Apples of Gold, Book · Part 1
The Young mans Duty and Excellency.
ISHAL only ſtand upon the latter part of this Verſe, becauſe that affords me matter moſt ſutable to my deſigne.
— Becauſe in him there is found ſome good thing toward the Lord God of Iſrael, in the houſe of Jeroboam.
Theſe words are a commendation of Abijahs life, in him was found ſome good thing toward the Lord, &c. when Abijah was a Child verſ. 3.12. when hee was in his young and tender years, hee had the ſeeds of grace in him, he had the Image of God upon him, hee could diſcern between good and evill, foreignand hee did that which pleaſed the Lord.Is uſed for a young man or ſtripling, Gen. 22.5. and often for a ſervant though he be a man of tipe years, Eſt…er 2.2. Such as one Evangeliſt …alleth young …, Luk. 12. … other … fellow ….
The Hebrew word (Nagnar) tranſlated Child, verſ. 3. is very often applied to ſuch as wee call youth, or young men, Exod. 24.5. Numb. 6.11. 1 Sam. 2.17. &c. Of ſuch age and prudence, was Abijah, as that he could chuſe good and refuſe evill, hee was a Lot in Sodom, hee was good among the bad, the bent and frame of his heart was towards that which was good, when the heart both of his Father and Mother was ſet upon evill. Abijah beganne to bee good betimes; hee croſt that peſtilent proverb, a young Saint, and an old Devill. Tis the glory and goodneſs of God that hee will take notice of the leaſt good that is in any of his, 1 Pet. 3.6. There was but one good word in Sarahs ſpeech to Abraham, and that was this, ſhee called him Lord, and this God mentions for her honour and commendations, ſhee called him Lord: God looks more upon one grain of Wheat, than upon a heap of Chaff; upon one ſhining Pearl than upon a heap of rubbiſh. God findes a Pearl in Abijah, and hee puts it into his Crown, to his eternal commendation. There was found in him ſome good thing towards the Lord, &c. for the words
There was found in him, the Hebrew word Matſa, ſometimes ſignifies finding without ſeeking, Iſa. 65.1. I am found of them that ſought mee not, ſo Pſal. 116. v. 3. The ſorrows of death compaſſed mee, duplicate page duplicate page and the pains of hell got hold upon mee, I found trouble and ſorrow. I found trouble which I lookt not for, I was not ſearching after ſorrow, but I found it. There's an elegancy in the Originall. The pains of hell gat hold upon mee; So wee read, but the Hebrew is; The pains of hell found me (one word ſignifies both,) they found mee, I did not find them. There was found in Abijah ſome good thing towards the Lord, i.e. there was found in him without ſearching, or ſeeking, ſome good thing towards the Lord, it was plain and viſible enough, men might ſee and obſerve it without inquiring, or ſeeking, they might runne and read ſome good thing in him towards the Lord.
Secondly, The word ſometimes ſignifies, Finding by ſeeking or enquiry, Iſa. 55.6. Seek yee the Lord while hee may bee found, &c. So upon ſearch and enquiry there was found in Abijah (though young) ſome good thing toward the Lord.
Thirdly, Sometimes the word notes the obtaining of that which is ſufficient, Joſh. 17.16. Numb. 11.22. Judg. 21.14. in Abijah there was that good in him toward the Lord, that was ſufficient to evidence the work of grace upon him, ſufficient to ſatisfy himſelf and others of the goodneſs, and happineſſe of his condition; though hee died in the prime, and flower of his days, &c.
And in him was found ſome good thing; the Hebrew word (Tob) that is here rendered good. Signifies,
Firſt, That which is right and juſt, 2 Sam. 15.3. See thy matters are good and right, i.e. juſt and right.
Secondly, that which is profitable, Deut. 6.11. Houſes full of all good things, i. e. houſes full of all profitable things.
Thirdly, That which is pleaſing, 2 Sam. 19.27. Do what is good in thine eyes, i.e. do what is pleaſing in thine eyes.
Fourthly, That which is full and compleat, Gen. 15.15. Thou ſhalt bee buried in a good old age, i.e. thou ſhalt bee buried when thine age is full and compleat.
Fifthly, That which is joyfull and delightful, 1 Sam. 25.8. wee come in a good day, i. e. wee come in a joyful and delightfull day; now put all together and you may ſee that there was found in Abijah when hee was young, that which was right and juſt, that which was pleaſing and profitable, and that which was matter of joy and delight.
In the words you have two things that are moſt conſiderable.
Firſt, That this young mans goodneſſe was towards the Lord God of Iſrael; many there are that are good, nay, very good towards men, who yet are bad, ya very bad towards God. This age affords many ſuch hypocrites ſuch Monſters &c.Some there are who are very kind to the creature, and yet very unkind to their Creator, many mens goodneſſe towards the creature is like the riſing Sun, but their goodneſs towards the Lord is like a morning cloud, Hoſ. 6.4.or as the early dew which is ſoon dried up by the Sun-beams, but Abijahs goodneſſe was towards the Lord, his goodneſſe faced the Lord, it look't toward the glory of God. Two things makes a good Chriſtian, good actions, and good aimes; And though a good aim doth not make a bad action good, There may bee Malum opus in bona materia, as in Jehues zeal.(as in Ʋzzah) yet a bad aime makes a good action bad (as in Jehu) whoſe juſtice was approved, but his policy puniſhed, the firſt Chapter of Hoſea, and the fourth verſe, doubtleſs Abijahs actions were good, and his aims good; and this was indeed his glory, that his goodneſs was towards the Lord.
Its recorded of the Catanenſes that they made a ſtately monument of Kingly magnificence, in remembrance of two Sons who took their aged parents upon their backs, and carried them through the fire, when their fathers houſe was al in a flame, theſe young men were good towards their Parents; but what is this to Abijahs goodneſſe towards the Lord, &c. A man cannot bee good towards the Lord, but he will bee good towards others; but a man may be good towards others that is not good towards the Lord: Oh, that mens practiſes did not give too loud a Teſtimony every day to this aſſertion! &c.
Secondly, Hee was good among the bad, Happy are thoſe ſouls that with the Sturgion or Crab-fiſh can ſwim againſt the ſtream of cuſtome and example, and that with Atticus can cleave to the right, though looſing ſide.he was good in the houſe of Jeroboam, tis in faſhion to ſeem (at leaſt) to bee good among the good; but to bee really good among thoſe that are bad, that are eminently bad, argues not onelyonly a truth of goodneſs, but a great degree of goodneſs; this young man was good in the houſe of Jeroboam, who made all Iſrael to ſin, who was naught, who was very naught, who was ſtark naught; and yet Abijah, as the fiſhes which live in the ſalt Sea are freſh, ſo though hee lived in a (ſink) a ſea of wickedneſs; yet hee retained his goodneſſe towards the Lord.
They ſay Roſes grows the ſweeter, when they are planted by Garlick, they are ſweet and rare Chriſtians indeed, who hold their goodneſs, and grow in goodneſſe where wickedneſs ſits on the throne, and ſuch a one the Young man in the text was.
To bee Wheat among Tares, Corn among Chaffe, Pearls among Cockles, and Roſes among Thorns, is excellent.
To bee a Jonathan in Sauls Court, to be an Obadiah in Ahabs Court, to be an Abedmelech in Zedechias Court, and to bee an Abijah in Jeroboams Court, is a wonder, a miracle.
To bee a Lot in Sodome, to bee an Abraham in Chaldaea, to bee a Daniel in Babylon, to bee a Nehemiah in Damaſco, and to bee a Job in the land of Huſſe, is to be a Saint among Devils, and ſuch a one the young man in the Text was.
The Poets affirm that Venus never appeared ſo beautious, as whē ſhee ſate by black Ʋnlcans ſide. Gracious ſouls ſhine moſt clear when they bee ſet by black conditioned perſons. Stephens face never ſhin'd ſo Angelically, ſo gloriouſly (in the Church) where all were vertuous, as before the Councill, where all were vitious and malicious. So Abijah was a bright Star, a ſhining Sun in Jeroboams Court, which for prophanneſs and wickedneſs, was a very hell.
The words that I have choſen to inſiſt upon will afford us ſeveral obſervations, but I ſhall onelyonly name one, which I intend to proſecute at this time, and that is this, viz.
Doct. That tis a very deſirable and commendable thing for young men to bee really good betimes.
Other Scriptures ſpeak out this to be a truth, Job 32.4, 5, 6, 7.beſides what you have in the Text to confirm it, as that of the ſecond of Chronicles Chap. 34.1, 2, 3. verſes. Joſiah was eight years old, when hee beganne to reign, and hee reigned in Jeruſalem one and thirty years. And hee did that which was right in the ſight of the Lord, and walked in the wayes of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand nor to the left; for in the eighth year of his reign, while hee was yet young, hee beganne to ſeek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year, he beganne to purge Judah and Jeruſalem from the high places, and the Groves, and the carved Images, and the molten Images. Twas Obadiahs honor that hee feared the Lord from his youth. 1 King. 18.12 2 Tim. 3.15And Tymothys crown that he knew the Scripture from a child, and Johns joy, 2 Epiſt. 4. v.that hee found Children walking in the truth; this revived his good old heart, and made it dance for joy in his boſome; to ſpend further time in the proving of this truth, would bee but to light candles to ſee the Sunne at noon.
The grounds and Reaſons of this point, viz. That it is a very deſirable and commendable thing for young men to bee really good betimes; are theſe that follow,
Firſt, Becauſe the Lord commands it; and divine commands are not to bee diſputed but obeyed, Deut. 6.5. ch. 11.13. v. Auguſtine beginneth one of his Sermons thus (Ad vos mibi Sermo, O juvenes, flos etatis periculum mentis. Auguſt. de tempore Ser. 246) to you is my ſpeech O young men, the flower of age, the danger of the mind.In the 12 Chapter of Eccleſiaſtes and the 1 verſe, Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou ſhalt ſay, I have no pleaſure in them: Remember now; I ſay now; now is an Alarm, it will puzzle the wiſdome of a Philoſopher, the skill of an Angel to divide: Now, is a Monoſyllable in all learned Languages. Remember now thy Creator, Remember him preſently, inſtantly: for thou doſt not know what a day, what an hour may bring forth; thou canſt not tell what deadly ſin, what deadly temptation, what deadly Judgement may over-take thee; if thou doſt not now, even now remember thy Creator.
Remember now thy Creator, Remember to know him, remember to love him, remember to deſire him, remember to delight in him, remember to depend upon him, remember to get an intereſt in him, remember to live to him, and remember to walk with him. Remember now thy Creator, the Hebrew is Creatours, Father, Son, and Spirit. To the making of man, a Council was called in Heaven, in the 1. of Geneſis and 29 verſ. Remember thy Creatours, remember the Father, ſo as to know him, ſo as to bee inwardly acquainted with him. Remember the Son, ſo as to beleeve in him, ſo as to reſt upon him, ſo as to imbrace him, and ſo as to make a compleat reſignation of thy ſelf to him. Remember the Spirit, ſo as to hear his voice, ſo as to obey his voice, ſo as to feel his preſence, and ſo as to experience his influence, &c.
Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth; hee doth not ſay in the time of thy youth, but in the dayes of thy youth, to note that our life is but as a few dayes; tis but a vapour, a ſpan, a flower, a ſhadow, a dream; and therefore Seneca ſaith well, that though death bee before the old mans face, yet hee may bee as near the young mans back, &c. Mans life is the ſhadow of ſmoak, Aug. l. 1. Confeſſ.the dream of a ſhadow, one doubteth whether to call it a dying life, or a living death; ah young men! God commands you to bee good betimes. Remember young men that it is a dangerous thing to neglect one of his commands, who by another is able to command you into nothing, or into Hell. To act or run croſſe to Gods expreſſe command (though under pretence of Revelation from God) is as much as a mans life is worth; as you may ſee in that ſad ſtory, 1 King. 13. ch. 24. verſe, &c. Let young men put all their carnal reaſons, though never ſo many, and weighty, into one ſcale, and Gods abſolute command in the other, and then write Tekel upon all their reaſons; They are weighed in the ballance, and found too light. Ah ſirs! what God commands muſt bee put in ſpeedy execution, Obedientia non diſcutis Dei mandata, ſed facit, Prosper.without denying, or delaying, or diſputing the difficulties that attend it. Moſt young men in theſe dayes do as the Heathens, when their gods called for a man, they offered a candle; or as Hercules offered up a painted man in ſtead of a living. When God calls upon young men to ſerve him with the Primroſe of their youth; they uſually put him off till they are overtaken with trembling joynts, dazled eyes, fainting hearts, failing hands, and feeble knees; but this will bee bitterneſſe in the end, &c.
Secondly, Young men muſt bee really good betimes, becauſe they have means and opportunities of being good betimes. Never had men better means, and greater opportunities of being good, of doing good, and of receiving good than now. Ah Lord! how knowing, how beleeving, how holy, how heavenly, how humble might young men bee, were they not wanting to their own ſouls: Young men might bee good, very good, yea eminently good; would they but improve the means of grace, the tenders of mercy, and the knockings of Chriſt by his Word, Works, and Spirit.
The Ancients painted Opportunity with a hairy forehead, Eraſmus.but bald behinde, to ſignifie that while a man hath opportunity before him, hee may lay hold on it, but if hee ſuffer it to ſlip away, hee cannot pull it back again.
How many young men are now in everlaſting chains, who would give ten thouſand worlds (had they ſo many in their hands to give) to injoy but an opportunity to hear one ſermon more, to make one prayer more, to keep one Sabbath more, but cannot? this is their hell, their torment, this is the Scorpion that is ſtill biting, this is the Worm that is alwayes gnawing. Wo, wo to us, that wee have neglected and trifled away thoſe golden opportunities that once wee had, to get our ſins pardoned, our natures changed, our hearts bettered, our conſciences purged, and our ſouls ſaved, &c. *Bellarm. In concione de cruciatibus Gehennae.I have read of a King, who having no iſſue to ſucceed him, eſpying one day a well-favoured youth, took him to Court, and committed him to Tutors, to inſtruct him, providing by his will, that if hee proved fit for government, hee ſhould bee crowned King, if not, hee ſhould bee bound in chains, and made a Gally-ſlave. Now when hee grew to years, the Kings executors perceiving that hee had ſadly neglected thoſe means and opportunities, whereby hee might have been fit for State government, called him before them, and declared the Kings will and pleaſure concerning him, which was accordingly performed, for they cauſed him to bee fettered, and committed to the Gallies. Now what tongue can expreſſe how much hee was affected, and afflicted with his ſad and miſerable ſtate, eſpecially when hee conſidered with himſelf, that now hee is chained, who might have walked at liberty. Now hee is a ſlave, who might have been a King, now hee is over-ruled by Turks, who might once have ruled over Chriſtians; the application is eaſie.
Ah young men! young men, Tis ſtoried of Charles King of Sicily and Jeruſalem, that hee was called Carolus Cunctator. Charles the lingerer; this age affords many ſuch lingerers, &c.ſhall Satan take all opportunities to tempt you? ſhall the world take all opportunities to allure you? ſhall wicked men take all opportunities to enſnare you? and to undo you? and ſhall Chriſtian friends take all opportunities to better you? and ſhall Gods faithful Meſſengers take all opportunities to ſave you? and will you? will you neglect ſo great ſalvation? Plutarch writes of Hannibal, that when hee could have taken Rome hee would not, and when hee would have taken Rome, hee could not. Many in their youthful dayes, when they might have mercy, Chriſt, pardon, Heaven; they will not, and in old age, when they would have Chriſt, pardon, peace, Heaven, they cannot, they may not. God ſeems to ſay as Theſius ſaid once, go ſayes hee, and tell Creon, Theſius offers thee a gracious offer, yet I am pleaſed to bee friends, if thou wilt ſubmit (this is my firſt meſſage) but if this offer prevail not, look for mee to bee up in arms.
The third Reaſon, why Young men ſhould bee really good betimes, Lord, ſaith Auſtin, I have loved thee late; the greater was his ſins, and the more were his ſorrows.is, becauſe then they will have fewer and leſſer ſins to anſwer for, and repent of, multitudes of ſins and ſorrows are prevented by being good betimes. The more wee number our dayes, the fewer ſins wee ſhall have to number. As a coppy is then ſafeſt from blotting, when duſt is put upon it, ſo are wee from ſinning, when (in the time of our youth) wee remember that wee are but duſt. The tears of young penitents do more ſcorch the Devils than all the flames of Hell, for hereby all their hopes are blaſted, and the great underminer countermined, and blown up. Mane is the Devils Verb, hee bids tarry, time enough to repent; but Mane is Gods Adverb, hee bids repent early in the morning of thy youth; for then thy ſins will bee fewer, and leſſer. Well young men, remember this, hee that will not at the firſt hand buy good council cheap, ſhall at the ſecond hand buy repentance over dear.
Ah young men! young men, if you do not begin to bee good betimes, thoſe ſins that are now as Jewels ſparkling in your eyes, Pſal. 25.7. Job 13.26.will at laſt bee milſtones about your necks, to ſink you for ever. —Among many things that Beza in his laſt will and Teſtament, gave God thanks for, this was the firſt and chief, that hee at the age of ſixteen years, had called him to the knowledge of the truth, and ſo prevented many ſins and ſorrows that otherwiſe would have overtaken him, and have made his life leſſe happy, and more miſerable. Young Saints often prove old Angels, There is nothing puts a more ſerious frame into a mans ſpirit than to know the worth of his time.but old ſinners ſeldome prove good Saints, &c.
The fourth ground, why young men ſhould bee really good betimes, is this, viz. becauſe time is a precious Talent that young men muſt be countable for; the ſooner they begin to bee good, the more eaſy will bee their accounts, eſpecially as to that great Talent of time. Cato and other heathens, held that account muſt bee given, not only of our labour, but alſo of our leiſure, at the great day it will appear, that they that have ſpent their time in mourning, have done better than they that have ſpent their time in dancing; and they that have ſpent many dayes in humiliation, than they that have ſpent many dayes in idle recreations.
I have read of a devout man, who when hee heard a clock ſtrike, hee would ſay, here is one hour more paſt that I have to anſwer for. Ah young men! as time is very precious, ſo it is very ſhort, time is very ſwift, it is ſuddenly gone, in the 9. of Job and the 25. verſ. My dayes are ſwifter than a Poſt, they flee away, they ſee no good. The Hebrew word (Kalal) tranſlated ſwifter than a Poſt, ſignifies any thing that is light, becauſe light things are quick in motion.
The Ancients emblem'd time with wings, as it were, Sophocles. Phocilides.not running, but flying. Time is like the Sun, that never ſtands ſtill, but is ſtill a running her race; the Sun did once ſtand ſtill, yea went back, but ſo did never Time. Time is ſtill running, and flying; it is a bubble a ſhadow, a dream; can you ſeriouſly conſider of this young men, and not begin to bee good betimes? ſurely you cannot. Sirs, if the whole earth whereupon wee tread were turned into a lump of gold, it were not able to purchaſe one minute of time. Oh the regreetings of the damned, for miſ-ſpending precious time! Who is there among us that knows how to value time, and prize a day at a due rate. Sen. Epiſt.Oh what would they not give to bee free, and to injoy the means of grace one hour. Ah with what attention! with what intention! with what trembling and melting of heart! with what hungring and thirſting would they hear the Word! Time (ſaith Bernard) were a good commodity in hell, and the traffick of it moſt gainful, where, for one day a man would give ten thouſand worlds if he had them; young men, can you in good earneſt beleeve this, and not begin to be good betimes?
Ah! young men and women, as you love your precious immortal ſouls, A heathen ſaid hee lived no day without a line, that is, he did ſomething remarkable every day.as you would eſcape hell and come to heaven, as you would bee happy in life, and bleſſed in death, and glorious after death, don't ſpend any more of your precious time, in drinking and drabing, in carding, dicing and dancing, don't trifle away your time, don't ſwear away your time, don't whore away your time, don't lye away your time, but beginne to bee good betimes, becauſe Time is a Talent, that God will reckon with you for: Ah! young men and women, you may reckon upon years, many years yet to come, when poſſibly you have not ſo many hours to make ready your accompts, it may bee this night you may have a ſummons, and then if your time bee done, and your work to be begunne, in what a ſad caſe will you bee, will you not wiſh that you had never been born?
Seneca was wont to jeer the Jews for their ill husbandry, in that they loſt one day in ſeven; meaning their Sabbath; O that it were not too true of the moſt of profeſſors both young and old, that they looſe not onelyonly one day in ſeven, but ſeveral days in ſeven.
Sirs, Time let ſlip cannot bee recal'd, the fooliſh Virgins found it ſo, and Saul found it ſo, and Herod found it ſo, Mat. 25.5 Judg. 3.23. Heb. 3.17, 18, 19.and Nero found it ſo, the Iſraelites found it ſo, yea, and Jacob, and Joſiah, and David (though good men) yet they found it ſo to their coſt.
The Egyptians draw the picture of Time with three heads, the firſt of a greedy Wolf, gaping for time paſt, becauſe it hath ravenouſly devoured the memory of ſo many things paſt recalling. The
Second of a crowned Lyon, roaring for time preſent, becauſe it hath the principallity of all actions, for which it calls loud. The
Third of a deceitfull Dogg, fawning for time to come, becauſe it feeds ſome men with many flattering hopes to their eternal undoing: Ah! young men and women, as you would give up your accounts at laſt with joy, concerning this Talent of time, with which God hath truſted you, begin to be good betimes, &c.
The fifth Reaſon, Why young men ſhould bee really good betimes, and that is, becauſe they will have the greater comfort and joy when they come to bee old, Seneca (though a Heathen could ſay, beleeve me, true joy is no light thing.the 71 Pſalm. 5. 17, 18. compapared. Thou art my hope, O Lord God, thou art my truſt from my youth. O God, thou haſt taught me from my youth, and hitherto I have declared thy wondrous works. Now alſo when I am old and gray headed, O God, forſake mee not, untill I have ſhewed thy ſtrength, unto this Generation, and thy power unto every one that is to come. Polycarpus could ſay, when old, thus many years have I ſerved my Maſter Chriſt, and hitherto hath hee dealt well with mee; if early converts live to bee old, no joy to their joy, their joy will bee the greateſt joy, a joy like to the joy of harveſt, Iſa. 9.3.a joy like to their joy that divide the ſpoil, their joy will bee the ſoundeſt joy, the weightieſt joy, the holieſt joy, the pureſt joy, the ſtrongeſt joy, and the moſt laſting joy, the carnal joy of the wicked, the gliſtering (golden) joy of the world-ling, and the flaſhing joy of the hypocrite, is but as the crackling of thorns under a pot, to the joy and comfort of ſuch, who when old, can ſay, with good Obadiah, that they feared the Lord from their youth. If when you are young, your eyes ſhall bee full of tears (for Sinne) when you are old your hearts ſhall bee full of joys. Such ſhal have the beſt wine at laſt
Oh! that young men would beginne to bee good betimes, that ſo they may have the greater harveſt of joy when they come to be old, &c. tis ſad to be ſowing your ſeed, when you ſhould be reaping your harveſt; tis beſt to gather in the ſummer of youth, againſt the winter of old age.
The Sixth Reaſon, Why young men ſhould bee really good betimes, and that is, becauſe an eternity of felicity, and glory hangs upon thoſe few moments that are allotted to them, it was a good queſtion the young man propopoſed, Luk. 10.25what ſhall I do to inherit eternal life? I know I ſhall bee eternally happy, or eternally miſerable, eternally bleſt, or eternally cur'ſt, eternally ſav'd, or eternally damn'd, &c.
O what ſhall I do to inherit eternal life! my cares, my fears, Aeteruitas eſt ſemper et immutabile eſſe. The old Romans were our that thought Eternity dwelt in Statues and in Marble monuments.my troubles, are all about eternity, no time can reach eternity, no age can extend to eternity, no tongue can expreſs eternity. Eternity is that (unum perpetuum hodie) one perpetual day, which ſhall never have end; what ſhall I do, what ſhall I not do, that I may bee happy to all eternity? I am now young and in the flower of my days; but who knows what a day may bring forth? the greateſt weight hangs upon the ſmalleſt wyers, an eternity depends upon thoſe few hours, I am to breath in this world; O what cauſe have I therefore to bee good betimes, to know God betimes, to beleeve betimes, to repent betimes, to get my peace made, and my pardon ſeal'd betimes, to get my nature changed, my conſcience purged, and my intereſt in Chriſt cleared betimes, before eternity overtakes mee, before my glaſs bee out, my Sun ſet, my race run, leaſt the dark night of eternity ſhould overtake mee, and I made miſerable for ever. I have read of one (Myrogenes) who when great gifts were ſent unto him, hee ſent them all back again, ſaying, I onelyonly deſire this one thing at your Maſters hand, to pray for mee, that I may be ſaved for eternity. O that all young men and women who make earth their heaven, Luk. 15.19, 20pleaſures their Paradiſe, that eat the fat, and drink the ſweet, that cloth themſelves richly and crown their heads with roſebuds, that they would ſeriouſly conſider of eternity, ſo as to hear as for eternity, and pray as for eternity, and live as for eternity, and provide as for eternity. That they may ſay with that famous Painter Zeuxes (Aeternitati pingo) I paint for eternity, we do all for eternity, we beleeve for eternity, wee repent for eternity, wee obey for eternity, &c.
O that you would not make thoſe things eternal for puniſhment, Cur ea quae ad uſum diuturna eſſe non poſſunt, ad ſupplicium diuturna depoſces Ambroſe in Lu. 4. T. 5.that cannot bee eternal for uſe: Ah! young men and women, God calls, and the bloud of Jeſus Chriſt calls, and the ſpirit of Chriſt in the Goſpel calls, and the rage of Satan calls; and your ſad ſtate and condition calls; and the happineſs and bleſſedneſs of glorified Saints calls; theſe all call aloud upon you to make ſure a glorious eternity; before you ſail out into that dreadfull Ocean. All your eternall good depends upon the ſhort and uncertain moments of your lives; and if the threed of your lives ſhould bee cut, before a happy eternity is made ſure: woe to you that ever you were born; Do not ſay O young man, that thou art young, and hereafter will bee time enough to provide for eternity, for eternity may bee at the door, ready to carry thee away for ever. Every days experience ſpeaks out eternity to bee as neer the young mans back, as tis before the old mans fa….
O graſpe to day the diadem of a bleſſed eternity: leaſt thou art cut off before the morning comes, though there is but one way to come into this world, yet there is a thouſand thouſand ways to bee ſent out of this world; well young men and women remember this, as the motions of the ſoul are quick, ſo are the motions of divine juſtice quick alſo, and if you will not hear the voice of God to day; if you will not provide for eternity to day. God may ſwear to morrow that you ſhall never enter into his reſt; it is a very ſad and dangerous thing to trifle and dally with God, his word, his offers, our own ſouls, and eternity: therefore let all young People labour to bee good betimes, and not to let him that is goodneſs it ſelf alone, till hee hath made them good, till hee hath given them thoſe hopes of eternity that will both make them good, and keep them good; that will make them happy, and keep them happy, and that for ever; if all this will not do, then know, that ere long thoſe fears of eternity, of miſery, that begets that monſter, Deſpair, which like Meduſa's head, aſtoniſheth with its very aſpect, and ſtrangles hope, which is the breath of the ſoul, will certainly overtake you; as it is ſaid, Dum Spiro Spero, ſo it may bee inverted Dum Spero Spiro, other miſeries may wound the ſpirit, but deſpair kills it dead; my prayer ſhall bee that none of you, may ever experience this ſad truth, but that you may all bee good in good earneſt betimes, which will yeeld you two heavens, a heaven on earth, and a heaven after death.
The ſeventh Reaſon, Why young perſons ſhould be really good betimes, and that is, becauſe they do not beginne to live till they beginne to bee really good, till they beginne to bee good, they are dead God-wards, and Chriſt-wards, and heaven-wards, and holineſs-wards, till a man beginnes to bee really good, hee is really dead, Phil. 2.1. and that firſt in reſpect of working, Reſpectu operis.his works are called dead works, Heb. 9.14. the moſt gliſtering ſervices of unregenerate perſons are but dead works, becauſe they proceed not from a principle of life, and they lead to death, Rom. 6.21. and leave a ſentence of death upon the ſoul, till it bee waſh't off by the bloud of the Lamb.
Secondly, Reſpectu honoris.Hee is dead in reſpect of honour, hee is dead to all priviledges, hee is not fit to inherit mercy, who will ſet the crown of life upon a dead man. The crown of life is only for living Chriſtians, Rev. 2.10. The young Prodigal was dead, till hee begunne to bee good, till hee begunne to remember his fathers houſe, and to reſolve to return home. My Son was dead, but is alive, Luk. 15.24.and the Widow that liveth in pleaſure, is dead while ſhee liveth. 1 Tim. 5, 6 As tis a reproach to an old man to be in Coats, ſo tis a diſgrace to be an old babe. i e. to be but a babe in grace, when old in years. Heb. 5.12, 13, 14.When Joſaphat asked Barlaam, how old hee was, hee anſwered five and forty years old, to whom Joſaphat replyed, thou ſeemeſt to bee ſeventy, true ſaith hee, if you reckon ever ſince I was born; but I count not thoſe years which were ſpent in vanity: Ah! Sirs you never begin to live, till you beginne to be good in good earneſt. There is the life of vegetation, and that is the life of plants; ſecondly, there is the life of ſenſe, and that is the life of beaſts; Thirdly, there is the life of reaſon, and that is the life of man; Fourthly, there is the life of grace, and that is the life of Saints; and this life you do not beginne to live, till you beginne to bee good; if a living Dogg is better than a dead Lyon, as the wiſe man ſpeaks, Eccl. 9.4.and if a Fly is more excellent than the heavens, becauſe the Fly hath life which the heavens hath not, as the Philoſopher ſaith, what a ſad dead poor nothing is that perſon that is a ſtranger to the life of grace and goodneſs, that is dead, even whilſt he is alive.
Moſt men will bleed, ſweat, vomit, Meconas in Seneca had rather live in many diſeaſes than dye. And Homer reporteth of his A…hilles, that he had rather be a ſervant to a poor Countrey Clown here, than to be a King to all the Souls departedpurge, part with an eſtate, yea with a limb, I limbs, yea and many a better thing (viz. the honour of God and a good conſcience) to preſerve their natural lives: as hee crys out, Give mee any deformity, any torment, any miſery, ſo you ſpare my life; and yet how few, how very few, are to bee found, who make it their work, their buſineſs, to attain to a life of goodneſs, or to beginne to bee good betimes, or to bee dead to the world, and alive to God, rather than to bee dead to God, and alive to the world, this is for a lamentation and ſhal be for a lamentation, that natural life is ſo highly prized, & ſpiritual life ſo little regarded, &c
The eighth Reaſon, Why young perſons ſhould bee really good betimes, and that is, becauſe the promiſe of finding God, of enjoying God, is made over to an early ſeeking of God, Prov. 8.17. I love them that love mee, and they that ſeek me early ſhall find me. Or as the Hebrew hath it, they that ſeek mee in the morning ſhall find me, by the benefit of the morning light wee come to find the things wee ſeek. foreignShahhar ſignifies to ſeek inquiſitively to ſeek diligently, Exod. 16.21 Scipio went firſt to the Capitol, and then to the Senat. Tully an heathen frequently called G d Optimum maximum, the beſt, and greateſt, God is Omnia ſuper omnia.to ſeek timely in the morning. As the Iſraelites went early in the morning, to ſeek for Manna. And as Students riſe early in the morning and ſit cloſe to it, to get knowledge; ſo ſaith wiſdome, they that ſeek mee in the ſpring and morning of their youth, ſhall finde mee.
Now to ſeek the Lord early, is to ſeek the Lord firſtly. God hath in himſelf all the good of Angells, of men, and univerſal nature, hee hath all gloryes, all dignities, all riches, all treaſures, all pleaſures, all comforts, all delights, all joyes, all beatitudes. God is that one infinite perfection in himſelf, which is eminently and virtually all perfections of the creatures, and therfore hee is firſtly to be ſought. Abſtracts do better expreſs him, than Concretes and adjectives; hee is, being, bonity, power, wiſdome, juſtice, mercy, goodneſs, and love it ſelf, and therefore worthy to bee ſought before all other things. Seek yee firſt the good things of the mind, ſaith Philoſophy, Cicero.and don't Divinity ſay as much?
Again, To ſeek early is to ſeek opportunely, to ſeek while the opportunity does preſent, Daies of grace have their dates, therefore take heed of ſaying Cras, Cras, to morrow, to morrow.Judg. 9.33. Thou ſhalt riſe early, and ſet upon the City; that is, thou ſhalt opportunely ſet upon the City. Such there have been, who by giving a glaſs of water opportunely, have obtained a kingdome, as you may ſee in the ſtory of Thamaſtus, and King Agrippa.
Ah! Young men and women, you do not know, but that by an early, Heb. 12.28by an opportune ſeeking of God, you may obtain a kingdom that ſhakes not, and glory that paſſeth not away. There is a ſeaſon wherein God may bee found, Iſa. 55.6Seek ye the Lord while hee may bee found, call yee upon him while hee is neer, and if you ſlip this ſeaſon, you may ſeek him, and miſs him. Ier. 11.11 Iſa. 1.15 Mic. 3, 4 Prov. 1.28Though they cry unto mee, I will not hearken unto them; when yee make many prayers I will not hear. Then ſhall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear. Then ſhall they call upon mee, but I will not anſwer, they ſhall ſeek mee early but ſhall not finde mee. This was Sauls miſery, The Philiſtines are upon mee, and God will not anſwer mee, 'tis juſtice that they ſhould ſeek and not finde at laſt, who might have found, had they but ſought ſeaſonably and opportunely, &c.
Again, to ſeek early, is to ſeek earneſtly, affectionately. With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night, Iſa. 26.9.yea with my ſpirit within mee will I ſeek thee early: The Hebrew word ſignifies both an earneſt, and an early ſeeking in the morning, the ſpirits are up, and men are earneſt, lively, and affectionate. Ah ſuch a ſeeking, ſhall certainly bee crowned with finding! My voice ſhalt thou hear in the morning, Pſal. 5.3.11, 12.O Lord; in the morning will I direct (Heb. martial) my prayer unto thee, foreignand will look up; (Hebrew, look out like a watchman.) Let all thoſe that put their truſt in thee, rejoyce; let them ever ſhout for joy; becauſe thou defendeſt them, (Hebrew, thou covereſt over, or protecteſt them) Let them alſo that love thy Name, bee joyful in thee, for thou, Lord, wilt bleſſe the Righteous, with favour wilt thou compaſſe him (Hebrew crown him) as with a ſhield. None have ever thus ſought the Lord, but they have, or certainly ſhall finde him. Seek, and yee ſhall finde, Matth. 7.7. your heart ſhall live that ſeek God, Pſal. 69.32. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, foreign. It ſignifies ſuch a working as notes the livelieſt activity that can bee.James 5.16. or as the Greek hath it, the working-prayer of a righteous man availeth much; that prayer that ſets the whole man awork, will work wonders in Heaven, in the heart, and in the earth. Earneſt prayer like Sauls ſword, and Jonathans bow, never return empty. One ſpeaking of Luther, who was a man very earneſt in praier, ſaid, (hic homo potuit apud Deum quod voluit, this man could have what hee would of God, &c.
Again, to ſeek early, is to ſeek chiefly, primarily, after this or that thing; what wee firſt ſeek, wee ſeek as chief. Now to ſeek the Lord early, is to ſeek him primarily, chiefly, In the 63. Pſal. and the 1. verſ. Thou art my God, early will I ſeek thee; that is, Omne bonum in ſummo b…no.I will ſeek thee as my choiceſt and my chiefeſt good. God is Alpha, the fountain from whence all grace ſprings; and Omega, the Sea to which all glory runs; and therefore early and primarily to bee ſought. God is a perfect good, a ſolid good (id bonum perfectum dicitur, cui nil accedere, ſolidum cui …l decedere poteſt. Lactantius) that is a perfect good to which nothing can bee added, that a ſolid, from which nothing can bee ſpared ſuch a good God is, and therefore early and chiefly to bee ſought. 1 John 1.5.God is a pure and ſimple good, hee is a light in whom there is no darkneſſe, a good, in whom there is no evil. The goodneſſe of the Creature is mixt, yea that little goodneſs that is in the Creature is mixt with much evil, but God is an immixt good, Quicquid eſt in Deo, eſt ipſe Deus.hee is good, hee is a pure good, he is all over good, hee is nothing but good. God is an Al-ſufficient good, walk before mee, and bee upright, I am God Al-ſufficient, in the 17. of Geneſis and the 1. verſ. Habet omnia, qui habet habentem omnia, Aug. Hee hath all, that hath the haver of all. God hath in himſelf all power to defend you, all wiſdome to direct you, all mercy to pardon you, all grace to inrich you, all Righteouſneſs to cloath you, all goodneſſe to ſupply you, and all happineſſe to crown you. Cant. 2.3.God is a ſatisfying good, a good that fills the heart, and quiets the ſoul, in the 33. of Geneſis and the 11. verſ. I have enough, ſaith good Jacob, I have all, ſaith Jacob, for ſo the Hebrew hath it (Cholli) I have all, I have all comforts, all delights, all contents, &c. In having nothing, I have all things, becauſe I have Chriſt, having therefore all things in him. I ſeek no other reward, for hee is the univerſal reward, ſaith one. As the worth and value of many peeces of ſilver is to bee found in one peece of gold. So all the petty excellencies that are ſcattered abroad in the Creatures are to bee found in God, yea all the whole volum of perfections which is ſpread through Heaven and Earth is epitomized in him. No good below him that is the greateſt good, can ſatisfie the ſoul; a good wife, a good child, a good name, a good eſtate, a good friend, cannot ſatisfie the ſoul; theſe may pleaſe, but they cannot ſatisfie. Omnis copia quae non est Deus meus, mihi egeſtas eſt. Aug. Soliloq. c. 13.All abundance, if it bee not my God, is to mee nothing but poverty and want, ſaid one. Ah that young men and women would but in the morning of their youth, ſeek, yea ſeek early, ſeek earneſtly; ſeek affectionately, ſeek diligently, ſeek primarily, and ſeek unweariedly this God, who is the greateſt good; the beſt good, the moſt deſirable good: who is a ſutable good, a pure good: a ſatisfying good, a total good, and an eternal good.
The ninth Reaſon, why young perſons ſhould be really good betimes, and that is, becauſe the time of youth is the choiceſt and fitteſt time for ſervice. Now your parts are lively, ſenſes freſh, The dayes of youth are called, aetas bona, in Cicero, and aetas optima, in Seneca.memory ſtrong, and nature vigorous; the dayes of your youth are the ſpring and morning of your time; they are the firſt-born of your ſtrength, therefore God requires your nonage as well as your dotage; the wine of your times, as well as the lees, Exod. 13.2. Exod. 22.9.as you may ſee typified to you in the firſt fruits, which were dedicated to the Lord; And the firſt-born. The time of youth is the time of ſalvation, it is the acceptable time, it is thy ſummer, thy harveſt time. O young man, therefore do not ſleep, but up, and bee doing, awaken thy heart, rouſe up thy ſoul, and improve all thou haſt, put out thy reaſon, thy ſtrength, thy all, to the treaſuring up of heavenly graces, precious promiſes, divine experiences, and ſpiritual comforts, againſt the winter of old age, and then old age will not bee to thee an evil age, Gen. 25.28.but as it was to Abraham a good old age; do not put off God with fair promiſes, and large pretences till your laſt ſands are running, and the dayes of dotage hath overtaken you. Mal. 1.14.That's a ſad word of the Prophet, curſed bee the deceiver which hath in his flock a male, and yet offereth to the Lord a corrupt thing. Jer. 1.11 The Almond tree bloſſomes in January, (while it is yet Winter) and the fruit is ripe in March.Ah young men and women, who are like the Almond tree, you have many males in the flock, your ſtrength is a male in your flock, your time is a male in the flock, your reaſon is a male in the flock, your parts are a male in the flock, and your gifts are a male in the flock; now if hee bee curſt that hath but one male in his flock, and ſhall offer to God a corrupt thing, a thing of no worth, of no value, how will you bee curſt, and curſt, curſt at home, and curſt abroad, curſt temporally, curſt ſpiritually, and curſt eternally, who have many males in your flock, and yet deal ſo unworthily, ſo fraudulently, and falſe heartedly with God, as to put him off with the dreggs of your time, and ſtrength, while you ſpend the Prime-roſe of your youth in the ſervice of the world, Mat. 21.20the Fleſh, and the Devil.
The Fig-tree in the Goſpel, that did not bring forth fruit timely and ſeaſonably, was curſt to admiration, the time of youth is the time and ſeaſon for bringing forth the fruits of righteouſneſs and holineſs, and if theſe fruits bee not brought forth in their ſeaſon, you may juſtly fear, that the curſes of heaven will ſecretly and inſenſibly ſoak and ſink into your ſouls, and then woe wo to you that ever you were born, the beſt way to prevent this hell of hels is to give God the cream and Flower of your youth, your ſtrength, your time, your Talents; veſſels that are betimes ſeaſoned with the ſavour of life, never looſe it, Pro. 22.6.
The Tenth Reaſon, Why young perſons ſhould bee really good (in good earneſt) betimes, and that is, becauſe Death may ſuddenly and unexpectedly ſeize upon you, Pares naſcuntur, pares moriuntur, in the womb and in the Tomb they are all alike.you have no leaſe of your lives. Youth is as fickle as old age, the young man may finde Graves enough of his length in buriall places; as green wood, and old logs meet in one fire, ſo young Sinners, and old Sinners meet (in one hell) and burn together; when the young man is in his ſpring, Job. 21.23, 24and prime, then hee is cut off and dies, one dieth in his full ſtrength (or in the ſtrength of his perfection, Tis an Allegorical deſcription of the higheſt proſperity.as the Hebrew hath it) being wholly at eaſe and quiet. His breaſts are full of milk, and his bones are moiſtened with marrow. Davids children dies when young, ſo did Jobs, and Jeroboams, &c. Every days experience tell us, that the young mans life is as much a vapour, as the old mans is.
I have read of an Italian Poet, who brings in a propper young man rich and potent, diſcourſing with Death, in the habit of a mower with his Sythe in his hand, cutting down the life of man (For all fleſh is graſs, Iſa. 40.6.) and wilt thou not ſpare any mans perſon ſaith the young man; I ſpare none ſaith death, Deaths motto is Nulli Cedo, I yeild to none.mans life is but a day, a ſhort day, a winters day, oft-times the Sun goes down upon a man before it be wel up; your day is ſhort, your work is great, your journey long, and therefore you ſhould riſe early and ſet forward towards heaven betimes, as that man does that hath a long journey to go in a winters day.
The life of man is abſolutely ſhort. Pſal. 39.5Behold thou haſt made my days as a hands breadth. The life of man is comparatively ſhort, and that if you compare mans life now to what hee might have reacht; had hee continued in innocency. Sinne brought in death, death is a fall that came in by a fall; or if you compare mans life now, to what they did reach to before the Flood, then ſeveral lived, Gen. 9ſix, ſeven, eight, nine hundred years; or if you compare mans dayes with the days of God. Mine age is as nothing before thee; Pſal. 39.5or if you compare the dayes of man to the dayes of eternity.
Ah! The Heathen could ſay, that the whole life of man ſhould be nothing elſe but (meditatio mortis) a meditation of deathYoung men, young men, can you ſeriouſly conſider of the brevity of mans life, and trifle away your time, the offers of Grace, your precious ſouls, and eternity? &c. ſurely you cannot, ſurely you dare not; if you do but in good earneſt ponder upon the ſhortneſs of mans life. It is recorded of Philip King of Macedon, that he gave a penſion to one to come to him every day at dinner, and to cry to him (memento te eſſe mortalem) Remember thou art but mortal.
Ah! Young men and old, had need bee often put in mind of their mortality, they are too apt to forget that day, yea to put farre from them the thoughts of that day. I have read of three that could not endure to hear that bitter word, death, mentioned in their ears, and ſurely this age is full of ſuch monſters.
And as the life of man is very ſhort, ſo it is very uncertain, now well, now ſick, alive this hour, and dead the next. Death doth not always give warning before hand, ſometimes hee gives the mortal blow ſuddenly, hee comes behind with his dart, and ſtrikes a man at the heart, before hee ſaith, have I found thee O my enemy? Eutichus fell down dead ſuddenly, Act. 20.19. Death ſuddenly areſted Davids Sons, and Jobs Sons, Petrach telleth of one who being invited to dinner, the next day, enſwered, Ego a multis annis craſtinum non habui. I have not had a morrow for this many years.Auguſtus dyed in a complement, Galba with a ſentence, Veſpaſian with a jeſt, Zeuxes dyed laughing at the picture of an old woman, which hee drew with his own hand, Sophocles was choaked with the ſtone in a Grape, D…odorus the Logician dyed for ſhame, that hee could not anſwer a joculary queſtion propounded at the Table by Stilpo, Joannes Meaſius, preaching upon the raiſing of the woman of Naims ſonne from the dead, within three houres after dyed himſelf.
Ah! Young men and women, have you not cauſe, great cauſe to bee good betimes? for death is ſudden in his approaches, nothing more ſure than death, and nothing more uncertain than life; therefore know the Lord betimes, turn from your ſinnes betimes, lay hold on the Lord, and make peace with him betimes, that you may never ſay as Caeſar Borgias ſaid, when hee was ſick to death, when I lived (ſaid hee) I provided for every thing but death, now I muſt dye and am unprovided to dye, &c.
The Eleventh Reaſon, Why young perſons ſhould bee really good betimes, and that is, becauſe tis ten to one, nay, a hundred to ten if ever they are converted, if they are not converted when they are young.
God uſually begins with ſuch betimes, Hoſ. 11.1. When Iſrael was a child, then I loved him, &c.that hee hath had thoughts of love and mercy towards from everlaſting; the inſtances cited to prove the Doctrin, confirms this argument; and if you look abroad, in the world, you ſhall hardly finde one Saint among a thouſand, but dates his converſion from the time of his youth. 'Twas the young ones that got through the wilderneſs into Canaan. If the Tree do not bud, and bloſſome, and bring forth fruit in the Spring, Numb. 26.64.it is commonly dead all the year after; An Hebrew Doctor obſerves that of thoſe ſix hundred thouſand that went out of Egypt, there were but two perſons that entered Canaan.if in the ſpring, and morning of your daies you do not bring forth fruit to God, it is a hundred to one, that ever you bring forth fruit to him, when the evil dayes of old age ſhall overtake you, wherein you ſhall ſay, you have no pleaſure. For as the Son of Syrach obſerves, if thou haſt gathered nothing in thy youth, Eccleſ. 25.5.what canſt thou finde in thy age? tis rare, very rare, that God ſows and reaps in old age, uſually God ſows the ſeed of grace in youth, it yeelds the harveſt of joy in age. Though true repentance be never too late, yet late repentance is ſeldome true. Millions are now in Hell, who have pleaſed themſelves with the thoughts of after repentance. The Lord hath made a promiſe to late repentance, but where hath he made a promiſe of late repentance: yea what can bee more juſt and equal, Pro. 1.24, 32.that ſuch ſhould ſeek, and not finde, who might have found, but would not ſeek; and that hee ſhould ſhut his ears againſt their late prayers, who have ſtopt their ears againſt his early calls? The Ancient warriours would not accept an old man into their army, as being unfit for ſervice, and doſt thou think that God will accept of thy dry bones, when Satan hath ſuckt out all the marrow? What Lord, what Maſter will take ſuch into their ſervice, who have all their dayes ſerved their enemies, and will God? will God? The Circaſſians (a kinde of Mongrel Chriſtians) are ſaid to divide their life betwixt ſin and devotion, Breerw. Enqui.dedicating their youth to rapine, and their old age to repentance; if this bee thy caſe, I would not bee in thy caſe for ten thouſand worlds.
I have read of a certain great man; Beda hath this ſtory.that was admoniſhed in his ſickneſs to repent, who anſwered, that hee would not repent yet, for if hee ſhould recover, his companions would laugh at him; but growing ſicker, and ſicker, his friends preſſed him again to repent, but then hee told them that it were too late; (Quia jam judicatus ſum, & condemnatus) for now ſaid hee, I am judged and condemned.
The twelfth and laſt Reaſon, why young men ſhould bee really good betimes, and that is, becauſe elſe they will never attain to the honour of being old diſciples. It is a very great honour to bee an old Diſciple. Now this honour none reach to, but ſuch as are converted betimes, but ſuch as turn to the Lord in the ſpring, and morning of their youth. It is no honour for an old man to bee in coats, What more ridiculous than (puer. contum annorum) a child of an hundred years old?nor for an old man to bee a babe in grace. An A. B. C. old man is a ſad and ſhameful ſight; O but it is a mighty honour to a man when hee is old, that hee can date his converſion from the morning of his youth. Now that it is an honour to bee an old Diſciple, I ſhall prove by an induction of particulars. As