The Young Mans Guide, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Containeth the grand proposition, with the Reasons thereof.
FRom the drift and scope of Solomon in these words, may be raised this point of Doctrine.
Doct. It is a duty incumbent upon all young men to consecrate the prime and strength of their dayes to the service of God. So to remember God, as to devote themselvs to him. This was Typified under the Law, where the Lord required the first-fruits to be dedicated unto him, the firstborn to be sanctified unto him, and the young Bullocks and Lambs to be offered in Sacrifice unto him. Which was written for our learning, to teach and instruct us, to offer unto God the service of our youth as well as of our old age. And is it not most equal that as the first-fruits of other things, so the first-fruits of man, of his ripened understanding and affections, should be given unto God? Was the Lord greatly offended when as men reserved the best of the flock to themselves, and offered the old, the blind, and the lame unto him? And will he be wellpleased that we devote our youth, and younger years to the service of Satan, and the satisfying our own lusts, and reserve for him only our decrepit old age?
This is likewise commended to us in the example of divers young men recorded in Scripture. We read of Isaac, that while he was young he accustomed himself to prayer and meditation, Gen. 24. 63. Of Iosiah, that when he was eight years old, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord: And in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his Father, 2 Chron. 34. 1, 3. Of Obadiah, that he feared the Lord from his youth, 1 King 18. 12. And of Timothy, that from a Child he had known the holy Scriptures, which were able to make him wise unto salvation, 2. Tim. 3. 15. If any shall ask, wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? Surely by following the example of such rare young men as these were.
The Reasons of the point.
Reas. 1. Youth is the fittest time that can he given unto God, as being the Spring time, and excellentest part of thy life. In the grave there is no serving God: in thine old age it is bad serving him, by reason of the manifold weaknesses and infirmities which do accompany the same: therefore thy Youth must needs be the fittest time for his service. For,
1. Youth is most active and vigorous, quick and lively, being not at all clogged with the infirmities of age. Then is thy body strongest, thy wit sharpest, and thy memory most capable, and retentive. How unworthy then is it for thee to Sacrifice thy youth to Bacchus and Venus, to ungodly sensuality and luxury, and at last to lay thine old bones upon Gods Altar? O, what Pity is it, that the Devil, the world, and the flesh should have thy cream and flour? And how shameful that God, to whom thy whole life is due, should have only thy bran, and dreggs?
2. Youth is the time of strength, and the service of God being no easie work calls for thine utmost strength; the strength of thy body, as well as the strength of thy mind. Our Saviour requires, strive to enter in at the strait gate. The word in the Greek foreign, signifieth a striving with our utmost skill, strength, and activity, as wrestlers do for mastery. And saith the Apostle, work out your salvation, where the word in the Original foreign, signifieth to work with the greatest industry. Old men whose strength is wasted, are like to make but poor wrestlers, and as poor workers: And therefore what fitter time can there be in earnest to set upon the difficulties of Religion, and Godliness, and the mighty and weighty works thereof, than in the strength of our days?
Reas. 2. The service of thy Youth is the most acceptable service unto God. When Abraham manifested his willingness to sacrifice his young Son Isaac, upon the Command of God, oh how kindly did the Lord take it▪ and thereupon promised, yea swore unto him, saying, Because thou hast done this thing, that in blessing I will bless thee, Gen. 22. 16. In like manner, if thou shalt consecrate thy younger years unto God, which is (as it were) to sacrifice thy Isaac, he will take it kindly at thy hands, and thou shalt be remembred with a blessing in thine age: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. When our Saviour heard the rich man in the Gospel say, All these Commandments have I kept from my Youth, the Evangelist no…eth, that beholding him he loved him, to shew possibly, how he loveth the service of young men, how pleasing and acceptable it is to him. And it is questionable, whether God who calls for the first fruits of thy life, if thou deny him that, will accept the gleanings of thine age.
Reas. 3. Another reason may be taken from the momentary shortness, and mu…able uncertainty of thy life. So short it is, that the whole of it, from first to last, is little enough for thy necessary work: To get an interest in Christ, to mortifie thy Lusts, to furnish thy self with Grace, to fill up thy fruits of righteousness, and thereby to make sure to thy self a bet-ter life; believe it, these are not the works of a few days or hours.
And so uncertain is thy life, that thou hast no assurance of living one day longer. We are all but Tenants at will, and may be turned out of our Earthly Tabernacles whensoever our great Landlord pleaseth, even at a quarters, yea at a minutes warning. And therefore as thou hast any regard to the Eternal welfare and Salvation of thy precious Soul, it behoveth thee now, even now to set to thy work, to abandon thy sins, to close with the tenders and offers of Jesus Christ, to give up thy self to the service of God; for thou knowest not what a day-or an hour may bring forth.
A man that hath a work of great consequence to be done, and but one day for the doing it, had need rise early in the morning, and with all possible speed to fall upon it. This is thy case, thou hast a great work to be done, even the Salvation of thy precious and immortal Soul; and but a little time allowed▪ thee for the doing of it, and that very uncertain. Doth it not then concern thee speedily, without any further delay, to set about it, and to improve thy precious time to the best advantage?
Reas. 4. May be taken from the uncertainty of Conversion in thine old age. Though thou wert sure to live long, even to old age, and thereupon shouldst give up thy self to thy sensual liberties, and incourage thy self therein by the hopes of an after-repentance; yet how canst thou be sure, that then at last thou shalt repent? Conversion is not in mans power, it is the work of God which he is pleased to work on whom, and when he will. God is merciful to offer grace, but he is just also to punish the neglect thereof. I have read a story of a prophane Fellow who was often wont to say, he doubted not but that he should repent at last, if he had but time to say three words, Domine miserere mei, Lord have mercy on me. Not long after, riding over a crazy Bridge, both Horse and Man fell into the River: but instead of saying the former words, he cryed out in these three words, Capiat omnia▪ Daemon, the Devil take all. Young men, let this be a warning to you all, venture not on to morrow, but to day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, Psal. 95 7. Now God calleth and inviteth thee to turn from thy sins unto him, and in good earnest to set upon the practice of an holy life. He now knocketh at the door of thine heart, offering to enter, that he may dwell in thee; but if thou refuse to let him in, how knowest thou whether ever he will knock again? and what if he should not? O what if he that knocks at thy door to day, should (if thou now open no…) never knock, or look after thee again for ever? O where must thine everlasting dwelling then be?
Reas. 5. May he taken from the manifold mischiefs which will follow upon thy continuing in thy sinful course of life, without turning unto God.
1. The longer thou continuest in any sin, the stronger it will grow, and the more hardly be subdued. The longer a Tree is suffered to grow, the deeper rooting it taketh, and the more hardly will it be plucked up. In like manner, the longer thou continuest in sin, the deeper rooting will it take in thee, and with the greater difficulty be removed. As therefore we would condemn him of extream folly, who essaying to pluck up a young Plant, and finding some difficulty therein, should let it stand till it had taken deeper rooting in the ground, and then attempt to pull it up: So alike, nay much more foolish is that man, who, in his Youth and younger years, finding some difficulty in turning from his sins unto God, should put it off till his sins had taken faster hold in him, supposing that then he should more easily do it. The truth is, 'tis rarely seen, that such who give up themselves to the service of sin and Satan in their Youth, do serve God in their Old Age. How seldom do we hear of an old sinner converted? Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, who are accustomed to do evil, Ier. 13. 23. As if it were a thing impossible for one that hath continued long in a course of sinning, to leave and forsake it, and to give up himself to the service of God. Surely with man it is impossible, though not with God, unto whom all things are possible: It will be therefore thy wisdom betimes, even in thy Youth, to set thy self against the power of thy corruptions, lest they grow too strong in thee to be mastered and subdued.
2. Continuance in a course of sinning will so insensibly harden the heart, that thou wilt find the work more difficult. Though thou mayst flatter thy self with a conceit that thou wilt cast off thy sins, and become a new man hereafter; yet thou wilt find by sad experience, that the longer thou detainest them, the harder it will be to part with them; for every sin doth not only bring a guilt upon the Soul, but likewise a stronger inclination to the practise thereof. How many be there, who in their Youth, and younger years, were wont often to say, it is too soon to part with our beloved sins, there is time enough for that hereafter? but when their hereafter hath been come, then have they said, it is too late; our hearts are so hardened, that now we cannot repent.
3. The longer thou deferrest thy Reformation and amendment, the greater indisposition and disability wilt thou find in thy self thereunto. Thine understanding will be more and more darkned with the mist of ignorance; they will, through custom in sinning, be more stubborn and refractory to the Will of God revealed in his Word: Thy Conscience will be more and more seared; yea, all the powers of thy Soul will be more and more distracted with Earthly cares and businesses: What folly then must it needs be, to put off thy serving of God from thy younger to thine elder years?
4. By continuing in a course of sinning, we come to a custom and habit in sinning, which will be hardly left or broken off. For custom in sin takes away all conscience of sin, and hardeneth the heart more and more against God, and godliness: yea, Custom is another nature; and that which is natural, is not easily changed. It is found by experience, that such who have been long accustomed to drinking, swearing, or any other vices, are very hardly reclaimed from the same: What egregious folly then must it needs be in any, who now finding it somewhat difficult to break off his course of sinning, and betake himself to a strict course of life, should defer it longer, till the corruption of nature, through custom of sinning, grow stronger and stronger in him? If ever therefore thou intendest to give over thy sinning Trade, and to devote thy self to the service of God, it will be thy wisdom speedily to set upon it, before▪ thy sins be confirmed by Custom.
5. Thy long continuance in a sinful course of life, will make thy Repentance much more grievous and bitter. Some men in their New-birth feel far greater pangs and throws than others; some are even on the wrack▪ through dreadful horrours in their Consciences, and a deep apprehension of the wrath and vengeance of God due unto them for their sins: and these are usually such as are either guilty of some gross and heinous sin, or else have for a long time run on in a course of sinning against God. St. Paul having been a blasphemer, and a persecutor of the Church of God, his New-birth cost him many a bitter throw; he was so deeply humbled and cast down with a sight and sense of his sins, and heinousness of them, that for three days he did neither eat nor drink, Act. 9. 9. Mary Magdalen having been a notorious sinner, it is recorded, that at her Conversion she wept so abundantly, that she washed the feet of our Saviour with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, Luk. 7. 38. And indeed most mens sorrow and humiliation for their sins, is usually suitable to the number and heinousness of their sins. As therefore thou wouldst avoid those dreadful terrours, and bitter throws, those heart-melting sorrows which possess many in their New-birth, it will be thy wisdom speedily, even now in thy Youth and younger years, before thou hast contracted many great and heinous sins, to ingage thy self in the ways of godliness.
6. Continuance in sin, without sincere repentance, will make thy condemnation more intollerable. By delaying to turn from thy sins unto God, as thou dost prepare more matter for thy grief and sorrow, so thou dost treasure up more fuel for thine everlasting burning; which the Apostle plainly expresseth, Rom. 2. 5. But thou, saith he, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath, and Revelation of the righteous Iudgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds, whether they have been good or bad. So that continuance in sinning, without true and unfeigned repentance, must needs occasion an heavier weight of vengeance at the last: For he that adds to his sins, doth certainly add to his own punishment, treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, and gathering, as it were, more wood to increase those flames which shall burn to all Eternity.
Reas. 6. May be taken from the benefits which follow and accompany thine early serving of God.
1. Thereby thou wilt prevent manifold sins, especially thy youthful lusts, which to many prove very bitter in their Age, when God is pleased to set them home upon their Consciences, or suffer them to fly in their faces. As every Calling, so every Age of life hath its special and peculiar sins, unto which it is most subject. Thus Covetousness is usually the Old Mans sin, and Voluptuousness the Young Mans sin; the remembrance of which oft-times is very grievous in Old Age: Therefore Iob speaks of some wicked men, (Iob 20. 11.) whose bones are full of the sins of their Youth; meaning, that they feel more smart of them in their old age, than ever they found pleasure and delight in them in their Youth. It must needs be a sad burthen, when men in their old age do feel the heavy weight of their Youthful lusts: And yet what more ordinary; we read of Iob, that though he was one that truly feared God, and eschewed evil, as God himself restifieth of him, Iob 1. 8. yet was the remembrance of the sins of his Youth very bitter unto him. Thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the sins of my Youth, saith he, Iob 13. 26. Oh then how bitter and grievous will they be unto them, who in their Youth do wholly prostitute themselves to lust and lewdness?
Such as in their younger years have taken great pains, and thereby got heats and colds, are apt to cry out of Aches and Stitches in their Age. Young sinner look for it, thy early pleasures, and youthful wantonness, and that drudgery which they have put thee to, are like to be Stitches in thy aged sides, and Swords in thy heart and soul.
Oh young man, how should the consideration thereof stir thee up even now in the days of thy Youth to remember thy Creator, and to dedicate thy self unto him! thereby thou mayst prevent both thy present sins, and those bitter returns they are otherwise like to make thee after many days.
2. By thine early serving of God, the exercises of Religion will be more pleasant and easie unto thee. For often use will bring thee to a custom, and long custom will work in thee an habit, which will be easie and familiar; and habits, whether good or evil, will be more easily gotten in Youth, than in Age. We find by daily experience, when young men are put Apprentices unto such Trades as are hard to be learned, they soon attain unto the mystery of them, and become dexterous therein: Whereas if men in their old age should set upon the learning of them, they would never attain unto any perfection therein. In like manner, if thou from thy Youth wouldst accustom thy self to the exercise of Religion, and works of Sanctification, thou wouldst sooner attain the skill and practice of them: Whereas if thou shouldst put them off to old age, they would come off very hardly, and thou wouldst find thy self very unapt, and untoward thereunto.
3. The sooner thou beginnest to serve God here, the the greater will be thy reward hereafter in Heaven. For thy reward there will be proportioned to thy work here. Though no man shall be rewarded for his works, but only for the Merits of his blessed Saviour Jesus Christ; yet God of his free grace hath promised to reward us according to our works, as the Apostle expresseth, Rom. 2. 6. He will render to every one according to his deeds; implying, that the measure of glory hereafter shall be proportioned to the measure of our sanctification and obedience here: So that I may apply that of the Apostle, (1 Cor. 9. 6.) He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully. Look as here mens Harvests are usually answerable to their sowing; in like manner the reward of Gods people in Heaven, shall be answerable to the seed which is sown by them here: he who soweth liberally here, abounding in duties of Piety, and works of Righteousness, shall have a liberal reward in Heaven. Now the sooner any man beginneth to ingage his heart to God, the more service will he do him in this life, and consequently the greater reward shall he have from him in the life to come. Oh what stronger argument, or greater incouragement than this, can Young Men possibly have to devote and consecrate themselves from their Youth, and tender years, to the service of their Creator?
The point being thus proved by Scripture, Examples, and Reasons, come we now to the application thereof.