A Directory for Youth, Sermon

A Directory for Youth · Sermon

p. 12 Tim. II. xxii. Flee alſo Youthful Luſts.

IN this Chapter Paul proceeds to direct Tim. in the right management of his great Work, whereunto he was called; in order to which he inſtructs him, whence he ſhould derive ſtrength for it, v. 1. then he exhorts him to propagate thoſe truths to others which he had heard, and received from him, v. 2. then he encourageth him to endure hardneſs in his Work, from a two fold Metaphor, viz. that of a Souldier, and an Husbandman, who firſt ſtrive and labour, and afterwards receive the reward, and reap the fruit of their pains; from ver. 3d. to the 8th. There he minds him of the Example of Chriſt, who firſt ſuffered, and died and afterwards was raiſed to life again, and thence inferreth that all the p. 2faithful who ſuffer with him, ſhall alſo live and reign with him for ever. From v. 8. to the 14th. and then he gives other inſtructions, how he ſhould behave himſelf as a workman, that need not be aſhamed, dehorting him from all vain and prophane Bablings, and Errors, that began to infeſt the Church of God; adding an argument that if a man purge himſelf from theſe, he ſhall be a Veſſel of Honour, prepared for his Maſters work, from 14. to the 24th. and ſo he cometh to the words in my Text, Flee alſo youthful Luſts.

Which admonition to Tim. one would have thought might have been omitted, and that upon a two fold account, Tim. had an infirm, weak Body, and ſuch ſickly people uſually incline more to minde a Winding-ſheet than wanton Luſts.

Tim. was a holy young Man, very temperate, for the moſt part drinking only Water; and ſuch cold Liquor was more likely to quench, than inflame the heat of Luſts: and yet becauſe Tim. was a young Man, Paul ſaw need to give him this admonition. Well then may you young people need it: Beſure it is written for your admonition in theſe laſt and leude days, on whom the end of the World are come: Wherefore attend thereunto as for your lives. Flee youthful luſts. In which words there is no need of any Logical diviſion, to detain you from this following Theological p. 3propoſition, which (without the leaſt violence done to the Text) naturally floweth from it.

That it is a duty of ſpecial concernment, to young people, to flee youthful luſts. In the proſecution of this Doctrine, I ſhall endeavour the reſolution of theſe following Queſtions.

Q. 1. What is the import of the word Flee?

Q. 2. What are thoſe Youthful Luſts that you are ſo concerned to flee?

Q. 3. Why it as a duty of ſuch ſpecial concernment for Youth to flee thoſe luſts?

Q. 4. How young people may beſt Practice this their eſpecial duty to flee youthful luſts?

Q. 1. What is the import of this word Flee?

Anſw. Now to Flee imports the ſwifteſt motion, as to run is more than to go, ſo to flee is more then to run; Wings are nimbler than Legs. You know in all motion, there is terminus a quo, & terminus ad quem, the terms from which, and the terms to which So it is here flee from ſin to God. Flee i. e. to the fartheſt diſtance from ſin, and to the neareſt cloſure and union to God, 11. Job 14 If iniquity be in thy hand put it far away, How far? ſo far as God puts it away when he pardons ſin, even as far as the Eaſt is from the Weſt, 103. Pſal. 12 So ſhould you do in your Repentance for ſin.

p. 4Object. But we can as ſoon, flee from our ſelves, as from our Luſts, in this ſenſe: the Law in our Members will abide.

Sol. Altho there cannot be in this life a perfect freedom from, nor deſtruction of ſins, Being an exiſtence, (this being only the priveledge of the glorified Souls above) yet there may and muſt be a ſubverſion of its Power and Dominion, both in Heart and Life; ſo that the meaning is flee from thy youthful luſts to the utmoſt diſtance, even as far as the Eaſt is from the Weſt, in reſpect of thy love, and affection to, and practice of theſe luſts: Tho ſin is and will remain in thee, yet maintain a continual alienation in thy heart and endeavours in thy life againſt it, in a diligent uſe of all thoſe ſanctified means, and ſpiritual remedies which God hath appointed for the abandoning thy youthful luſts. Such as theſe following.

1. Vehement deſires and longings of ſoul after the mortification of them in their habits as well as external acts. 7. Rom. 24.

2. Deep humblings of ſoul, and loathings of ſelf, for former yieldings to thy Luſts, 73. Pſal. 22. So fooliſh and ignorant was I even as a Beaſt before thee. 31. Jer. 18 I have p. 5ſurely heard Ephraim bemoning himſelf thus, I was as a Bullock unaccuſtomed to the yoke. Surely after I was inſtructed, I ſmete upon my thigh, I repented; I was aſhamed, yea, even confounded, becauſe I did bear the reproach of my youth.

3. Earneſt cries to Heaven for Preventing, pardoning, and purging Grace, 19. Pſal. 13. Keep back thy Servant from preſumptuous ſins; let them not have dominion ever me. 51. Pſal. 1. 2, 7, 10. verſes, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my tranſgreſſions, Waſh me throughly from mine iniquities, and cleanſe me from my ſin. Purge me, and I ſhall be clean; create in me a clean heart O God.

4. Fixed reſolutions in Chriſts ſtrength to obey your Youthful Luſts no more. 14. Hoſea 8. Ephraim ſhall ſay, what have I any more to do with Idols? 34. Job 32. Lord what I know not, teach thou me, and wherein I have done iniquity, I will do ſo no more.

5. Lively acting of faith on a crucified Chriſt, and the precious promiſes. 6. Rom. 6. Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of ſin might be deſtroyed; that hence forth we ſhould not ſerve ſin. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having therefore theſe promiſes, (dearly beloved) let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of the fleſh and ſpirit.

p. 66. Daily watchings againſt all occaſions of drawing out your youthful Luſt and Corruption. 31. Job. 1. I have made a Covenant with my eyes, that I will not look upon a Maid▪ 18. Pſal. 23. I have kept my ſelf from mine own iniquity, and you may rank under this head that in 13. Rom. 13. of making no proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfil it in its luſts.

7. And Laſtly, Willingneſs to receive a Chriſtian and Friendly reproof, for your youthful ſins, and follies. 141. Pſal. 5. Let the righteous ſmite me, it ſhall be a kindneſs: and let him reprove me, it ſhall be an excellent oyle, which ſhall not break my head. Now when you carefully uſe theſe, and ſuch like-means, which God in his holy word hath appointed: then you comport with this exeellent Rule, Flee Youthful Luſts, and ſo you have the import of that Phraſe, Flee, which will further receive an acceſſion of light, if you read with it thoſe other Scriptures, where the word Flee is uſed in a good ſenſe. I ſhall only allude to them.

Flee youthful luſts, as Lot fled out of Sodom. 19. Gen. 17. Flee for thy life, look not behind thee, ſtay, not thou in the plain: eſcape to the mountain, leaſt thou be conſumed. Flee Young man thy Luſts, as Joſeph fled from his tempting Miſtreſs. 39. Gen. 12. And ſhe caught him by his garment, ſaying lye with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, p. 7and got him out. Flee as Jaocb fled from the face of his bloody Brother Eſau. 35. Gen. 1. Flee as the poor diſtreſſed Manſlayer, fled from the avenger of Blood, to the City of refuge. 19. Deut. 5. And thus I have endeavoured the Reſolution of the firſt Queſtion, what the import of the word Flee is?

Q. 2. What are thoſe youthful luſts, that you are ſo concerned to Flee?

Anſ. In the Diviſion of our lives, there are peculiar, and predominant luſts, incident to each diviſion: Now in the general, Youth is obnoxious to moſt ſins, yet ſome more than others. Youth hath its proper ſins, that hange about, that haunt, and dog that ſeaſon of life; ſome whereof reſpect the temper of their minds, and others the frame of their lives, which I ſhall give you in theſe following Heads.

1. Aireneſs of Spirit, levity of Mind, vanity of thoughts.

2. Blind Boldneſs in adventuring on deſperately in dangerous ways.

3. Careleſs incogitancy, and inconſiderateneſs about the moſt awful important matters of their Souls.

4. Delaying Repentance, and turning to God, fooliſhly thinking it's time enough, they are yet young.

5. Eager purſuits after ſenſual Pleaſures, Games, &c. Loving theſe more then God.

6. Flexibility to temptations, as dry Tinder to receive the leaſt ſparke, eaſily enticed.

7. Going down the Stream, and following p. 8a multitude to do Evil; ſaying I do but as other young people do.

8. Hating luſtructions, Admonition and Reproof.

9. Intemperance in meats, and Drinks.

10. Keeping of ill Company, that Soul runining ſnare of Hell.

11. Lying and inventing Excuſes.

12. Making little or no Conſcience of relative Duties.

13. Nouriſhing vain hopes, and flattering themſelves with the thoughts of long Life, and puting far away the evil Day.

14. Omitting the holy Obſervation of the Sabbath.

15. Pride of their parts, Beauty, Strength.

16. Quenching the motions of the Holy Spirit.

17. Ridiculing ſerious Religion, as too ſtrict, and more than needs.

18. Time-waſting.

19. Uncleanneſs.

20. Woful giddineſs of Spirit, ready to imbibe any kinde of error. To begin with the firſt of theſe.

1. Aireneſs of Spirit, &c. It is obſervable what name the Hebrews give a young Man, (viz.) Nagnar, which cometh from a root, that ſignifieth to be toſſed to and fro: Thereby ſetting forth the Levity, and Vanity of a young Man's mind. Solomon tells us in the 10. Eccl. 11. that Childhood and p. 9Youth are Vanity, light Spirited and Frothy. O how rare a ſight is it to ſee young people ſerious and ſtaid in their minds. Ballaſted, and Ballanced in the matters of Religion. Moſt are as the Apoſtle ſaith of them, toſſed eaſily to and fro with every Wind: tho they are born with ſinful corrupted Natures, and are every moment liable to Death and Damnation, while they continue in a natural condition: yet they are like the wild Aſs in the Wilderneſs, that ſnuffeth up the Wind at her pleaſure, as the Prophet Jeremiah ſpeaks: 2. Jer. 24. They are become vain in their imagination, their minds are like that of the Poets, full of vain fancies, and fictions: the Eye of their minds like that of their Body, looks all outward, as if they had no Soul to mind. Hence it is that ſo many thouſands of Prayers, Tears, and Inſtructions of faithful Miniſters and Relations are defeated, and rendred unſucceſsful, through the Inſtability and Vanity of young peoples ſpirits.

B. Boiſtrous, and Bold, adventuring upon ſinful, and pernicious Courſes; of a Jehu like temper, 2 Kings 9. 10. Furious, and Deſperate: This is that young people are prone to, in the heat of their Youth, to be venturous, as the Horſe that ruſheth into the Battle. Now if you would ſee how the Horſe ruſheth into the Battle, compare with that 8. Jer. 6. the 39. Job. 19. and there you have it Now p. 10moſt elegantly, and lively expreſſed by God himſelf. Haſt thou given the Horſe ſtrength? haſt thou cloathed his neck with thunder? Canſt thou make him afraid as a Graſhopper? his noſtrils are terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoyceth in his ſtrength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted, neither turneth he back from the Sword. The quiver ratleth againſt him: he ſwalloweth the ground with firceneſs, he ſaith among the Trumpets, ha, ha; in which diſcription, you may ſee how furiouſly and dangerouſly he ruſheth into the Battle for he ruſheth upon the Pikes, and deadly …, prepared for deſtruction, and oftimes is ſuddenly ſlain. Thus young people are apt, to ruſh on in ſinful ways, Furioſus juvenibus animi habitus. Tho God hedge in their way with Thorns, they break through all; as Balaam would on, tho there was a drawn Sword in the way. So Youth is prone to this mad fury, in venturing on, tho God hath laid many bars in ſins way, as Majeſtracy, Miniſtry, Conſcience, and the occular demonſtrations of his Judgments upon other impenitent ſinners; theſe are all bars in their way, yet how rare is it, to ſee young ones reſtrained, and kept b…ck, by any, by all of them. You have an inſtance, in Ely's Sons, 1 Sam. 2. and for this cauſe in the 12 verſe, they are called children of Belial, becauſe no Yoke p. 11would hold them: Alſo you read of two of Jacobs Sons, Simeon and Levi, of whoſe miſcarriages of this kind the good old man thus expreſſeth himſelf, in the 49▪ Gen. 5. 6, 7. Simeon and Levi are Brethren, inſtruments of Cruelty are in their Habitations. O my Soul come not thou into their Secret; unto their Aſſembly, mine Honour be not thou united, for in their anger they Slew a man, and in their ſelf will they digged down a Wall. Curſed be their Anger, for it was fierce, and their Wrath, for it was Cruel: It is to be obſerved, that the greater number of thoſe Malefactors that end their miſerable lives at Tiburn, are the younger ſort of people, their boiſterous luſts conſume them, that they ſcares live out half their days.

C. Careleſs incogitancy, and want of ſerious conſideration, and laying to heart the moſt awful important matters of their Souls. There are three things (ſaith a great Writer) that are chief ruiners, and deſtroyers of Souls. Namely, 1. want of conſideration, and ſelf reflexion. 2. Infidelity, 3. Earthly mindedneſs; but eſpecially want of conſideration. The firſt of theſe, which Youth are exceeding guilty of: How ſeldom do young people retire, and ſoberly inquire, what their State and Condition God wards is? whether it be a ſtate of Nature or Grace? whether God be reconciled, and ſin pardoned, &c. Alas, young people are generally p. 12led by ſenſe, extending their thoughts no further, than juſt what is before them, though they live, and move, and have their Being in God: are always under his all-ſeeing Eye; yet he is not all their thoughts, tho he will bring them to Judgment, for all they do, yet they think not of it: This evidently appears in the advice the Holy Ghoſt giveth young ones: in the 11. of Eccleſ. 9. its true, all men naturally are inconſiderate about theſe things; but young ones are averſe to the thoughts of God, their Soul, Death and Judgment: becauſe the remembrance of theſe things, would damp their youthful ſenſual Delights, and Pleaſures, and adminiſter trouble to their minds, againſt which that age of life hath an irreconcileable enmity; and hence it is, that the vanities, and fooleries of this world, out way Chriſt, Heaven, and eternal Life. O did young ones but ſeriouſly conſider, and bend their thoughts cloſe to thoſe rouzing Doctrines and truth, as they are repreſented in the word of God: Their undone ſtate by Nature, and the peril of Hell and Damnation, they are in each moment, whilſt they delay Converſion, and flying for refuge to a crucified Jeſus; ſurely it would render the temptations of fleſhly pleaſures, jejune, and vain, and prove an excellent means to awaken them to Repentance, ere the day of Gods Patience be ended: which brings me to the p. 13fourth & next ſin young people are prone to.

4. Delaying of Religion, ſaying, They are yet young, and its time enough, though young People are often told, how much more dubious, and difficult their Repentance, and turning to God will be hereafter, then now, ſuppoſing their Lives ſhould be continued to them. Yet (without the breach of Charity) one may ſay, ſcarce one of many Hundreds, but delay and neglect a preſent complyance with thoſe repeated Calls of God to Converſion; when, in the mean time, their Youthful Luſts, their Games, and Sports, call them, and find a quick and ready Attendance, and Cloſure. David's great Care was to ſet about the Work of Religion, while he was under the firſt, and early calls thereunto, 119 Pſal. 60 I made haſte, and delayed not to keep thy Commandments. But how rare is it to ſee, young Perſons (whom the Devil lays Siege to, endeavouring to perſwade them that it is time enough, when they are older, to ſleep their thoughts in ſuch a melancholly Subject as Religion is) to follow his example.

5. Eager purſuits after Pleaſures, Loving them more than God. Pleaſure is that which ſtrangely carries it with the younger ſort of People, (Modo P…tiar) ſaith the youngſter, let me have Pleaſure now, whatever …me on'…: as Eſau parts with his Birth…ght, for a meſs of red Potage: ſo young p. 14ones are ready to part with Heaven for the pleaſures of Sin, that are but for a ſeaſon; they are joyned to pleaſure, as Ephraim was to Idols; and O how difficult a taske is it, to force a divorce between them: Shall I be cloiſtred up, and manacled in the days of my Youth, by the ſeverities of Repentance, and Selfdenial, this is to bid me be no more Naomi; but Marah? Thus the young man pleads, like the Figtree and Olivetree you read of in the 9. of Judges and the 9. Should I leave my fatneſs, and my ſweetneſs, &c. ſo ſhould I leave my youthful Pleaſures to match with Sighs, Groans, Tears, and a ſtrict courſe of mortification? No, no, ile rather rejoyce in the days of my Youth, ere the days come wherein I can have no Pleaſure: Thus Youth are prone (like the Bee that hovers about the Pot of Honey, untill at length it is drowned in it) to hanker after, yea, madly to ru… full breaſt upon Pleaſure, u…till like a da… it ſtrikes into their very Liver. Their mind are perpetually drunk with the love of Pleaſure, till they fall down Dead.

F. Flexibility to Temptation, as dry Tinde… to the leaſt ſpark, hence you read in the Pr… verbs, frequently of the young Mans bei… eaſily enticed and drawn away, Chap. 7. from the 7 Verſe to the 23. And I beheld among … ſimple Ones; I diſcerned among the Youths, young Man void of Ʋnderſtanding, and he w… p. 15the way to the Harlots Houſe, &c. Verſe 21. With her fair Speech ſhe cauſed him to yield, and he goeth after her ſtraightway, as an Ox goeth to the Slaughter, &c. hence in the 1ſt. Chap. 10. you Read, My Son, if Sinners entice thee, conſent thou not, &c. intimating, that impetous or vigorous Inclination & Byaſs that is in Youth to conſent to Temptations; young ones are eaſily drawn by the ſmalleſt Temptations; they are ready to meet it half way, yea, to out go it. Iſa. 5. 18. We read of ſome that will Tranſgreſs for a piece of Bread. 28. Prov. 21. Ahab ſold himſelf to work Wickedneſs. Judas offered himſelf to ſell Chriſt. and Ephraim willingly walked after the Commandment of Falſe Worſhip. 5. Hoſea 11. Thus young People are preſently perſwaded, the leaſt Motion is bait and hire enough; like ſoft Wax they readily receive the ſtamp of a Temptation.

G. Going down the Stream, and following … Multitude to do Evil, excuſing all with this, Namely, That there are Thouſands, and Millions, that ſteer the Courſe, and tread the Paths that I do; ducimur exemptis. If Miniſters give warning from God to avoid, and flee ſuch and ſuch youthful Sins, and cry out as the Angel to Lot, Haſte eſcape for thy Life, cito, citius citiſſime: Preſently in ſome …ch plauſible manner as this they reply, If I never do worſe. I hope I ſhall do well enough, …ave not others done the ſame or as bad? I p. 16have the Examples of Thouſands, a multitude on my ſide, both of Superiors, Equals, and Inferiours. O the unſpeakable deal of Poyſon that is thus conveyed in the hearts of young Perſons; and the innumerable Souls that go to Hell by Pattern! How many Children have learned to Lye, Swear, break the Sabbath, and deride the Godly, from their Graceleſs Fathers and Mothers, who have herein been ſpecial Factors for the Devil and Hell.

8. Hating Inſtruction, and Admonition, and Reproof. This is another Sin that Youth are guilty of. 5 Proverbs 11, 12. There you have the Rebellious Youth brought in under ſtrong Impreſſions of the Terrors of the Lord for this very Sin. And thou Mourn at the laſt and ſay, How have I hated Inſtruction, and would not obey the Voice of my Teachers. O how many ſad Witneſſes have we had of this at Tyburne. Hence it is that we find Godly Parents oft times abounding in Tears, wringing their Hands, ſmiting their Breaſts, and crying out, O nothing will work upon my Chil… Thouſands of times have I prayed, wept, warned, and after all as ſtubborn and diſobedient a before! Alas, there is a ſecret loathing of goo… Councel in Youth, Monitoribus Aſper. Youn… Men love to conſult with Fleſh and Blood and to walk after the Imaginations of thei… own Hearts, but they hate to comply wit… the Sage and Serious Inſtructions of Religion.

p. 179. Intemperance in Meats and Drinks, which ſtands in a voluntary eating and drinking to exceſs, for the pleaſing the Appetite; this is not ſo much the Temptation of old and ſickly People, as of our youth, to pamper, and glut their vile Bodies; as if God had made them a kind of upright Bruits, that need not ſtoop down to a Trough, or in reſemblance of a Spring, or a Hogſhead that are of little uſe, ſave to contain Liquor. Alexandrinus calleth this Sin the Throat-Devil, and the Belly-Devil. And too true is it, that the Devil deſtroyeth Multitudes of Youth by this Sin, who for the pleaſing of their Throats will ſell him their Souls, as Eſau his Birthright, for his Belly: O this Canine, Eager, and Inſatiable Appetite; where it Rules, it Ruins all. Phyſicians ſay, That of thoſe who out-live their Childhood, ſcarce one of many that dye in their Prime, but by Intemperance; for generally in the younger ſort, …eligion and Reaſon are weakeſt, and but underlings to their unruly Appetites, and …hen once this outragious Luſt has got the Aſcendant, and Regal Power, a blazing S…r burning in the Heavens, is not ſo fatally …inous of Ruine, as this. Seneca ſaith, E…lo eſt Parochianus Diabolo. An Epicure is Pariſhioner to the Devil; who then can …ciently lament that Innundation of Epicu…m, Gluttony and Drunkenneſs that hath …er-run the Youth of this Nation? Ah, p. 18who can refrain Tears? To ſee how many born of pious Progenitors, and bred up in Religious Families; again, How many born of Gruth Blood, deſcended from Honourable Anceſtors, and bred up at the Feet of Gamaliel at the Schools, and of pregnant Capacities, and who might have been peculiar Bleſſings to the Land; I ſay to ſee theſe (as well as others that are brought forth in a lower Station, and brought up in a viler and a more irreligious way) to Sacrifice their Youthful days to Bacchus, the God of Wine, and emaſculate their Spirits in Taverns, and Drunken Societies. We read in 1 Pet. 4. 3. of thoſe who walked in Laſciviouſneſs, Luſts, exceſs of Wine, Revellings, Banquetings wherein they think ſtrange, that you run no… with them to the ſame exceſs of Riot, ſpeakin… evil of you. I need not ſearch into the Riotous Practice of other Nations, nor lay m… Scene abroad to make Application of thi… Text: Alas, it holds too true of us in th… Nation, who reckon that they have no… made their Gueſts welcom, if they have no… made them Drunk, and deem it as a piece incivility and rudeneſs, that deſerves a ſtat… if you will not go on to pledge them in thei… Helliſh Health to their Wits end. Goo… Lord! that ever any that breaths within th… Engliſh Air, and that names the name … Chriſt, ſhould commence ſuch Wickedneſ… Oh that our Head were Waters, &c.

p. 1910. Another Sin that youth is prone to, is keeping ill Company, that Soul ruining ſnare of Satan's, which hath ſlain its thouſands, as being the foundation and inlet to all manner of wickedneſs. O how many hopeful young ones have been ſpoiled in the very bud, by the infectious influences of vile Company; whence is that advice of the Wiſe-man's in the 1ſt. of Prov. 10. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. My Son if ſinners entice thee, conſent thou not, walk not thou in the way with them, refrain thy feet from their Path. What Solomon ſaith elſewhere of the ſteps of the ſtrange Woman, we may ſay of the ſteps of wicked company, they take hold of Hell, it is a new link in the Chain that faſteneth damnation to you, it is like tying a Milſtone about your necks, that will pull you both Soul and Body into the bottom of the Sea of Gods Wrath, from whence there is no recovery. O young ones, you will find it one of the hardeſt things that is, when once you are engag'd in evil Company, to diſenthral your ſelves again: little do you know where it will lead you, it will inſenſibly harden you and bring you to a reprobate mind, it will vaſtare conſcientiam, lay waſt your Conſciences, and ſo ſeat you in the Chair of the Scorners; and then the next ſtep is Hell. Ah! how many young ones, when firſt they have engaged in evil company, and ſet out with them, have been p. 20a little ſtartled and affrighted at their interlocutory Oathes (for nemo repente fit turpiſſimus) as Juven. ſpeaks: yet after a while frequenting ſuch company they find themſelves almoſt irrecoverably ingulfed into thoſe prodigious ſins, that themſelves could not have believed they ſhould ever adventured on; ſuch an Emblem of Hell is ill company, that (without the breach of Charity) one may ſay that none continue in the one while they live, but inevitably fall into the other when they dye, and ſo their ſteps take hold of Hell, where the worm dyeth not, and fire is not quenched; where their fellowſhp in ſin will be turned into a miſerable fellowſhip of flames, where an holy and juſt God will do that, viz. damn them, which they in their merry meeting have ſo often called upon him to do; and the Devil will take that, viz. their Souls, which they have ſo freely and frequently given him.

11. Another ſin whereunto youth are much addicted, is Lying, a ſin that ſeemeth to be contemporary with ſpeech in young Children; that as ſoon as their earthly Parents teach them to ſpeak, their helliſh father the Devil, learns them to lye; that as ſoon as the one learns them to go on Earth, the other learns them to go to Hell, hence theſe two are joyn'd together, in that 58. Pſal. 3. Speaking of young p. 21ones, they go aſtray from the Womb telling lies. This is a ſin, that all, but eſpecially young ones are exceedingly prone to, whereby Satan leads them captive at his will, to make them his Vaſſals: Look there young people! there are ſeveral ſins that are (as I may ſay) the very off-ſpring and Progeny of Satan, and in acting of them, a ſinner reſembles the Devil, as a Child the Father: For inſtance, Pride, it's called their condemnation of the Devil, 1 Tim. 3. 6. an angry paſſionate ſpirit it's ſtiled giving place to the Devil, 4. Eph. 26, 27. the like one may ſay of this ſin of Lying, in the 8. John, and the cloſe of the 44. v. the Devil is called a lyer, and the Father of Lies, and in the 5. of the Acts 3. Satan is there ſaid to fill Ananias his heart to lie againſt God, which ſheweth that where there is a lie in the Tongue, there is the Devil filling of the Heart, ruling in Children of diſobedience; hence James ſaith 4. chap. and the 6. v. that it ſets all on fire of Hell. O how great is the power that Satan acquireth in young people by this ſin, it gives him that which he ſo earneſtly deſires; namely, a ſpiritual poſſeſſion of Souls, as a man poſſeſſeth and dwells in his Houſe, and there it is he learneth young ones that maſter-piece in the Black Art, to call Evil Good, and Good Evil, and to deny the fact when they have committed ſin, p. 22as 2 Kings 5. 25. thy Servant (ſaid lying Gehazi) went no whether; thus Jacobs Sons, after they had wickedly ſold their Brother, come with a plauſible Tale (tho a palpable lye) to their Father, we found this bloody Garment in the Field, but whoſe it is we know not, 37. Gen. 32.

12. Another Sin, young ones are given to, is neglect of Relative duties, as honouring and obeying their Parents and Maſters, &c. this is a ſin peculiar to young people, and there are but few that eſcape the guilt of it. Hence have Miniſters Eccleſiaſtical Fathers, almoſt every Lordsday Bills of complaint, like Ezekiels Roll, filled with lamentation, put into our hands, begging our earneſt Prayers for rebellious and diſobedient Children and Servants: Though the juſtice of God is ordinarily manifeſt in the execution of his threatned Judgments upon Children of Belial even in this Life: yet alas, how ſeldom do young people take and improve ſuch awful, awakening warnings, to hear and fear and do no more ſo wickedly? How common is it for Children, yea, when grown up, and their Parents grown old, to ſet light by them, and to ſpeak Sawcily and Contemptuouſly of them, and to them, behaving themſelves proudly, and rudely before them, as if they were their equals; a practice moſt vile againſt the light of Nature, and always (according p. 23to the Scripture) entaileth a Curſe upon ſuch unnatural Children, 27. Deut. 16. Curſed be he that ſetteth light by his Father or his Mother: and all the people ſhall ſay, Amen. The puniſhment that the Heathens inflicted on ſuch, was, to few them in a Sack with a Dog, Cat, Viper and Ape, (an Emblem of unnaturalneſs) and ſo drown them together, and the puniſhment that the Law of God in the time of Moſes did aſſign to a rebellious Son, was to be ſtoned to Death: 21. Deut. 18. If a man have a ſtubborn and rebellious Son, which will not obey the voice of his Father, or the voice of his Mother, then ſhall they lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the Elders of the City, and all the men of the City ſhall ſtone him with ſtones till he dye. And it is obſervable, now under the Goſpel, how the holy and wiſe Povidence of God ordinarily ſets a mark upon diſobedient Children, either in imbittering their lives with a ſucceſſion of miſeries and vexations here, or ſuffering them to fall by an untimely Death.

13. Another Sin Youth is prone to, is Sabbath breaking; a day which uſually young people meet together upon, to walk abroad in the Fields, and take their pleaſure, and run into all exceſs of Riot, Chambering, acting their filthy luſts, drinking Healths, playing at Cards, Dancing, Swearing, p. 24and ſometimes Quarrelling, Fighting, Thieving, Robbing of Orchards and Gardens, and thus inverting that Day which God hath ſanctified, and appropriated to his own Honour and Service, and the ſaving of ſouls; to the ſervice of the Devil, and damning their own ſouls; ſure I am the whole Chriſtian world at this day groans under the tragical and bitter effects of this ſin, and he is nothing worthy of Eyes that weeps not to ſee whole droves running headlong to Hell through this breach, viz. the Breach of the Sabbath. Verily the Devil hath more ſervice done on this day than on all the ſix beſides, and how deplorable is the ſerious conſideration hereof, that the day which ſhould be Chriſt's, is the Devil's great harveſt of Souls, and that day which ſhould make joy in Heaven, by an addition to the Church, of ſuch as ſhall be ſaved, ſhould ever prove Satans triumph, and Hells inlarging it ſelf beyond Meaſure, at the acceſſion of ſo vaſt a multitude of Sabbath-breakers into it.

14. Another ſin that Youth is exceedingly prone to, is nouriſhing of vain hope, and flattering themſelves with the thought of long life, putting far away from them the memorial of the evil Day. Young people account it, a kind of death to think of Death; the meditations, or tydings of it, are (like thoſe of the Judges coming to the Bench, p. 25to Malefactors) entertained with great reluctancy; and when they cannot wholly baniſh the items of it, out of their Conſciences, they will be ſure to ſet it a great way off: as thoſe bold ſinners did the Prophets Viſion, in the 12. of Ezek. 27. the Viſion that he ſees, is for many days to come, and hence as that evil Servant, in the 24. Mat. 48. when he ſaith in his heart, my Lord de…ayeth his coming, he began to ſmite his fellow Servant, and to eat, and drink with the drunken; ſo young people, when they once drive off the thoughts of death, as far as they can from day to day, then they run a whoring from God, lay aſide Religious duties, let looſe the reins of their Luſts, laugh at the tremendous threatnings of the Almighty. It is one of the greateſt ſtrengthners of temptations to Luxury, Pride, and almoſt every ſin in the World, when ſinners are bold, to promiſe themſelves many years to come, as you may ſee in that 12. Luke 17, 18, 19. where our Saviour brings in that fooliſh rich man ſpeaking to his ſoul, after this manner, Soul take thine eaſe, eat, drink, be merry, thou haſt goods laid up for many years. O young men, as you would eſcape the rebukes an angry God, and an exaſperated guilty Conſcience, promiſe not your ſelves long life, it is the ready way to Atheiſin and Apoſtacy: whereas if you would always keep p. 26the eye of your mind open, to behold the ſpeedy approach of Death, and Judgment, as in rem preſentem, how admirably would it work, how ſerious in caſting up your ſouls accounts, and imploring of pardon and eternal Life would you be.

15. Another of theſe youthful ſins is Pride, and vain Glory, which ſtands in an overvaluing of our ſelves, with reference to the endowments of the Mind, or Body; ſuch as Wit, Parts, Beauty, Stature, Strength, Agility, &c. Young ones have much darkneſs, and ignorance both of God, and themſelves; and hence they ſet themſelves as among the Stars in their own thoughts: if they have Parts, how prone are they to be proud of them, conceiting themſelves to have much more than indeed they have, and then above meaſure, admiring their own Wit, and ſtrength of parts, and expecting every one elſe ſhould admire them too, not conſidering that theſe mental gifts, without Grace, makes them more like the Devil, that abounds with endowments of this kind, and to be more ſerviceable to him (as malignant inſtrumentals) in promoting the ruin of mens ſouls; as Auſtin told a great, but unſanctified Scholar, ornari a te diabolus quaerit, the Devil ſeeks to be honoured, and ſerved by thee: And you read in 3. Gen. 1. Becauſe the Serpent was more ſubtile than any other beaſt, p. 27the Devil uſed that Creature to deſtroy mankind. Now this Pride of Intellectuals, is never more dangerous, than when it terminates upon Religion, and Souls affairs; and there are none more obnoxious hereunto, than young people, a little knowledge maketh them think they are fit to be Preachers preſently: whereas the old, and experienced Chriſtian, with trembling cryeth out, Lord, who is ſufficient for theſe things. Young ones, for want of acquaintance with, and experience of the wickedneſs, and deceitfulneſs of their own hearts, are apt to think that they have abundance of Grace; Paul, a young man, was highly conceited of his good eſtate in Religion and ſpiritual matters, till the commandment came in the power of it, and revived in him a ſight and ſenſe of his curſed and ſinful eſtate by nature. 7. Rom. 9. And ſo the young man in the Goſpel according to Matth. 19. chap. 20. All theſe have I done, what lack I yet. O young man remember, this ſpiritual Pride, is like the flye in the pot of Oyntment, make all to ſtink, if you over-value your ſelves in matters of Religion, you may ſoon undo your ſelves, and fall into the ſnare, and condemnation of the Devil. This was the reaſon why Paul forbids the chooſing of a young beginner in Religion to the work of the Miniſtry: Not a Novice, leſt he p. 28ſhould be lifted up with Pride. 1 Tim. 3. 6. Paul was a wiſe man, he well knew the ſubtilties of Satan, and the want of experience, in young ones, would ſoon inſnare them, and betray them into the hands of this ſin. And then with reſpect to Pride in bodily endowments, as Beauty, Strength, Stature, &c. Alas, how is the Youth of the preſent Age grown monſtrous herein? Never did Pride ride in ſuch ſtate, when it went abroad in the Streets of Sodom, as at this day it doth in this Nation, wherein I was born, and in this City wherein I now breathe. Alas, what wandering eyes, wanton dreſſes, fooliſh faſhions, apiſh imitations, extravagant waſhings, profane patching, in a word, a practical devotedneſs to the vile Body, that is but a fine skin full of filth, Flegm, Choler and Corruption, abounds in this City: O the Arts, Studies, Pains, among us all for the neatifying, priding, pampering this piece of earth, that e're long will be meat for the Worms. O young people, what will a white skin, or ſtrength of Limbs, or a roſie Complexion ſignifie, when God rebuketh man for ſin, his beauty will conſume as a Moth. 39. Pſal. 11. One fit of an Ague can alter thy beauty, or a viſitation with the Small Pox, can change it into its contrary.

16. Another ſin Youth is ordinarily prone to is quenching and ſtifling the holy motions p. 29of Gods Spirit: This more eſpecially they are liable to, that are the ſeed of the Righteous, and that dwell among thoſe, whoſe chief ſcope and aim is to promote your Converſion by their daily Prayers, Inſtructions, and holy examples. Such young ones, as are thus educated in righteous Families, and uſed to a conſtant attendance (through the care of their godly Parents or Maſters) on the means of Grace, both publick and private; they do meet with innumerable inward motions of the ſpirit of God, ſtriving in, and with them, they lie more obvious to the Lords grace; and I am perſwaded that there is not one to be found among theſe, that are come to years of underſtanding, but what muſt own the truth of this. But oh, the woful oppoſition, that is commonly made by young ones againſt theſe holy ſuggeſtions, and illapſes of the bleſſed ſpirit; they are uſually like the ſparks falling into a Sea of water: when they are at a Sermon, how many knocks, and ſecret jogs, touches of Heart, and Conſcience, do they meet with, to conſider ſoberly about their ſpiritual and everlaſting ſtate. But what through the ſubtilty of Satan and the love of fooliſh mirth, and pleaſures, and vain company, &c. preſently as ſoon as they return they loſe all, quench thoſe begun convictions, and juſt were it if the abuſed ſpirit ſhould p. 30depart for ever and ſtrive no more. Be aſſured young people, you cannot ſin, at ſo cheap a rate, as an old ſinner, that never had the heavenly gales, breathings, operations, motions to converſion, interruptions, and checks in ſinful courſes, as you have had. O it is this that accents Goſpel condemnation, that light is come, and men love darkneſs rather than light. 3. John 19. When becauſe light reproves, gauls the ſinner, therefore it is hated, this is dreadful indeed. O ponder a while what an infinite mercy of God, it is to your poor miſerable ſouls, to have the ſtrivings and negotiatings of the holy ſpirit of God. 147. Pſal. 19. he hath not dealt ſo with all of your ranks, and ſtanding: How many thouſands are let alone, like young Dagons? now to reſiſt theſe, and to ſin againſt the light, argueth ſuch a love to ſin, and averſation to God, as juſtly may place you in the forefront of deſperate ſinners.

17. The next ſin Youth are prone to, is Atheiſm, &c. ridiculing ſerious Religion. The holy Apoſtle diſtinctly foretold, by a ſpirit of Propheſie, this very ſin, in the 2 Peter 3. 3, 4. knowing this firſt, that there ſhall come in the laſt days ſcoffers, walking after their own luſts, and ſaying, where is the promiſe of his coming; ſurely theſe are thoſe laſt days, wherein we live; and never did this ſin of Atheiſm, and deriding at goodneſs, p. 31obtain ſuch a vogue, till of late, in this irreligious Age; wherein the main Articles of the Chriſtian Faith are ſhaken in the minds of multitudes of young people. Satan hath corrupted the minds of many, and diffuſed his venemous influence, not only through the Pagan and Papal, but alſo through the Proteſtant and Reformed world too. O! what a world of infidelity, and Atheiſm is to be found in our Cities, and Countries, and would to God our Churches were free: but if we compare the lives of abundance of Profeſſors, with their pretended Creed, really their profeſſion will ſcarce cover their Hypocriſie, and Atheiſm; though you ſhould exerciſe the largeſt Charity. God, and Chriſt, the immortality of the Soul, Death, and Judgment, Heaven and Hell, are in their Creed, and they would condemn you for a rank Heretick, if you ſhould deny any of theſe Doctrines; But a little obſervation of their ſenſual lives will ſoon acquaint you with their vile and odious Hypocriſie and Atheiſm; while you behold in their lives, the great God diſobeyed, Chriſt vilified, Heaven condemned, and the Worlds vanities preferred before it, Hell ventured upon for the ſake of a pleaſing ſin. And among us there are a generation of young Wits ſprang up, that (that albeit they have had baptiſmal Water on their face, yet) arrived to that highth of ſin, as p. 32to tell the world, not only in their works but alſo in words, that Religion is a meer fancy, nothing but the melancholly imagination of ſome poor ſpirited men, that fooliſhly and fondly conceit of ſuch a thing as God lives, and of a Heaven prepared for thoſe that have it, and Hell for thoſe that want it, and then they ſcare, and affright themſelves with thoſe buggbears, that their own fancies repreſent. And thus as the judicious Gurnal ſadly obſerves, (p. 298.) Some among us have dared to make it their boaſt, and glorying, that they have at laſt got from under the burthen of that Tyrant Conſcience, they can Swear and Drink, Whore, and what not, without any check, or remorſe. Time was when they were under the wing of their Parents, that they trembled at the hearing of ſuch guilt: But now entring into thoſe Atheiſtical Clubs, and imbibing their principles, their Conſciences are become ſilent, after they have been duck't ſo often for ſcolding, that they are Sermon poof, and laugh at the Notion of Damnation; and at Miniſters, who in the name of God threaten impenitent ſinners with it, and look upon them, as the verieſt fools, and mad Men in the World;—but know, that theſe will prove the worſt fools at laſt, yea, worſe by far, than David's Fool, Pſal. 14. 1. The food hath ſaid in his heart, there is no God: That fool durſt only whiſper p. 33it, but theſe ſpeak it boldly and openly: Theſe declare their Sin as Sodom, and hide it not. To go about to confute theſe Sons of Belial, would be a vain thing; we have Moſes and the Prophets, every Leaf therein is ſufficient. But theſe Sinners deride the Scriptures; and ſo tho' one ſhould ariſe from the Dead, and come from Hell with the Flames of that burning Lake about his Ears, and tell them the Torments they endure; neither would they believe. Surely that ſuch a Generation not only of practical, but profeſſed Atheiſts ſhould be found in a Land, that hath enjoyed ſo much Goſpel-light, is a lamentation, and ought to be for a lamentation. I may ſay as Jeremiah, 2. chap. 12. v. Be aſtoniſhed, O ye Heavens, at this, and be ye horribly afraid, be ye very deſolate, ſaith the Lord. Methinks it ſhould make our very Hearts to tremble, when we ſee ſuch curſed Weeds ſpring up in ſuch a Garden, that God hath taken ſuch pains withal; he is more than blind that doth not ſee, and ſo ſay, Stultorum plena ſunt omnia. Maſter Greenham feared rather Atheiſm, than Popery, would be England's Ruin. The Lord affect your Heart, and mine with this Abomination of the Day we live in, namely the ridiculing, and deriding the power of Godlineſs, ſtiling it nothing but Fancy, or Faction, Pride, or Singularity.

p. 3418. Another Sin the Youth of this Age, are much given to, is Swearing, Curſing, and taking the Holy and Reverend Name of God in vain. A Sin for which the Land mourns. There are two Kinds of it, both which young people are prone to.

1. Uſing the Name of God unreverently in common talk, at every turn to ſay [O Lord, O God, or, God bleſs me, or, take me] this is taking God's Name in vain; and how many thouſands of little Children, as well as others, are guilty in this kind, almoſt at every word, toſſing that awful and holy Name about in their graceleſs mouths; which a world of Glorious Angels and glorified Spirits are magnifying continually.

2. Horrid prodigious Oaths, not to be named without abhorrency, Rom. 3. 13, 14 you read there that their Throat is an open Sepulchre, the poyſon of Aſps is under their Lips; whoſe Mouth is full of Curſing and Bitterneſs. And certainly if ever the Youth of a Kingdom, were in danger of that dreadful Curſe of the Almighty, flaming out from the Mount Ebal of thoſe Scriptures; the Swearing Youth of this Kingdom is, Zech. 5▪ 2, 3, 4. And he ſaid unto me, What ſeeſt thou▪ And I anſwered, I ſee a flying Roll, the leng… thereof is twenty Cubits, and the breadth there of two Cubits. Then ſaid he unto me, This i… the Curſe that goeth forth over the who… Earth: for every one that ſweareth ſhall b… p. 35cut off according to it. I will bring it forth, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, and it ſhall enter into the Houſe of him that ſweareth falſly by my Name, and it ſhall remain in the middle of his Houſe, and it ſhall conſume it, with the Timber, and Stones thereof. Whence you may note, that ſo long as this Sin remains unrepented of, this Curſe remains and abideth on them, till it bring utter ruin upon them and their whole Eſtate. Mal. 3. chap. 5. And I will come near to you in Judgment, and I will be a ſwift Witneſs againſt the Swearer, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts. Exodus 20. 7. The Lord will not hold him guiltleſs, that taketh his Name in vain. Not guiltleſs (there is a Meioſis in thoſe words) that is, the Lord will be ſeverely avenged on ſuch. O the fearful eſtate, of not a few, but multitudes, and whole troops of Children, and young ones, in this Land, in this City, in our Armies, in our Fleets, by reaſon of this Sin! who can number the Perſons, much leſs able are we to number the Oaths, the horrid Imprecations they uſe, that almoſt at every word call to God to Damn them, their Souls, their Blood? Wo to us, the moral Heathen would be aſhamed of us: Is it not time to lament, to ſee a young Generation run with open Mouth upon Ruin, with their Mouth ſet againſt Heaven in Blaſphemies, and ſuch prodigious Vices as haſten their own Damnation, and threaten England's Deſtruction; may not p. 36we juſtly fear, that the bloody Oaths of the Land of our Nativity, may turn it into an Aceldama, i. e. a Field of Blood. In this Sin are wrapped both Parents and Children, Maſters and Servants, Officers and common Soldiers, Rich and Poor, and too frequently Miniſters with the People, the Buyer, & the Seller. Verily if the Lord, who threatneth to be a ſwift Witneſs againſt the Swearer, ſhould now come among us, with his deſerved, as well as threatned Curſe, what ſcudding and crying to the Hills and Mountains to cover us, would there be! A Tree loaded with Boughs is fit for lopping; a Sinner loaded with Oaths, is fit to be hew'n down, & caſt into Hell Fire. A Chimney furr'd with Soot, will take fire at laſt; a Sinner's mouth furr'd with Oaths, will at laſt, without Repentance, burn him with unquenchable Fire. O how little is this conſidered by our common Swearers; O young ones take heed of this Sin: young Joſeph when he was in a Swearing Court, he learn'd to ſwear the Court-Oath; viz. by the Life of Pharaoh, that was his Sin. But alas, in our Age it's become faſhionable, and a piece of Gentility to Swear by the Death, Wounds, Blood of Chriſt; Petty Oaths of Maſs, Faith, and Troth, which in former times were moſt ſeverely condemned by the good old Puritans: Now wo to us, we run to the higheſt form in the Devil's School, and commence Maſters of that Black Art of damme's, p. 37and full-mouth'd Blaſphemies. Yea, and (the Lord be merciful to us) our little Children have learn't it as ſoon as they can ſpeak or waddle about Streets; the ſound whereof, hath often pierced my Heart, with my Ears: the good Lord of Heaven and Earth baniſh it out of our Iſland, or it will (I fear) ſink us. We are encompaſſed about with two Oceans, ſaith one, an Ocean of Waters, and an Ocean of Mercies; And let me add a third, namely an Ocean of Oaths, which if not reformed, will bring a fourth, viz. an Ocean of Miſeries. Some ſay Words are but Wind: it's true; but it is ſuch a Wind as will blow a Soul to Hell, if Grace prevent it not.

19. Another Sin that young people are notoriouſly given to, and guilty of, is Idle, and Sinful ſquandring away their precious time; young People think that they have ſuch a profound, and full ſtock of time to come, that they have enough to ſpare and ſpend profuſely, and while away (as the Countrey Phraſe is) at preſent; and therefore they make little or nothing of laviſhing out Hours and Days. You know perſons will ſpend prodigally out of a full Purſe, who would be very ſparing, if they knew they had but a little, or were like to come to Poverty. Thus Youth fooliſhly fancy that, becauſe ſome have lived to ſee and fulfil 70, or 80 Years, therefore they muſt p. 38do ſo too: and when they have been thus kind to themſelves, in making ſuch a computation of many Years to come; then they turn Prodigals of their time, and caſt it away, as a thing of nought, and with it caſt away all care of their Souls, and loiter out their Morning-Seaſon, at that profuſe rate, as if they were never to be called to account for that, or that God only deſign'd, and aſſign'd the Evening of their Life, that laſt, and worſt part of time, to be redeem'd, and carefully improved, for their better part their precious Souls. But how miſerably cheated are young People herein, as appeareth by thoſe many awakening inſtances, of our Lord's coming to young Ones, in the Morning of their Life, a time, when they leaſt of all looked for him, and then how have they cried out; O precious time! more worth than a World, when it cometh to the laſt Sand at the bottom of the Glaſs: O then what a mercy would they eſteem it, if God would truſt them once again with Time. O young People, think of this the next Temptation to Idleneſs or carnal Eaſe o… Pleaſures that returneth, and frown upon it give it the ſame entertainment, as you would a Thief that comes to kill, or rob you; remember your Souls and Eternity are imbarqued in your youthful Seaſons: and ſurely the conſideration of the worth of your Souls, and the aſtoniſhing nature of Eternity, carrieth p. 39force enough to make the extravagant laviſhers of time, to become the moſt thrifty Husbands of it, as one of the moſt precious things in the World. O young Man, thou haſt now a rich Price put into thy hands; doſt thou want a Heart to improve it? Know thou, that ere long thou mayeſt have a Heart, but no price of precious Time in thine Hand. We are fallen into a looſe and licentious Age.

20. Uncleanneſs is another Sin, that Youth is prone to, this is the breach of the Seventh Commandment. In which Commandment there is a two fold Uncleanneſs forbidden, firſt, mental, or the uncleanneſs of the Mind; ſecondly, corporal, or that of the Body. Now Youth is commonly addicted to both theſe, and to watch, and wait for opportunities to fulfil their impure Luſts; hence in the 7th of the Prov. 6, 7, 8, 9. you read: At the Window of my Houſe, I looked through the Caſement, and behold among the Simple Ones, I diſcerned among the Youths, a Young Man void of underſtanding, paſſing by the way to her Houſe, and he went near her Corner, in the twilight in the Evening, and behold there met him a Woman with the attire of an Harlot, his Eye waited for the twilight, and in the twilight he was taken by her; as you may ſee in the 23 verſe. Peter ſpeaketh 2 Epiſt. 2 chap 4. verſ. of Eyes that are full of Adultery. It's true indeed, that this Sin hath p. 40the ſame common principle as other Sins, viz. a corrupt Nature; it is ſeated in the Heart, there is the Fountain of it, 15. Matth. 19. Out of the Heart proceed evil Thoughts, Murthers, Adulteries, &c. But yet the Eye is the Heart's chief agent to eſpy out objects, and to find out and fetch in Fuel for this Sin: And as the Heart ſometimes ſets the Eye on work to prole, and range about for a beautiful Bait; ſo the Eye ſometimes meeting with Objects, ſets the Heart on work yea, all a fire, or in a flame of adulterou… Luſtings: Youth is a hot Age, and exceedingly propenſe to be carried away, with theſe laſcivious and filthy Luſtings (as hot an… fat Grounds are moſt ferti… …nd abounding with filthy Weeds) hence we find upo… Record, 15. Luke 13, 14. the Younger Brother called the Prodigal Son, who ſpent a upon Harlots, his vicious and corrupt Afections were reſtleſs, and raging, till h… had yielded his Members, as Inſtrument and Servants to this Sin of Uncleanneſs, … the Apoſtle phraſeth it in the 6. Rom. 13. & 1…. Not that I ſpeak this as if other Ages we… free from ſuch inordinate Luſts: for Natur… Corruption is not idle in any Age; but of a Ages, Youth is moſt inceſſantly, and vi… lently bent hereunto: So that it is to … accounted a ſingular Mercy and Grace f… a young Perſon to paſs that ſeaſon of Life chaſtly, as not to contract ſome ſuch notab… p. 41blot to cleave to him (like a Leproſie,) as ſhall be matter of juſt ſhame, and humiliation before the Lord, ſo long as he liveth. Sure I am the ſucceſs Satan hath had in poyſoning the Youth of this City with this ſordid and beaſily Sin deſerves to be lamented (were it poſſible) with Tears of Blood: O how deſirable a Mercy would it be if the Lord would pleaſe to touch the Hearts of thoſe who are fearfully guilty of this baſe Sin among us, and bring them to cry out with the …eper, 13. Lev. 45. I am unclean, I am unclean; and to make that Confeſſion as the Prophet doth in 1. Iſaiah 6. From the Sole of the Foot, to the Head, nothing but putrifying Sores; and then to put up that Petition of David's in 51. Pſalm 10. Create in me a Clean Heart, O God. And that of Peter's in the 13. John 9. Waſh me, Lord, not my Feet only, but my Hands and Head, yea, my whole Body, and my whole Soul alſo; as Paul prayed for the Theſſalonians, 1 chap. 5. 23. That God would ſanctifie them wholly in Body, Soul and Spirit.

21. The next and laſt Sin of Youth that I ſhall mention is, A woful giddineſs of Spirit to imbibe and receive any kind of looſe and wild Errors that are ſpread abroad. Indeed the Ringleaders and Broachers of Error oftentimes are perſons who have paſſed the flower of their Age: but uſually they that run after them and are proſelyted by them, they are our raw, and unexperienced p. 42Youth, and more eſpecially ſuch of them as have not been catechiſed, nor by the care and endeavours of Parents and Maſters, been well grounded in the Principles of Religion, for want of which they have eaſily been ſeduced and led into Errours by ſuch as lie in wait to deceive. And wo to us, are we not miſerably over-run at this day with pernicious Errours? contending moſt unchriſtianly for our own Devices, and Parties, crying out, Lo here is Chriſt, and there is Chriſt, when more truly it may be ſaid, Lo here is Satan, and there is Satan, transforming himſelf into an Angel of Light, and through his ſubtilty corrupting the minds of many among us from that ſimplicity which is in Chriſt. 2 Cor. 11. 3. Hence the Apoſtle was fill'd with a Godly jealouſie and fear leſt the Corinthians ſhould be removed and carried away from Chriſt. The good Lord humble us for our ſwervings from the end of the Commandment, which is Love out of a pure Heart and of a good Conſcience, and Faith unſeigned, and for our turning aſide ſo much to vain Janglings. Errour has got the Aſcendant in the Cockloft of ſome mens Brains, and there it ſo inebriates and infatuates them, that (like the Gnoſticks of old, who under the pretence of New Light and Revelation, fanſied themſelves admirably Holier than others, ſo) theſe conceit themſelves to be more Evangelical and refined, becauſe more p. 43airy and notional, and then they are ſtrongly inclined to ſpend all their Zeal in a violent obtruding their own ſtarving and ſleepy Opinions upon others, which indeed ſerve for no other end, but to devour all the Life and Subſtance of Religion, as the lean Kine, in Pharaoh's dream, did eat up the Fat. How audaciouſly have ſome by their looſe and lewd Pens, and Tongues, argued againſt the merit and Deity of the Son of God, derided the Spirit of Prayer, advanc'd Morality, and the works of the Law in the room of Chriſt, boaſting of the ſufficiency of man's power to ſave himſelf: and then on the other hand, how induſtrious have ſome been to contrive a ſmooth and eaſie way for corrupt Nature to come to Heaven, without the toilſome labour of ſubduing our Luſts, and Sinful Affections; as if now under the Goſpel the holy Law of God was no Rule for us to walk by, but laid flat (like an old Hedge) that Sinners may at their pleaſure trample on it, and walk over it: and that to be ſolicitous about Sanctification and Inherent Holineſs, is but a legal buſineſs, and not influential to a Chriſtian's Peace, nor Evidential of his Pardon; but that now the main deſign of the Goſpel at the firſt flight, is to mount Sinners ſo high as to poſſeſs them with a gallant triumphant Confidence, and ſtrong, gigantick Perſwaſion of the Everlaſting Decrees of God, that he hath Elected, and p. 44loved them, and that their Sins are pardoned, ſo that they need not trouble themſelves about Repentance, and the Law of God written or copied out on the Table of their Hearts, and the Inhabitation of the Spirit of Grace in their Souls, as a Principle of Spiritual Life. O how ſad a ſight is it to ſee the Field of the Church thus over-run with Tares, and the Houſe of God filled with Smoke! it's enough to fill us with fear that the Fire of God's Judgment is beginning there. Now this being the ſad genius of our Times, there are none more apt to take in the infection, than Youth, upon the account of that levity and curioſity that uſually poſſeſſeth that Age. Young people have itching Ears, and are very credulous, being rather willing to take what they hear on truſt than to trouble themſelves and take pains to try what conformity ſuch and ſuch Notions have to the unerring Rule, the Scriptures. Unſtable Youth is given to change, and like a Reed is ſoon ſhaken, or like young and freſh Meat in hot weather, which is moſt in danger of being Fly-blown. And Satan he is that old Serpent that is moſt buſie to blaſt and poyſon their hopeful Spring; he is that myſtical Fox that is evermore endeavouring to ſpoil our Vine o… its tender Grapes, yea, when they begin to bud. Now when theſe two meet, a… ſubtil Devil, and a ſimple Youth, what p. 45danger is there, of an impure copulation, between the young man's Mind and Errour, eſpecially when in the one there is a pleaſing Vagrancy and Vanity, like Dinah gadding abroad; and in the other a poyſoning Energy. And alas how is this abundantly verified by woful experience at this day; ſhoals have been perverted, inſomuch that our Land is like a Lazar-Houſe or Hoſpital the Plague is begun among. O that there were ſome Aaron among us, to take a Cenſer and put on Incenſe, and go in quickly, and make an atonement; to allude to that 16 Numb. 46. And thus I have finiſhed the ſecond Query propoſed, viz. What thoſe Sins are that Youth is here admoniſhed to flee.

3d. Qu. Why is it a Duty of ſuch ſpecial concernment for Youth to flee theſe Sins?

A. In the reſolution of this I ſhall give you theſe two Reaſons.

1. It is a duty of ſpecial concernment for Youth to flee theſe Sins: 1ſt. Becauſe of the propriety of their Inherence. And

2d. Becauſe of the malignity of their Influence.

1. Becauſe of the Propriety of their Inherence. The roots of all theſe Youthful Luſts are deeply fixed in thy corrupt Nature. Hence they are here ſtiled Youthful Luſts, indeed Original Luſt is one and the ſame ſpecifically in all …; yet every Age hath p. 46its particular, proper Luſts: this appropriation cuts off young ones from all vain Excuſes that ordinarily are made when they ſin: O ſuch a one provoked me, or Satan tempted me: Alas theſe Luſts are from thy ſelf, they are inherent in thee; if it be enquired, Whence are all theſe heaps of filthy Luſts in young ones? the Anſwer is eaſie: Out of the Heart proceed evil Thoughts, Murders, Adulteries, Fornication, Theft, falſe Witneſs, Blaſphemies, 15. Matth. 19. This is that Dunghil in which the whole Serpentine blood of all actual Sins is conceived, and brought forth: here is that ho… Aetna which is within you (young ones) that never ceaſeth from ſending forth continual ſteams and fumes of vile Luſts. It true, the Devil, and the World, are grea… enticers to Sin, but not like your inheren… Luſts. 1 James 14. 15. But every man … tempted, when he is drawn away of his ow… Luſt, and enticed: That when Luſt hath conceived, it bringeth forth Sin; and Sin when i… is finiſhed, brings forth Death. Satan and th… World can only tempt and entice you Objectively, and Externally; but your youthful Luſt tempts internally, and therefor… more dangerous. Now ſee the ſtrength … this 1ſt. Reaſon, viz. that that gives me mo… danger, that muſt put me on more labou… and diligence to ſhun and eſcape. Beſides whatever any of our ſpiritual Enemies ſhoul… p. 47attempt to draw you to Sin, it would be altogether ineffectual, were it not for theſe Luſts within: Theſe moſt endanger the Soul, and according to your mortifying and fleeing theſe, you may eſtimate the true eſtate of your Soul, to be a ſtate of Grace 18. Pſalm 23. I was alſo upright before him, and have kept my ſelf from mine Iniquity. Alas young ones, the propriety and inherence of your Luſts is ſuch as neceſſitates your continual Watchings, Strivings in Prayer at the Throne of Grace; if a man had a Thief in his Houſe, a Fire in his Chamber, he had need to beſtir himſelf, or he will be rob'd and burn'd. Young man, thou carrieſt Gunpowder about thy very Nature: O had thou not need to flee them, or that which carries Fire. It's dangerous yielding to thy youthful luſt. It's like putting Fire to the Powder. It was the ſaying of a German Divine, when his Friends were commending him, recounting his uſefulneſs and ſerviceableneſs, Auferte ignem, adhuc enim paleas habeo, Take away the Fire, for there is yet Chaff in me. O what Guards do you young ones need, to keep you from being ruin'd by ſo near domeſtick an Enemy. What ſharp Winters of Froſt and Snow, i. e. Faſting, Weeping or Suffering, doſt thou need to kill theſe rank Weeds, i. e. thy youthful Luſts, in the Garden of thy Soul: the conſideration of this Inherency of thy p. 48Luſt, (young man) calls for both inward and outward Exerciſes; Aſſiſtance internal; as Checks of Conſcience, ſolicitouſneſs of Thoughts, earneſtneſs of Deſires, actings of Faith in Chriſt, the ſtrivings, teachings, ſtrengthenings, quicknings of the bleſſed Spirit; External, as denying your Senſes that dangerous (tho' extreamly delightful Fleſh and Blood) liberty of a guardleſs, careleſs, and needleſs converſe with the world's Trinity, Honours, Pleaſures, Profits, and allowing your ſinful and needy Soul a due proportion of time in conſtant attendance upon God in all outward Ordinances, both publick and private, which he hath appointed and inſtituted for thy help and aſſiſtance to mortifie and abandon thy youthful luſts. It's upon this account and conſideration (namely that propriety of Sins inherence in thee) that renders this duty of fleeing thy youthful Sins ſo very difficult, hence it's called 18. Matth. 9. a cutting off a righ… Hand, a plucking out a right Eye; hence it is that the Gate of entrance into Life, i… by our bleſſed Saviour called a ſtrait Gate; hence it is that if there were no Devil in the world to tempt you or wicked Inſtruments to entice you, yet would you be carried out to commit all Evil with greedineſs, i… you cloſe not with the Counſel here given you. Were it not for this propriety of your Luſts inherence, you might no more fea… p. 49that roaring Lyon, that goeth about ſeeking whom he may devour; than the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, who ſaid, The Prince of this World cometh unto me, and finds nothing in me, 14. John 30. But alas, your Luſts are within you, as the Canaanite in the Land of Iſrael, and they eaſily beſet you; there is a naturality of Sin now ſince the Fall, as blackneſs to the Aethiopian, and like a fretting Leproſie adheres to our Natures with ſo much pertinacy, that even after converſion Sin remains while on this ſide the Grave▪ which truth is verified by the ſad experience of all believers in the world, that ſo they may never put off their Chriſtian Armour till they put off this earthly Tabernacle, but be continually kept watching, fighting, runing, wreſtling, praying, &c. after millions of Tears and Prayers ſtill they are fain to ſend up their Cries and Groans to Heaven for the abating, and deſtroying the remains of Pride, Atheiſm, Unbelief, &c. And what hope can be left (O young ones) that ever you will obtain a Victory, when your Enemy is ſo near you, nay, dwells in you, if you lie idle? nay, how ſure is it that you will be carried a miſerable Captive by your Luſts to Hell, if you take not this Advice, to flee your youthful Luſts, eſpecially if you conſider how the Devil night and day is watching to ſet Fire to thy Luſts? thou haſt a combuſtible Nature and Conſtitution, and p. 50he is cunning and filled with Malice, and with all ſorts of Wiles, Depths, Baits, Snares for all tempers, and above all, he deſires to have young ones; ſo that to be ſecure and indifferent here, is in a ſenſe equivalent to yield your Souls to Sin and Satan: which brings me to the ſecond Reaſon of this Doctrine.

Second Reaſon. That therefore it is a duty of ſpecial concernment to Youth, to flee youthful Luſts, becauſe of the malignity of their influence: this I ſhall evidence to you more generally, and then more particularly. (1.) More generally. Your youthful Luſts ſo far as they prevail, they deſtroy your Souls. 8. Rom. 13. If you live after the Fleſh you ſhall dye, (Mark it I pray) upon what unalterable terms it runs. O the malignity of theſe Luſts, 7. Rom. 21. and the 23. What Fruit had you then in thoſe things whereof yo… are now aſhamed, for the end of thoſe things is Death, v. 23. The wages of Sin is Death▪ But to be more particular, there is a threefold evil influence theſe youthful Luſts (if no… abandon'd) will certainly have upon you.

1. They will hinder your Converſion, o… render it exceeding difficult.

2. They will hurry you into moſt grievous Temptations and Perplexi…ies.

3. They will haſten your utter Ruin an… Deſtruction.

p. 511. They will hinder your Converſion, or render it exceeding difficult, and this they will do theſe two ways.

1. As they wofully indiſpoſe the Soul to it.

2. As they directly oppoſe the means of it.

1. As they wofully indiſpoſe the Soul to it, this will appear, beyond the leaſt doubt, if you ſeriouſly conſider what a polluting a pernicious influence youthful Luſts have upon all the faculties of the Soul. Theſe Luſts they diffuſe a blindneſs upon the Mind, they benum the Conſcience, increaſe the natural rebellion of the Will, exceedingly harden the Heart, and miſerably enthral and deprave the Affections; and ſo they wofully indiſpoſe the Soul to converſion.

1ſt. They diffuſe a blindneſs on the Mind, that noble faculty, the thinking, diſcerning, and reaſoning Power of the Soul, which ſome call foreign, the leading and directing Faculty, which is to the Soul what Eyes are to the Body, therefore called 1. Epheſ. 18. the Eyes of the Ʋnderſtanding; theſe Eyes youthful Luſts blind, ſo that they cannot ſee afar off to the end of a ſinful Life, how bitter and evil a thing Sin will prove at laſt, when God will bring the young man to Judgment, for all his youthful Luſts; hence they fearleſly choſe a courſe of Vanity, and Senſuality, in ſerving divers p. 52Luſts, and Pleaſures: Being blinded through their Luſts, they diſcern not the abſolute neceſſity of a Saviour, they ſee no beauty in him that he ſhould be deſired; and what more effectual bar can there be to their Converſion? Alas, while the mind is blinded, tho' a poor Sinner hangs over Hell, every moment, under a juſt ſentence of Condemnation, at the very door of Eternity, yet all's at peace, the Soul lieth in a deep, and deadly Sleep: though a Miniſter come, and weep over him, uſe the moſt rouzing Arguments with him, all's one, no… a whit moved or ſtirred, though you ſpea… never ſo much Reaſon, or Scripture. … Soul, thou haſt an unholy Nature to be renewed, an offended God to be reconciled to▪ thou haſt innumerable Sins, and not one o… them pardoned: thou haſt Death and Judgment to make ready for, thou haſt but a fe… more days on Earth, yet while the mind … blinded they make light of all; a merry ta… will more affect them, Romances, Play… and Comedies, ſuch Bubbles, and emp… Vanity are much more pleaſing, than th… moſt powerful Heavenly Sermon. No… whence is this? but from the blindneſs young mens Minds? and whence is th… blindneſs, but from their youthful Luſt? a… you may read in that appoſite Scriptur… Ezek. 14. and 5. They are all eſtranged fro… me through their Luſts. Luſt in David blo… ted p. 53out the impreſſion, and remembrance of the Evil, and danger of ſinning againſt God: hence when he was recovered by effectual Grace, ſee how he rates himſelf in Pſal. 73. 22. So fooliſh and ignorant was I, even as a Beaſt before thee. Luſt in toxicates the Mind, and then like a Drunkard, that through the vapours that fume up into his Head, ſleepeth, and forgetteth all his dangers, his debts. So it is here, and O how impoſſible is thy Converſion, while thy Mind is thus darkened, the Mind, that is the Watch-man of thy Soul, to keep off Sin, and danger; and if the watch-man be blind, how ſmall hope of Converſion? By this you ſee how youthful Luſts indiſpoſe the Soul to Converſion, as they blind the mind.

2dly, They indiſpoſe the Soul for converſion as they ſtupifie Conſcience, that Spy in our Boſom, that Vice-gerent of the ſupream Judge, whoſe office is various (1.) to record and regiſter all we do, (2.) To bear witneſs, and give in evidence. (3.) As a Judge to paſs ſentence, Conſcience ſits on the Throne as God's Deputy in the Soul, to award out Life or Death. (4.) To be a Tormentor, a never-dying Worm, it is to the damned …n Hell, and an inſupportable burden to …ome on Earth, creating ſuch internal Anxi…ties, and Tortures, that all the Arts, Wits, Pleaſure, and Diverſions in the world can…ot root out; as in Belſhazzar, Cain, Judas, p. 54Tiberius, Nero, Caligula, &c. of theſe divers offices and acts of Conſcience, you read in Rom. 2. 15. 1 John 3. 20, 21. Prov. 18. 14. And that in order to Converſion, it is neceſſary, that this buſie Faculty in man be awakened, will appear, if you conſider that 8 of Jer. 6. God hearkened and heard, and no man repented him, ſaying, What have I done? but every one turned to his courſe, as the Horſe ruſheth into the Battel. There you have God's inquiſition, and ſearch, to find ou… whether that People repented or no, … hearkened and heard (ſaith God.) Then yo… have God's evidence brought in, no ma… repented, or converted; and then you hav… the Cauſe laid down of their not repenting No man ſaid, What have I done? q. d. Ha… Conſcience been awakened to have don… its office, to have div'd into all their Villanies; had that domeſtick Spie in the Boſom brought in a true account, concerning wha… they had done, they would certainly hav… repented e'er this. Alas, the ſubtile Hea… of a Sinner, will endure, and bear all th… hiſtorical notions of the evil of Sin, of th… …erribleneſs of Hell (as one in Health can be… the names and notions of Plague, Ston… Colick, and the moſt tormenting diſeaſe and all but as Powder ſhot, and ſcare-Crow… untill Conſcience, like Peter, 2. Acts 36, 3… cloſeth particularly with Sinners thus, Ye a… they that with wicked Hands crucified … p. 55Lord of Glory; and then they were pricked to the Heart: and as Nathan cloſed with David, 2. Sam. 12. 7. He draws his Parable out of the Clouds, and enters him with this arreſt, Thou art the man; then he preſently cries out, I have ſinned. O believe it, Sirs, when once Conſcience meets with a deſperate Sinner, that hath been ruffling it, in all manner of Riot for a time, drenching himſelf in ſenſual pleaſures, and Conſcience in the name of the great God arreſts him, with an, O wretch! what haſt thou done? thus, and thus to provoke the Great, the Holy, the Righteous, ſin-revenging God; I have been privy to all thy ſecret, as well as open Wickedneſs, and I have ſad News to tell thee, that the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven againſt thee, &c. Thus when Conſcience finds out a Sinner, and ſpits as it were Hell-Fire in his Face, believe me, it will eftſoon put the Soul upon the Rack, and cauſe it to break forth with an, O Wo is me! the Sins which I now ſee, are bitter as Death; the Wrath that I begin to feel at preſent, and that to come that I fear, makes a kind of Tophet within me. O if I ſhould dye in this caſe, what would become of me? Lord! is there no mercy? What ſhall I do to be ſaved? Thus Conſcience in its efficacious working, is neceſſary to Humiliation, which is one great part of Converſion: and then for hope of mercy, and pardon, and a p. 56fixed reſolution to forſake all known Sin, and teturning home to God, which makes up, and compleats a Sinners converſion, you may eaſily diſcern, from what I have ſaid, as to the firſt part of Converſion, the neceſſity of a waking, working Conſcience, in order to Converſion: for it is the property of Conſcience to turn in upon the Soul, and debate matters diſcurſively, in a kind of ſilent reaſoning with the Soul: it hath both a directive, and reflexive power; i… takes that light that lay cold and uſeleſ… before in the mind, and brings it down in … way of home application to the Soul, 3. La…. 40. 119. Pſal. 59. And now I come … make good what is propoſed, namely, Tha… Youthful Luſts ſtupefie, and be…u… this faculty of Conſcience, and ſo indiſpo… the Soul to Converſion. (Look you, Si…s although it is not in the power of young o… old Sinners to raſe out, and expunge this Faculty out of their Breaſts; for it is ſo eſſe… tial to the Soul, as that the Soul can't be Soul wirhout it: nothing can be more it ſeparable than this boſom Judge, which o… calleth ſenſus, & praejudicium judicij divin… Yet (though I ſay they can't get rid on they may, and often do by a love and life … ſin gag it, muzle and ſtifle it for the preſent they caſt Conſcience into a deep ſleep by yiel… ing to their Luſts. One calleth the Love … Sin the Devil's Opium, whereby he lu… p. 57Conſcience aſleep. Hence it is that you read of its being paſt feeling, and ſeared as with an hot Iron Epheſ. 4. 19. and 1 Tim. 4. 2. defiled, polluted, 1. Tit. 15. not performing their offices, being deaf to every holy ſuggeſtion of God's Spirit. O young people, your luſts ſerved, and obeyed, will make your Conſciences to be like Lot, when he was made drunk by his Daughters, of whom it's ſaid, That in the Morning, he knew nothing what he had done, in Gen 19. Thy Luſts will breed ſuch ſottiſhneſs, and ſtupidity in thy Conſcience, as will moſt certainly hinder thy Converſion. Conſcience is a Witneſs, but if that witneſs be dumb, who ſhall tell thee of thy Sin, and danger? Conſcience is a Schoolmaſter, to direct, and correct; but if that Schoolmaſter be blind, or craz'd, or lie like one ſtark mad, or dead, who (I pray) ſhall admoniſh you, and adminiſter reproof to you? alas, we ſpeak without you, it's Conſcience that is as a thouſand Witneſſes within you; and if that be like an Idol, what hope of Converſion? Conſcience is the Candle of the Lord within thee, and if this be put under a Buſhel, how eaſily may the Devil hurry thee blind fold to Hell and Damnation. Conſcience is appointed of God to be that to the Soul, as the Pilot is to the Ship amidſt Rocks, Sands; ſuppoſe now that the Pilot have either loſt his Compaſs to ſteer by, or has no ſupernal light to make p. 58an Obſervation by, how improbable is it, that the Ship ſhould ever come ſafe to Harbour! So if Conſcience be ſtupified, how unlikely is it, that ever that Soul ſhould be converted. It hath been, and ſtill is to me, juſt ground of wonder, and aſtoniſhment, that when a Miniſter comes in the Name, and by the Authority of the Great Jehovah, Maker of Heaven and Earth, to a Congregation of ſinful Worms, and there preach, and prove to them, out of the infallible Scriptures, that they are born in Sin, and that in their natural conditions, they are but a few ſteps off Eternal Damnation: and that there is a bleſſed Jeſus come to ſeek and ſave what is loſt, and that he is able, and willing to ſave to the uttermoſt all that come to him: and yet after a Miniſter hath done al… this, not one (probably) of many Score… in the Auditory that brings the Doctrine preached, home to his own Soul, ſaying, Thi… is my Condition, my Soul's portion, I am by Nature a Child of wrath, God's Law hath found me ou…, and convinced me o… ſin, that there are none more guilty than I, and more worthy of Hell: I am the Man, the Woman, whom it curſeth, as ſure as if my Name was mentioned; but the generality detain the Truth in Unrighteouſneſs, they go away, and live as wickedly a… before. Now (the Lord be merciful to us) how could ever Duſt and Aſhes be thus unconcerned, p. 59did but Conſcience roundly, and ſoundly do its work, (viz.) to bear witneſs, to paſs ſentence, &c. But here is the bane of all, and the true Cauſe of mens Impenitency and Unconverſion, they hearken and yield to their luſts, and thereby Conſcience is laid aſleep. O young people, ſee the malignity of Sin's influence, and ſay, Away ye curſed Luſts, it's high time, O my Soul, to flee theſe. Awake, Conſcience, awake, it's high time to regard thy meſſage.

3dly. Theſe youthful Luſts, they increaſe that natural rebellion that is in the Will againſt turning to God; and ſo they indiſpoſe the Soul to Converſion: the Will is an excellent part, or power of the reaſonable Soul: it is compar'd, by ſome, to the Primum Mobile in the Heavens, that carrieth all the inferiour Orbs away in its own motion; or like a Queen ſitting upon its Throne, exerciſing its dominion over the other parts of the Soul: And as Conſcience hath ſeveral offices, and acts, ſo hath the Will. The Schoolmen marſhall up ſeveral; as. Volition, and that either abſolute, and efficacious, or more languid, and imperfect: (2.) Fruition▪ (3.) Intention: (4.) Election: (5.) Reſolution and Conſent, &c. but I ſhall only ſhew you how impoſſible a ſaving and found Converſion of the Soul can ever be, except the Will, this ſuperiour faculty in the Soul, be brought into ſubjection and obedience p. 60to Chriſt: and then ſhew you how youthful Luſts not only hinder that ſubjection of the Will to Chriſt, but ſtrengthen its reſiſtance and rebellion againſt it.

(1) How impoſſible a thing Converſion is without the Will be brought into obedience to Chriſt. When God firſt created Man upon Earth, this noble part of the Soul, the Will, was in a moſt perfect and holy conformity to the Will of God; but ſince Sin entred, the Will is ſo far fallen from its primitive honour, that Bernard ſaith, voluntas tua infernus eſt tuus, that mans Will now is his Hell; of a Virgin, ſhe is now become like a polluted Whore; So that naturally we will not come to Chriſt, John 5. 40. We will not be made clean, Jer. 13. 27. We will walk after our own Devices, Jer. 18. 12. Now how impoſſible a thing is it, that there ſhould be a through Converſion, till this natural Rebellion of the Will is ſlain, and removed; for the Will is the man, and it's everlaſtingly true, and will be found ſo, That his you are whom you willingly obey, whether it be of Sin unto Death, or Obedience unto Righteouſneſs, Rom. 6. 16.

(2.) Youthful Luſts yielded unto, ſtrengthen that natural averſeneſs and obſtinacy that is in our Will, and ſo it indiſpoſeth the Soul to Converſion. We read that Whoredom and Wine take away the Heart, in Hoſea 4. 11. Why, may ſome ſay, was the Heart ſet upon p. 61God before? No not at all, but by it is meant that thoſe Luſts do exceedingly augment that eſtrangedneſs to, and diſtance from God. So here there is a natural rebellion in the Will againſt God: but theſe youthful Luſts when fulfilled, do much more add to that reſiſtance and oppoſition, and further that wretched and vile averſion in the Will to God. And they will introduce ſuch a vile ſetled habitual enmity in the Will to the bleſſed God, as that you will wiſh there were no God, with David's Fool in the 14. Pſal. 1. For you cannot but know that your Luſts are deteſtable to the holy and pure Nature of God, who is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity, as the Prophet ſpeaks in the 1. Hab. 13. You have Items of this in your own Breaſts, you cannot plead ignorance herein, that when you obey your Luſts, you do that abominable thing which his Soul hateth and abhorreth; which (being done) moſt certainly influenceth the Will to a diſlike of, and regret at the holy Nature of God, that you like not to retain him in your thoughts, but will account thine own impure luſts more deſirable, and better than God: and if ſo, you may eaſily make an eſtimate how theſe youthful luſts indiſpoſe the Soul to Converſion: it may as well ſtand with the life of a man to be caſt into the depth of the Sea with a Milſtone about his neck, as it can ſtand p. 62with thy Converſion whilſt thou yieldeſt obedience to thy youthful Luſts; for theſe more and more alienate thy Will from God and Chriſt, and ſwell thee with pride and enmity againſt the holy Will and Word of God, that it will become a pleaſing thing to thee to ſhove God out of thy thoughts: 10. Pſal. 4. and to ſay to the Almighty, Depart from me, I deſire not the knowledge of thy ways: And can this ſtand with Converſion▪ O ſee the malignity of the influence that thy youthful Luſts have upon thy Will, to hinder thy Converſion: with what aſtoniſhment ſhould you bethink your ſelves, and ſay, What a wretch am I to yield to my youthful luſts, which ſet my Will againſt my bountiful and bleſſed Maker, the Author of my Life and Being. O the compleat and comprehenſive Wickedneſs of this, enough to make me tremble; what to hate God, and love my luſts that will damn me! O horrid temper, how canſt thou hold up thy Head before him whoſe Eyes are as a Flame of Fire, if there be found in thee an obſtinate downright averſation in thy Will! ſurely, O my Soul, if thou wer… to live here a thouſand years, and hadſt no other buſineſs than to bewail this, it would not be ſufficient: O young ones think of this. O that God would ſet it home upon your Hearts; methinks it ſhould caſt yo… down with amazement, and compel you t… p. 63ſay, when tempted to yield to your youthful Luſts, with that excellent young man in the 39. Gen. 1. How can I do ſo great Wickedneſs and ſin againſt God.

4thly. Theſe youthful luſts indiſpoſe the Soul to Converſion, as they exceedingly harden the heart: hence have you that admonition in the 3. Heb. 13. Take heed leſt you be hardened through the deceitfulneſs of Sin. There is a threefold hardneſs incident to the heart of man: (1.) Natural: (2.) Habitual or contracted: (3.) Judicial or penal. (1.) the Natural is found in all men, as they come into the world in their ſeveral Ages and Generations; it is derived to us from Adam, and it's part of that wretched corrupt nature that we receive from him by our immediate Parents. (2.) the Contracted or acquired hardneſs is that which we bring upon our hearts by a courſe of Sin: we read of it in Prov. 29. 1. Ezek. 3. 7. and Rom. 20. 5, 6. (3.) the Judicial hardneſs is a tradition, or being given up to our own hearts luſts, by a juſtly provoked God, not that God infuſeth any evil diſpoſition into the heart, but withdraweth his gracious Spirit, Deut. 29. 9. and moreover he leaves the ſtubborn Sinner to his own natural and contracted hardneſs, whereby he becometh more blind, dead, refractory, and obſtinate than ever: of this we read in the 9 of Exodus and the 12. in the inſtance of the Lord's p. 64hardening Pharaoh's Heart. Iſa. 6. 9, 10. Go and tell this People, hear you indeed, but underſtand not; and ſee you indeed, but perceive not; make the Heart of this People fat, leſt they be converted. It is a tremendous Text, and is quoted ſix times in the New Teſtament, Math. 13. 14. Mark 4. 12. Luk. 8. 10. John 12. 40. Acts 28. 26. Rom. 11. 8. Now it is principally the ſecond and third (viz.) Contracted and Judicial hardneſs that youthful luſts yielded to, do miſerably bring upon the Heart. Theſe make the Heart like the Leviathan's ſcales, as Job ſpeaks: theſe do as it were bury their Heart in the Grave, and roll a great Stone over it; and ſo they indiſpoſe the Soul to Converſion: for what fruit can ever be expected from a Rock, o… a Stone: let the Rain come down from Heaven upon it, let the Sun ſhine with its Beam… upon it; let the Seed's-man caſt his Seeds on it, yet the Rock is a Rock ſtill: So it is with a ſtony rocky Heart, let there be line upon line, and precept upon precept, alas there is no impreſſion made, neither can there be, until there be a removal of its hardneſs; and that can never be till the cauſe of that hardneſs be removed, which is a going on in the practice of theſe vile Luſts. O the malignity of their influence, they ſtop the Ears tha… the Heart becomes like the deaf Adder, they ſhut the Eyes, they fold up the Arms, the… make the Heart like an Adamant, regardle… p. 65under threatnings, and all other adminiſtrations uſed by God to awaken, convince, and convert Sinners; let one Miniſter come after another and cry aloud, lift up their Voices like Trumpets in the ſhrilleſt manner as Boanerges; yet as Zephaniah telleth us in 3. Chap. 5. They know no ſhame: let God ſpeak to them in their Proſperity, they will not hearken, 22. Jer. 21. let him multiply upon them the Fruits and Expreſſions of his Goodneſs, in daily Preſervations, Deliverances, &c. yet they deſpiſe the Riches of his Goodneſs, 2. Rom. 4. and 32. Deut. 15. But Jeſurun waxed fat, and kicked: then he forſook God which made him. O the malignity of Sin's influence: Solomon ſaith in 9. Eccleſ. 3. It fills the Heart with madneſs while they live. O young man, thou art beſides thy ſelf, bereaved of the right uſe of thy Reaſon, by following of thy luſts: hadſt thou ever any fear, or tenderneſs, any ſenſe of Sin, any compunction of Heart. O if thou yieldeſt to thy Luſts, how quickly will all be extinguiſhed; and not only ſo, but thoſe Luſts will bring thee to ſuch obduration as will lay thee naked and open to the unexpreſſible Miſery of having that Scripture fulfilled upon thee, 6. Iſaiah, and the 9. and 29 Chap. 10. The Lord hath poured upon you the Spirit of a deep ſleep. We may ſtand amazed to ſee how Perſons adorned with excellent Endowments of Nature, that have p. 66great ability in natural things, men of great Senſe, as we ſay, when they hear how their unmortified Luſts war againſt their Souls, and expoſe them to the Wrath of God, and Everlaſting Burning; yet can go on in their luſts without remorſe, or any akings of Heart; nay that which made the Son of God to bleed, an… brought him to ſuch bitter Agonies, and ſtrong Cries and Groans, and for which Vengeance is now tearing and tormenting thouſand in Hell. Alas, all is but as a Dream, whil… ſin prevaileth it hardeneth the Heart to … degree of ſpiritual Phrenſy, Hoſea 7. 9. 5. Jer. 3. 5. Iſa. 12. and 1. Chap. 5. lik… Jonah, faſt aſleep in the ſides of the Ship tho' ready to periſh. Young men, remember it, yielding to your Luſts will ſo inſenſibly harden you, that you will be like … man that is ſeized with the dead Palſie, who… tho' you pinch and ſtrike, he feels nothing or like Solomon's beſotted Wretch, 7. Pr… 14, 15. They have ſtricken and beaten me, b… I felt it not. Or like the Prophet's Aet… opian, 13. Jer. 23. Can the Aethiopian chan… his Skin, and the Leopard his Spots? the… may you change your accuſtomed Evi… Bernard deſcribing the malignity of Sin's i… fluence as to its encroaching Nature, o… ſerves this Gradation: At firſt, ſaith he, S… is importable, next time heavy, then ea… then light, then ſweet, at laſt neceſſa… Wherefore flee youthful Luſts, as ever y… p. 67would eſcape theſe Soul-ruining Evils, as blindneſs of Mind, ſearedneſs of Conſcience, incurable hardneſs of Heart: all which indiſpoſe the Soul to Converſion; nay, they expoſe it to Damnation.

5thly, Theſe youthful Luſts indiſpoſe the Soul to Converſion, as they miſerably enſlave and defile the Affections, which are ſeated in the ſenſitive apperite of a man: and they are ſuch as theſe, Anger, Love, Joy, Fear, Sorrow; theſe are planted in us to be ſubſervient to our Souls in glorifying God, and working out our own Salvation: But through theſe youthful Luſts they become ſubſervient to Satan, and predominant over the Soul, bringing it into miſerable bondage, and vile ſlavery, and ſo indiſpoſe it to Converſion. In Prayer, thy affections ſhould be fixed on God in Chriſt, as the ſole object of thy Love, Delight, and filial Fear: But are they ſo? doſt thou draw nigh to God as thy exceeding joy? tell me, young man, where are thy Bethels? thy Penuels? I doubt, upon a ſerious review, it will be found quite otherwiſe, that vain thoughts have lodged in thy mind, and that ſwarms of noiſome Luſts have been tumbling up and down the dead Sea of thy Soul in time of Prayer. Ah, how little of love to God, hatred of Sin, anſwerable to their nature, have poſſeſſed your Souls in duty: if any pious ſtirrings of Affections have been, how p. 68ſhort a ſtay have they made; how many more ambitious, wanton, covetous or revengeful Thoughts have been jumbled together, with them I appeal to you. Is it not enough to change that Prayer into Sin, wherein thy God hath been lodged with a crew of viperous Luſts, or rather wherein thy Affections have been committing ſpiritual Fornication with their Idols, or have been (Dinah like) gadding abroad with the Fools Eyes to and fro to the ends of the Earth. Now upon enquiry whence this comes about, if thou ſearch impartially, and caſt the lot right, it will appear that the Arch-Agent of, and in all this is thy minion Luſt, that Youth is under the power of: ſome complain of continual diſtractions in Prayer, their Minds are like the unquiet Waves of the Sea, up and down; their Affections unſtable, rambling up and down. Alas, the main reaſon of this woful poſture in Duty, is their unmortified Luſts; and it is very obſervable that the more proviſion you make for the Fleſh, to fulfil it in its luſts, the more dominion and tyranny it will have over your Thoughts and Affections in holy Duties: and is ſuch a Prayer ever like to iſſue in thy Converſion, wherein thy Affections have been under the vile umpire and influence of thy Luſts? It may rather be called a Service done to thy Luſts, than to God. There was Jehu, what ardent and zealous affection p. 69did he ſeem to have in the Service and Cauſe of God, when he cryed out, Come ſee my Zeal for the Lord of Hoſts. But what was it that influenced and moved his affections? it was not the Glory of God, but the luſt of Vain-glory and Self-advancement. Experience confirms this, that many in their youth have had ſhews of great affection in their Profeſſion of Godlineſs, who have after a while fell away, and become at laſt as ſenſeleſs and ſtupid about Heavenly things as any prophane one in the world.

O young People, thoſe Luſts you ſerve, will have ſuch an ill influence on your Affections, as that they will become like wild Horſes, to tear your Souls in pieces. O curſed Luſts, how unſpeakable is that thraldom they lay our affectionate part under, that when thy Affections ſhould be like Elijah's fiery Chariot, to mount thy Soul up to Heaven, they ſhould (through thy luſt) be like the Wheels of a Jehu's Chariot, furiouſly to hurry thy Soul to Hell. Our affections were planted in us for this end, to facilitate, and make our acceſs to God, to become eaſie, pleaſant, and delightful to our Soul; but, O miſerable change, they now are quite contrary, (through thy unmortified Luſts) they are like Clogs, Chains, and Fetters, to hinder the Soul's approach to God. When at any time the Ship of thy Soul ſhould hoiſe fail for Heaven, thy Affections (being defiled p. 70and led captive by thy Luſts) will (like a Sheet-Anchor) hold it back: When thou ſhouldſt be loving the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, with all thy Soul, and with all thy Mind; which our Saviour telleth you, is that firſt, and great Commandment, on which all depends: for (ſaith Chriſt) on this hang all the Law and the Prophets. O how deplorable a caſe is it! that inſtead of this, my depraved Affections ſhould terminate upon, and cleave to a Cup, or a Whore, or a dunghil world! O monſtrous wickedneſs! O young men bethink your ſelves, what a pernicious temper this is; ought it no… to cut you to the very Heart, to find your ſelves convicted of ſuch enmity, and averſion in your affections to the bleſſed God and whence is it but from your youthfu… Luſts? O diſeaſed Soul; if thy luſts had no… corrupted, and perverted thy Affections thou wouldſt have thought God as ſuitab… an object for thy love, as meat to the hungry, and drink to the thirſty. Is he not th… chiefeſt, beſt, moſt excellent, comprehenſive pureſt, fulleſt, and moſt immutable, permanent Good? Should not an object ſo admirably fit attract and allure thy ſuperlati… love? Do you not know, do n't your Co… ſciences tell you, that your affections oug… to be placed on God above all? and oug… it not to fill your Souls with horror, whe… you find not your affections ſtrongly be… p. 71and inclined to him? how much more then ſhould you loath your ſelves, when your Affections are ſullenly averſe to him? Is not this a fearful pitch of malignity? wouldſt thou not think him a vile Miſcreant, and reckon the Earth too good to bear him, that ſhould hate the preſence of his own Father, and abhor all converſe with him? and canſt thou ſo accuſe, and condemn ſuch a one, and not thy ſelf for much greater degrees of wickedneſs? better thy affections were diſinclined to thy neareſt Relations, yea, to thy ſelf, than to the bleſſed God, who is the ſpring of thy life and being; and yet thus it is while thy Luſts are obeyed, inſtead of loving God, thou loveſt thy Pleaſures more than God: inſtead of hating Sin, thou hateſt God more than Sin. O then, poſſeſs thy Soul throughly with a due and deep ſenſe of this great Evil, that thy youthful Luſts do thy poor Soul in depraving thy Affections; ſo that they ſeem to be in you, what the Devils were in the Herd of Swine, violently carrying you from God, the fountain of living Waters, to lying Vanities.

And thus I have ſhewed you how theſe youthful Luſts do hinder Converſion, as they indiſpoſe the Soul in all its parts, and faculties to Converſion. Which brings me to the ſecond thing, namely, to ſhew how theſe Luſts do hinder Converſion, as they directly p. 72oppoſe the means of it, and that both on God's part and yours.

1. On God's part: Theſe youthful Luſts provoke God to withdraw his Spirit and Grace, and leave you to your own Hearts Luſts; and then what hope of Converſion remains? It is God alone that can take away that Stony Heart, and give a Heart of Fleſh, that quickens the dead Soul. In Converſion we are ſaid to be his Workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus unto goo… Works, 2. Epheſ. 10. And St. John ſaith, 1. John 13. We are born again, not of Blood nor of the Will of the Fleſh, nor of the Will … man; that is, not by any natural power vertue, or ſtrength inherent in them; B… of the Will God, it's he that worketh both … will and to do; and his people are ſaid t… be a willing People in the day of his Power Pſal. 110. 3. The Metaphors that the holy Ghoſt uſeth in Scripture, to ſet forth th… work of Converſion by, do plainly poi… out this, That no leſs power than that Omnipotent Power of God, is required to th… Converſion of a Sinner: as for inſtance▪ (1.) That of the Reſurrection from the dead 6. Rom. 4. to raiſe the Dead, is the effect … an Almighty Power. (2.) That of Creation, 2. Epheſ. 10. And who can create b… God? no Creature can, the mightieſt A…g… cannot create the meaneſt Worm. Th… p. 73Converſion is ſet forth in Scripture, to be the Lord's own workmanſhip. Hence you read, 2. Epheſ. 1. You hath he quickned, who were dead in Sins and Treſpaſſes. And in 36. Ezek. 27. A new Spirit alſo will I put within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, and ye ſhall do them. And in 1 Cor. 4. 7. Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what haſt thou, that thou didſt not receive? And it was God that opened Lydia's Heart: It is true that the Lord of Heaven, the God of all Grace, who could work of himſelf, and without any means, is pleaſed to make uſe of means; to wit, his Word; as in the 1. James 18. By the Word of Truth, of his own Will begat he us, that we ſhould be a kind of Firſt Fruits of his Creatures. Hence the Word is called the Incorruptible Seed, 1 Pet. 1. 23. and the Goſpel is called the miniſtration of the Spirit. Hence the Lord hath appointed and inſtituted the great and honourable Office of the Miniſtry, and beſtows Gifts on his Miniſters, to preach the everlaſting Goſpel to the World, to open Sinners Eyes, and turn them from Darkneſs to Light. Hence Miniſters are called Spiritual Fathers; not that there is any inherent power in either the Word it ſelf, or him that preacheth it, but from the Spirit of God, whoſe Inſtruments we are, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5. The Weapons of our Warfare (ſaith the Apoſtle) are mighty through God to the pulling down p. 74of ſtrong holds, &c. And in 2 Cor. 4. 7. We have this Treaſure in Earthen Veſſels, that the Excellency of the Power may be of God: So then ſaith the ſame Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 3. 7. Neither is he that planteth, any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increaſe. Not any thing in a way of efficiency, only inſtrumentally; as a Pen is the Inſtrument, but it's the Hand that writes: ſo the Word preached, and the diſpenſe… of it, are Inſtruments of Converſion: but it's the Spirit of God is the quickning Agent: for it muſt needs ſurpaſs the ſtrength of a Creature to change the Nature, and to cauſe a return from ſo miſerable a privation, and death, as by Nature we are in; unto ſo glorious and excellent a participation of the divine Nature, and Life, as every converted Soul is put into, when transformed into the Image of God.

Now then to raiſe the Argument, and build upon this Foundation that I have laid; if the principal efficient Cauſe and means o… Converſion on God's part, be his own Almighty Arm revealed, and made bare, hi… Spirit poured out, and putting forth a quickning vital Energy; then there's little hope of Converſion, where this Almighty Agent is provoked ſo far forth, as to with-hold his Spirit, and to leave a Sinner to his own Hearts Luſt. But youthful luſts yielded to, and ſerved, do moſt certainly thus provoke God to withdraw his Spirit, and Grace; and therefore obſtruct their Converſion, in a direct oppoſing the means of it on God's part. That they do thus provoke God, is evident from theſe Scriptures, 81. Pſal. 11, 12. But my People would not hearken to my Voice, and Iſrael would none of me: So I gave them up unto their own Hearts Luſts, and they walked in their own Counſels. 1. Rom. 26. For this cauſe (ſaith the Apoſtle) God gave them up to vile Affections. This Text, it's true, ſpeaketh of the Heathens, of whom the Apoſtle had been ſpeaking before, in ver. 19, 20. he had been ſhewing what means they had to know God; they had not the Light of the Goſpel, as we have, only the Light of Nature: then he ſheweth us, ver. 21. how they had abuſed this Light; wherefore ſaith he, For this cauſe God gave them up. You ſee here what may befall poor Heathens, that have no more than a Natural Light; yet even they, for not improving, and living up to that, may ſo far provoke God, as to give them up. O what do you think, young people, that are within the Pale of the Church, you have what the Heathen had, and you have ſuperadded a further and more excellent Light, the Light of Scripture; and many of you have the enlightenings of the Spirit in manifold Convictions: I ſay what do you think will become of you, who obey p. 76not the Goſpel? you may read in 2 Theſſ. 1. 7, 8. what your Portion will be, without a ſpeedy fleeing your youthful Luſts. Did God give up the Heathens? O be afraid, young ones, that have the Light of Scripture before your Eyes in this Text: flee youthfu… luſts, leſt you by yielding to them provoke God to ſay, as once to Ephraim, He is joyne… to Idols, let him alone. q. d. Such a one knoweth better, but he hateth the Light; he muſt have his Luſts, let him have them, le… his Heart be made fat, that he never convert and turn. O fearful ſign of Reprobation. You will find your Soul (like: Bowle down hill) rowling to Hell amain▪ For if we ſin wilfully, after that we have received the Knowledge of the Truth, there remains no more Sacrifice for Sin, but a certain fearful looking for of Judgment, and fie… Indignation, which ſhall devour the Sinner. 10. Heb. 26, 27. My Spirit, ſaith God, ſhal… not always ſtrive with man, 6. Gen. 3. young People, did you never find the Spiri… of God in this Text, or others, tending … the ſame thing, to abandon your Luſts, ſtriving with you? Have you had no Motion excited? have you had no Thoughts caſt in that have had this aſpect and tendency which you have repreſt, and reſiſted through the indulgence of your youthful Luſts Know it, young man, that herein you hav… provoked God to take away his holy Spiri… p. 77and it is a righteous thing that the Spirit of God ſhould retire, and deſiſt as to further influences, and operations; which ſhould make you with awful thoughts retire into your own Soul, and ſmite upon the Thigh, and ſay, What have I done? I have provoked the Moſt High God to withdraw his Spirit: and can that Sin be ſmall, that hazards the favour of God, and the life of my Soul for ever? If once the abuſed Spirit of God depart, and leave thee to thy youthful Luſt, thou wilt be like Sampſon, when his Locks (wherein his ſtrength lay) were cut, Judges 16. 20. It was told Sampſon that the Philiſtines were upon him, and he awoke out of ſleep, and ſaid, I will go out as at other times before, and ſhake my ſelf, and he wiſt not that the Lord was departed from him: Or, like Eſau, Heb. 12. 17. who afterward would have inherited the Bleſſing, but was rejected, for he found no place for Repentance, tho' he ſought (it carefully with Tears: Or like thoſe Mountains of Gilboa, upon which neither the Rain, nor Dew falls. They ſay that naſtineſs in a Dove-houſe will cauſe the Dove to leave that Houſe: Sure I am that your youthful unclean Luſts will in time drive away that myſtical Dove, the holy Ghoſt, from thy Soul; and then who ſhall quicken thy dead Soul? Alas, if that great Maſter of Aſſemblies leave thee, never more to ſtrive with thee: what can poor Miniſters p. 78do? Suppoſe there were a vaſt Aſſembly o… Godly, able Divines met to conſult abou… thy Cure; they muſt all return (re infecta) i… vain, and ſay, as the King of Iſrael did i… another caſe to the poor Woman, that crie… to him in time of Famine, Help, my Lor… O King: And he ſaid, If the Lord do … help thee, whence ſhall I help thee, out of th… Barn-floor, or out of the Wine-preſs? 2 King. … 26, 27. So here, if the Lord have do… with thee, and will not pity, and help whence ſhould we out of our barren So… and earthen Veſſels? your caſe is dreadfu… and we can give you our Tears, but we ca… not give you any Oyl, not a drop of ſavin… Grace. If God have given you the Spir… of Slumber, and a deep Sleep, Iſa. 29. … ▪ 11. Rom. 8. Can we open the Heart, God ſhut it up? Can we plow up the Groun… if God lay it Fallow? here's a judgment i… deed! If a man ſin againſt God (ſaith Eli) w… ſhall intreat for him? So if God ſet him…e… againſt a Soul, who can recover that So… Thus you ſee the malignity of that infl… ence youthful Luſts have, in hindring of Coverſion, as thoſe luſts do oppoſe the mea… of it, on God's part, provoking him to t… judicial penal act, of withdrawing his Grac… and delivering up to their own hearts luſt And therefore it is a duty of ſpecial conce… to young ones, to flee their youthful lu… But then in the ſecond place, it will furth p. 79appear, if you conſider, that theſe youthful luſts do oppoſe the means of Converſion on the Soul's part.

2. Youthful Luſts oppoſe the means of Converſion on our own part, ſuch as Conſideration, Prayer and attendance upon God in his holy Word, Reſolution, and Reformation.

But here (perhaps) you may object, and ſay, That Converſion is not in your power, it is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God who giveth Grace, and ſheweth Mercy, to whom he pleaſeth, ex mero motu ſuo, & beneplacito, and who can move him, or command it from it?

A. This is a point which very many young ones (through Satan's ſubtilty) are greatly puzled about: but the chief fault is themſelves; let us endeavour to ſet you to rights, and all theſe matters in clear light, that ſo much ſtumble you, as to the uſe of means on your own part. And firſt (pray remember) by way of Conceſſion, that there is no man (without the mighty power of God, and his effectual Grace) can convert, and change his own corrupt Nature; this is granted. But then I ſay moreover, that where ever the Goſpel cometh, and is preached, as it is now (bleſſed be God) among us (there is none that I know of ſo much as queſtion it) but that all thoſe who enjoy it, and to whom it is preached, have ſuch a ſufficiency of means, and aids for Converſion p. 80and Salvation granted to them, a is abundantly ſufficient to convict, condemn, and leave wholly inexcuſable all thoſe that are diſobedient to it, and remain unconverted under it; that it was not ſo much their cannot, as their will not, and obſtinate refuſal, that is the proximate and immediate cauſe of their non-converſion and unbelief John 3. 19. This is the condemnation, Light i… come into the World, and men love Darkneſ… rather than Light, becauſe their Deeds are evil. John 5. 4. And ye will not come unt… me, that you might have Life. Jer. 8. 5. They refuſe to return. And it is upon this Hypotheſis, that all thoſe melting, moving Expoſtulations, and pleadings with Sinners, in the Word of God, are raiſed and built: as for inſtance, Turn, turn ye, why will you dye… as I live, ſaith the Lord, I deſire not the Death of a Sinner. Ezek. 33. 11. Chap. 18. 23. Ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well, waſh you make ye clean: come now let us reaſon together▪ ſaith the Lord, though your Sins be as Scarlet▪ they ſhall be white as Snow; though they be red like Crimſon, they ſhall be as Wool. Jer. 13. 27. O Jeruſalem wilt thou not be made clean … when ſhall it once be?

Thus having cleared what lay in our way as matter of Objection, and diſcouragement, touching the means of Converſion on our part, I ſhall proceed to conſider (more particularly) thoſe inſtituted means of Converſion; and p. 81then ſhew you how your Luſts oppoſe thoſe means, and thereby hinder your Converſion. For the Means, I ſhall begin with that of Conſideration, and that becauſe I find the Holy Ghoſt in Scripture, beginning here with unconverted Sinners, commanding, and commending this as an excellent means of Converſion in the 1 Kings 8. 47. If they ſhall bethink themſelves, and repent, then hear thou their Prayer, &c. where you ſee plainly that retiring into our own hearts by ſerious thoughtfulneſs, and conſideration, is a ſingular means to Repentance and Converſion. Again in Hag. 1. 5. Now therefore thus ſaith the Lord, Conſider your ways. Pſal. 119. 59. I thought on my ways, and turned my Feet unto thy Teſtimonies: He firſt conſidered, and then he converted. So the prodigal Son came firſt to himſelf by conſideration, and then he came home to his Father by ſound Converſion. Luke 15. 17. Here the Lord complains of that People's impenitence, in Jer. 8. 6. No man repented him: And in the next words relateth the Cauſe of it to be want of conſideration, No man ſaid, What have I done? O would but young men retire from the Noiſe, and fooliſh Vanities of this world, and allow their Souls leiſure for the ſerious exerciſe of this important Duty; to conſider their ſinful and woful eſtate by Nature, in what poſture they ſtand God-wards with their apoſtate Natures; and how the Wrath of God that is revealed from Heaven againſt p. 82all Unrighteouſneſs; this wrath abideth on them every moment, during their unconverted ſtate: and how fearful a thing it is to carry ones doom in ones own boſom! to go up and down the world in a ſtate of enmity to the moſt high Jehovah, under his Cur…e and Wrath, as they moſt certainly do i… their ſtate of Nature, and there to conſider of their manifold Omiſſions, and Commiſſions, how many thouſand ways they have offended God; how many checks of Conſcience they have ſtifled; what Motions of the Spirit they have reſiſted; what preciou… ſeaſons of Grace they have neglected; wha… Light, Love, Mercies, Engagements, Vow… they have ſinned againſt; what pains they have taken to ſatisfie their Luſts, ſtopping their Ears at the holy Inſtructions, Counſels Exhortations, intreaties of Parents & Miniſters what eſtrangedneſs, and ſeparation thei… Sins have made between God and their Souls and then to conſider how ſhort their time o… Earth will be, how ſure it is that their youthful Sins will ſooner or later find them out … how certain that God will bring them … Judgment for all thy Pleaſures in the Fleſh, all thy Thoughts, Words and Deeds. Thu… I ſay, would but young men take time … commune with their own Souls about the… tremendous matters, it would ſurely awake… and call them to fear, and enquire, What m… I do to be ſaved? And ſo prepare them fo… that other Head of Conſideration, name… p. 83the rich, ſoveraign, and free Grace of God in Chriſt, laid open in the Goſpel; how God hath ſo loved the World, as to give his only Son to dye for us, when enemies; that whoſoever believeth, and repenteth, ſhall not periſh, but have everlaſting Life: how able and willing Chriſt is, to ſave, and receive all heavy laden weary Souls, that ſee themſelves loſt, and …aſte the bitterneſs, and feel the burden of their Sin that come to him; how lovingly he invites all ſuch to come to him, and aſſureth them of a gracious reception, and a full remiſſion of all their Sins, and eternal Salvation, &c. and that it is not all the aggravations of their Sins, however they have been multiplied, and commited againſt the Light of Natural Conſcience, or the Light of Supernatural Grace revealed in the Scriptures, that ſhall be an impediment, or bar to their acceptance, and pardon upon their return: If the Wicked forſake his Way, and the Ʋnrighteous man his Thoughts, and turn unto the Lord, he will have mercy, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon, Iſa. 55. 7. or multiply to pardon. Again, there is nothing but an unbelieving, impenitent Heart, reſiſting this Grace, can, or ſhall ever deprive you of ſo great Salvation, as is offered to you in the Goſpel: and tho' you have refuſed in paſt ſeaſons, when he hath called; yet for all that he won't refuſe you. If you flee from your luſts to him, the only refuge for loſt Souls, the match ſhall p. 84not break on his part; and if you periſh, and miſs Salvation at laſt, it ſhall not be long of him So that this is undeniable (viz.) that Conſideration on our part, is a moſt fit and appoſite means of Converſion. I have ſome time read of a Religious Father, that had rebellious wicked Son, that was a great grie… to him; when the Father was on his dea… bed, he called his Son to him, and laid hi… under a ſolemn engagement and promiſe▪ That he would every day retire alone, a… ſpend one quarter of an Hour in ſeriou… thinking. After the pious Father was dea… the wild Son began to conſider of his promiſe to his Father, and accordingly once day retires; at firſt he began to think of th… Honours, and Pleaſures of this World; bu… after a while he began to conſider, what h… Father's deſign was, in obliging him the… once a day to retiredneſs and thoughtfulneſs and then he began to call to mind his Sin… and wicked Life that he had lived: and th… good Spirit of God concurring with thoſ… thoughts, he became a new man. So tha… Conſideration is a means of Converſion.

Now I come in the next place to ſhew yo… how youthful luſts directly oppoſe this mea… of Converſion: and that will appear, it yo… conſider the rage of theſe Luſts, they wi… not give the judgment leave, or leiſure … animadvert, and conſider; they are imp… ruous, and tyrannical, hurrying poor Si… ners Hell wards: this is obvious to our o… ſervation p. 85every day; how many young people do we ſee, by one baſe pleaſure or other, always led captive from the time they awake in the Morning, till they lie down at Night, and never take time to conſider or ask themſelves, What have I done? What muſt I do to be ſaved? Where muſt I abide for ever? If a man rides through a Country full ſpeed, he can never draw a true Map of that Country: If you …oile, and ruffle the Waters, you can never ſee your face in them. Thus if a Soul be hurried with its Luſts, it can never retire, and ſoberly debate matters in its own breaſt. Conſideration can find no place in ſuch a Soul, as Chriſt told the malicious Jews, in the …, John, 36 37. My words can find no place in …ou; becauſe they were ſo enraged, and blind…d with the luſts of Malice and Envy againſt …im; that moſt pure, peaceable, meek, and …eavenly Doctrine of the Goſpel, which Chriſt had taught among them, could have …o entertainment in, nor government over …heir Hearts, to win them to him, becauſe …eir hearts were engaged to their Luſts. So … is here, when God calls, and Miniſters …ll, and the dangers and miſeries of thy nee…y Soul calls, O young man, conſider thy …ays, remember thy Creator, know that … will bring thee to Judgment: alas, the…e …uſts deaſen and drown all. O wretched …very, tho' Life and Death be ſet before p. 86duplicate page p. 89duplicate page p. 86thee, tho' thou art allured with all the glorious promiſes of pardon, and Eternal Lif… on the one hand: and tho' thou art conſtrained with all the Terrors of the Lord, th… Curſes of the Law, and the everlaſting Flame of Hell on the other hand; yet theſe Luſ… ſlight, & make nothing of all theſe amazin… and tremendous Truths, as if they were n… worthy of one quarter of an hours ſerio… Conſideration: they do ſo haunt, a… ſhackle poor Sinners, as that they hold the… Priſoners (arctâ cuſtodiâ) in cloſe bondag… and will not allow them the liberty of co… ſideration, and bethinking themſelv… Hence theſe Luſts are ſtiled Snares, Ne… Bonds, Eccleſ. 7. 28. 2 Tim. 2. 26. and this reſpect are Sinners compared to Ca… tives and Priſoners kept up. Iſa. 61. 1. a… Chap. 42. 7. Hence Simon Magus by re… ſon of his being under the dominion of th… luſt of Covetouſneſs, tho' he was alſo und… a Chriſtian profeſſion, and had been but j… before Baptized; yet you read Acts 8. 23. ſee (ſaith Peter) that thou art in the Gall… Bitterneſs, and in the Bond of Iniquity. A… ſo that young man, of whom you read the 19. Matth. he ſeemed to be near to … Kingdom of Heaven, but he was chai… faſt by the Love of Riches, and that ſet hi… quite back again. O young men, yo… Luſts, if you give way to them, will … come ſo ravenous, outragious, and tyra… no… page missing p. 89luſts malign Influences, what cauſe have you to Flee theſe Luſts!

Another means, on our part, of Converſion, is Prayer; thus we read in Jer. 31. 18, 19. of Ephraim, when he was about turning, he prayeth to the God of all Grace, Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned: In this reſpect Peter counſels Simon Magus, Acts 822. Repent (ſaith he) of this thy Wickedneſs, and Pray to God, if perhaps the Thought of thine Heart may be forgiven thee. Pray mind this Scripture. q. d. though thou art in the very Gall of Bitterneſs, and in the Bond of Iniquity; yet ſuppoſing there remains only a poſſibility, a perhaps of Pardon and Salvation, yet thou art bound to Pray: I know there are many deboiſt, lewd Youngſters in this Age, that imitate thoſe prophane Wretches, of whoſe helliſh Language you read in the 21. Job 14, 15. They ſay to the Almighty, Depart from us, we deſire not the knowledge of thy Ways: And what is the Almighty that we ſhould ſerve him? and what profit is it if we Pray to him? But there is little hopes of their Converſion. However this is moſt certain, that Prayer is an Inſtitution of God's, in order to Converſion, as you may ſee in thoſe two Scriptures, Hoſea 14. 1, 2, 3. O Iſrael, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou haſt fallen by thine Iniquities. In that Verſe you have God's Invitation to Converſion; and then in the ſecond Verſe you have his Direction p. 90how to go about it, Take with you words, and turn unto the Lord, ſay unto him, Take away all Iniquity, and receive u… graciouſly. And then if you read tha… 36. Ezek. 26, 27. where you have God promiſing the Grace of Converſion, in thoſe words, A new Heart will I give unto you; and preſently enjoyning Prayer, as a means on our part, ver. 27. Thus ſaith the Lord, I will yet for this be ſought, by the Houſe o… Iſrael, to do it for them.

If you ask, What Prayer is?

I anſwer, Prayer is the offering up of ou… Deſires to God, for things agreeable to hi… Will, in the name of Chriſt. Theſe Deſire muſt proceed from an Heart touched with the ſenſe of our ſin and miſery, and the apprehenſion of God's mercy in Chriſt: an… they muſt be ſervent and conſtant; like th… Publican, God be merciful, or propitious, … me a Sinner, Luke 18. and Gen. 32. 25. I will not let thee go, except thou bleſs me. Luk. 18. 1. to this end our Saviour ſpake that Parable to inſtruct us, that we ought to Pray, and not faint: like that important Woman of Canaan, who would know no diſcouragements, being once entred and engaged in this heavenly Exerciſe; It is not meet (ſaith our Lord) to take Childrens Bread, and give it to Dogs: ſhe owneth it, Truth, Lord, ſaith ſhe, Matth. 15. 26. yet the Dogs may eat of the Crumbs that fall from their Maſters Table. p. 91O when a poor Sinner cometh to God by Chriſt, and knocketh for converting Grace, out of a ſenſe of its damned, undone condition: if he prevail not, and cryeth out, O thou moſt patient (tho' provoked) God, it's matter of admiration, that thou ſuffereſt ſuch a Viper as I am to live and breath in thy common Air: O pity me a Hell-deſerving Sinner, for the ſake of thy dear Son, who made ſatisfaction by his bitter Death and Paſſion to thy Juſtice, and grant me this favour in thy ſight, the forgiveneſs of my Sins, and the Spirit of Grace, to ſubdue the power of my luſts, and to renew me in Soul and Body: O Father of Mercies, if thou do not ſhew me this favour and mercy, I ſhall live thine enemy, and ſhall, I know not how ſoon, dye miſerably, to mine own eternal undoing. O draw me into Union with thy bleſſed Son, unto whom none can come except thou draw: O let me never reſt, till it be out of doubt, that I am converted, and that God in Chriſt is mine: let my Tears be my Meat night and day, while I have a being, till I obtain Grace and Mercy to help my needy miſerable Soul. After this manner is this Exerciſe to be performed, and it brings God's Inſtitution, it is under a promiſed Bleſſing, and many can ſet to their ſeals, that their labour herein hath not been in vain, with reference to Repentance and Converſion. Now giving way to youthful p. 92luſt, directly oppoſeth Converſion, both as it withdraws you from it, and withereth your Soul in the performance of it. Alas, when your Luſts grow clamorous, and you obſequious to them, they will breed in you an averſation & oppoſition to Prayer: you will not find a Heart inclined to, but wretchedly diſ-inclined from God, which is a ſad caſe indeed; and to have a hard Heart, that cannot Pray (was the note of an Eminent Saint, and Servant of God now aſcended) compleateth a Soul's miſery; it pulls down fury and deſtruction upon the Heads of ſuch; as you may ſee in the 10. Jer. 25. O what care ſhould you take to preſerve your comfortable acceſs to God by Chriſt every day: our Life is a worthleſs thing without it; hence in 1 Pet. 3. 7. the Apoſtle doth ſo earneſtly preſs Husbands and Wives to exemplary walking, that your Prayers (ſaith he) be not hindred. Now there is nothing ſo much hindereth Prayer, as giving way to your Luſts; for by theſe you provoke God to ſtop his Ear, and withdraw and ſtand at a diſtance from you, and by theſe you irritate the Rebellion of your own Hearts againſt God, and cauſe it to ſtand at a greater diſtance from God: as Adam when he yielded to eat of the forbidden Fruit, he grew ſhy of God. Woful experience evinceth this, when Perſons have given way to Pride, or Paſſion, or Luſt, or ſinful Pleaſures in the day, they p. 93can't tell how to go and pray to God at night, or look him in the Face, with any comfort or confidence: when Conſcience upbraideth, doſt thou pray, O vile Hypocrite! haſt thou been kindling the Fire of his Wrath all day, and doſt thou think to obtain his favour all of a ſudden? When thou haſt been grieving his Spirit, and tearing open the wounds of the bleſſed Jeſus, by thy wilful ſinning againſt Light, and Convictions, how canſt thou expect the Comforter ſhould come to thee? If a man were to plead for his Life at the Bar, would he be ſo mad as to diſtemper himſelf with ſtrong Drink before hand; this were the ready way to loſe him his Life: and ſo it is the ready way to loſe your Converſion, wherein ſtands the Life of your Souls, if you intoxicate them with the ſtupefying Vapours, that ariſe from your fulfilled Luſts. It was holy Mr. Dod's ſaying, That either Praying would make us leave off Sinning, or Sinning would make us leave off Praying. And then pray obſerve, your Luſts tend to the manifeſt withering, cripling your Souls in the performance of this duty: It cuts and clips the Soul's wings in Prayer, and then down you fall, and ſink as a dead thing in Prayer. O therefore flee youthful Luſt, or they will render Prayer no more than a dead empty Formality; and how waſte and deſolate a thing is that? it will be like ſome Diſeaſe in the Body, that converts all the Food, that ſhould p. 94nouriſh Nature, to the feeding themſelves, and ſo macerate, and miſerably conſume the Body; or like ſome Thief, or Thieves in a Houſe, the Maſter's Goods and Stock continually waſte and conſume: and no wonder, the Viper is in their own Boſoms. Thus, young men, your Luſts will bring leanneſs into your Souls in Prayer. O young man, doſt thou find the Lord gone in Prayer, no diſcoveries of himſelf, but a great eſtrangedneſs: wouldſt thou know the cauſe? read that in Ezek. 14. 5. They were eſtranged through their Luſts. Be aſſured of this, there is a Heart-league, and ſome youthful Luſt or other, which lays an embargo upon the Soul, and arreſts the profit of all thy Prayers Suppoſe a man did know, and ſee his own Wife loving and cleaving to ſome other man; would not this ſpoil the comfort of their communion? as we that are reaſonable Creatures, don't love to be among unreaſonable Brutes in the Wilderneſs, or the Living to be among the Tombs and the Dead: So a holy God regards not the Prayers, will not be enquired of, nor ſpoke with, by thoſe who regard their Luſts in their Hearts, Iſa. 58. 1, 2, 3, 4. Why have we faſted, and thou regardeſt not? You took pleaſure▪ ſaith the Lord, and brake not the Bonds of Wickedneſs. So ſome complain, Alas! we have prayed for Pardon, and Peace, and the Manifeſtations of God's Love, but have received no anſwer, find no return; now p. 95whence is this? Oh young man, ſure there is ſome betwitching Luſt or other ſucks thee. As if I ſaw a Plant or Tree that is daily watered, and has no want of outward means of flouriſhing, and bearing Fruit; yet withereth, and dyeth away, be ſure there is ſome Worm in the Root corroding it. I have heard of late many young People pouring out their Complaints after this manner, Alas, I have been ſeeking, and knocking at the door of Ordinances, Prayer, Word, Sacrament, &c. but have not, find not, feel not ſupplies come in: I am like thoſe that had been toiling all Night, and catch nothing. Oh never was my Heart ſo dead in Duty, ſaith one: ſo ſtraitned, and ſhut up, ſaith another! And hence ſome cry out, To what purpoſe ſhould we wait any longer? What profit is there in Praying to the Almighty? What ſweetneſs in Ordinances? What is Chriſt more than another? Now, I pray whence is this? What is Chriſt a barren Wilderneſs? a Land of Darkneſs? a broken Ciſtern? a Field without a Treaſure? a Well without Water? a Cloud without Rain? What is the Lord unwilling to hear? and pitty a poor diſtreſſed Sinner, that comes and makes its moan to him? And is it in vain to ſeek him? Oh no! Chriſt is precious, God is gracious, the hearer of Prayers, the rewarder of ſuch as diligently ſeek him. But here is the true cauſe of all, a man comes to God with his Idol in his Heart, and then God will not ſpeak with p. 96him; can you ever imagin that ſo pure▪ Majeſty ſhould match with your Luſts? no no, for then ſhould the Father of Light have communion with the darkeſt Darkneſs: ſooner will he leave thee, while tho… liveſt to be a Shrub, or Heath in the Deſe… that ſees not when Good cometh, and to b… a magor Miſſabib when thou dieſt; than eve… let thee in to acquaintance with himſelf, ti… the league and power of thy youthful Luſ… be broke. Can two walk together that an… not agreed? No man can ſerve two Maſters but either he will love the one, and hate th… other▪ &c. Matth. 6. 24. O be not deceive…, God is not mocked: if you regard Iniqui…y in your hearts, God won't hear you… Prayer. Poſſibly thou art pinch'd, throug… the power of a natural Conſcience flying thy face, telling thee that ſuch Luſts will ſit thee at laſt; and this ſends thee to th… Knees, and then thou crieſt, Lord, Lor… there be theſe, and theſe youthful Luſts of min… that wring my Conſcience, that I can have … quiet; O eaſe me of them. And thus tho… ſeekeſt out to pacifie and ſtop the Mouth … Conſcience, and that's all: never comeſt up to practiſe this Rule, to flee theſe Luſts▪ but ever likeſt, loveſt, and liveſt them never ſell all, part with all, and ſo ru… divorced from them all, to Chriſt, taking his bleſſed Yoke upon thee, ſaying, He, an… he alone ſhall rule and reign in them, and over p. 97them. Oh that ſuch would ponder that Text, James 1. 7, 8. Let not a double-minded man think to receive any thing at the hands of the Lord; and that other place in 1. Iſaiah 10 to 14. I am weary (ſaith the Lord there) of your New-Moons, and your very Aſſembling is provoking to me, while your Hands and Hearts are unclean, and full of ſin: waſh ye, make ye clean, &c. The truth is, your youthful Luſts in Prayer, do render you moſt abominable and odious in the ſight of God: for they do (as it were) challenge, and bid defiance to God; whence elſe are thoſe thunders of his provoked Majeſty? in 1. Mala. 14. 7. Jer. 9, 15, 16. 33. Ezek. 31, 32, 33. Chap. 14. from the 1 ſt. verſe to the 9. To go and Pray with the Idol of my Luſt in my heart, is a mocking God, and God won't be mocked; nay, let me tell you, God's anger is increaſed by ſuch Prayers, and then I appeal to you what Good can be looked for from ſuch Prayers? alas, rather Confuſion, than Converſion. O young People, pray remember it, your Luſts will not only blunt, and take off the edge of Prayer, that it ſhall never do any execution; but they turn thy very Prayers into ſin, and how likely that is to turn thy heart God wards, judge ye.

Thus I have ſhewed you how your youthful Luſts hinder Converſion, as they oppoſe the means of it. Were there a demand made, p. 98why Conſideration, and Prayer, and othe… Godly means ſhould be ſo irkſome, and bu… denſom? Is God ſo undelightful an obje… to approach unto, that you cannot endu… his preſence, or are ſo ſoon weary in hol… Exerciſes, like a man under a heavy loa… Oh no, to draw nigh to God in Prayer, is th… joy of holy Souls; but they are thoſe Lu… within that make it (to our corrupt Nature ſo unpleaſant, and tedious. And thus have ſhewed you, how they oppoſe th… means of Converſion on our part; and ther… fore it is a duty of ſuch ſpecial concern me… for young men to flee youthful Luſts, becau… of the malignity of their influence, expreſſe firſt in that they hinder Converſion. No… I come to the ſecond Head, to ſhew yo… the malignity of their influence as they hu… ry Youth into grievous Temptations.

2. A ſecond particular of the maligni… of youthful Luſts inflence lieth in this, vi… ▪ In that they hurry Youth into grievo… Temptations.

There are two ſorts of Temptations th… we read of in Scripture, the Apoſtle Jam… treats of both, in the 1. chap. ver. 2. and … 14. The former ſort are no other than Affl… ctions, which are for the probation an… tryal of the Chriſtian's Faith and Patience and with reſpect to theſe the Apoſtle ſaith My Brethren count it all Joy, when you f… into divers Temptations, ver. 2. And Moſ… p. 99ſaith, that God tempted Abraham, 22. Gen. 1. That is God proved, and tryed his Servant Abraham's Faith. But now the other ſort of Temptations, are no other than ſolicitations and ſeducements to Sin; and with reſpect to theſe, the Apoſtle ſaith in the 13. and 14. verſes. Let no man ſay when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with Evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own Luſt, and enticed; then when Luſt hath conceived, it bringeth forth Sin, and Sin when it is finiſhed, bringeth forth Death. And hence our bleſſed Lord teacheth us to watch and pray, that we enter not into Temptation; that is to ſin; for in this ſenſe is the word uſed in Scripture, as foreign, or to try, is the proper word for the other temptation; ſo foreign is the proper word for temptation to ſin. And of this ſort of temptation it is that youthful Luſts are both the Fons, and Fomes, the breeder, and feeder, the food and fuel, the mother and nurſe, they do both by force and fraud, violently hale, and hurry, and cunningly entice, and draw young ones to ſin. The Devil may flatter you, but he cannot force you: it's your Luſt that opens the Door, or temptation could never enter. It hath been an old practice of Sinners, when they fall into ſin, to accuſe and lay all the blame either upon the Devil, or the p. 100inſtrument that provoked them. Oh, ſa… they, the Devil owed them a ſpight, and no… he hath paid it; not conſidering that th… true procreating cauſe of Sin, is a mans ow… Luſt. It muſt be own'd that this World full of Snares and Temptations, to with draw Youth from God's houſe, to the Al… houſes, and there provoke them to Intemp… rance: and to Gaming houſes, and the… provoke them to conſume their Eſtates, an… precious time: and to filthy houſes, an… there provoke them to deſtroy themſelv… for the ſake of brutiſh pleaſures. In this ſen… it is true, homo homini daemon: One is a Devil to another, i. e. tempters to Sin. But a theſe are but external movers, the princip… Agent is thy own Luſt within. As one ſaith Temptation is a Siege, Satan is the Enem… without the Walls, labouring to force a… entrance; our Luſts are the Traytors with in, that hold correſpondency with t… Enemy without, and open the Gate of th… Soul to receive him. They are our ow… Luſts that go over to Satan, in the day … battel, and fight againſt our Souls, 1 Pet. 2. O young men, your Luſts are like the me… of Keilah to David, in the day of temptation, 1 Sam. 23. 11. Poor David was hate… and hunted up and down by Saul, who ſough… his Life: at length he cometh to Keilah preſently it was told Saul, that David w… come to Keilah. David enquireth of the Lor… p. 101Whether the men of Keilah would deliver him up into the hands of his Enemy Saul? And the Lord ſaid, They will deliver thee up. Whereupon David preſently fled, and ſo eſcaped. Thus if you follow not this counſel, to flee your youthful luſts, they will certainly deliver you up in the hour of temptation, that you will not be able to deliver your own Soul: they will betray you, as Dalilah did Sampſon, and let in the uncircumciſed Philiſtines upon you. When Judas his heart was ſet upon the luſt of Covetouſneſs, how miſerably was he overcome, with many deſperate Temptations, he will betray the precious Life, and Blood of the Son of God, for thirty pieces of Silver, and afterward you know what became of him; ſo true is that in the 1 Tim. 6. 9, 10. They that will be rich (ſaith the Apoſtle) whoſe Hearts run after their Covetouſneſs, fall into Temptation, and a Snare, into many fooliſh and hurtful Luſts. So when Balaam's Heart was ſet upon this Luſt, he will riſe early, run, and ride till he is weary, that he might Curſe Iſrael; at length he becomes (through his Luſt) more deſperate, and ſenſeleſs of God's fury, than the dumb Aſs, he diſſembles his Conſcience, coins cunning Evaſions. O the malignity of luſts influence! Suppoſe it be the Luſt of Uncleanneſs, what pernicious temptation doth this caſt many young men upon? frequenting Satan's Seminaries, thoſe p. 102Chappels of Hell, Stews and Plays, wher… oftentimes are Challenges, Stabs, Comba… Blood, and Murder: thus have many ventured as deep as Hell, to gratifie their filthy Luſts. Hence they are ſaid to draw Iniqui… as with Cart-ropes, Iſa. 5. 8. and that the wearied themſelves to commit Iniquity, Jer. 9. … and compared to fed Horſes, every one neig… ed after his Neighbours Wife, Jer. 5. 8. an… carried on with a bruitiſh rage, againſt a… reaſon, without any counſel, or conſideration; this is that which the Apoſtle callet… foreign the eagerneſs of Luſt, noteth a raging eagerneſs. 1 Theſ. 4. 5. … that, where it is conſented to, it carrieth a… before it, breaks all ſorts of Bonds, the La… of God, the Law of Nature; all are but as th… new Cords, wherewith Sampſon was boun… as ſoon as he awoke from Sleep, he bra… all like ſo many twine Threads. An i… ſtance hereof holy Providence, while I a… writing, affords me, of a young man, th… through yielding to the Luſt of Concup… ſcence, hath plunged himſelf into ſuch drea… ful Temptations, and conſuming Miſerie that he moves like a Shadow, and pin… away under the malignity of his Luſts i… fluence, to the grief of them that behol… him. The holy Apoſtle telleth us, Th… when Luſt hath conceived, it bringeth forth S… that is the outward act of Sin, and when S… is finiſhed, it bringeth forth Death. The Metaphor there uſed, is taken from a teeming Mother: now a Mother conceiveth firſt inwardly, and after the revolution of ſo many Months, bringeth forth the Fruit of her Womb viſibly to others; thus here, according to that noted place, Matth. 15. 19. Out of the Heart proceed evil Thoughts, Murders, Adulteries, Fornications, Thefts, falſe Witneſs, Blaſphemies. So in 2 Peter 1. 4. all the actual Corruptions and Abominations that are in the world, are through Luſt. Oh there is a vaſt difference between our Lord Jeſus his being tempted, and ours; when Satan came to tempt him, he found nothing in him, John 14. 13. nothing to comply with him, there was no internal temper, no indwelling luſt, no corrupt matter to faſten on: but it is otherwiſe with us, A man's Enemies (ſaith Chriſt) are they of his own Houſe. O remember it, young man, the principal Cauſe of all thy miſery, is the Luſt of thy own Heart, if all outward obſtacles were removed, thou mayſt yet be an Adulterer, a Thief, &c. in the ſight and account of God, as one hath it,

Omnia ſi claudas, intus adulter erit.

Moreover, conſider the malignity of theſe Luſts, as they have a ſly, ſubtile, enticing property, you will ſee a neceſſity of fleeing them. O young man, thy Luſts are as p. 104deceitful to betray you with Smiles, and Kiſſes, as they are violent, and deſperate to ſtab you with temptations to bold and bloody perpetrations of ſin. Your Luſts not only tempt by haling, and hurrying you o… to ſin in an imperuous manner, but they alſo tempt you by flattery, and putting Tricks and Cheats upon you; inſomuch that it is next to impoſſible, that you ſhould ever flee, and avoid the Cheats, except you flee your Luſts that are the cheaters. Ah how many thouſand of young ones hath Luſt ſlain this way; fitly may that be applied here that is ſpoken of the Harlot in Prov. 7. 26. She hath caſt down many wounded. Solomon was a wiſe man, yet Luſt made a fool of him; Luſt hath much of the ſubtilty of the old Serpent in its blinding Sinners minds, i… draweth young men to ſin, by drawing a vail over their Conſciences; thus enticing them on with fair & flattering Promiſes, one while pleading the ſweetneſs and pleaſure of yielding, and giving way to its deſires and ſolicitations; at other times arguing ab utili, the profit, and gain, the honour, and preferment. Hence the voluptuous, and unwary Youth are enſnared, as you read frequently in the Proverbs 1. Chap. and the 7. Chap. promiſing themſelves abundance of ſatisfaction, in yielding to their Luſts 18. ver. of that 7. of the Prov. Come let … take our fill, and ſolace our ſelves with Loves p. 105Stolen Waters are ſweet, and Bread eaten in ſecret is pleaſant, Prov. 9. 17. Doth Ahab ſell himſelf to his Luſts to work wickedneſs? what gratis? Oh no, his luſts promiſe him a brave Vineyard. So Gehazi, what will he frame and utter a Lye for nothing? Oh no, he ſhould have Sheep, and Oxen, and change of Rayment, &c. So Achan, what will he ſin for nothing? Oh no, there's a Wedge of Gold. So Judas, what will he betray innocent Blood for nothing? Oh no, he ſhall have thirty Pieces of Silver. Thus doth Luſt tempt by flattery & fraud, and all is a meer Cheat; for, pray, what got Ahab by his Vineyard? was it not the ruin of him and his? oh it brought forth Grapes of Gall. And what got Gehazi by his Lye, but a Leproſie entailed upon him, and his Heirs for ever? And what got Achan by his Wedge? It is the notion of one upon it, That it was a wedge to cleave aſunder his Soul from God: And I may add, to cleave aſunder his Soul from his Body too. So Judas his thirty pieces purchaſed him an Halter. Thus for a luſts pleaſure, multitudes of Youth are tempted into it by meer flattery, as you may ſee in the 20. Job 12. 14. Though Wickedneſs be ſweet in the Mouth, yet the Meat thereof will turn to the Gall of Aſps within. And in Prov. 9. 17. Stolen Waters are ſweet, &c. but they conſider not, that the Dead are there, and that her Gueſts are in p. 106the Depths of Hell. I have read a Story … a Roman Soldier, who was by a Cou… Marſhal condemned to dye for breaking hi… rank, to ſteal a Bunch of Grapes; and … he was going to execution, ſome of th… Soldiers envied him, that he had Grapes and they had none, (ſaith he) Do ye em… me my Grapes, I muſt pay dear for them. S… may we ſay of all the pleaſure of your Luſt… its laſt act is always Tragical, it ſerveth th… young man as Abſolom did Amnon, whe… his Heart was merry with Wine, then h… killed him, 2 Sum. 13. 28. Or as Jael, … enticed him into her Tent, and gave hi… Milk, and layeth him to ſleep; and then S… put her Hand to the Nail, and with the Hamme ſhe ſmote Siſera, ſhe ſmote off his Head, wh… ſhe had pierced, and ſtricken through h… Temples, Judg. 5. 26. O young men, fle… your Luſts, yield not to their enticement when they would draw, and tempt yo… with the bait of pleaſure; remember the… is no truth in all its promiſes. Oh practiſ… that 3 Heb. 13. O venture not upon the forbidden Cup, when it ſparkleth with pleaſure. Your Luſts will promiſe you a Paradiſe, and pay you with a bryary and tho… ny Wilderneſs, where if you have a min… to be torn with Buſhes, fed with Aſhe… ſtung with Serpents, ſcorch'd with Burning and that everlaſting, you may credit thei… youthful Luſts. And this brings me to th… p. 107third and laſt Particular, expreſſive of the malignity of youthful Luſts influence, viz. That they haſten your Deſtruction.

3. Flee youthful Luſts, becauſe of the malignity of their influence, in that they not only hinder your Converſion, hurry you into Temptation; but in the laſt place, in that they haſten your deſtruction, as you may read in theſe following Scriptures, Rom. 6. 21. What fruit had ye then in thoſe things, for the en… of them is Death? And in verſe 23. The Wages of Sin is Death. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Abſtain from Fleſhly Luſts, which war againſt the Soul. Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the Fleſh, ye ſhall dye. Matth. 18. 8, 9. If thy right Hand offend thee, cut it off, &c. or no entring into Life eternal, Iſa. 3. 10. Now in vain were all theſe Revelations of the determined and immutable Will of God in his Word, if continuance in your Luſts, could ſtand with impunity, and eſcaping deſtruction. I know that the vain hopes of eſcaping, is a mighty encouragement to the voluptuous Youth, whoſe Heart ſtands bent upon his Luſts; but if once his Conſcience comes to be throughly convinced, that his luſts will moſt ſurely find him out, that his Damnation lingreth not, ſlumbreth not, but is haſtening a pace towards him; ſo that he may as well hope not to dye, as not to be thrown into Hell when he dyes: oh then what trembling ſurpriſeth p. 108the guilty Sinner. Now in order to the awakening the Conſcience of wild and wanton Youth, to flee their youthful Luſts, let them but weigh this Argument taken out of God's Word, who hath peremptorily declared, that he will by no means clear the Guilty; but is angry with them every day, and hath revealed his Wrath from Heaven, againſt all that perſiſt in their Luſts, let them ſteep their thoughts in ſuch terrible & tremendous Scriptures, as Deut. 29. 18, 19, 20. Leſt there ſhould be any among you, whoſe Heart turneth away from the Lord, and it cometh to paſs that when he heareth (or readeth) the Words of this Curſe, that he bleſs himſelf in his Heart, ſaying, I ſhall have Peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine Heart to add ſin to ſin. What then? O pray mind, and lay to heart what followeth in the 20. verſ. The Lord will not ſpare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealouſie ſhall ſmoke againſt that man, and all the Curſes that are written in this Book ſhall lie upon him: Alſo in Job 5. 3, 4. Eliphaz ſaith, I have ſeen the Fooliſh taking root, but ſuddenly I curſed his Habitation: and in the 27. Chap. and 13. you read, this is the Portion of a wicked man with God: and in 17. Chap. 5. Their triumphing is but ſhort, and their joy but for a moment. So that as ſoon ſhould God ceaſe to be God, as the Sinner that goeth on in his Treſpaſſes, ſhould p. 109go unpuniſhed, the certainty of whoſe deſtruction depends upon the irrevocable Will of God: God hath ſaid it, the Lord hath ſpoken it, and it ſhall come to paſs. Alas we that dwell at eaſe, and enjoy our health, are not able fully to conceive, what the power of the Lord's anger and wrath is, which he hath revealed againſt Sin, and Sinners. Some indeed as they have been drawing near, and launching out into the Ocean of Eternity, have had ſuch ſights and views of it, as hath ſcar'd, and affrighted them with ſuch amazements, that they have cryed out (inducias uſ que ad mane) truce but till the Morning: Others, O that I had never been born, call time again: Others, O Lord, let me live on Earth, though it be but the life of a Toad. I have alſo read of one, who ſaw Hell, but in a Dream, or Viſion, and the terror was ſo great, that he would have choſen ten times to dye, rather than ſee and feel ſo great horror again. But as to our Youth that look at a Death-Bed many years off, they can ſcarce imagine what an aſpect this will have at a dying hour. Now at preſent it ſhews its faireſt ſide, but when all Masks are pulled off, it will be quite another thing; you may ſee its ſtinging efficacy in the 33. Iſa. and 14. Now in the days of your vanity and pleaſure, this Argument and Reaſon is wrapt up like a Flag about the Staff: Hell and Damnation are but as p. 110it were in ſemine, and your perſiſting in Si… is called a treaſuring up of Wrath againſ… that great and terrible Day of Wrath that is approaching; and hence you are ſecure, careleſs, and all quiet. But oh that young people would but think what a dreadfu… ſight it will have, when they come to lie down with their Bones full of the Sins o… their youth, and their Souls brought dow… to the ſides of the Pit, as low as Hell, by their youthful luſts. O with what unexpreſſible rage and fury will their Conſciences then reflect on their fore-paſt Sins You read in James, that when Luſt is conſummate, it bringeth forth Death, and the ſting of Death is Sin unmortified, unpardoned, & this brings to a terrible Bar, Judge, and Sentence, Depart ye curſed, &c. So that here in the final iſſue of your youthful luſts, they will (if you flee them not) caſt you into the Fire of Hell, with an utter deſtructio… from the preſence of the Lord. See here how God hath hedged up your ſin…ul wa… with thorns to ſtop you, and reſtrain yo… from yielding to your filthy and forbidde… Luſts; and alſo to ſpur you on to b…ea… through all the difficulties and objectio… that lie in your way to Repen…ance and Converſion; that ſo when the Devil, o… the Luſts of the Fleſh object againſt the Severities, pains and labour o… …b…ndoning, and forſaking your Dalilah-corruptions, … p. 111might have it in readineſs to anſwer, Avoid Satan, what tell you me of pains in parting with, or departing from Sin; do not you ſee here in the Scripture, is it not written, that Eternal Pains will be my Portion, if I flee not my youthful luſts? and what are the pains of parting with my luſts now, compared with the pains of parting with God, Chriſt, and Heaven, and the undergoing the pains of Hell's torments, the Fire that is never quenched, the Worm that never dyes? O Devil, that wouldſt tempt me to ſin; O vile Luſt that wouldſt entice me, and draw me to fulfil your unreaſonable requeſt, is it eaſie to dwell with everlaſting Burning? If I dwell with you, and hearken to you, if I flee you not, I muſt dwell and lodge for ever and ever in Tophet. Is it not better to dwell with Lyons, Bears, Serpents, Adders, here in a Wilderneſs all my Life on Earth, than abide with you an hour longer? ſeeing that I run the hazard of an Eternity of Torments in that hour, and the only way to provoke God to ſhor…en my Life on Earth, is to yield to my luſts. What if I ſhould gain a little beaſtly pleaſure, or periſhing earthly treaſure, by obeying my youthful luſt? what then? when God takes away my Soul, Job 27. 7, 8. and in Matth. 16. 25, 26. What is a man profited though he ſhould gain the whole World, and loſe his own Soul? What can a man give in p. 112exchange for his Soul? Wherefore as Moſes ſpake unto the Congregation of Iſrael in the caſe of Korah, Dathan, and Abaram, ſaying, Depart I pray you from the Tents of wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, leſt ye be conſumed in all their Sins. So I ſay to you, young people, flee your wicked luſts, touch nothing of them, leſt you be conſumed. It was good counſel the Angel gave Lot, Flee out of Sodom, eſcape for thy Life, look not behind thee, leſt thou be conſumed in her Flames. But it's more merciful counſel to you to flee your youthful luſts, inaſmuch as it's better the Body were ſwallowed up in the Earth, or burnt to Aſhes in Flames, than that your Souls and Bodies ſhould be ſwallowed up in Tophet, and burnt in the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, world without end, as moſt certainly if you flee not your luſts, they muſt be. O young people, if you ſtay with your luſts, they will undo you, Soul and Body, for ever. Who would not flee from Plague, Fire, Sword, Famine, &c▪ Alas your Luſts are worſe than all theſe; while you abide in them, the Wrath of God abideth on you, John 3. 36. its all being within the reach of the Wrath of God▪ within the …ail of his ſtorm. O what is it then to be juſt under it? Amos 2. 14. How much more deſireable were it to lie open to famine, Peſtilence, Bloodſheds, &c. than to be expoſed to the Storms, and ſtrokes of p. 113God's vengeance. Oh what is there in your Luſts, that ſhould ſo bewitch you, as to venture your eternal ruin and deſtruction for them? and judge ye, whether it be poſſible for any one of you, to do any thing more directly to the ruin of himſelf, (tho' you ſhould ſtudy for it ſeven years) than to go on impenitently in the fulfilling thy Luſts. That judgment that in it ſelf is ſlow, and your living in a courſe of Sin, moſt certainly haſteneth its execution. It's true, God may grant you further patience, but you cannot promiſe your ſelves an hours patience, you are not ſure of being out of Hell one hour longer. But if God ſhould ſpare thee ſome years, as is the Caſe propoſed by Solomon, in that of Eccleſ. 8. 12. Tho' a Sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet what then? ſhall it go well? Oh no, as it followeth, ſurely it ſhall not go well with him. The Iniquity of Ephraim (ſaith the Lord) is bound up, Hoſ. 13. 12. And in Pſal. 50. I held my peace (ſaith God) and thou thoughteſt me ſuch an one as thy ſelf: but I will reprove thee, and ſet thy ſin in order before thee. This is enough to make a Sinner's Loins to tremble, to conſider, that in the day of God's patience, while he continueth impenitent, it is no other than a treaſuring up wrath againſt the great and terrible day of wrath. Oh! how many of our brisk and jovial Youngſters fancy they ſhall p. 114hear no more of their Vanities and Senſualities; becauſe God hath born with them i… their paſt Follies, they conclude all's over▪ and done with: But be it known to you… God hath (as Job ſpeaketh) ſealed up you… youthful Sins in a Bag againſt the day … Judgment, in which day God will recko… with you for all, even from the Sin tha… clave to you in your Mothers womb, to the laſt Sin you commit in this World. If yo… flie not your Luſts by Repentance, there i… no flying Divine Vengeance. If you adve… ture to cry Peace, Peace, behold ſwift a… ſudden deſtruction is coming upon you, according to the unalterable Law of the grea… God, Pſal. 68. 21. But God ſhall wound th… head of his enemies, and the hairy ſcalp … every one that goeth on in his treſpaſſes: an… in Luke 19. 27. O the malign influence … their Luſts! there is no flying future wrat… except you flie your preſent Luſts. Future … I ſay, alas it's in part come; for God is (as I to you) angry every day, and his wrath ab… deth on you in the threathing every m… ment; how ſoon execution may be who knoweth? methinks it's like a Ma… factor's being upon the …adder, there wa… nothing but turning off, and he is go… Conſider, What a fearful thing it is to …. into the hands of a living God? Hebr. 10. …. Then how glad would you be to flie out … his hands if you could? as you read … p. 115Job 27. 22. yea, how fain would ſuch flee to the Rocks, Mountains, Hills, and there be glad if they would but fall upon them, to cover and hide them from the wrath of a Sin-revenging God? Rev. 6. 15, 16. Now God commands you to flee Sin, and ſo make an eſcape from the fulneſs of wrath to come: But if you be contentious and diſobedient, why then he himſelf will not let you eſcape, Hebr. 2. 3. That's a ſtartling Queſtion in Iſa. 10. 3. And what will you do in the day of viſitation, and in the deſolation which ſhall come from far? to whom will you flee for help? and where will you leave your glory? methinks that other Scripture in Job 5. 1. might put you in fear; Call now, and ſee if there be any that will anſwer thee, and to which of the Saints wilt thou turn? Alas! the Wiſe Virgins could not help the Fooliſh to a drop of Oil; no, no, Saints and Angels have but enough for themſelves, they be ſure can't help you, and be ſure God won't, he hath poſitively told you ſo, in Prov. 1. 28. Then ſhall they call, and cry, and ſeek, but I will not hear, becauſe I called, and they refuſed. From the 20th. verſe, to the 24th. of that Chapter, you have the Riches of Grace diſplayed on God's part, in calling prodigal Youth to Repentance. And from the 24th. to the 26th. verſes, you have on the Sinners part, the malignity and poyſon of youthful Luſts expreſſed in their refuſal. And then p. 116from the 26th. to the 33d. you have the Epitomy of all Miſery; Then ſhall you call on me, but I will not anſwer, &c. O that young Men did but ſee the Truth of this, viz. the certain and ſure deſtruction that they are pulling down upon their own heads, while they embrace their Luſts When the Diſciples ſaw themſelves in danger of drowning, they earneſtly ſolicited their Lord and Maſter Chriſt to ſave them, Matth. 8. 25. But do you hear young Men▪ you are in greater danger than drowning, you are in danger of damning. When Jo… was under ſome fearful apprehenſions o… this, ſee how pathetically he takes on, in Job 10. 1, 2. I am weary of my life, I wil… ſpeak in the bitterneſs of my ſoul. I will ſay unto God, Do not condemn me. When Nimveh heard this Argument of deſtructio… haſtening within 40 days, O how were they concerned; they proclaim a Faſt, and cloath themſelves in Sackcloth, confeſs and forſake their Sins, &c. O Young Men, Are you tempted by the delights of Senſe then place theſe Terrors of the Lord againſ… thoſe ſenſual Joys. Let me ask you, Could you be content to be caſt into ſcalding Lead for a Banquet of Wine? Or for a drop … Pleaſure upon Earth, to have an Ocean o… Torment in Hell? See Luke 16. 25. Son remember thou in thy life-time hadſt thy good things, and Lazarus his evil things; now he … p. 117comforted, and thou art tormented. So that hence you ſee the Reaſons why it is a Duty of ſuch ſpecial Concernment, for young People to flee their youthful Luſts, becauſe of the propriety of their inherence, and the malignity of their influence; and that particularly as they hinder their Converſion, hurry them into grievous Temptations, and haſten their deſtruction, which brings me to the laſt Queſtion.

Queſt. 4. and laſt: How young People may beſt practiſe this their ſpecial Duty, viz. To flee youthful Luſts.

Anſw. Before I proceed to the conſideration of diſtinct Rules and Remedies ſuitable to each particular Sin that Youth ſtands inclined to, I ſhall, by way of Premiſe, lay down one general Rule, which will be of unanſwerable advantage to you, if it be duly attended unto: And I do beſeech you in the Bowels of Chriſt, as you will anſwer the denial of ſo reaſonable a Requeſt, at the Judgment Seat of Chriſt, before the great God and Soveraign Judge both of quick and dead, that you will make a Stand, and deliberately bethink your ſelves about it, allowing your poor Souls therein ſome due proportion of time, as the weight and importance of this Rule requires, which is as followeth, viz.

p. 118See that in the firſt place, there be the ground work of Regeneration, and ſound Converſion of your Souls to God. The ſucceſs o… all other means will depend on this; an… the fatal miſcarriages of both young and o… in the matters of Religion, principally a… from a Non-attendency to this: For want … this it is, that there ſuddenly ſpring up … many rotten Profeſſors, ſo many almoſt an… half-Chriſtians, ſuch multitudes that after … ſeaſon fall from their Profeſſion, and gro… looſe and vain, turning the grace of God i… wantonneſs, and returning with the dog to … vomit, and with the ſwine to the wallowi… again in the mire; twice dead, plucked up … the roots, as Jude ſpeaketh, ver. 12. To … it hath been a moſt ſtartling Spectacle; in … time I have ſeen ſome young ones awake… ed, and galled in their Conſciences, inſ… much that they have not been able to refra… crying out, and under the efficacy an… ſtrength of theſe Convictious, they have … gorouſly gone to work, making Vows an… Promiſes, O what they would be and do … time to come, &c. That one would ha… thought, they would never have been Slav… and Drudges to their Luſts any more. A… I verily believe, at that time, if any ſhoul… have told them, that within a few mont… they would become ſuch Apoſtates from, as Enemies, to the ways of God, they woul… certainly have ſaid with Hazael, Are we D… p. 119that we ſhould ever do ſo? Yet I have ſeen it, all their early Goodneſs hath proved but as an early Dew, and a morning Cloud. Now whence is this? Or to what can it be more reaſonably and truly imputed, than to this grand Error in the Foundation? viz. Their Natures were never changed by converting Grace, there never had been the implantation of a Principle of ſaving Faith, in grafting them into Chriſt: Can the ruſh grow without mire? or the flag without water? ſaith Bildad, in Job 8. 11. So here: Can it ever be expected that Convictions ſhould be maintained and improved to a right, regular, and conſtant abandoning your Sins, without a Principle of ſound Converſion? As ſoon may the Bird ſlie without Wings, or a Man run without Legs, or move up and down without Life, as you can aright flee your Luſts without a Principle of Grace. Fleeing, I told you, (in the opening the words) imported a ſpiritual motion from Sin, to God; now, in all ſpiritual motion, there muſt be a ſpiritual life. Beſides, this is God's Order, as you may ſee in Ezek. 36. 26, &c. firſt it runs, I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new ſpirit within you, there is the Principle of renewing Grace; and then it followeth, I will cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes, there is the heavenly motion. The truth is, all other helps will in the iſſue prove helpleſs; and all attempts to ſubdue p. 120their Luſts, on leſs and lower Principles tha… thoſe of Regeneration, and Faith cloſin… with the perſon of Chriſt, ſo as to unite th… Soul to him, will all, ſooner or later, bewray their Vanity, like thoſe that labour in th… very Fire, and there is no profit in all the… labour; or like thoſe ſilly People, that a… ever learning, but never come to the knowledg… of the Truth, remaining in the very gall … bitterneſs, and bond of iniquity. Hence ou… Saviour firſt expoſtulates, and asks the Queſtion in Matth. 6. 16. Can Men gather Grape on Thorns? And in Matth. 12. 33. and the he anſwers it, and determines; Make, ſai… he, the Tree good, and the Fruit will … good.

I have often thought, what pity it is, th… ſo many Prayings, Faſtings, Solemn Aſſemblings, Tears, &c. ſhould all be in vain, an… fruitleſs, and never reach the end, viz. Eternal Life, but end in the loſs of the Soul, an… of God for ever. O young People, if in an… thing you need a light to guide your Feet i… the way of Life, it is here, to ſee the utte… impoſſibility of ever being effectually divorced from Sin, without Union to and wit… Chriſt, and the Inhabitation of the Spirit o… Grace, transforming and renewing you i… your minds. An imperfect work, havin… ſome apprehenſion of Sin and Miſery, an… ſome fears and affections for a ſeaſon, an… then ſome apprehenſions and hopes of Mercy, p. 121and all theſe without being humbled throughly, and to purpoſe; ſo as that Sin be ſuch an intolerable evil and inſupportable burden, as that the poor Soul cannot bear, is not able to live without freedom and deliverance, but is conſtrain'd to flie for Refuge to Chriſt, that bleſſed Hope, ſet forth for poor Sinners. I ſay, an imperfect work in theſe things, is the baneful miſery and ruine of Souls in our time. Alas! until there be a deep radication of Grace, all your attainments in ſpiritual things will be but like Paint and Pageants, Shells and Shadows; and you know a painted Sword or Fire, will never cut nor burn: neither will all the circumſtantials, and ſemi▪perſuaſions in Soul-matters, ever lay the Ax to the root of your Luſts, to fetch out the core of Sin there, and ſlay the Enmity that is ingrav'd in your carnal minds againſt God and Godlineſs; there muſt be a deep, inward, powerful work, ſuch as may carry the Soul through the pangs and ſtruglings of the New-birth, out of it ſelf both as to Sin, and its own Righteouſneſs, quite over to Chriſt; or elſe, in a ſhort time, your Luſts will regain their ſtrength, and become more miſchievous than ever, like the Man in the Goſpel, Mat. 12 43, 44, 45. When the unclean ſpirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, ſeeking reſt, but findeth none. Then he ſaith, I will return into my houſe from whence I came out, p. 122and when he is come, he findeth it empty, ſwe… and garniſhed. Then goeth he, and taketh w… himſelf ſeven other ſpirits, more wicked th… himſelf, and they enter in, and dwell there, an… the laſt ſtate of that man is worſe than the f… mer. So in Hebr. 6. 4. and 10. 26. a… 2 Pet. 2. 20. O then above all, You… Ones, ſee to this, that there be a ſound Converſion, as the ground-work of all, for upon this the very hinges of your Souls ſalv… tion turn. Hence our bleſſed Saviour i… John 3. 3. pronounceth, Except a man be bo… again, he cannot ſee the kingdom of Go… Wherefore again and again, I adviſe Young Ones to ſee to their Foundation: it were, … conceive, much better for a Man to be deceived in thinking himſelf unregenerate when he is regenerate; than on the othe… hand, to deem himſelf regenerate, when h… is not. The former miſtake indeed is afflicting, but the laſt is damning. If a condemned Malefactor conceit he hath a Pardon, an… has none, he may go pleaſantly to the Gallows, but he won't be able to hold it whe… he comes there: The Lord open your eye… and hearts, and cauſe you to ſee and feel the truth and power of this firſt general Rule, o… Means, in order to the fleeing your youthful Luſts.

Now I ſhall proceed to lay down th…ſe diſtinct Remedies, ſuitable to each particular Luſt that young People ſtand bent unto: p. 123And here again I muſt entreat you, as you have any regard to the glory of God, and your own Salvation, and would not be condemned with ungodly and impenitent Sinners at laſt, that you do not refuſe to put in practice what ſhall be taught you in the following Rules, how to flee each particular Sin that you are ſo prone to; and now I ſhall begin with that which ſo early appeareth, even in your very Childhood, and wofully groweth up with you to riper years: Namely that airineſs, vain raſhneſs, and careleſsneſs of ſpirit and converſation; all which, I at large and diſtinctly treated on under the firſt Enquiry, viz. What were thoſe Sins that might be more eſpecially called youthful Sins? Now foraſmuch as theſe three border ſo near and cloſe upon each other, I ſhall, for the Cure of theſe, preſcribe this Remedy.