A Trial of Faith, Sermons · Sermon 21
Eccleſ. 12. 1.
Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth, while the evil dayes come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou ſhalt ſay I have no pleaſure in them.
SOlomon having ſpent a great part of his life in following after vanity, and being brought by the Spirit of God to a ſerious conſideration of his wayes, he doth write this Book of Eccleſiaſtes as the Book of his Repentance; and like a true penitent, he takes care of the ſouls of others, and gives warning to all men that they ſhould take heed that they do not ſplit againſt thoſe Rocks againſt which he caſt himſelf. He is exceeding careful of the ſouls of men; and in a ſpecial manner, he takes care of the ſouls of young men; he ſpeaks once and again to them, that they might be warned by him, and not ſpend their youth in vanity, that they might not loſe the comfort that they might enjoy by enjoying God, and that they might not loſe their opportunities of doing God ſervice in their youth.
Now becauſe it is hard to make impreſſion upon young men, they being very apt to put the evil day far from them, and to put the good day far from them too, the day of converſion and returning to God being the firſt of all good dayes, the day-break of Eternity; he therefore doubles his Exhortation to them: And he begins in chap. 11. verſe 9. there he gives one warning piece to young men, Rejoyce O young man in thy youth, ▪ and let thy heart cheer thee in the dayes of thy youth and walk in the wayes of thine heart, and in the ſight of thine eyes: But know thou, that for all theſe things, God will bring thee into judgement. Youth is very ſinful, and it is very hard for young men to bear reproofs. That Solomon ſpeaks in an Ironical way, that it might make impreſſion upon their hearts; as if he ſhould give them leave … do what they will, Let thy heart cheer thee in the dayes of thy youth, and walk in the wayes of thine heart, and in the ſight of thine eyes: Take you… pleaſure, and run after vanity, and ſcorn reproof… and ſatisfie your luſt as much as you will: do (ſaith he) But take this alſo with you; Know, that for all theſe things, God will bring thee to judgement.
But how ſhall a young man be delivered from his folly?How a young man may be delivered from his folly. What remedy is there againſt this evil in youth? By what means may a young man be cleanſed?
He ſets down a remedy in the Text, Remember thy Creator: If thou wouldeſt be turned from ſinful vanity in thy youth; Remember God in thy youth. And he preſſeth the Exhortation with many Arguments; Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth. Remember him! So I will (ſaith the young man) I have health, and ſtrength, and time before-hand, I am but in the beginning of my youth, and I may remember my Creator, though I do it hereafter. O! Take heed (young man) ſaith he, Remember now thy Creator; Take heed of delaying, take heed of putting it off till another time, do it now, the future time is not in thy power, thou know'ſt not what to morrow will bring forth, and therefore if thou would'ſt remember God, do it now.
And good reaſon that thou ſhouldeſt do it now, for he is thy Creator, thy being and thy ſoul is from him, thy life is from him, and thy comforts are from him; He is thy Creator, therefore remember him now.
And he preſſeth this Duty, by the advantages which a man may have in youth of ſeeking after God; and the diſadvantages that will come by putting off ſeeking after God in early yeers; There are evil dayes a coming (ſaith he) and therefore Remember now thy Creator, before the evil day come. There is the evil day of old age a coming, and that Solomon deſcribes by an excellent Allegory or Metaphor from verſ. 2. to ver. 7. In verſe 2. he ſets forth the evil day of Old Age, While the Sun, or the Light, or the Moon, or the Stars be not darkned, nor the Clouds return after the rain; The Sun, and the Moon, and the Stars will be darkned, ſaith he; that is, all the powers, the faculties of thy ſoul, thy underſtanding, thy affections, thy internal and external ſenſes, thy memory, thy hearing, and thy ſeeing, and all other helps, which he calls the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Light, they will be darkned, there will be a decay in all the faculties of Nature. The clouds return after the rain; The body will be full of infirmities, a cloudy day it will be; the clouds return after the rain, after the day when it hath rained, inſomuch as you think it would rain no more, the clouds return again; and ſo in old Age, the clouds will return again and again upon thee, there is a cloudy day a coming, and a dark day in old age, when thou canſt not ſee to do thy work, and therefore Now Remember thy Creator.
And there is another evil day that he ſpeaks of in verſe 7. and that is, the day of death. Then ſhal… the duſt return to the earth, as it was; and the ſpirit ſhall return unto God, who gave it. Therefore conſidering all this, I counſel thee to remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth.
The Propoſition or Doctrine then is this: That it is the duty of all the children of men,Doctr. to ſeek after God in the day of youth.
Therefore the Scripture takes notice of ſome of the ſervants of God, and ſets them forth as patterns and examples, that every man ſhould remember God in the dayes of his youth. The Scripture takes notice of ſome good thing that was found in Jeroboam's childe, 1 Kings 14. 12, 13. Ariſe thou therefore, get thee to thine own houſe, and when thy feet enter into the City, the child ſhall die; And all Iſrael ſhall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam ſhall come to the grave, becauſe in him there is found ſome good thing toward the Lord God of Iſrael, in the houſe of Jeroboam: In all the Family there was but one good childe, and there is notice taken of him, and the Lord thought of him in mercy, that he did not ſee the evil that came upon his fathers houſe: The Scripture takes notice alſo of Joſiah, in 2 Chron. 34. 3. For in the eighth yeer of his Reigne, while he was yet young, he began to ſeek after the God of David, his father: He was but ſixteen yeer old, and yet then did he ſeek after the God of David his father: And David he tells us, He truſted in God from his youth, Pſal. 71. 5. For thou art my hope O Lord God, thou art my truſt from my youth. And O that young men would look upon theſe patterns; wherefore doth God take notice of them, and wherefore are they recorded in Scripture, but that young men might make them patterns, and tread in their ſteps, to Remember their Creator …in the dayes of their youth.
But in the opening of the Point, I ſhall firſt ſhew you what it is to remember God.
Secondly, Shew you what cauſe all men have to Remember God.
Thirdly, What advantage it is to Remember God in youth.
Fourthly, Make ſome Improvement.
Firſt, What is it to Remember God.
Firſt,What it is to remember God. To Remember God is to know God; knowledge is the beginning of remembrance; there is no man can remember that which he doth not know; therefore that man that is ignorant of God he doth not remember God, neither can he, becauſe he doth not know God. So then, when Solomon ſaith, Remember thy Creator in the dayes … thy youth, it is as much as if he ſhould ſay, betimes ſeek after the knowledge of God, to know him as he is in himſelf, and as he is in his Son; to know him for your God, and your portion, and your Inheritance, and your Saviour; where there is no knowledge of God, there is no Remembrin… of God. Therefore the Prophet Iſaiah dot… preſs men to ſeek after the knowledge of God and in the Name of God, threaten all thoſe people that ſeek not after the knowledge of God, th… though God made them, yet he will not ſave the… if they do not know him, Iſa. 27. 11. For it is …people of no underſtanding, therefore he that ma… them will not have mercy on them. If thou do… not know God, though thou hadſt outward lif… from him, yet thou canſt not expect eternal lif… from him; for if thou doſt not know him, he wi… not have mercy on thee: And therefore, To Remember thy Creator, is to know God.
Secondly, To Remember God, is to Truſt … God, to lay the confidence of the ſoul upon God, and upon God only; Pſal. 20. 7. Some truſt … chariots, and ſome in horſes; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God: So much faith in God, ſo much remembrance of God, when God is not believed on, and when God is diſtruſted, when any thing beſide God is truſted, then God is forgotten; And therefore when Solomon ſaith▪ Young man, Remember God; that is, ſeek after faith in God; let them truſt in God, let them not truſt in their ſtrength, truſt in their parts, let them not truſt in their wealth, let them not truſt in their friends, their fathers to provide for them, no, let them Remember God, let them put their truſt in God, for that is a remembring of God.
Thirdly, To Remember God, is to Love God, to prize him, to have a high account of God, to love him dearly above all things; for when God is not loved above all things whatſoever, God is forgotten; We will remember thy love more then wine: The upright love thee. Cant. 1. 4. We will remember thy love more then wine; that is, our heart is affected with thy love, our heart is taken with thy love; we finde more ſweetneſs in the love of Chriſt, then in the ſweeteſt of creature comforts; ſo that when Solomon ſaith, Young man Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth, that is, ſet thy affections upon God betimes, prize him above all thy comforts and enjoyments: if the heart be not ſet upon God, the Lord is forgotten.
Fourthly, To Remember God, is to Serve God, and to obey God, to walk with him, and to worſhip him, to honour him, this is a Remembring of God, Deut. 8. 11. Beware that thou for get not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgements, and his ſtatutes, which I command thee this day: If thou doſt not yeild obedience to the will of God, thou forgetteſt God; but to yeild obedience to the Will of God, is to Remember God: So when Solomon ſaith, Young man, Remember God in the dayes of thy youth, that is, Walk with God, and take heed of diſobeying God, ſinning againſt God; for if thou ſin againſt God, thou forgetteſt God; and therefore be found walking with him, and worſhip the Lord in truth, for that is a remembring of him.
Fiftly, To Remember God, is to ſpend the thoughts of the heart upon God; When a man ſpends many thoughts upon a perſon, or upon ſuch an object, he then remembers it; and ſo when the thoughts of the heart are ſpent upon God, then God is remembred: But when God is not thought upon, but vain thoughts thruſt out the thoughts of God, there is no remembrance of God; the wicked they are ſaid to forget God; God is not in all his thoughts, Pſal. 10. 4. And therefore when Solomon ſaith, Young man, Remember God; that is, young man, ſpend thy thoughts upon God; thou haſt many thoughts in youth, do not let them run out to baſe objects, to ſoul-deſtroying objects, but Remember God, let God be often in thy minde, and let the thoughts of thy heart be ſpent on him, thy many thoughts, and thy beſt thoughts, thy choice thoughts, let them be ſpent on God, for that is a Remembring of God.
Sixtly and laſtly, To Remember God, is to Endeavour after communion with God; Seek to ſee the face of God, and to have the preſence of God in and thorow Chriſt, to walk with God, this is a remembring of God; when a man neglects his friend, and hath no communion with him, he is ſaid to forget his friend; and ſo that ſoul that ſeeks not after communion with God, that ſoul forgets God: And therefore when Solomon ſaith, Young man, Remember God; that is, let the ſtrongeſt endeavour and purſuit of thy ſoul be after God, that thou mayeſt enjoy God, and act for God, and ſerve him. That's the firſt particular, you ſee what it is to Remember God.
But ſecondly,The Cauſes why we ſhould remember our Creator. The ſecond thing is to ſhew you what cauſe there is that all the ſons of men ſhould Remember their Creator.
Firſt of all, God is worthy, yea only worthy to be remembred: What is in any creature, in any object, that does make it worthy of the thoughts of your heart? Look unto God, and you ſhall finde it infinitely more in him; Is it Goodneſs, Kindneſs, bounty, Liberality, Wiſdome, Power, and Greatneſs, Beauty and Lovelineſs? Go all the world over, and finde out all the excellencies that you can name, and you ſhall finde them all to meet and center in God; all divine perfections are in him originally; there is Love and Bounty, Goodneſs and Meekneſs, yea infinite grace in God; He is good, and he doth good; and he doth good to the worſt of creatures, even to thoſe that forget him, while they run away from him: Yea, the moſt forgetful of God, they have ſhowers of mercy poured down every day upon their heads. Now becauſe of thoſe excellent glorious perfections that are in God, God is worthy to be remembred of the ſons of men.
Secondly, He is worthy to be remembred, becauſe he hath Done ſo much to be remembred; God hath taken more care of this one thing, then he hath done of any thing elſe, beſides the great work of the ſalvation of his people, that the ſons of men might remember him; when man went out from God in Adam, God ſaw that man would ſoon forget him, man would have forgotten that there was a God; now what a great deal hath God done, that the ſons of men might remember him! He hath written the remembrance of himſelf upon every creature, that whereſoever man looks, either upward or downward, he ſhall ſee ſome footſteps of God, ſomthing that God hath done to remember him, he hath engraven ſome remembrance of himſelf upon every creature, Pſal. 8. 3, 4. verſe 9. When I conſider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon, and the ſtars, which thou haſt ordained.
Verſe 4. What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the ſon of man that thou viſiteſt him? When I ſaw (ſaith he) the remembrance of God that was graven upon the Sun, Moon, and Stars, and ſo upon every creature on the face of the earth, why then at Verſe 9. he cries out, O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy Name in all the Earth.
Nay, The Lord hath engraven the remembrance of himſelf upon all his Providences; there is ſome remembrance of God upon every mercy, all thoſe mercies that have been made thy portion, which thou haſt enjoyed ſince thou hadſt a beeing; wherefore are they but that thy ſoul might remember God?
Nay, God hath written his name upon his judgments in the earth, that he might be remembred▪ wherefore God he doth work wonderfully, that as his mercies are wonderful, ſo his judgements are wonderful, wherefore doth God do ſuch great things in the earth? Doubtleſs that he might be remembred, that men may ſay, Verily there is a reward for the righteous, and a God that judgeth the earth.
Nay, God hath ſet up Conſcience in every mans ſoul, and wherefore hath God ſet up Conſcience in every man, but that Conſcience might put us in minde of God? That every man's Conſcience might ſpeak for God, that it might ſtand up and cry for God, Remember God; and Conſcience doth cry, and doth ſpeak, and men may hear the cries of Conſcience if they will not ſtop their ears: When men ſin, Remember (ſaith Conſcience) that for all theſe things God will bring thee to judgement.
Nay further, God hath engraven his Name upon his Ordinances, and the great end is, that he might be remembred; This is the great end of the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, Do it in remembrance of me, ſaith Chriſt; and ſo every Ordinance, the Word that is preached to you, it is that you might remember God; wherefore is Prayer, and every Ordinance, but that the ſons of men might remember God? He hath engraven ſome remembrance of himſelf upon all his Ordinances. See then what cauſe there is that you ſhould remember God, ſeeing God hath done ſo much that he might be remembred.
Thirdly, There is cauſe that the ſons of men ſhould remember God; for God is their Creator▪ Remember thy Creator. Now God being our Creator, it is but a juſt and equitable thing that thou ſhouldeſt remember God thy Creator; thy being is from him, thy life is from him, thy ſoul is from him, thy comforts are from him, all thy enjoyments are from him, thou haſt not the leaſt comfort in the world but what comes from God; he being thy Creator, it is but a juſt thing that thou ſhouldeſt remember him; yea, thy dependance is upon him, as he is thy Creator; thy life is not only from him, but thy life is in his hand; and thy ſoul is not only from him, but thy ſoul is in his hand; it is in his power to kill and to ſave; to deſtroy both body and ſoul: And if there be ſo great a dependance that man hath upon his Creator, that not only thy comforts, but thy breathing, thy ſoul, and thy eternity is in his hand, there is good cauſe that thou ſhouldeſt remember thy Creator.
Fourthly, There is good cauſe that we ſhould remember God, for while you remember God, you remember your ſelves; for all good comes to the creature by remembring God, thy peace, and thy reſt, thy comforts, thy ſatisfaction, and thy contentments, thy eſtabliſhment of heart, thy hope for life, for heaven, for glory; there is not any good thing that a creature can enjoy, or hope to enjoy, but it muſt come in by remembrance of God: And while you remember God, you remember your ſelves; remembring God, thou enjoyeſt God, and enjoying God, thou enjoyeſt all good whatſoever: good reaſon then that thou ſhouldeſt remember him. That's the ſecond particular.
Thirdly, I ſhall ſhew you what advantage it is to man to remember God in youth.
Firſt,The Advantages of remembring God in youth. There is this great advantage; for the moſt part that ſoul that remembers God betimes, in its coming unto God he findes the eaſie and the ready way to God; the longer a man forgets God, the further he goes from God, every day he is going from God, and therefore it will be the harder task to come back again; it is a harder task to caſt over a great Account, then to caſt it up while leſſer; though in reſpect of God all things are alike, and God can as eaſily forgive many tranſgreſſions as few, he can waſh away great ſins as well as ſmall; but yet when poor creatures come to look towards God through their unskilfulneſs, they make it a difficult thing to finde God, and to return to God, when they go a great way from him, the greater account they have to caſt up, it proves ſo to man becauſe of his unskilfulneſs, though to God all things are alike; So that the ſooner men begin to look after God, they finde an eaſier way to come to Chriſt, they have ſome helps in nature, that when a man is once turned to the Lord, his natural abilities being ſanctified, become great helps; ſo that young men have more advantage, in reſpect that natural parts are more ſtrong, the Underſtanding, and Memory, and Reaſon, the Senſes Internal and External, they are all more vigorous; and theſe prove helps to a man, when once the heart is ſanctified, and the ſooner a man turns to God, the more he hath of theſe helps.
Yea, Chriſt is very ready to go out to meet ſuch children and young men: Are the hearts of young ones towards the Lord? The heart of Chriſt is towards them, and he is mightily taken with ſuch, and will go forth and meet them. The young Progigal in the Goſpel, no ſooner did he think of returning to his fathers houſe, but his father ran out to meet him.
But you will ſay, for ought we ſee, young men meet with as much trouble as others, and when they come to remember God, they are afflicted as much as others, and it proves hard to them as to others.
I anſwer, If it be ſo hard when they do return to God in youth, it would have been much more hard if they had ſtayed till old age; and if they do meet with difficulties and temptations, and it prove a hard way, it is becauſe that the Lord ſee… it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth; and I might add, that the Lord will recompence all with abundance of grace, and with the diſcoveries of himſelf. That is the firſt advantage that young men have many times, for the moſt part, they finde the ready way to Chriſt.
Secondly, They have this advantage, The Lord for the moſt part doth diſcover more of himſelf to them that begin betimes to remember God, then to thoſe that begin more later; Joel 2. 28. And it ſhall come to paſs that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all fleſh, and your Sons and your Daughters ſhall Propheſie, your old men ſhall dream dreams, your young men ſhall ſee viſions. Let not old men grudge at God's diſpenſation, it is mercy to them that they ſhall dream Dreams, but the young men ſhall ſee Viſions; they ſhall have clearer diſcoveries of God, and that is a great advantage.
Thirdly, There is this advantage, They that remember God betimes, they have an opportunity of doing more for God then other men have; for when men begin late, it is work enough to get the heart eſtabliſhed in the knowledge of the love and free grace of God; it is a great work, and a long time before the heart be eſtabliſhed upon Chriſt and the Promiſes; and till that be done, little work or ſervice is done for God. But when men begin betimes, they have time to get their hearts eſtabliſhed upon Chriſt and the Promiſes, and upon the free grace and righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and then they have time alſo to act for God, and the Lord makes uſe of them to do him much ſervice in their generation: And O what a great advantage is that. So that you have ſeen the Point handled: Firſt, What it is to Remember God. Secondly, What Cauſe the Sons of men have to Remember God. Thirdly, What Advantage it is for the Sons of men to Remember God in youth.
Now by way of Application.
Firſt of all,Vſe 1… It diſcovers and reproves the folly and madneſs that is bound up in the heart of the children of men. If this be the duty of all the ſons of men, and a point of great wiſdome to remember God betimes, then this diſcovers the folly and madneſs that is in mens hearts to forget God: How many in this Congregation (I fear) may fall under this reproof, that have not yet emembred God? How many in their youth, and how many paſt youth, that have not yet remembred God, that have all their dayes forgotten the Holy One of Iſrael? O that the Lord would convince poor creatures of this evil, not Remembring God. Shall I ſhew you the evil of it, and O that God would ſhew you the evil of forgetting God.
Firſt of all,The evil of not remembring God. It is the Mother and cauſe of all other ſins whatſoever; for it were not poſſible that many ſhould ſin againſt God as they do, if they did not forget God; all ſin grows upon this root of Forgetting God. The Pſalmiſt maketh it the cauſe of all evil that is committed, becauſe men do forget God, Pſal. 50. 19, 20, 21, 22.
Verſe 18. When thou ſaweſt a thief, then thou conſentedſt with him, and haſt been partaker with Adulterers.
Verſe 19. Thou giveſt thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Verſe 20. Thou ſitteſt and ſpeakeſt againſt thy brother, thou ſlandereſt thine own mothers ſon.
Verſe 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.
Verſe 22. Now conſider this, YE THAT FORGET GOD, leſt I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you.
As much as if he ſhould ſay, here is the cauſe of this evil that is committed by you, your Forgetting God; It were not poſſible that men ſhould dare to ſin in the face of God, if they did not forget God. And it were not poſſible that men ſhould ſin in ſecret againſt God, if they did not forget God; they forget that God is an all-ſeeing God, and that for all theſe things he will bring them to judgement; It is not poſſible that children and ſervants ſhould lye, and ſteal, and be unfaithful, if they did not forget God; if they did but remember that he would bring them to judgement, and that no lyar ſhall come into the New Jeruſalem; if men did remember God, they would not ſin againſt God: But this is the cauſe of all the ſin in the world, Mens forgetting God.
Secondly, There is this Evil; It makes a man ſpend all his time in vanity, he comes up and goes down to the grave in a momen, and hath loſt all the time that he hath lived. The truth is, he hath not yet begun to live, that hath not remembred God, he hath not lived to the end of his life, what is the end of his life, but that he may remember God? But man forgetting God, his life is a fruitleſs life, a vain life, he comes up, and ſins, and lives in vanity, and goes down to the pit, and never lives to the end of life, becauſe man remembers not God.
Thirdly, There is this evil in it; It makes men altogether unwilling and unable to dye; as it makes their lives unprofitable, ſo it makes their deaths dreadful; what is the cauſe that men fear death? Becauſe they did not remember God in life; if they had remembred God, if they had known God, and truſted in God, and walked with God, they would not have been ſo fearful of death; but when men come to be made ſenſible that they have ſpent no thoughts upon God, but upon their luſts, and ſin, and ſo brought their dayes to an end, they muſt needs fear to go to God; ſee then how much evil there is in this great ſin of not remembring God.
But you will ſay, We hope that we do remember God, God forbid that we ſhould forget him. What? Forget God? We hope we ſhall never do that while we live.
O my friends, It is a harder matter to remember God, then the world dream of; how many thouſands in the world are there that forget God, that would be loth to be told that they are forgetters of God? And yet I fear will be found ſo another day; They that walk contrary in wayes of ſin, they are forgetters of God, let them ſay what they will; though they may have a way of worſhip▪ and prayer to God, and hear of God, and read of God, yet if they be found walking contrary to God, ſuch men will be interpreted by God to be forgetters of him. Conſider this all ye that forg… God; Pſal. 50. 22. ſpeaking of the Hypocrites … Why, they had many prayers, and did many good works, are they forgetters of God? Yes, their hearts were never upright with God, they never truſted in the Name of God, they were never found ſerving of God, ſo as they might pleaſ… him; and therefore the Lord calls them Forgetters of God; O that the Lord would convince you of this great evil of forgetting God.
Secondly, By way of Exhortation, I beſeech… you in the Name of the Lord to Remember God▪ This day Remember God. Remember him, and Remember him in youth. I ſhall ſpeak a little to each of theſe.
Firſt, I beſeech you Remember God, to know God, to truſt in him, to love him, to obey him, and to ſpend your thoughts upon him; let the endeavours of your heart be after the Lord; This is to Remember God. And O that God would call upon you all, and call you up to ſuch a remembrance of him. O remember how worthy God is to be remembred, and remember what God hath done, that ſo the ſons of men might remember him; and if after all this that God hath done, after all the remembrance that God hath written of himſelf in his Word, and upon his Works, and upon his Ordinances and Providences, men ſhall be found Forgetters of God, as all ſinners are; how ſad will their condition be another day? You have a memory for the world, and what, No remembrance of God! God only worthy to be remembred, and of all things God only ſhut out! O my friends, Take heed of this great ſin, this Mother ſin, Forgetting God.
But ſecondly, I beſeech you to Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth; Young man do not put off your remembrance of God; it may be you will ſay to me, you will remember God hereafter; that is folly: The Wiſe man teacheth you better, & giveth you better counſel; Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth; As much as if he ſhould ſay, Remember now thy Creator, in what part of your youth ſoever you be; Remember Now thy Creator; Now ſeek after the knowledge of Chriſt, if ten yeers old, Now Remember God, if fifteen years old, if twenty yeers old, Now Remember thy Creator; yea, if thirty years old, and ſo to every Age to which the word of the Lord comes, Even Now, Now remember thy Creator.
And O that young men and young women would think upon the advantages that many have by remembring God in youth; they were ſpoken of before. And let me further tell you, for your encouragement young men, that to remember God betimes, it is a great prerogative, and a great dignity to be the firſt in Chriſt; the Apoſtle ſpeaks of ſome that were firſt in Chriſt, and he ſpeaks honourably of them, Eph. 1. 12. That we ſhould be to the praiſe of his glory, who first truſted in Chriſt: And it was the honour of that people, that were firſt in bringing back David; great honour was put upon them that went out firſt to meet David their King. And ſo to be the firſt… that go out to meet with Chriſt, the firſt that honour him, the firſt that cloſe with him, and believe in him; this is a prerogative, and it is kindneſs that God will never forget, Jer. 2. 2. Thus ſaith the Lord, I remember thee, the kindneſs of thy youth, the love of thy eſpouſals, when thou wentest after me in the Wilderneſs, in a Land that was not ſown, the kindneſs of thy youth I will not forget, ſaith God. And the Lord will ſay ſo to young men and young women that are looking after Chriſt, and remember him betimes; thou remembredſt me in thy youth, and I will remember the kindneſs of thy youth, when thou lefteſt all to follow me, thy vanity, thy comforts, thy contentments, that other young men cloſed with, and followed after, though they lead to deſtruction; this kindneſs of thy youth Chriſt will remember to the very laſt day.
And let none that hear me this day, think that they are too young, and 'tis not for them to trouble themſelves with ſuch matters, to remember God, and to look after God; as young as you have remembred God; Jeroboams childe remembred God; Joſiah at ſixteen years of age ſet himſelf to ſeek after the Lord: And I pray conſider, youth go the grave as well as others; nay, more die in their youth then in their old age: O that young men would remember God betimes! And there is none ſo young but muſt be accountable to God; there is ſin enough to condemn the youngeſt, if not actual ſin, thou haſt a ſinful Nature, and that is enough to condemn the youngeſt that hears me this day. And therefore, O that the Lord would perſwade young men to remember betimes their Creator; and know that it will be your comfort in the latter end: As the neglect of God in youth will be a great deal of ſorrow, when God ſmites, and comes to lay you upon the bed of ſickneſs, and ready to give out your breath, then it may be you will cry out, Lord, Remember me; but how ſad will it be to reflect upon your ſelves, and to think that you have not remembred God? When as it hath been the comfort of many a poor ſoul that their work hath been done, and when they have lain upon their ſick bed, they have given up themſelves willingly to God, having gotten the knowledge of God, and gotten faith in Chriſt, they are bleſſing God that their work is done for them by Chriſt. O how ſweet and comfortable will it be to you young men, when you come to die, to ſee that your great work is done, and that you have believed, and have nothing to do but to die? Solomon was very pittiful to your ſouls young men, and therefore he calls upon you to Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth; And in the bowels of Chriſt I ſpeak to you this day, to ſtudy this leſſon of leſſons, To Remember Now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth.
And let me ſay to old men, if young men had need to remember God. Oh what cauſe have old men to remember God? They that have lived many years, and not remembred God, O it is high time that thou ſhouldeſt make haſte, thou art going to the grave, the land of forgetfulneſs, where there is nothing can be done for eternity, when once in the grave. O that God would perſwade the Ancient! Such as have neglected to remember God, that they would now remember their Creator: and do not ſay I have miſpent my youth, and I fear my time is over, and there is no hope for me, I had as good go on in my wayes of ſin; O ſay not ſo; The thoughts of the Lord are not as your thoughts, nor his wayes as your wayes, but as the Heavens are higher then the earth, ſo are his thoughts above yours, and his wayes above yours. You have ſpent many years in ſin and vanity, and forgotten God, and your thoughts have been upon vanity it may be many years; but the thoughts of the Lord to do good to his people, are from eternity. O that Now you would at laſt in your old age remember God! Old men, I beſeech you to remember your Creator, there is hope; wherefore hath God ſpared you ſo long? Reaſon ſo with with your ſelves to encourage you to look to Chriſt, when through Unbelief you ſay there is no hope, you have walked in ſin, and God might have cut you off, and it is infinite mercy that God hath not cut you off; but ſeeing the Lord hath ſpared me, ſurely I may hope, though I have forgotten God in the dayes of my youth, yet ſay, I will now remember my Creator, and ſeek after faith in him. And know for thy comfort and encouragement, that there is infinite thoughts of mercy in the Lord; Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon, Iſa. 55. 7. O ſtay no longer, venture no longer, for there is one evil day upon you, the evil day of old age is upon you, and there is another a coming: O Remember God, and make haſte to do it quickly, before the Sun, and Moon, and Stars be darkned, before the body return to the earth, and the ſpirit to ſtand before God that made it.
But I ſhall now come to preſs this duty upon Gods own people; for there are many things that may evidence that this Duty is neglected by God's own people. What is the Cauſe of all the dark and ſad apprehenſions of God to many of God's own people? Why, Becauſe they have not remembred God: What is the cauſe of all thoſe diſtruſtful thoughts that do ariſe in the hearts of God's own people? That our hearts are ready to ſainct within us? That God is no more truſted for the things of this life, and for the things of Eternity? Why all theſe diſtruſtful thoughts, they ſpring from this root, not remembring God: when the Diſciples did diſtruſt Chriſt, Matth. 16. 8, 9, 10. Why ſaith Chriſt, O ye of little faith, Why reaſon ye among your ſelves, becauſe ye have brought no broad? Verſe 9. Do ye not yet underſtand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thouſand, and how many baskets ye took up? Verſe 10. Neither the ſeven loaves of the four thouſand, and how many baskets ye took up. As if Chriſt had ſaid to them, if ye had remembred me, and my power, my works of providence, my former goodneſs, it were not poſſible that ye ſhould have diſtruſted, but in that ye have ſo little faith, it is evident that ye do not remember me, and what I have done. Truly if at any time we diſtruſt God for the fulfilling of any promiſe, it is becauſe we do not remember God, we do not remember the faithfulneſs of God in fulfilling Promiſes, we do not remember the former experiences we have had of the goodneſs of God, and of the power of God; O how much diſtruſt is to be found in Gods own people? And becauſe there is ſo much diſtruſt, it is evident that there is little remembrance of God.
Nay further, it appears that Gods own people are guilty of this ſin, of Forgetting God; Becauſe there is ſo much coldneſs and deadneſs in our hearts to God. O how much deadneſs in heart and affection in the things of God? What little Love? What poor, weak Breathings after God? What little delight in the Lord? Whence comes all this coldneſs of heart, this forſaking of our firſt love? It comes from this root, becauſe we do not Remember God; we do not remember that he is altogether lovely and deſireable, we do not remember that his wayes are beautiful; there is much deadneſs and coldneſs even in God's own people, and therefore there is little remembrance of God.
Nay further, It appears that God's own people are guilty of this ſin, becauſe there is ſo little done for God by them, and ſo much done againſt God; ſo many failings, ſo many breaches of Covenant, ſo much ſcantneſs, ſo many haltings and ſwervings in our walkings with God: Whence is all this? but becauſe we do not remember God, we do not remember what a God he is, we do not remember the Rule that he hath given us to walk by, we do not remember that he will be worſhipped in Spirit and in Truth; little is done for God, and that diſcovers that God is little remembred.
Nay further, How many vain thoughts lodge in the hearts of God's own people? O! How do the current of their thoughts run out to vanity? How many crooked thoughts? How many fruitleſs, unprofitable, ſinful thoughts? How few of the precious thoughts of the heart are ſpent upon God? And whence is this? But becauſe God is not remembred.
Nay further, How little is God purſued after? How little do we prize Communion with God? How little delight in the preſence of God? How little do we ſeek after the Image of God, and conformity to Chriſt? Whence is all this? but becauſe we do not remember that the enjoying of God is the ſouls happineſs, and that the enjoying of Chriſt is the ſouls perfection: ſo that by all this it appears, that there is little remembrance of God even among God's own people.
And O what cauſe have we to take up a ſad complaint againſt our ſelves, and every one to ſmite upon his own breaſt, that we ſhould be ſo negligent of this Duty of remembring God? O what hath God done for many of his people? How many, how dear, how precious are the thoughts of God to his people? Pſal. 40. 5. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou haſt done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward, they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: If I would declare and ſpeak of them, they are more then can be numbred. Now that God ſhould ſpend his precious thoughts upon us, and we ſpend ſo few of our choice thoughts upon God, O what an ill requital is this? O what hath God done that he might remember us? He hath graven the names of his people upon the palms of his hands, Iſa. 49. 16. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands: For a man to be ſo careful to remember his friend, as to cut his name upon his own fleſh, that is love indeed; why God hath graven the names of his people upon the palms of his hands, that ſo he might remember them: Yea, he hath taken upon him the relation of a Father, and hath the bowels of a Mother;Iſa, 49. 15. Can a woman forget her ſucking childe, that ſhe ſhould not have compaſſion on the ſon of her wombe? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Now Brethren and Chriſtian friends, the conſideration of God's remembring us, ſhould make us to be aſhamed that we ſhould think no more of him.
But you will ſay to me, what is there in God that we ſhould remember him?
The Spouſe in her deſcription of Chriſt, ſaith of him, that he is altogether lovely; ſo I may ſay of God, he is altogether worthy to be remembred, in his Nature, in his Eſſence, in his glorious Eternal Being; He is worthy to be remembred in all his Attributes, his Wiſdome, his Power, his Goodneſs, and Loving Kindneſs, his Faithfulneſs, and his Truth, his Omniſciency and Omnipreſence; He is worthy to be remembred in all his Works, for God he hath done them for that end, that he might be remembred; both the works of Creation, and works of Providence; He is worthy to be remembred in his Word, every word of the Lord is precious as gold that is purified ſeven times. He is worthy to be remembred eſpecially in his Son; and O that we might ſpend more of the thoughts of our heart upon God, as he hath revealed himſelf in his Son; His Name is Glorious, and worthy to be remembred, (Jehovah, our Righteouſneſs.) He is worthy to be remembred in his Love and Free grace, in his Promiſes, in his everlaſting Covenant made with poor creatures in Chriſt; we need not ask what is in God that we ſhould remember him, look where you will, and there is not any thing in God but is worthy of remembrance; and therefore, O that the Lord would ſtir us up to this duty, to remember the Lord, to ſpend the precious thoughts of our hearts more upon him. David is a pattern to all you that fear the Lord, he was continually in the remembrance of God, when he looked upon the works of God, he remembred God; and when he looked upon the Providences of God, he remembred God, yea he remembred God in the night ſeaſon, Pſal. 63. 5, 6. My ſoul ſhall be ſatisfied as with marrow and fatneſs, and my mouth ſhall praiſe thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. David was night and day ſpending the thoughts of his heart upon God. And let me add ſomthing that may provoke and ſtir us up to the practiſe of this duty, to Remember God.
Firſt of all, This is the beginning of all good whatſoever; as the Forgetting of God is the mother of all ſin, ſo the Remembring of God is the mother of all good; it is that which will make a man gracious, and act graciouſly in every condition; if he receive mercy, his heart is carried out in thankfulneſs; if he be in affliction, he is able to glorifie God, and to honour God in the loweſt condition.
Secondly, The more we Remember God, the more ſhall we keep out baſe luſts and vain thoughts; if the heart be not filled with the thoughts of God, it will be filled with vain thoughts; the memory it is the ſtore-houſe of the ſoul, and if God be not laid up there, that which is evil will be laid up; and therefore when the ſoul ſtraggles from God, then vain thoughts poſſeſs it: The more that you remember God, the leſs troubled with vain thoughts.
Thirdly, Let me tell you, that there is no comfort nor ſweetneſs like to that comfort that comes into the ſoul by the Remembrance of God, Pſal. 63. 5, 6. My ſoul ſhall be ſatisfied as with marrow and fatneſs, and my mouth ſhall praiſe thee with joyful lips; when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches: It is as high an expreſſion as can be of content and ſweet refreſhment which David met with in the Remembrance of God. O the ſweet comfort and refreſhment that comes into a gracious heart in the Remembrance of God.
But you will ſay, It is not ſo alwayes, the good man Aſaph, he Remembred God, and was troubled, Pſal. 77. 3. and therefore this doth diſcourage many a poor ſoul to turn to the Remembrance of God: for Aſaph he was troubled, perplexed, and terrified with the Remembrance of God.
But I anſwer, It was the good man's diſtemper, that he Remembred God and was troubled, and he afterward ſaw his own miſtake, and doth acknowledge it; verſe 10. And I ſaid, this is my infirmity, but I will remember the yeers of the right hand of the moſt High. What? Did I ſay that I Remembred God and was troubled? This is my Infirmity: It was not his Remembrance, but his Forgetting of God that did trouble him; he did not Remember God ſo as he ſhould have done; He did not Remember God in his free grace, in his promiſes, in his Son; had he thus Remembred God, it would not have been trouble to him; it may be many a poor ſoul thinks it is trouble to Remember God, but this is a groſs miſtake, for if we did Remember God as he is held forth in the Goſpel, and in his Son, it would be as David ſaith, marrow and fatneſs.
Fourthly, The heart being much in the Remembrance of God, it doth enoble and put a high price upon the thoughts; till then mens thoughts are poor and vain, and no good comes of them; the thoughts of the world periſh, the thouſand thouſand thoughts that are in the heart, if not ſpent on God, they are all periſhing thoughts; Pſal. 146. 4. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts periſh. But now thoſe thoughts that are ſpent upon God, they are excellent, living, and noble thoughts, thoughts that ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever, thoughts that ſhall run out into the great Ocean, and never be buried, but you ſhall meet with them all again. O excellent ſatisfying thoughts when ſpent on God!
Fiftly, You that are God's people had need Remember God more, for it is the great difference between the righteous and the wicked; the wicked may do the ſame works that the righteous man doth, hear, and read, and pray; but all this is without Remembring of God: he knows not God, he truſts not God, he loves not God, he is diſobedient to God: it is ſaid of the wicked, God is not in all his thoughts, Pſal. 10. 4. The great work of the Goſpel is to deal with the thoughts of men, and bring them to a right order, to bring the thoughts of the heart to a ſubjection to Chriſt; 2 Cor 10. 45. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, caſting down imaginations, and every high thing, that exalteth it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chriſt.
Nay further let me tell you, that this will be the glory, and excellency, and happineſs of the Saints in heaven, that they ſhall remember God continually, and the thoughts of their heart ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the remembrance of it; they ſhall not turn aſide from thinking upon God, they ſhall have no more vain thoughts, no more idle thoughts, but the thoughts of the heart ſhall run out to eternity in the remembrance of him, and never forget him more.
Sixtly, The more we Remember God, the more of God ſhall we meet with in every duty, in every providence, and in every way; there is ſuch a gracious promiſe in Iſa. 64. 5. Thou meeteſt him that rejoyceth and worketh righteouſneſs, thoſe that remember thee in thy wayes: See here the promiſe is, That he will meet thoſe that remember him in his wayes; not to a man that walking outwardly in God's wayes, but to him that walketh with God, and that hath the thoughts of his heart ſpent upon God, it is God that he eyeth, and it is God that he ſeeks communion with, it is ſuch a ſoul that God will meet, as doth thus remember him in his wayes.
But it may be ſome poor ſoul is afraid to look toward God, it cries out. O I am ſo troubled with vain thoughts, and ſinful thoughts, with a dead heart, and a looſe heart, and I cannot remember the Lord.
Why if thy ſoul be turned to the Lord in truth, the Lord will fulfil this his promiſe; if thou ſetteſt about the work, and give up thy ſelf to wain upon God in the Ordinance, thou ſhalt have communion with him, God will meet thee, and if God meet thee, then thy vain thoughts will vaniſh.
But may ſome ſoul ſay, my thoughts are worſe then vain thoughts, my thoughts are ſinful thoughts blaſphemous thoughts, which are ſuggeſted into my minde even at that time when I ſhould have communion with God, that I dare ſcarce look toward God, I dare ſcarce remember him.
Why, yet do not give over thy duty, what-ever thoughts ſhould be ſuggeſted into thy minde, but know for thy comfort, that thoſe ſinful thoughts, and blaſphemous thoughts which are caſt in by Sathan, they ſhall not be laid to thy charge, if thy ſoul abhor them; it is true, if the heart did cloſe with them, and nouriſh them, then they become the ſouls; but when the ſoul abhors them, and caſts them out, and cries to Chriſt againſt them, it is not the ſouls ſin; therefore do not neglect thy duty becauſe of theſe vain thoughts, but ſet thy face to ſeek the Lord, and remember and know that the Lord will make good his word, he will meet thee, and when God meets thee, all theſe ſinful and curſed thoughts ſhall be caſt out. And thus you have heard Brethren, what encouragement there is to remember God.
But you will ſay, It is a great Duty, and much depends upon it, how ſhall I be helped to remember God aright?
Firſt,Helps to remember God aright. Be often looking upon the Book of the Creature, upon the works of Creation; and look upon them for this very end, that thou mayeſt Remember God; for there is a Remembrance of God upon all creatures, and if we be wiſe, we may make a ſpiritual improvement, and be led to the Remembrance of God, by looking into the Book of the Creature.
Secondly, Look into the Scripture, and conſult with that, for there hath God declared his Name, his glorious Name is written in his Word; there are Letters that God hath written with his owne hand, God hath ſubſcribed, I Jeſus teſtifie theſe things. There is the hand of God and of Chriſt in the Book of the Scripture; and therefore if thou wouldeſt Remember God, converſe with the Word of God.
Thirdly, Wait upon God in every Ordinance, for all Ordinances are given for this end, to Remember God; the Word, the Supper, every Ordinance of God is given, that ſo the ſoul might ſee God, and Remember him; and therefore when thou waiteſt upon God in any Ordinance, let this be the end that thou propoundeſt to thy ſoul, to Remember God.
Fourthly, Lay up all the Love-tokens of God; What-ever Experience thou haſt met with from God in making ſupply to thy wants, comforting of thee, ſupporting of thee, theſe are tokens that come from God; and the mercy that he ſheweth thee, it is for this end, that thou mayeſt Remember him; and therefore lay up all the experiences that thou haſt met withal, for they will help thee to Remember God.
Fiftly, Labour to get your hearts eſtabliſhed and aſſured in the Knowledge of Gods love to thee, that thou mayeſt come to the knowledge of this, that God is thy Friend, thy Father, thy neareſt and deareſt relation; for the …ore the ſoul knows this, the more it will Remember God. It is not poſſible that a childe ſhould forget a loving Father, that a Wife ſhould forget a loving and tender Husband. O when a ſoul comes to know this, that God is my Father, my Husband, this will help the ſoul to a ſweet Remembrance of God.
Sixtly, Look up to the Lord to increaſe thy love to him; for the more love to God, the more thou wilt Remember God; but where there is little love to God, there is little Remembrance of God; and the reaſon that men Remember God no more, is, becauſe there is ſo little love in their hearts towards God; If a man loved his friend, he would Remember him, and not forget him; O therefore be aſhamed that no more love ſhould be ſparkling in thy heart to God, when ſo much love is flaming in the heart of Chriſt towards thee. And therefore Brethren beg it of the Lord that he would ſhed abroad more of his love in your hearts, and blow up thy ſpark to a flame, that thy ſoul may be fill'd with a conſtant Remembrance of him.
Seventhly, Ure thy ſoul to holy meditation, and thinking upon God laſt at night, and firſt in the morning, it will be a great help to keep up a conſtant Remembrance of God in the ſoul: O let thy waking thoughts be toward the Lord; Think of his Works of his Attributes, of his Son: there is enough for men to ſpend millions of thoughts upon, and therefore let ſome be ſpent upon God: aſſoon as man wakes in the morning, there are a multitude of thoughts ſtrive who ſhal get in firſt, there ſtands God, and Chriſt, and the World, and they which get in firſt, have a great advantage to keep in the ſoul all the day long; if the world gets in firſt, the heart is made worldly; but when God and Chriſt is let in firſt, the heart is kept in a gracious frame all the day long; and the more that your meditations are ſpent upon God, the more Remembrance will you have of God.
And now Brethren you have ſeen your duty, and your neglect of duty, for which you have cauſe to be humbled; and we have ſeen what cauſe we have to Remember God, and what a great benefit comes in by Remembring God; and we have ſeen what may be helpful to our ſouls in this duty. Now let us look to the Spirit of the Lord to make them helps; for we have need of all helps, till we ſhall come where the ſoul ſhall Remember God perpetually, and never forget him.