The Young Mans Monitor, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. The Young Mans Case, and Concernments as they now lie before him, stated and offered to his consideration.
YOu have more particularly two great Concerns lying now upon your hand which had need both of them be seriously thought upon, and duly provided for before you slip any longer time. The one is the wise ordering and improvement of this present life; which is commonly spoyled in youth, and scarce ever recovered in riper years. The other the religious providing for a better, which no man can be too diligent in. He that is truly faithful in either, will be in some measure conscionable in both. These hath God joyned together; and happy is that man who hath learnt to give each its due, and through a well led life with men on earth, to pass to a better with God himself hereafter in heaven.
It will be your wisdome to understand aright the good consistency of both these together. That so you may neither on the one hand think hardly of religion, as that which quencheth the subordinate sweetness of life; as that which overthrows what were otherwaies lovely in nature: Nor yet on the other hand content your selves with bare nature, without the true grace of God; which is ten thousand times more worth, and better indeed than life it self. Be ye in Gods name frugal of all the just comforts of this life, slight them not, waste them not, they are the dear gifts of God, the God of all our mercies, the portion that is given us outwardly under the Sun. But if the Lord be willing to sanctifie these, and bestow yet greater then them upon us; let us not neglect, let us not despise our own advantages: but accept it with all humble thankfulness, that our water may thus be turned into wine.
Now therefore that you may the more understandingly comport with these great Concerns, and the better see what lies before you; it will be very necessary for you (what you can) solidly to inform and satisfie your selves very particularly in these three things.
1. The world into which you are now come, and for a time to live; what that is.
2. The great ends for which you are thus set on shore, and now sent hither; what they are.
3. The true way and means whereby these righteous and desirable ends might be at length happily attained.
He that once understands where he is, what he hath indeed to do, and how he may fairly and safely compass his work, needs not stand idle in the Market-place, he hath enough to take up both his hands, and heart withall. God grant that you may go ingenuously into your Lords Vineyard,1 The world into which we are come, what that is. and willingly work the work for which you were sent into the world.
First, Then be contented to sit down, and consider what kind of world this is into which you are now come. It may availe you in the sequel of your life to have throughly known it, ere you be further involved in it.
It is a world that too much encumbers most: but solidly contenteth none. Our Stage indeed whereon to act: but not our Bed whereon to rest. The Ancients, who observed and enquired very studiously after it, have plainly told us what we shall …lso find it, A *foreign Inimicus veste amici tectus. Buxtorf. Flo. Heb.true Enemy in the disguised cloaths and habit of a Friend. The Young man by mistake fondly calls it Naomi, and saies it is ple…sant. The Elder by de…r-bought experience finds it Marah, and cries out, oh! it is bitter. Such is this world as the Tents of Kedar, which you are now for a season come to take up your quarters in. It was once indeed a beautiful Palace, the glory of God shining without any clouds in its full brightness upon it. The furniture of it, when God took the first Inventory thereof, all exceeding good. But now sin hath marred it like that girdle by the river Euphrates, as a Vesture it is changed, and its former beauty is departed from it. Satan is now by the permission of God become the Prince and God of this world. The furniture of it now joyless enough. *1 Joh. 2.16. Ambitiosus ho…os, & opes, & saeda voluptas, Haec tria … trino numine mundus h…bet. Mantuan.All that is in the world (and that All both scant and sad enough) is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The Favorites of it Gods Foes; Whosoever will be the friend of this world maketh himself the enemy of God. Sweet Children! slatter not your selves with vain hopes; this is not your resting place; arise, it will deceive you, it will destroy you.
Here may we too truly soe the course of nature dayly set on fire. The children of men (whom God hath made all of one blood, that we might unsainedly seek the good each of other) almost every man breathing †— Qua terra … sera regnat Evi… nys, In fact…us jurasse …. Ovid.strife, hunting his brother with a net, lying in wait to revile, to supplant, and to destroy. Here may we, as sad spectators, behold before our eyes the righteous ends of Creation almost every where perverted, and the good Creatures of God vilely abused, and made subject to bondage, to serve the lusts, the beastly lusts of sinful men. Such I may once more inform you, is the world that you are now as strangers and pilgrims come into.
If afterwards you meet with rough waters, and m…nifold troubles scarce now it may be so much as expected or lookt for by you; you must not marvel, as if some strange thing befell you; remember this only word, it is the World a raging Sea which cannot rest whereon you sail.
If temptations hereafter on all sides endanger your souls; you are also forewarned of it. This is that wilderness, where so many fiery Serpents will be stinging of us. Trust not, oh! trust not to that which hath undone so many. Though it appear as the plains of Sodom once to Lot, like the garden of God for sensual pleasantness choose it not; Melior …st hora una refrigerit in mundo futuro, quam tota …ita mundi hujus. Pirke Abhoth.it must as Sodom be destroyed. This, & no better, is the world into which we may now sadly welcom you. You may write upon these doors, and safely conclude as the Hebrews piously do in their similiar Proverb: *foreignOne hours sweet refreshment in that world which is to come, is far to be preferred before an whole life in this.
2. But now secondly,2 … …nd, for which, w…r they are. being come, as God once said to Elijah, so may I to you; What makes you here? †… …gnimur, …ersius.What have you …ere to do? Enquire humbly at the Word of God, weigh things as you are able in your own consciences, and judge impartially, what you think God sent you into the world for.
The end in any action, though it be the last thing that is actually attained and reached unto; yet must it be the first thing that is espoused, and thought upon. Before we let the Arrow go, we had need take heed our eye be first upon the White. You are as Servants going to Market, upon your Masters business, Dear Children! be willing to take your Errand carefully; and God Almighty grant, that when you go home in the Evening of your Life to stand before your Master you may be able truly to say, *John 17.4.Father I have glorified thy name on earth, I have (truly, though but weakly) finished the work thou gavest me to do.
You came not hither to trisle away your precious hours in vain pastimes; No, no; time is of it self withou… these too nimble, and h…stens too fast from us. You came not hither to tre… sure up further wrath against the day of wrath; our danger is too great already. You came not hither upon a sensual errand, to make provision for the lusts of the flesh; as if the Soul had nothing to do, but to become (as many would have it) *Hi quibus in solo v…vend… causa palato ….a Cook, or Cupbearer, or some Kitchin-servant to the body. You came not hither, Gehazi like, to run after the Chariot wheel of a foolish sickle world, for change o… Raiment, or peeces of Silver. Take heed you embase not your selves to any of these things; they are far below you as Men, much more below you as Christians.
†Exci…mur …a melio…, magni… dine rerum. Salust foreign ….You came hither upon business of more consequence. On that great Errand wherein every creature so justly oweth it self; to glorifie that God, which gave you your life and brea…h. You came hither as the sick man un…o change of air, for recovery, and cure. You came hither to imploy an immortal soul in the study of Eternity; and in a spirit of enlargement and nobleness to look after those future things which shortly shall come to pass.
In plainest terms; You came hither to settle the great case of your Souls heaven-ward on such solid terms, that neither the troubles of life, nor the very stroke of death should ever hereafter be able to amaze you. You came hither to seek the Lord, and his face; reconciliation, and communion with him, whom you must enjoy; or dye, and fall for ever.
Oh dear Youths! these are the great ends of life, if you can apply your tender minds, (too tender I fear to close far with such ponderous matters) yet these and no less than these are the sacred ends of life, and your just duty if you can receive it.
And who indeed can have the heart to refuse or wave the righteous pleasure of the Lord herein? Is it worth the time to design (so earnestly as most do) such inferiour things as Honours, Estates, and Friends here? And shall it not much more become us to rouze up our minds to nobler things, things worth the thoughts, worthy of the cares of an immortal Soul? How we may most silially, and fully serve the glory of our great Creator? How we may most surely escape the snares of death? And in the end inherit the long long'd for crown of life? If others can find no better imployment than with Claudius Souldiers to gather Cockles, or with the poysonous Spider to make sorry traps to catch silly worthless Flies in. If they will needs (as too too many daily do) with the Serpent go upon their belly, and lick the dust; †Atque assig…t humi divinae particulam aurae. Horat.unworthily chaining down an heaven-born spirit to poor unsutable and earthly things: Yet let them be no Presidents unto you. Call you upon your souls (as that holy man did) to remember their Country and Kindred above. *foreign. Mens …ominis est e…us ala. Chrysost 3. The way and means by which to attain those endsGod hath given you the wings of nobler desires heavenward, oh clip not those golden wings but make your flight as th… Dove unto the Arke. Walk you in Gods name in the way that is most excellent, and covet you the best things.
Thirdly, You have now understood both where you are, and what you have to do. It …ests still thirdly that you carefully consider, by what true means these great ends are to be at length attained and enjoyed. The glory of God, the glory of God it is most mens language: few mens care. The persecutor in Isaiah could say, Let *Isa. 66.5.God be glorified, when he for his part went about whatever he could by his bitterness against Gods people to dishonour him. Heaven and happiness are easily pretended to; but not so easily enjoyed. Neglect and slightiness in the means of our salvation is the Epidemical disease; here we commonly stumble, and fall. Most men could soon be perswaded to like of the end: but they can fearce away with the means.
Well, the c…se is however stated unalterably to our hands; whether we like or like it not. Our way of coming to the blessed favour of God, (and oh that our hearts may be solemn indeed in these solemn things) our way, I say again, is that new and living way by Christ, and the Covenant of free grace. †Joh. 14.6. Ambulare vis? Ego sum via; …alli no… viz? Ego sum veritas; mo…i non vis? Ego sum vita. Aug.He is the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father but by him. Our way unto any sweet communion with the Lord, or consequently glory in the end for our own dear souls, is by the real renewing of our inner man, and sound conversion toward God. *2 Cor. 6.14, 15.For what communion (thinks any man) is light likely to have with darkness? Or what fellowship (if we will needs remain in our sins) can Christ have with Belial?
We are now come to the great knot, that sore difficulty, wherein your present thoughts should be so justly taken up; whereupon the Crisis and decision of your future state so certainly will depend. Oh! that the Lord may please to bring you under the bond of his Covenant, and make you partakers of this great, this blessed, and honourable change from nature to grace, from the power of Satan to the Kingdom of God. Knowledge and education may make an external Professor: But it is only Regeneration that makes a true Christian. Conversion (we may all with blushing confess) with many it is plainly despised: with most it is secre…ly disregarded, as a matter of great and deep thoughts of heart, and so we set up the exteriour prof…ssion of the name of God without any serious travel in it. But this will serve no mans turn; it is a truth shall live when we are dead; No Regeneration, no Salvation. *Joh. 3.3.Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.
This is that ingrafting of the wild branch into the good Olive, that it may bring forth better fruit. This is as the first Resurrection unto life, which must forerun any ascension unto glory. This is that fresh and lively drawing of the glorious Image of God upon those dark hearts, which lay before as the Earth in its first Chaos, void and without form, or beauty. Oh! that men would forbear their hard thoughts and censures of God, and the sweet workings of his grace. There may be many weaknesses even in gracious hearts according to the frailty of humane nature while they are under the hand of God in the transacting of this great and unusual work. There may, and will be sore throwes and pangs accompanying of it, whereever it is truly wrought. But still these things need not be matter of reviling, matter of distaste, or discouragement unto any. What God himself sowes is here sown in weakness. And as for the thing it self, this new birth, this new life, this renewing of the inward man must indispensably and certainly be if we desire any part or place in that new Ierusalem which is above.
This is the very posture of things before you, these are those ancient Land-marks which none may remove. What oh! what manner of persons then ought you to be? What continual and serious care are you obliged henceforth to take lest you should do the work of the Lord and your own souls slightly.