and therefore something is pleaded by way of Bar and Hesitancy You find it in particular Cases when you go to perform any thing that is good to pray to meditate to renew your Communion with God something is in the way if such a Business were over then I were at leisure Thus we dream of another time a more convenient Season and we linger and draw back as Lot in Sodom O consider the Work must be once done or you are for ever miserable and you will never have a better Season than now when you are under Conviction and the warm Impulses of the Spirit of God David takes hold of the present Season when his Heart was ingaged and he had a religious bent towards God Psal. 119.60 I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandments So when there is such a strong bent in your Souls strike while the Iron is hot you may have more Hindrances but never more Helps Again we owe more than we are worth already and why should we run more in Debt The longer you continue in Sin the higher will your Accounts rise A Tenant that cannot pay the Rent of one Year if he let it run on how will he be able to discharge the Rent of two Years So if it be so troublesome now do you think it will be more easy hereafter when the Heart is hardned by a constant Resistance If there were a sound Conviction you would not delay A sensible Sinner is always in haste Heb. 6.18 He flies for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before him It is an Allusion to the Man pursued by the Avenger of Blood he that hath Wrath at his Heels he runs as for Life to Jesus Christ. It is but a slender and insufficient Touch upon the Conscience He that knows the Danger can never make haste enough to come to Christ as the pursued Man could never make too much haste to get into the City of Refuge that is before him Nay it argues little Love to God and a great deal of Disingenuity of Spirit to continue in Rebellion against God and think to come in at last when you can stand out no longer This is meerly Self-love when you care not how much God is dishonoured and his Spirit grieved provided at length we be saved The Lord did not so deal with us his whole Duration and Existence is for our sakes from Eternity to Eternity he is God and from Eternity to Eternity his Loving-kindness is great to them that fear him Psal. 103.17 The Mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting to them that fear him If God thinks of us from one Eternity to another before the World and after the World can we be content to thrust him into a narrow Corner of our Lives Can you satisfy your Hearts when you have nothing to give God but the Rottenness Weakness and Aches of old Age and Sickness Consider once more Sin leaves thee in Sickness thou dost not leave Sin it is not a Work of Choice but of Necessity as a Merchant throws his Goods over-board in a Storm tho he loves them well enough At least it is a very suspicious Act a natural Aversation from our own Misery and a desire of our own Happiness it is a yielding upon force when a Man never yields to God but when God hath him under and he can sin no longer And what assurance have we that we shall have a Heart to mind Salvation at all and turn to God hereafter When all our Distractions are out of the way is Grace at our beck There is an offer of it to day Heb. 3.15 While it is said To day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts Nay there 's a shrewd Presumption to the contrary that Obduracy Hardness of Heart and Despair will grow upon us Long use makes the Heart more obdurate and long Resistance grieves the Spirit of God and makes him more offended with us By putting off the Change of your Lives you put your Souls into Satan's hands by Consent for a while He that delays his Conversion doth as it were pawn his Soul into the Devil's Hands and saith if he do not fetch it again at such a day it is his for ever Again it is a great Honour to seek the Lord betimes Mnason was an old Disciple Seniority in Grace is a very great Honour The Apostle saith Rom. 16.7 Salute Andronicus and Junia who were in Christ before me And the Lord saith Ier. 2.2 I remember thee the kindness of thy Youth and the love of thine Espousals God prizeth these pure Virgin-Affections when before our Hearts be prostituted to the World we apply our selves to seek his Face You lose the Advantage of much early Communion with God whenever you are called to Grace and if ever you taste of the Sweetness of Grace it will be your Grief that you were acquainted with it no sooner and all the time that remains
second Miracle that Iesus did when he came out of Judea into Galilee 2 Pet. 3.1 This second Epistle write I to you Tot convincor testibus quot Christianis Sermonibus me monuerunt I have so many Witnesses against me as I have heard Sermons So the same is true for Deliverances The Lord will set his Hand again the second time to recover the Remnant of his People that shall be left Isa. 11.11 So for Motions of his Spirit My Spirit shall not always strive with Man Gen. 6.3 it had done so long already So for God's Apparitions to Solomon 1 Kings 11.9 His Heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel which had appeared unto him twice So Jer. 25.3 From the thirteenth Year of Josiah the Son of Amon King of Judah unto this very Day that is the three and twentieth Year the Word of the Lord hath come unto you and I have spoken unto you rising early and speaking but you have not hearkened God's Expostulations in Scripture when he proceedeth to any particular Judgment are an Instance of what he will do in the general Judgment 2. On the other side is written all the Good and Evil that we do For Good the Apostle speaketh of Fruit abounding to their Account Phil. 4.17 The Prophet sheweth God taketh notice of our Faithfulness or owning God in an evil time Mal. 3.16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his Name So of the Conversion of any be they never so few Acts 17. ult Howbeit certain Men clave unto him and believed Kindness to his Servants Mat. 10.42 Whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a Cup of cold Water only in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his Reward 1 Kings 19.18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the Knees which have not bowed unto Baal and every Mouth which hath not kissed him On the other side Injuries done to his People are recorded he hath a Bottel for their Tears a Book for their Sorrows Psal. 56.8 Thou tellest my Wandrings put thou my Tears into thy Bottel are they not in thy Book So for all the Sins we have committed Is not this laid up in store with me and sealed up among my Treasures Deut. 32.34 Nay Iob 13.27 Thou lookest narrowly unto all my Paths thou settest a Print upon the Heels of my Feet Every Action leaveth a Mark behind it Nay in the Verse before Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth as if God had taken account of his old Sins Many in this Account shall hear of things long ago committed their Iniquities will find them out If a Man escape any remarkable Judgment for one Year or two he thinketh all is forgotten Ay but these Debts stand upon record against us till the Book be cancelled or crossed Thousands of vain Thoughts sinful Actions much mispence of Time abuse of Mercies will then occur to our view when our whole Lives shall be set in order before us Psal. 50.21 These things hast thou done and I kept silence thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine Eyes Now these are the Accounts kept between God and us 2 dly At the Day of Doom these Books shall be opened Rev. 20.12 I saw the Dead small and great stand before God and the Books were opened God can forget nothing and Conscience shall be awakened to an exact review of all our Ways Security vanisheth Light is greater Judgment is nearer Circumstances of Conviction shall then be produced the Trial is to be open the Wicked are to be shamed the Righteous to be vindicated God shall be justified when he judgeth Psal. 51.4 That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest Impenitent Sinners are to be condemned for abusing the Law of Nature or despising the Grace of the Gospel 2 Thess. 1.8 Taking Vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Iesus Christ. 3 dly That all without exception shall be called to this Reckoning none so high as to be exempted from it none so low as to be neglected in it I saw the Dead small and great stand before God Rev. 20.12 They all stand on the same level Magistrates must give an account of their Trust and so must meaner People 1 Pet. 1.17 If ye call on the Father who without respect of Persons judgeth according to every Man's Work God is an impartial Judg. Men are often biassed by the expectation of Benefit or terrified by the apprehension of Danger No Person no Action can escape his Judgment 4 thly The Judgment will pass upon all Men according to the Account then given If we have been faithful and fruitful in improving God's Talents it shall go well with us in the Judgment if negligent and careless it shall go ill Cast the unprofitable Servant into outer Darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 25.30 Though not persecuting not riotous yet if unprofitable The barren Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewen down as well as the naughty Tree that bringeth forth bad Fruit. God reckoneth with us now but often doth not execute his Threatning or in the midst of Judgment remembreth Mercy Then the Doom is finally and irreversibly past without hope of Recovery and there is no temperament of Mercy at all to those that have lost their Season Vse To reflect the Light of these things on our Hearts Is our Account ready Most neglect or put off the Thoughts of it But do you take Occasion hence to reckon with your selves aforehand See every Day what you Receive and what you Return Consider every Day 's Mercies and every Day 's Work The profit of daily arraigning Conscience is exceeding great 1. It keepeth us sensible of our Duty which otherwise would be forgotten Heathens saw a necessity of this Reckoning with respect to growth in moral Vertue Men would not easily commit Evil nor omit Good or perform it so coldly if they did but say as the Town-Clerk of Ephesus did to still the Citizens We are in danger to be called in question for this day's Vproar Acts 19.40 2. It would make us often to have recourse to Grace when we observe our Sins Duties Mercies Comforts and how the one aggravate the other Surely we should every day make even with God deprecate the strict Judgment Psal. 143.2 Enter not into Iudgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no Man living be justified Get the Books cancelled Psal. 51.1 According to the multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my Transgressions Augustus bought his Guilt who slept securely when he owed so
the Soul are better than those which concern the Body as far as the Soul excells the Body and Heaven excells the World where was the fault of all this I will shew that by and by only I mention now there was a Leven of Legalism he thought to Earn Heaven by his Doing What good thing must I do As Matthew repeats the Question Mat. 19 16. Thus far we have the Character of the Man fair he was one that comes about a very serious and momentous Question to Christ a Question that should be more on our Heart Secondly Let us consider the Person by whom it was put by a Young Man in the prime of his Age by a rich Man in the fulness of his Wealth by a Man of good Rank as well as a good Estate by a Ruler while he was in his Power and Empire 1. We find him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Young Man Iulius Pollux tells us that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is one that had not yet accomplished his fourth Septenary that is not yet full twenty eight years of Age. Young Men are usually vain and there is nothing they mind less than the Salvation of their Souls If an old Man had put this question to Christ it had been the less remarkable it is time for them to think of another World that have one foot already in the Grave but this young Man comes to Christ to enquire after Eternal Life O that other Young Men would imitate his Example and go so far as he who yet fell short as we shall see in the process of the Story There is an ignorant and prophane Conceit which possesseth many Mens minds that it is not necessary for Young Men to study the Scriptures or to trouble themselves much with thinking of Heaven and Life to come because they are young and strong and lusty and likely to live many years therefore they think it is more proper for them to follow the World and to mind the things of this Life and let Old men alone to think of Heaven But this is flat contrary to the Word of God which requires us to Remember our Creator in the days of our Youth Eccl. 12.1 He that gave all deserves our best that our first and flowry years should be consecrated to him while the effects of his creating Bounty are most sensible upon us Psal. 119.9 Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way The World will say What have Young Folks to do with so serious a work when Old-age hath snow'd upon their heads and the smart experience of more years in the World hath ripened them for so severe a Discipline then it is time to think of Repenting and of cleansing our Hearts from Sin and providing for our Last End and great Account O No God demands his right of the Young Man that his Heart be seasoned betimes with Grace In the Word of God we read of Iosiah a young King of Phineas a young Priest of Daniel a young Prophet and Timothy a young Evangelist O that Young Men would apply their Hearts to Religion and make progress therein First Consider how convenient and Reasonable it is that God should have our First and Best The Flower and best of our Dayes is due to God who is the best of Beings Under the Law the First fruits were God's the Sacrifices were all offered Young and in their Strength Lev. 2.14 If thou offer a Meat-Offering of the First-fruits unto the Lord thou shalt offer the Meat-Offering of the First-fruits green Ears of Corn dryed by the Fire They were not to stay till they were ripened God will not be kept out of his Portion When Wit is dulled Ears heavy Body weak Affections spent is this a fit Sacrifice for God In respect of Eternal Life which we look for we should begin betimes to lay a Foundation If a man has a great way to go it is good rising early in the Morning Many set out too late never any too soon And for the Conveniency of it Young men are most capable of doing God Service they are best able to take pains in the Service of God and working out their own Salvation they are fittest in regard of strength of Body and Mind the Faculties of their Souls are most vigorous and the Members of their Bodies most active they have quick Wits much Firmness of Memory and strength of Affection It is not fit to lay the greatest Load on the weakest Horse the weak Shoulders of Old men are not fit for the Burden of Religion Secondly Consider how Necessary it is because the Lusts of Youth being boiling Hot need the Correction of a more severe Discipline Young men are inclined to Liberty and Carnal Pleasures and are more apt to be led aside from the right way by the motions of the Flesh and are self-willed and head-strong in their Passions therefore they need look after the World to come and to exercise themselves in Holiness more than others do As the boiling Pot sendeth up most Scum so in the fervours of Youth there are the strongest Inclinations to Intemperance and Uncleanness Who so eager in Desires so bold in Enterprizes so confident and presumptuous as they Therefore they ought to be most heedfull watchful and seriously Religious lest they be caught in the Devils Snares We read of Youthfull lusts 2 Tim. 2.22 Flee also Youthful lusts Therefore Youth had need to be seasoned with the Doctrine of the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through Faith which is in Christ Iesus The heat and violence of their Lusts is broken with a care of the World to come Thirdly Consider the Profit of it 1. The Work is more Easie the sooner it is taken in hand whereas the longer it is delayed the more difficult Sin groweth stronger by Custom and more rooted Ier. 13.27 I have seen thy Adulteries and thy Neighings the lewdness of thy Whoredoms and thine Abominations on the Hills in the Fields Wo unto thee O Ierusalem wilt thou not be made clean when shall it once be There is not such another Tyrant in the World as Sin by every Act it gathereth Strength A Twig is easily bowed but when it groweth into a Tree it is not moved The man that was possessed of a Devil from his Childhood how hardly was he cured Mar. 9.21 When the Disease groweth Inveterate Medicines do little good If you would know what you should do to inherit Eternal Life learn it Young and then the way of the Lord will be strength to you Lam. 3.27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his Youth 2. You hereby provide for the Comfort of Old Age. If you serve God in your good dayes he will help you the better over those evil dayes wherein there is no Pleasure Isa. 46.3 4. Hearken unto me O house of Iacob and all that remain
wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him There is a peculiar Goodness which God hath to his People and all his Blessings to them come from it 2 Thes. 1.11 That God would fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness I. VSE The Consideration of his Goodness is Matter of great Comfort to the Godly and Faithful at all times but especially in time of Trouble and Distress At all times Psal. 100.5 For the Lord is good his Mercy is everlasting an◠〈◊〉 Truth endureth to all generations Here 's the Stability of the Saints which 〈◊〉 them in Life and Heart and Comfort in all Conditions but especially in a 〈◊〉 of Want and Afflictions inward or outward It is a great Cordial of the Saints to think of the Goodness of God Do we want Direction Psal. 119.68 Thou art good and dost good teach me thy Statutes Do we want Support and Deliverance Nahum 1.7 The Lord is good a strong hold in the day of trouble and he knoweth them that trust in him Do we feel the Burden of Sin or do we fear the Wrath of God Psal. 86.5 For thou Lord art good and ready to forgive When his old Sins troubled him Psal. 25.7 Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercy remember me for thy Goodness sake O Lord. Do Enemies insult and boast and threaten much Psal. 52.1 Why boastest thou thy self in mischief O mighty Man the Goodness of God endureth continually Tho' they have never so much Might and Power and do never so much machine against you yet they cannot take away the Goodness of God therefore you have no Cause to be discouraged God may seem to break down the Hedge and forget his poor Servants and leave them as a Prey to their Enemies yet he changeth not his Affection to them In the Agonies of Death here 's our Cordial and Support Austin when he came to dye had this Speech to those that were about him Non sic vixi ut me pudeat inter vos vivere nec mori timeo quia bonum habeo Dominum I have not so lived as that I should be ashamed to live among you and I have not so believed as that I am afraid to dye for I have a good God This supports us and is a very great Cordial to our Heart he is a good God to all that put their trust in him II. VSE Let it move all to Repentance Rom. 2.4 Despisest thou the riches of his Goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the Goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance God is Good but not to those that continue in their Sins There is Hope offered O come try see how good he will be to you Psal. 34.8 O taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the man that trusteth in him If Goodness be despised it will turn into Fury In point of Gratitude the Goodness of God should melt our Hearts into Godly Sorrow for Sin The kindness from Men melteth us it is as Coals of Fire as Fire melts a thing and makes it capable of any Impression The Borrower is a Servant to the Lender God hath not lent but given us all that we have O let it break our Hearts with Sorrow that we should offend so good and Bountiful a God Saul had but a rough military Spirit yet when he heard how kind David had been to him in sparing his Life He lift up his voice and wept 1 Sam. 24.16 Methinks when we hear how good God hath been to us all our days this should make us ashamed of the Insolencies and Abuses we have put upon him Every Man will condemn him that wrongs one that never hurt him God hath done us no hurt but a great deal of good what will you Sin against God that is so good in himself and so good to all his Creatures and return Evil for all his Goodness to you I beseech you by the Mercies of God deal not so unkindly how can you Sin against him and abuse all his Mercies III. VSE Honour and Praise him for this in Word and Deed Psal. 118.1 O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good You all have tasted of the Goodness of God now what shall be done to the Lord for this Certainly we should be good and do good that we might imitate our Heavenly Father SERMON III. ON MARK X. 19 Thou knowest the Commandments do not commit Adultery do not Kill do not Steal do not bear False Witness Defraud not Honour thy Father and Mother IN former Discourses upon this Context you have heard of a necessary Question asked and that by a Young Man concerning the way to Eternal Life He doth not put it upon good Words or any thing less than good Works really to be done What good thing must I do that I may inherit Eternal Life Yet because he spoke in a Legal Sence Christ accommodates his Answer thereunto First he gives Answer to his Compellation Good Master and now to his Question To convince his Conscience and bring him to Brokenness of Heart and now remitteth him to his Rule 1. He mindeth him of his Pattern Why callest thou me Good there is none good but one which is God This Young Man had too high a Conceit of his own Goodness therefore Christ shews him that Originally and absolutely that Title belongeth to God only 2. He referrs him to his Rule Thô we be not so perfect as God is perfect yet if we answer our Rule the Law given to us it is enough for us Creatures and therefore the Young Man is put upon that Tryal Thou art not good as God is good so thou canst not be for God alone is good yet thou knowest the Commandments Do not commit Adultery c. Observe here 1. Christ directeth him to the Commandments for an Answer to his Question the Question was What must I do that I may inherit Eternal life Christ saith Thou knowest the Commandments c. That here is a direct Answer to the Question appeareth by comparing the Evangelists for we see Mar. 19.17 18. it is drawn Dialogue-wise thus If thou wilt enter into life keep the Commandments He saith unto him which Iesus said Thou shalt do no Murder thou shalt not commit Adultery c. If thou lookest to be saved by Doing keep the Law perfectly 2. For the particular Commandments he instanceth in those Commandments for his Tryal which were more apt to convince him of his Sin and of his Imperfection And here it is notable that they are all of the second Table Do not Kill do not commit Adultery c. And there is one Clause Defraud not that is left out in Luke and in Matthew instead thereof there is put this General Clause Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Mat. 19.19 Three Questions then are necessary for Explication 1. Why Christ referrs him to the Commandments 2. Why the Commandments of the Second Table are
Tongue a deaf Ear or a lame Leg certainly you ought much more to bewail the want of Grace We murmure at outward Defects which is a taxing of Providence it being a fruit of the Lord's Dominion belongs to our Care Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 Dye the Cloath in the Wooll and not in the Webb and the Colour is more durable God works strangely in Children and many notable things have been found in them beyond expectation 3 It prevents many Sins which afterwards would be a trouble to us when we are Old O many think that the Tricks of Youth are long since forgotten and forgiven but alas the guilt of them may fly in our Faces afterward nay tho' they be pardoned and the Persons reconciled to God The Sins of Youth trouble many a tender Conscience in Age witness David Psal. 25.7 Remember not the Sins of my Youth And Iob Chap. 13.26 Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the Iniquities of my Youth A Good man may remember old Sins with new fears that they are not pardoned While it is eaâ—ie to Sin it is easie to believe the pardon of Sin marvel not at the Expression while we are Young and Sin freely we think God will forgive those Sins and they will soon be forgotten but as a Man grows up into more tenderness of Conscience and into a greater Awe and Sense and Esteem of God's Holiness what a Holy God he serves he finds it the more difficult to believe the pardon of Sin Good Men have with much bitterness of Soul called to mind the Sins of their Youth when they see the Sins of their younger days are so many and the breaches of God's Law so innumerable whereby they have offended God that either through Ignorance or Inconsideration they have so sinned against God that they have much ado to believe the pardon of the multitude of their youthful Sins New Afflictions may awaken the sense of old Sins as old Bruises may trouble us long after upon every change of Weather There are some that feel the Sins of their Youth in their Bodies when the Pains and Aches of their miserable Age are the Fruits of their youthful Vanities and Intemperance as it is said Iob 20.11 His bones are full of the Sins of his Youth which shall lye down with him in the dust They carry the marks of their youthful Sins their Bones feel them till they lye down in the Dust. Nay God's Children that have repented and God hath been reconciled to them through Christ they have many a bitter remembrance of their youthful Follies and Vanities that make their Hearts ake at the Thoughts of them Ier. 31.19 Surely after that I was turned I repented and after I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my Youth Therefore upon these Considerations certainly it is very good to begin with God betimes that it may not be a disadvantage to us after God shall call us to Grace for though the Lord may bless the Education of Youth with Supernatural Grace yet youthful Vanities may prove very bitter in the remembrance of them when we grow old VSE This is spoken to reprove us because we always think it too soon to begin with God Where is this timely Care and Forwardness Alas we cannot say All these have we kept from our Youth but when we come to look to the Commands of God we may say All these have we broken from our Youth While they are Young most Men live prophane and without all fear of God Certainly there was some Goodness in this Mans Speech and that occasioned me to observe it for Iesus beholding him loved him But was it true All these have I kept from my Youth In a Sence it was true in regard of outward Conformity but not true in regard of that perfect Obedience which was required 1. It was true in regard of outward Conformity Externally he had kept them all thô not in the just extent of the Law yet he was as to Men unreproveable being no Adulterer no Murderer no Extortioner no Thief he did not lye certainly in this Profession he made he spoke as he thought and out of Simplicity and Error rather than Deceit the Man lived blamelesly and did no body harm and therefore saith All these have I kept from my Youth Outward Obedience and Conformity to the Law is a good and commendable thing in it self yea necessary and required of us but we are not to rest in it but to escape the Vices and Pollutions of the World is so far Praise-worthy There are many that are openly prophane and wicked in Life Swearers Drunkards Sabbath-breakers these come short of this Young man who yet came short of the Kingdom of Heaven What will these say for themselves will they pretend that their Heart is good Can a pure Fountain send forth impure Streams If the Heart were good would the Life be so naught If there be light in the Lanthorn will it not shine forth If there be Grace in the Heart it will appear 2. It was not true in regard of that perfect Obedience which the Law requireth and so he ignorantly and falsly supposed that he had kept the Law well enough and done all those things from his Youth The Falsity and presumption of this Answer will appear by considering 1. What the Scripture saith of the State of Man by Nature Gen. 8.21 The Imagination of mans Heart is evil from his Youth And he saith All these have I kept from my Youth O how much do they forget themselves that boast of their own Perfection 2. The Falsity of it appears by the sence of the Commandment produced Thou knowest the Commandment saith Christ Do not commit Adultery c. which will reach the most perfect man upon Earth It was a Command of the Second Table which wrought such Tragical Effects and that stirr'd up those Stings of Conscience and Agonies of Heart in Paul Rom. 7.7 I had nan known lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not Covet and thereupon he groundeth that General Verse 14. The Law is Spiritual but I am Carnal sold under Sin 3. The Falsity will appear by comparing him with other Holy Men of God how differently do they express themselves from this Man that was so full of Confidence Compare him first with Iosiah who when he heard the Law read he rent his Cloaths 2 Kings 22.11 and here Christ recites the Law Thou knowest the Commandment and this Young man saith All these have I kept from my Youth O what a difference is there between a tender Self-judging Heart and a Conceited Justiciary A tender Conscience is all in an Agony when it hears the Law and will smite for the least failing as David's Heart smote him for cutting off the lap of Saul's Garment
Again compare him with the Man that brought his Son that was possessed with a dumb Devil he brought him to Christ to be cured and Christ asked him Dost thou believe I can do it And he cryed out with tears Lord I believe help thou my unbelief Mark 9.24 That was an humble Spirit indeed there 's a Work of Faith Lord I believe but he acknowledgeth mixtures of weakness help thou my unbelief But here is no lamenting of defects All these have I kept from my Youth Good Souls in the best Actions they perform will bewail the mixtures of Sin when they own any thing of Grace they are still acknowledging their weakness and many Infirmities We may and we must acknowledge the Good that is wrought in us but still we may and we must be sensible of the mixtures of Infirmity in our best Actions Again compare him with Paul he was one that had cause to stand upon his Priviledges as much as any he had all those things which the finer sort of Hypocrites can plead and rely upon before they come to Christ. Before he became a Christian he was as touching the righteousness which is by the law blameless Phil. 3.6 He had a Life free from all Scandal and any outward Vice yet when he comes to look upon this he says I count all but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ. Verse 8. Paul was broken-hearted touched with a sight of Sin and deserved Wrath But this Man what an utter Stranger was he to this Blessed Work of Brokenness of Heart All these have I kept from my Youth In short that I may gather up the Discourse Here was wanting Iosiah's Tenderness who rent his Cloaths and the other Man's Humility and Paul's Self-denyal therefore certainly his Answer shews that he was not truly acquainted either with the Law or with himself So that the Note which I shall prosecute will be this Doct. That Men are too apt to think well of themselves or of their own Goodness and Righteousness before God Here is a Young Man drunk with a foolish Confidence and therefore boasteth that he had ever performed his Duty And to be sure he hath more fellows in the World some that are as Confident as he but upon far less grounds It is said of the Scribe that came to Christ Luke 10.29 But he willing to justifie himself That is the Temper and Disposition of Man So Rom. 10.3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God So Rev. 3.17 Thou sayest I am rich and increased with goods and stand in need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Oh how apt are many to conceit of themselves beyond what they ought Obj. But what 's the Cause that Men are so apt to over rate their own Righteousness and Goodness before God I answer Ignorance Error Self-love Negligence and Security First Ignorance They are ignorant of the Law and of the Gospel 1. Ignorant of the Law of the Spiritual meaning of the Law They think they are well enough if they refrain from outward gross Sins and so say All these have I kept because they keep it in an outward way as that Pharisee Luk. 18.11 God! I thank thee I am not as other men are Extortioners Vnjust Adulterers or even as this Publican Men please themselves in this as if open and gross Sinners were only lyable to the Wrath of God O how Natural is it to us to cut short the sence of the Law that which may suit it to our own practice and our own course of Duty Ignorant Persons think that no Man is an Idolalater or guilty of the breach of the First Commandment but he that doth grosly and openly worship Stocks and Stones and Beasts and Serpents and none a Murderer but he that hath kill'd a Man none an Adulterer but he that hath defiled his Neighbours Bed none a Thief but he that robs by the High-way side or that pilfers anothers Goods They look to the gross and outward sence of the Law and not to the inward Spiritual meaning thereof The Lord Christ rebukes this Ignorance Matth. 5.22 and shews that rash anger and contumelious words are Sins and he is a Murderer not only that doth kill another but he that breaks out into Passion that calls his Brother Fool he is in danger of Hell-fire that Lustful glances are Adultery that the Law requires not only an External Conformity in Manners and Actions but Purity and Righteousness in all our Thoughts internal Motions and the Affections of the Heart Therefore the poor ignorant Self-deceiving Man that triumphs over Sin as if it were wholly dead in him because it breaks not out into open wickedness and enormous Offences is wholly mistaken as Paul was alive without the Law O this Man is foully mistaken for he knows not the Law aright for it doth not only Command some External Duties and forbid some of the grosser Sins but reacheth the Heart it condemneth Lust evil Concupiscence and inordinate Motions and Stirrings A Man that keeps the Law only outwardly can no more be said to keep the Law than he that hath undeâ—â—â—â—n to carry a Tree and only takes up a little piece of the Bark 2. They are ignorant of Gospel Righteousness which consists in the remission of Sins and Imputation of Christ's Righteousness applyed by true Faith What 's the Reason men are so apt to over-rate their own Righteousness They are ignorant of the Righteousness of God Rom. 10.3 They do not know the true Plea in the Gospel Court which is not Innocency but a broken-hearted Confession of Sin Thâ—â— Perfection of personal Obedience which the legal Covenant requireth they acknowledge not and being ignorant of the second they patch up a piece as well as they can of the Duties of the Law ill understood that the Ell may be no broader than the Cloath Ignorance then is one great Cause of this Disposition in men to justifie themselves Ignorance of the Legal and Gospel Covenant they are ignorant of the Nature Merit and Influence of Sin and of the severity of God's Justice Secondly Another Cause is Error They are leavened with sottish Principles and that disposeth them to a Conceit of their own Righteousness I shall name several of them 1. That they live in good Order and are of a Civil harmless Life and are better than others or better than themselves have been heretofore and therefore are in good Condition before God and yet a man may be Carnal for all this I will take this Principle asunder Take the Positive part A Man may live in good Order be of a civil and harmless Life and yet be destitute of Grace and of the Life
without some Remark and Observation Isaac goeth to meet with God and he meeteth with God and Rebekah too Godliness hath the promises of this Life and that which is to come there is nothing lost by Duty and Acts of Piety and Worship Seneca said The Iews were an unhappy People because they lost the Seventh part of their Lives meaning the time spent in the Sabbath This is the Sense of Nature to think all lost that is bestowed on God Flesh and Blood snuffeth and cryeth What a weariness is it And what need all this waste Oh let me tell you by serving God you drive on two cares at once Worldly Interests many times are cast into the way of Religion and besides the main design these things are added to us Wonderful are the Providences of God in and about Duties of Worship some have gone aside to pray and escaped such as lay in wait to destroy them and Luther tells a story of one that balked a Duty and fell into a danger passed by a Sermon and was presently surprized by Thieves Others there are that thought of nothing but meeting God in his Worship and God hath made their Duties an occasion of advancing their outward Comforts Certainly it is good to obey all impulses of the Spirit there may be somewhat of Providence as well as Grace in it Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide and he lift up his eyes and saw and behold the camels were coming In the Words you have several Circumstances The Person Isaac his Work he went out to meditate the Place in the Field the Time at even-tide 1. For the Person Isaac I need not say much because I would not digress He was Abraham's Son and God said of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Good Education leaveth a Savour and Tincture upon the Spirit at least an Awe and a Care of Duties and Exercises of Religion and therefore it is no wonder to hear of Abrahams Son that had been trained up in the way of the Lord to go out to meditate it is a Seal of the Blessing of Education Again Isaac was now in his Youth certainly he could not be very old Sarah was Ninety years old when the Promise was first made to her of a Son Gen. 17.17 Then Abraham fell upon his face and laughed and said in his heart Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old And shall Sarah that is ninety years old bear Now Sarah was but One Hundred Twenty Seven old years when she dyed Gen. 23.1 And this Match was immediately after her Death for just as he received Rebekah he left off his Mourning for Sarah Gen. 24.67 And Isaac brought her into his Mother Sarahs tent and took Rebekah and she became his wife and he loved her And Isaac was comforted after his mothers death Probably Isaac now was a little above Thirty Isaac a Young Man that was now entring into the World goeth out to meditate Usually we make Religious Exercises the Work of Gray Hairs and after we have spent the heat and flower of our Spirits in the vanities of the World we hope to make amends for all by a Severe and Devout Retirement Young and Green Heads look upon Meditation as a dull melancholly work fit only for the phlegme and decay of Old Age vigorous and eager Spirits are more for Action than Thoughts and their Work lyeth so much with others that they have no time to descend into themselves But the Elder World was more Innocent the Exercises of Isaacs Youth were pious he went out into the Fields to meditate 2. To open his Work to you to meditate or as it is in the Margin to pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word used in the Original is indifferent to both Senses it properly signifies muttering or an imperfect and suppressed sound the Septuagint sometimes renders it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to sing but here they render it by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to exercise himself and most properly a Sportive Exercise as if his going abroad had been only to sport and recreate himself after the toyl of the day But that is not so probable the Holy Ghost would not put such a Mark upon such a Circumstance Therefore I suppose the Septuagints word must be taken more largely to comprise also a Religious Exercise But how is it To Pray or Meditate I would not recede from our own Translation without weighty Cause most other Translations look that way Symachus renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to speak Aquila 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to discourse as with others that is with God and his own Soul and so it suiteth with the force of the Original Word which properly signifies to mutter or such a speaking as is between Thoughts and Words So that the meaning is he went aside privately to discourse of God and the Promises and of Heavenly Things 3. The Place in the field Partly for Privacy deep Thoughts require a Retirement Many of Davids Psalms were penned in the Wilderness He that would have the Company of God and his own Thoughts had need go aside from other Company and be alone that he may not be alone that the Mind being sequestred from all Distractions may solace it self the more freely in these Heavenly Thoughts Exod. 3.1 Moses led the flock to the back-side of the desert and came to the mountain of God even to Horeb. He goeth aside from the other Shepherds that he might converse with the Great Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls and there he seeth the Vision of the burning Bush. When God would communicate his Loves to the Church he inviteth her into the Wilderness Hosea 2.14 Therefore behold I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably unto her The most familiar and intimate Converses between God and the Church are in private So the Spouse inviteth the Bridegroom Cant. 7.11 Come my beloved let us go forth into the field let us lodge in the villages In these Solitary and Heavenly Retirements to which no Eyes are conscious and privy we have most Experience of God and of our selves Duties done in Company are more easie by ends and Mans Eye and Observance may have an influence upon our Worship and therefore Meditation is difficult and tedious because it is a work of Retirement that hath approbation from none but our Father that seeth in Secret Partly because the Field is an help to Meditation fancy and invention being elevated and raised by the sweetness variety and pleasure of it there being on every side so many Objects and lively Memorials of God However in this sense the Circumstance is not binding some do better in a Closet than in a
faint when thou art rebuked of him These are the two extreams The sense of our Condition is necessary that we may not sleight the Affliction and the support that we may not faint under it Both may and must stand together for in all worldly cases we must weep as if we wept not 1 Cor. 7.30 And again sorrow not as those without hope 1 Thess. 4.13 and so be without all comfort In short the sense is necessary for improvement the support to make trouble easie 1. If we have not a Sense we cannot make a right use of our Sufferings and Afflictions but our Hearts will be more hardned in Sin God is their Author Repentance is their end and their cause is Sin Lam. 3.39 Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins And therefore though we be not to droop and languish under our Afflictions yet we must consider the righteous Providence of God and the smart of his displeasure must awaken us to Repentance otherwise the Affliction is frustrated and you leave the thorn in your foot which caused your first pain and soarness If you do not repent of your Sins and no cure is wrought if you still let out your hearts freely to the World and the prosperities and delights thereof this is the high way to security and carelesness of Soul Concernments 2. You must not faint and despair as if all joy and comfort in God were lost For 1. We are not utterly undone as long as we have God for our Portion Lam. 3.24 The Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore will I hope in him Though the Creature be blasted he is alive still and should be the joy and delight of our Souls for then we are tryed whether he be so or no. 2. God is a Loving Father when he corrects Our chastisements are effects not only of his Justice but Mercy it is a Rod in the Hand of our Father wherewith we are scourged Iohn 18.11 The cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it And so it is an Act of Love and kindness to us 3. Our Father hath Mercy enough to turn it to our benefit Heb. 12.10 They verily for a few dayes chastned us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we may be partakers of his Holiness And shall we mourn for that which is for our benefit If we rejoyce in God and Holyness it will not be so If God will stir us up to more Humility contempt of the World confidence in himself and to place our delights in him alone shall we be dejected and displeased as if some great wrong had been done us 4. If this Affliction fits us for Everlasting Happiness there is cause of joy still left 2 Cor. 4.17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory One that must have Eternal Glory and Eternal Glory promoted by such a means should not grudge at a little suffering and affliction which is the common burden of the Sons of Adam 2. Prejudice Christ hath pronounced those Blessed that mourn for Sin Matth. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted how then can we rejoyce evermore Answer 1. Mourning for Sin is necessary to cure our vain Rejoycing or delight in carnal vanities and at our entrance into Christianity this is a Duty highly incumbent upon us because of Sin and the Curse which we naturally lie under Certainly while we are out of Christ we have nothing to comfort us nothing to answer to the terrours of the Law or to reply against the Accusations of Conscience and the fears of approaching Misery and Judgment and what should we do if we be sensible of it but bemoan our selves and seek after God with weeping and supplications Gods first work in Conversion is to put Men out of their fools Paradise who are satisfied with the Creature without himself Therefore Humiliation and a broken-hearted sense of Misery is required to deaden the rellish and tast of Sin and that Men may more prize and esteem the healing Grace of Christ and set more by it than all the Pleasures and Riches and Honours of the World Can a Man see himself lost and in danger of Condemnation and not be grieved But all this while joy is in the making and we are providing Everlasting Comfort for our selves for God is ready to ease us assoon as our need requireth and our care will permit Isa. 57 15 16 17. For this saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones For I will not contend for ever neither will I be alwaies wroth for the spirit shall fail before me and the souls which I have made For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart And he saith afterwards verse 18. I have seen his wayes and will heal him I will lead him also and restore comfort to him and to his mourners The Lord is ready to come in with sweet and Heavenly Cordials when the Physick worketh but a little kindly Ier. 31.18 19 20. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus thou hast chastized me and I was chastized as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon the thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Is Ephraim my dear son is he a pleasant child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy on him saith the Lord. Well then this sorrow may be well allowed because it prevents greater sorrow namely the pains of Hell It is better mourn for a while than for ever better to have healing grief than tormenting grief to mourn now while mourning will do us good then to howl at last when all sorrow will be fruitless and only a part of our punishment not of our cure And besides this sorrow maketh for comfort Matth. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted When the shower is fallen the Sun cleareth up and shineth in his full strength and Beauty The vain rejoycing being deadned we have grounds of Everlasting Joy by considering the means God hath appointed for our deliverance from Sin and Death and the flames of Hell 2. Mourning for Sin and Joy in the Lord may stand well together For Grace and Grace are not contrary but Grace and Sin Those who most mourn for Sin do most rejoyce in the
are Holy though sinners by nature yet dedicated to God and by vertue of the Parent 's Covenant accepted into the visible Church This agreeth with the exact rules of friendship to be a friend to us and our Families as David was to Mephibosheth for Ionathans sake 2 Sam 9.7 Fear not for I will shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy Fathers sake So Rom. 11.28 As concerning the Gospel they are Enemies for your sake but as touching the Election they are beloved for the Fathers sake For so many thousand years This is a friendship like God whose kindness is expressed in a way becoming himself Well then every Child is capable of dedication to God in the solemn way of an Ordinance 'T was a grief to Gehazi to have the Leprosie cleave to him and his Posterity it is a comfort to you that your Children are Holy Another Leper was born of him another Child is born to God of you More especially when the Covenant breaketh out then Children are a blessing indeed an Heritage from the Lord Gen. 9.25 26. Cursed be Canaan a servant of Servants shall he be to his Brethren And he said blessed be the Lord God of Shem. Ham is cursed in the person of Canaan whose progeny was excluded from the Grace of the Ordinances Instead of blessing Shem as he had cursed Cham Noah blesseth and praiseth God Blessed be the Lord God of Shem. God is his God that is happiness enough which is to be ascribed to his Grace But to return God hath implanted an affection in Parents to their Children he hath a Son himself and he knoweth how he loveth him and he loveth him for his holiness Heb. 1.9 Thou hast loved Righteousness and hated Iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oil of gladness above thy fellows So many times in a condescention to good Parents he bestoweth this priviledge that they shall have Godly Children Look as to a Minister those whom he converts to God they are his Glory and his Ioy and his Crown of rejoicing at the day of the Lord 1 Thes. 2.19 20. So as to those whom we have been a means to bring into the World if they are in the Covenant of Grace it is a greater blessing than to see them Monarchs of the World 3. 'T is a gift and a blessing dispensed as a reward and heritage with respect to the obedience or disobedience of their Parents God would by all ways and means ingage us to godliness now because our temporal happiness or misery much dependeth upon our Relations and Children he would make this one motive to invite us to walk in his ways This is one way or means to let in happiness or trouble upon us Sometimes he promiseth Children and flourishing Children as a reward of piety and threateneth no Children or unhappy Children as a punishment of disobedience See Iob 5.4 compared with 25. Of the wicked it is said ver 4. His Children are far from safety they are crushed in the Gate and there is none to deliver them 'T is promised to the godly ver 25. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great and thine off-spring shall be as the Grass of the Earth So the Second Commandment Exod. 20.5 6. I the Lord thy God am a Iealous God visiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate me and shewing Mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments and many other places Though not all the Godly and only they have the gift of prosperity and a successful posterity yet God is pleased in express terms to adopt this blessing into the Covenant Wicked Parents are ordinarily great snares and plagues to their Children and the godly prove great blessings Because this is an argument often pressed in Scripture I shall a little state it how far wicked Parents may procure a judgement and godly Parents a blessing to their Children 1. How far wicked Parents may procure a Judgment to their Children Answ. Punishments are either Temporal or Eternal For Eternal no man is punished with Eternal punishment for anothers sins properly and directly there we stand upon our own personal account occasionally a Child may be punished eternally for his Father's sin as being deprived of the means of Grace by the Parent 's revolt from the true Religion As for external means the Parents who are a kind of Trustees may put away the means of Grace from their Families When God cometh to tender Grace to them he tendereth it to them in the name of their whole house Luk. 19.9 This day is salvation come to this House Forasmuch also as he is the Son of Abraham as a Believer he had an interest in Abraham's promises Gen. 17.7 I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and thy Seed after thee So Act. 16.31 Believe on the Lord Iesus Christ and thou shalt be saved thou and thy House that is put in a way of Salvation If a Family reject the strictness of profession and give up themselves to cursing swearing uncleanness gaming hatred of reformation and of a lively Ministry the Children born in the Family may be justly left to be wicked by these examples and prejudiced against the ways of God 2. For Temporal Punishments These may be supposed to come both on those that continue in their wicked Parents Paths and Courses or on those who do break them off by repentance 1. If they continue in them then both Parents and Children are considered as one Body and Society Isa. 65.6 7. I will recompense even recompense into their bosom Your iniquities and the iniquities of your Fathers together There is a cup still filling and when we add more Water then it runneth over As by a figure added to a number already set the value is increased to a much greater sum than the single Figure would bear if it stood alone So the personal sins of the Child are made much more hainous by the foregoing offences of the Parents Or as a fire that is already kindled when it meeteth with more combustible matter the flame is the more increased so by the addition of the Childrens sins to their Ancestors the judgment is made more exemplary and remarkable nay it may be the judgment may begin with the Children when the Parents in this World do escape and go unpunished The Parents kindle the Fire and the Children come and cast in more Fuel and then no wonder if the burning be the greater 2. If they be godly The judgments may continue though they be sanctified to their holy posterity Thus God's quarrel for the sins of Manasseh continued in the days of good Iosiah 2 Kin. 23.26 The Lord turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah because of all the provocations
refreshments 3. They are described by their constant progress till they came to the place they aimed at that is in the Text They go from strength to strength every one of them in Zion appeareth before God That is having found some refreshment and reparation of strength they are encouraged to go on their way till they appear before God in the Holy Feast and have communion with him in his publick worship and then chearful joyful Souls they In which words 1. Their progress is described 2. The term and end of their journey I. Their progress They go from strength to strength That is they are always gathering new strength and courage notwithstanding their difficulties It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is increasing their power and strength yet more and more so far are they from being weary faint and discouraged as Rom. 1.17 The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith that is our Faith still increasing And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 that is Our Glory increasing more and more So they go from strength to strength that is they increase in Strength and Courage Some read from Company to Company or from Troop to Troop or Squadron to Squadron As the word signifieth Strength in the general so sometimes a Troop of Men. It was their fashion to repair to these Feasts in great Troops For David saith Psal. 42.4 I had gone with the multitude I went with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with a multitude that kept holy day Luke 2.44 They supposing him to be in the company went a days journey and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance The croud was so great that Christ was lost in the throng So they go from Troop to Troop from one of these Companies to another the later overtaking the foremost which sheweth their alacrity in this journey But we may keep our reading 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from strength to strength II. The term and end of the Journey Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God At length they come to the Tabernacle the Type of Christ's promised Incarnation God's pitching his Tent in Humane Flesh and so these Godly Travellers reap the benefit of their long trouble and enjoy the pleasure of God's publick Worship The Sept. Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The God of Gods shall be seen in Zion The words of them are opened Now the use of them is double as Zion was a Figure of the Church or as it is a Figure of Heaven 1. As Zion was a Figure of the Church so it doth express the Zeal of God's Children to joyn themselves to his Militant Church in this World and to make after the Ordinances there to injoy Christ notwithstanding all difficulties with which such a purpose is incumbred Those that may have comfortable Communion with God in his Holy Worship must expect Troubles and yet they many times meet with a Spring or a Pool by the way some mitigations of Providence and Refreshments in their Miseries at length they shall obtain their Desire 2. As Zion is a Figure of Heaven of Ierusalem that is above the City that hath Foundations And so it doth notably express the condition of those that aspire after the Triumphant Church in Heaven and all things in this Psalm concerning these passengers are sweetly applicable to this David compareth himself to two sort of Israelites ver 4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy House they shall be still praising thee Some Saints are at home already dwelling with God and praising him is their perpetual Exercise These are in Patria in their Country Others in via in the way Travellers home 1. Their Hearts are in the ways thereof their whole Time Care Thoughts and Affections are set upon this how they may get home Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ. Mat. 6.20 21. Lay up for your selves Treasure in Heaven where neither Moth nor Rust doth corrupt and where Thieves do not break through nor steal for where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also 2. These have a Wilderness to get thorough and a comfortless Valley full of discouragements For through manifold tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14.22 Only now and then God giveth them a little refreshing a Spring by the way or a Pool sometimes inward sometimes outward Comforts and Supports that they may not be afflicted above measure and beyond what they are able to bear 3. In this valley of Tears and in the midst of Sorrows they find strength renewed to them and supports given so that the further they go the more chearful they are 4. At length our troublesome pilgrimage in this world is rewarded with the Beatifical vision of God in a better World and then we shall find that all our pains though never so great are well bestowed when the God of Gods is seen in Zion I. Those whose Hearts are set upon the ways of God and do in the midst of all difficulties hope to come before him in Zion that is above it is their Priviledge and Duty to go on from Strength to Strength II. Those that go from Strength to Strength shall at length appear before God in a Blessed and Heavenly Estate 1. Doct. Those whose Hearts are set upon the ways of God and do in the midst o◠〈◊〉 difficulties hope to come before him in Zion it is their priviledge and Duty to go on 〈◊〉 Strength to Strength 1. It is their priviledge as they grow older to grow better wiser and stronger Isai. 40.31 They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint They that wait on the Lord that do with patience expect the performance of his promises shall still have a new supply of strength enabling them to bear up when they seem to be clean spent so as to Mount as on Eagles wings which are Fowls that fly strongly and swiftly and renew their Youth Psal. 103.5 Thy youth is renewed like the Eagles Whether as those Fowls are famous for long life vigorous and healthful as if always young or it respects some particular qualities of the Eagle Some say the Eagle by casting her Feathers reneweth her youth As Micah 1.16 Inlarge thy baldness as the Eagle Some by casting her Bill when the upper Beak groweth crooked with age and shutteth up the lower Well then this is the priviledge of God's Servants so Psal. 92.13 14. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God They shall bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing Those Plants which our Heavenly Father hath planted in the midst o◠all their troubles and difficulties they flourish as Trees stand all weathers
his Love mentioned in the former Verse God's Children incourage themselves with his hidden Favour though to appearance God covereth himself with wrath and frowns His present severity cannot perswade them that all his Mercy is lost and clean gone and forgotten They can see it in God's Heart though they see it not in his Hand and it be not visible to their own Sense Though they feel him as an Enemy yet they will trust him as a Friend They know he will spare them even then when he pursueth them with the strokes of his wrath For Articles of Faith are not to be laid aside because of the contradiction of Sense 2. There is some sparing even in his striking for if he bring one Evil to prevent a greater Evil to save us from Eternal Misery that is Mercy He striketh for a while that he may spare for ever 1 Cor. 11.32 For when we are judged we are Chastened of the Lord that we may not be condemned with the World A Man would be pulled out of the deep Waters though it be by the Hair of his Head and his Arm broken in the Rescue If he take away any good thing from us to bestow some greater good we have no cause to complain for surely the greater should be preferred before the lesser and the felicity of the Soul in Grace and Glory should be preferred before the good of the Body God had neither spared nor saved any if he had not blasted their Worldly happiness Surely God doth not envy to us our Worldly Comforts but taketh them from us when they are likely to do us hurt 2. Use. To shew us the privilege of them that fear God or have a Son-like and Child-like affection to him He speaketh not here of the first Grace infused into the Penitent but of those that are already admitted into his Family Surely their Privilege is exceeding great 1. They need not be discouraged in their Duties though they be imperfect God will not call them to a strict account Christ when he Feasts with his Spouse he will eat the Honey with the Honey-comb Cant. 5.1 he accepts all heartily He that forgave all their Sins at first will excuse their infirmities They shall be tenderly dealt with all and their failings passed over as a Parent passeth over an Escape in an Obedient Son Alas if God did not spare us for our best Works and choicest Services who could stand Our Duties need a Pardon as well as those actions which are down right Sins for they are mixed with Sin 2. That he will spare us as to Afflictions and Judgments 1. Sometimes God may spare others for their sakes as he offereth to spare Sodom if there were Fifty Righteous Persons found in it Gen. 18.26 If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the City I will spare all the place for their sakes Afterwards the number was brought down to Ten vers 32. So God gave to Paul the lives of all that sailed with him in the Ship Acts 27.24 though in that Eminent danger for his sake 2. When he cometh to reckon with the Nation or the Community in which they live he many times spared them and they are not swept away in the common Judgment Isa. 3.10 Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him God will put a difference between them and others not always but when he pleaseth God may protect them in calamitous Times The Lord knows how to do it how to make Distinctions 2 Pet. 2.9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of Temptation 3. If they are involved in the common Judgment as two dry Sticks may set a green on Fire they may see some Moderation and Glimpses of favour Habb 3.2 That in the midst of Wrath God remembers Mercy Either it is sanctified or they are supported under it or the Evil is mitigated 4. If the worst fall out yet they are spared because they are not cast into Hell If they are not exempted from Temporal Judgments yet they are delivered from Wrath to come and that should satisfy Christians Heb. 10.39 We believe to the saving of the Soul 1. Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your Faith even the Salvation of your Souls Though the Body and its Interests be endamaged yet the Soul is saved which is our great hope 3. Use is to Instruct us in our Duty with respect to this choice Privilege 1. Let us be affected with the Love of God that he will spare us as a Man spareth his own Son If God should deal with us according to the merit of our Sins and be strict upon us what would become of the best of us Surely God seeth all our Failings Heb. 4.12 All things are naked and open unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do And doth disallow them and is displeased with them 2 Sam. 11.27 But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. If you deny the first you deny his being if you deny the second you debase his Holiness and Righteousness And his Law Condemneth them as worthy of punishnishment Gall. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them Whence then cometh our safety From the New Covenant founded in Christ's Blood by which the Sentence of Condemnation is vacated Rom. 8.1 There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ. This Sentence is repealed by a new act of God's great Mercy and Favour in the New Covenant 2. Let us believe the certainty of it on the Grounds before-mentioned viz. the merciful Nature of God the design of the Gospel is to represent him Amiable to Man 1 Iohn 4.8 God is love The satisfaction of Christ 1 Iohn 4.10 God sent his son to be a propitiation for our sins His gracious Covenant Psal. 25.10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his Covenant His Fatherly Goodness Ier. 3.4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me My father thou art the guide of my youth 3. Keep your Qualification clear Besides the Ransom our Uprightness must be interpreted Iob 33.23 24. If there be a messenger with him an interpreter one among a thousand to shew unto man his uprightness then he is gracious unto him and saith Deliver him from going down into the pit for I have found a ransom If we do not continue to fear God or abate our Reverence towards him we lose our Comfort Therefore if you would stand right in God's favour our Love and Fear must be increased towards this good God And if he will stand upon the exactness of his Law we must not stand upon our own Interests and the Gratifications of the Flesh. We should not spare any beloved Lust or Interest so we may please and glorifie God A Sermon on 2 TIM ii 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are his And Let every