A Call from Heaven, Sermon 3
ECCLES. XII. I. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth.
SOlomon in this Context doth apply himself to speak unto Young men, whom he doth, 1. Dehort. 2. Exhort.
His Dehortation is in the two last verses of the former Chapter. And it is 1. Ironically propounded, v. 9. Rejoyce oh young man in thy Youth, &c. It is such another form of speech as that of the Prophet unto Ahab, 1 King. 22. 15. Goe and prosper. aCartwright in Eccle. 11 9.He saw that Ahab was set upon his design, & therefore by way of Irony bids him goe, and see what would come of it. Thus Solomon here, I see Young man (saith he) that thou art resolved to follow thy pleasures and vanityes, whatever the event shall be, Doe so, and see what will come of it. Wherefore he addeth, Walk in the wayes of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes. This is expresly forbidden elsewhere in the Scripture bM…rcer in lecum.A cleer evidence that the wise man here speaketh by way of holy derision, & thence it is further added, Know thou that for these things God will bring thee to judgement. q. d. Though its possible thou mayest escape judgement from men, parents, Magistrates, &c. yet not from the Lord. 2. This Dehortation is plainly expressed in the Verse immediately preceding this Text. Remove sorrow from thy heart. The Hebrew word translated sorrow, signifieth Anger: q. d. Beware of inordinate passions which▪ young men are usually subject unto: And put away evill from thy flesh, h. e. avoid sinfull pleasures. Passions and sinfull pleasures are evills which young men are most in danger of being carried away by; therefore he doth in special caution them against iniquityes of that nature: withall adding this Reason, for childhood and youth are vanity. h. e. its soon gone, Thy time (young man!) to enjoy sinfull and foolish pleasures will soon be past and gone, it abideth not, therefore set not thy heart upon such things.
2. We have Solomons Exhortation unto young men in this verse. Wherein is expressed, 1. The act that ought to be done, Remember. 2. The Object▪ thy Creator, i. e. God, for he and he only is the Creator; since it requireth an infinite power to be able to produce a work of Creation. Hebr. [Boreeca.] Thy Creators. Not that there are more Gods or more Creators then one; But there is a plurality of persons in the Godhead. Though the work of Creation be more especially ascribed to the Father, as Redemption to the Son, and Application to the Spirit, yet each of the persons in the sacred and eternal Trinity, doth concur therein.
3. The time or season, when this duty ought to be attended, is expressed, viz. now in the dayes of thy youth. not that they that are past the dayes of their youth may forget God, or be exempted from this remembrance of him, but young men are under special obligations and advantages to remember him.
Doctr. That as it is the Duty of all, so more especially of young men, to remember God their Creator. Remembring God may not be deferred untill old Age, but ought to be attended in the dayes of youth.
In the Doctrinal prosecution of this Truth, there are three things to be enquired into. 1. What is implyed in this Remembring? 2. How it doth appear that young men ought to remember God? 3. The Reason why they especially should doe so?
Quest 1 What is required in this Remembring which the Text speaks of?
Answ. It is a known Rule, that in the Scripture words of Sense doe imply the affections and actions. So here, it is not every kind of Remembrance of God, but that which is affectionate and practical that is intentended. Particularly,
1. This Remembring doth imply a Turning to the Lord, Psal. 22. 27. All the ends of the World shall remember, and Turn to the Lord. Vnfeigned Repentance is implyed in this Remembrance. Rev. 2. 5. Remember from whence thou art fallen, and Repent. Ezek. 6. 9. They that escape of you shall Remember me among the Nations. h. e. They shall Repent and turn unto the Lord. And it is a penitential Remembrance which Solomon here speaketh of. Remember thy Creator, that is, Remember to make thy peace with him, and therefore to Repent of Sin, and turn to God in the dayes of thy Youth.
2. This Remembrance which the Text speaketh of, doth imply Service and Obedience. Psal. 119. 55. I have remembred thy name, and have kept thy law. As they that neglect the worship and Service which they owe to the blessed God, are said to forget him▪ Psal. 9. 17. The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God. That is to say, they that doe not serve God. When the Children of Israel had forsaken the wayes, and corrupted the worship of God, it was said, Israel hath forgotten his Maker. Hos. 8. 14. So on the other hand, the Service of God is noted by that of Remembring him. Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth, h. e. Seek and serve him be times▪ As David exhorted his Son Solomon, whilst yet in his Youth, 1. Chron. 28. 9. Know, and serve the Lord with a perfect heart and a willing mind. Hence the Performance of all religious dutyes, especially that great duty of Prayer, is implyed in this Remembring which the Text speaketh of. Jon. 2. 7. I Remembred the Lord (saith the Prophet) and how was that? it followeth, my Prayer came unto thee, into thine holy Temple. We read in the Gospel of Children that prayed unto the Lord, they said Hosanna, i. e. Save now we beseech thee. Math. 21. 15. That is implyed in Remembring God the Creator,
3. It doth also imply frequent thoughts and Meditations of God, Psal. 63. 6. When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Where there is that Remembrance of God which the Text requireth, there are frequent holy Meditations on him day and night. As Solomon exhorts, Prov. 23. 17. Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. Set God before thine eyes; wherever thou comest think of him, from morning unto night, ever and anon, let there be awfull holy thoughts in thy heart concerning the Omnipresence of God. And this is to Remember him▪ We come therefore to the second thing to be enquired into, viz.
Quest 2 How it doth appear that Young men ought to remember God?
Answ. 1. The Lord doth require this, the commandment saith expresly. Luk. 10. 27. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength. If men are bound to serve God with their strength, then they must not forget him, untill those dayes are come wherein their strength is gone, and they able to doe him little service. Of old, God required that the first born and the first fruits should …e given to him. Exod. 22. 29. thou shalt not delay to …ffer the first of thy ripe fruit, the first born shalt thou give unto me. This did intimate that men ought to give the prime of their Age, the first and best of their strength unto the Lord.
2. The Truth of this Doctrine is evident, in that Parents are bound to teach their Children the fear of the Lord whilst they are young, Deut. 6. 6, 7. The words which I command thee, thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy Children. Again, it is said, Train up … Child in the way be should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it, Prov. 22. 6. To the same purpose is that of the Apostle, Eph. 6. 4. Ye Fathers bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord▪ And according unto this hath been the practice of Saints. The Lord himself doth testify concerning Abraham, that he would command his Children to keep the wayes of the Lord, Gen. 18. 19. And Solomon doth acknowledge that his Father David was careful to instruct him, and put him in mind of God, whilst he wa… yet in the dayes of his Youth, Prov. 4. 3, 4. I was my Fathers Son, he taught me, and said unto me, let thin… heart retain my words. Yea, not only his Father, but his Mother also taught him the fear of the Lord, Prov. 31. 1, 2. The words of King Lemuel, the Prophesy that his Mother taught him, what my Son! and what the So… of my womb! and what the Son of my vows! Now to what end were it, to teach Children and young one… to fear the Lord, if they were not bound to learn and do accordingly.
3. Young men as well as others owe service unt… God; He is their Creator as the Text expresseth▪ Now that one consideration hath great weight in it, to enforce duty and obedience. For certainly, all owe service unto him, from whom they have received their Beings, Psal. 95. 6. O come let us worship and …ow d…wn, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. He hath made all for himself: from him and for him are all things. He as Creator hath given unto men reasonable Souls, in respect whereof, they are capable of knowing and serving the Lord: and he is able to destroy them: He that made them can destroy them: as it is said concerning that creature, He that made him, can cause his sword to approach unto him, Job 40. 19 Therefore it concerns men to fear their Creator.
But to proceed to the third Particular, namely,
Quest 3 Why Young men especially ought to remember their Creator?
Answ. For these amongst other Reasons,
Reas 1 Because youth is the fittest season to remember God in, wherefore it is added in the Context, before the evil dayes come, when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them. Old age is an evil time: and therefore (saith the wise man) thou must Remember and serve God in thy good dayes, if thou wouldest have him to remember and accept of thee in thy evil dayes: if thou neglectest God in the spring of thy years, what reason is there to think that he will regard thee when winter Age is come upon thee? Moreover, it is not easy to Turn unto the Lord in old age: A young plant is more easily plucked up then an old tree; so are young men with less difficulty transplanted, and plucked up out of the Soyl of nature, then they that are grown old in the wayes of sin. Old Diseases are hardly cured: so when men by a long continuance in a course of sin, have contracted almost incurable habits of sin, how hard a work will it be to convert them? were it not that all things with God are possible, it could not be. Wherefore the Scripture saith, can the Aethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? then may you also doe good, that are accustomed to doe evil. Jer. 13. 23. When Satan hath held possession a long time, it is not an easy work to out him, and disposses him. We read of one in the Gospel that had a most terrible dispossession, Mark 9. 25, 26. Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, saying, I charge thee come out of him and enter no more into him: and the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him, and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said, he is dead. How difficult and how painfull was this Dispossession? Why? v. 21. It is noted that the Father of that young man being enquired of, how long he had been in that condition, he said, of a child. Truly, they that spend their childhood in the Service of Satan, if ever they be converted, are wont to have dreadfull Conversions at last. Therefore Young men should turn to God betimes, that so they may escape those bitter pangs, which otherwise they must expect to undergoe if ever good come of them.
Reas 2 From the good and benefit which doth follow upon Remembring and Turning to God betimes: as it is said, Lam. 3. 27. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his Youth: so it is good for a man to turn to God, and to put his neck under his yoke in his Youth. It was the Saying of one, that if it were lawfull for him to envy the happiness of any, he would envy the happiness of those that turn to God betimes, because they are freed from a world of sin and sorrow, which otherwise they would become subject unto. And this is the way to become eminent for God. There is a wretched Proverb in the world, viz. That a young Saint will prove an old Devill. I remember cIn pietate Juven. Angelicus Juvenis senibus satamsat in annis. v. Heid…eldii sphing. Philos. p. 395.Erasmus saith, the Devill was the Amthor of that Proverb: For nothing can be more contrary to the Scripture. The most eminent Saints that we read of there, were such as did Remember God in the dayes of their Youth. As now. Joseph proved an eminent good man: There is reason to think that all Iacobs Children were good men before they dyed, but none of them to be compared with Joseph: and though he were the youngest but one, yet it seemeth evident that he was converted before any of his Brethren who were older then he. Job was an eminent Saint, not a man upon the face of the whole earth so good as he; and Job was one that made Conscience of his wayes even from his Youth. Job 31. 18. David was a man that attained a great measure of Grace before he dyed, and he was godly even from his Childhood. Therefore doth he speak as in Psal. 71. 5. Thou art my hope O Lord God, thou art my trust from my youth. & again, v. 17. O God thou hast taught me from my Youth & hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. So that David had Faith in Christ, and was savingly taught of God even from his Youth. Obadiah was an eminent Servant of God, and he could say, I fear the Lord from my Youth. 1. King. 18. 22. Josiah was eminent for God, and of him we read, that while he was young he began to seek after the Lord God of David his Father. He was truely converted when he was but sixteen years old. 2. Chr. 34. 3. Timothy was an eminent Minister, & (as Eccle…iastical Story reports) at last he dyed a Martyr of Jesus Christ; now he was savingly acquainted with the holy Scriptures [apo brephous] from a little child. 2. Tim. 3. 15. Thus we see how God hath owned and blessed those that have Remembred their Creator in the dayes of their Youth. And for that Reason Young men should Remember God.
Reas Young men are subject to the stroke of Death as well as others, Job. 21. 23. One dyeth in his full strength. The young man of Naim whom Christ restored to life; notwithstanding his Youth, was subject to the stroke of Death, Luk. 7. 14. And Jairus his daughter was but about twelve years of Age, when she lay a dying, Luk. 8. 42. was not …utichus a young man? and yet he fell down from an upper Chamber, and was taken up dead, Act. 20. 9. were not Jobs Children young men? and yet they dyed suddenly. Was not Absalom a young man, and his brother Adonijah a young man when death surprized them? Did not Ely's Sons dye in the flower of their Age▪ 1 Sam. 2. 33. Now if young men Remember their Creator so as to repent of sin, and make sure of an Interest in Christ before death cometh, then happy shall they be. As Jeroboams good Son, though he were a child he dyed; 1 King. 14. 17. but inasmuch as in him there was found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel, death did him no hurt, only he was taken away from the evil to come, that his eyes might not behold the miserable ruine, that was coming upon his Fathers Family. But if death find a young man in his sins, in an unconverted, Christless estate, woe to him that ever he was born! His naked Soul must appear before God his Creator, and receive a Sentence of eternal Damnation.
ƲSE. I proceed therefore to apply this Truth, by way ofƲSE. Exhortation. O let young men this day be exhorted in the Name and fear of God, to follow the counsel of the wise man, even to Remember their Creator in the dayes of their Youth. All you young men that are here before the Lord, (and there are many such in this Assembly) hear me this day, that so God may hear you another day, now turn to the Lord, now repent of sin, now make sure of an Interest in Jesus Christ, And therefore lay to heart some motives and perswasives.
Consider, what special Reason they that are of the younger Mot. 1.Rising Generation in New-England have to Remember their Creator. Now there is cause for it more then ever, in that there are so few that do so. Multitudes of young men are risen up in this Land, who have been forgetting God all their dayes; unto whom the Lord may say as Jer. 22. 21. This hath been thy manner from thy …outh, that thou obeyest not my voice. And as it was said, concerning them of old, the Children of Israel, and the Children of Judah have only done evil before me from their Youth, Jer. 32. 30. It is true, that there are some young ones that are Remembring, & turning to the Lord, which ought to be acknowledged to the praise of his glorious grace, yet it must be said with lamentation, that the generality of the Youth in this Land, walk in wayes of loosness, profaneness, pride, drinking, gaming, or in a careless neglect of God, and of their own Souls. Hence the Lord doth not seem to take pleasure in many of the Youth of this Country▪ O it is a sad word that is spoken, Isai. 9. 17 The Lord shall have no joy in their young men. How many young men even in New-England, that have been cut off either by Sword or sickness within these two years? now shall the Lord have cause to complain as he doth by the Prophet, (Amos 4. 10.) your young men have I slain with the Sword, yet have you not returned unto me▪ Moreover, young men in this Country enjoy means of grace plentifully dispensed, God is calling from Heaven to them▪ and striving with them, in the dayes of their youth, and therefore if they forget him, they will be left most inexcusable before his Judgement Seat. Yea, and many are the Children of godly Parents, and in that respect under peculiar engagementSee the first Sermon on 1 Chron. …8. 9. to seek and serve the Lord, who is not only their Creator, but the God of their Fathers. Their God not only by right of Creation, but in respect of his holy Covenant.
2. Consider, How pleasing it will be to the Lord, if you do indeed Remember him in the dayes of your Youth, Jer. 2. 2. I remember the kindness of thy Youth. You heard but …ow, how the Lord is pleased with first, fruits. When Abel brought of the firstlings of his Flock the Lord had respect to Abel and his offering, Gen. 14. 4. we read also, how the Lord chose the Almond Tree, Numb. 17. 8. now that's the first Tree that blossoms. The fruit of it is ripe in the Spring; dThe Hebrew word for an Almond Tree is Sheked, which cometh from a Verb signifying to make hast, Jer. 1. 11. because that Tree above all others maketh haste to bear fruit. Flore… omnium prima Amygdal… Mense Januario Martio ver… pomum maturat. Bochartus▪ Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 16. c. 25▪ Drus. Miscell Cent. 1. c. 57▪ R. Kimchi in verbo Shadak▪yea, (as writers affirm) in the first monethmonth of the year. So when young men shall bring forth the fruit of Repentance, Faith, and holiness, that pleaseth the Lord. He hath a special delight in young men who truly fear and serve him, Hos. 11. 1. When Israel was a Child then I loved him: One of the Antients observeth that Christ loved his youngest Disciple best. John was the beloved Disciple, and he is reported to be younger at his first calling, then any of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus. And we find in the Scripture how the Lord blessed little Children when they came to him, or were brought to him, Mar. 10. 13, 14, 16. They brought young Children to him, and when Jesus saw it, he said▪ suffer little Children to come unto me, and forbid them not—and He took them up in his Arms, and blessed them. You young ones hearken, would you not have the Son of God to bless you, O come to him, now in the dayes of your Youth, and he will surely bless you, for his Arms are open to receive you. And such are the special Subjects of a gracious promise, Prov. 8. 17. They that seek me early shall find me. If you will be perswaded to seek the Lord whilst it is yet early dayes with you, Christ hath promised, that you shall find him, and Everlasting Life and happiness by him.
3. Consider the danger of neglecting God in the dayes of Youth. It may be it will cost thee thy life, yea, the life of thy Soul for ever. Who knoweth but that the Time of Youth is the only time which the Lord will allow you to repent, and make your peace with God in, through Jesus Christ? If these golden dayes be lost, probably thou wilt be undone for ever. I must needs tell you, that for the most part it is so, that men are either converted in youth or not at all. We read but of one that was called at the eleventh hour. If a Tree do not blossome in the Spring, it is commonly dead all the year after. So they that are not converted in the Spring of their Age, are rarely converted at all. Now and then one is converted in old Age, but such Examples are exceeding rare. Especially, it is true with respect unto those that have in the dayes of their youth lived under the means of grace, heard many Sermons, experienced frequent strivings of the Spirit of God with their hearts, if they remain unconverted until the dayes of their Youth are past and gone, the Lord usually giveth them up to▪ Judicial hardness of heart, that they shall never be converted, never saved. Young men think sadly of it in the fear of God.
4. Consider, what Examples have been set before you, of early Conversions. Have you not read or heard of those that have turned to God in the dayes of their Youth? nay, that in their Childhood, the fear of God hath been planted in their hearts, that they have no sooner began to have the use of Reason, but one might discern signs and effects of grace in their souls. There is a eMr. Janeways Token for Children.Book which many of you have in your houses, that giveth an account of thirteen Children, the eldest of them not above fourteen years old, some of them but seven years old, some not so much, that nevertheless it was evident that the fear of God and unfeigned love to Jesus Christ was wrought in their hearts. And there is a printed Relation of fJohn Clap.a Child that dyed not long since in this Country, who for several years before his death, had his heart changed and was made a new Creature. O how may this shame many young ones that are here before the Lord this day, who yet are older then that Child was, it may be fifteen years old, nay, perhaps twenty years old; and for all that, in a natural, Christless Estate to this day. Lamentable is thy condition, that hast lived so long under means of grace, and yet continuest an unconverted Creature. God be merciful to thee, and help thee to think of it.
5. Consider you have a great work to doe before you go out of this world, & but a little time to doe it in. As young as you are, you have much sin to repent of, and to obtain the pardon of, Original sin thou art guilty of, and that must be mortified. And who can declar… how many actual sins thou hast committed in words, thoughts, and deeds, that have been evil? and all those to repent of, and endeavour that they may b… mortified: and but little time to be attending work… of this nature: for what is your life? It is but a vapor that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away. Jam. 4. 14. If a man have a long journey to goe in a winters day, he had need set out betimes. Thou hast a long journey to goe: Is it not a long journey from earth to heaven? and but a winters day to dispatch this journey. When once the short day of thy life is expired, then it will be too late. There is no work in the Grave whether thou art going. O then up betimes, be going, be doing, and th… Lord be with thee.