The Young Mans Guide, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Containeth a sharp reproof of those who devote their Flower and Prime to the service of Satan, and their sinful lusts, and reserve their decayed strength for God.
Use 1. IS it a duty incumbent upon all Young Men to consecrate themselves to the service of God? then such are to be reproved, who devote their Flower and Prime to the service of Satan, and their sinful lusts; and reserve their decayed strength for God, and his service, accounting the very dregs, and refuse of all, to be good enough for him, for whom the best and principal is not worthy.
Under the Law they were forbidden to offer any thing unto the Lord that had a blemish, or that were lame and blind, Lev. 3. 1. 22. 18, 19, 20. and Deut. 15. 21. And for transgressing this Law, the Lord reprehended his people by the Prophet, Malachy 1. 8. If ye offer the blind for Sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now to thy Governour, will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person, saith the Lord of Hosts. Was the Lord greatly offended, when as men reserved the best of the Flocks to themselves, and offered the old, the blind, and the lame unto him? And will he be well pleased, that thou shouldst dedicate thy best unto Satan, and reserve for him only thy decrepit, lame, and withered age, when as thy body is full of diseases, and thy mind of infirmities? Will God accept the Devils leavings? Shall sin have thy blood, and thy spirits, and thy marrow, and thy God be put off with skin and bones? He that hath had the best, may even take all: God will laugh at thee in thy Evening, who laugh'st at him in the Morning of thy days.
Is it not extream folly while the Ship is sound, the Tackling good, the Marriners hail and strong, to lie playing and sporting at Road; and when the Ship is crazy, the Tackling weak and rotten, the Marriners sick, then to hoyse up sail for a Voyage into a far Country? And how wise a man art thou, who wilt delay the Voyage for Heaven till thy Vessel be broken, and those Worms, thy Lusts, that have been bred in it, have eaten it through, and made it utterly useless?
We generally confess that our sins must be left, and that God must be sought and served, but we cannot accord of the time when to begin. One saith, he will begin when he hath served his Apprenticeship, and is out of his time; another, when he is made Free, and set up for himself; another when he is Married; another when he is Old. Thus every one is apt to procrastinate. The whole World almost are men for hereafter: When must God be minded? Hereafter. When must these souls be looked to? Hereafter. When must these sins be sent packing? Hereafter. When we have served our selves of this World, then we'l be for the other World: and when we have satisfied our Lusts, then we will satisfie our Consciences; and when we are unfit and unable for any thing else, then we will follow God. When we are scarce able to turn our wearied bones in our bed, then will we think of turning to him. Canst thou think God will accept thereof? Believe it if thou canst. Mark what the Prophet Malachy speaketh, Chap. 1. 14. Cursed be the deceiver that hath in his Flock a Male, and voweth and consecrateth unto the Lord a corrupt thing. Who hath the Male of thy Flock? whose is the First-born of thy strength? Doth the Devil carry away that? and must this corrupt thing, this weak, and weary, and sickly time of thine age, be the offering for God? what thinkest thou will he say to thee, but cursed be the deceiver that hath in his Flock a Male, and consecrateth unto the Lord a corrupt thing?