A Directory for Youth, Sermon · Remedies 2
Remedies againſt thoſe Youthful Sins of Flexibility in yielding to Temptations, and readily going down the ſtream, following a multitude to do evil, and keeping ill Company, &c.
THeſe Sins I have ſhewed you before, are eſpecially the Sins of Youth, to be eaſily drawn and enticed to do as others do, &c. Now I ſhall very briefly offer you ſome Conſiderations for the fleeing of them.
1. Conſider Chriſt's Flock is but a little Flock, and the Gate and Way to Life eternal is ſtraight and narrow, and they are but few that walk therein. If you will not be content to go to Heaven with a few, you are never like to come there. The beaten Path is the common Road to Hell, which hath uſed in all Ages to be thronged with Troops; but Heaven's ſtraight way, from the time of the old World to this day, hath at beſt had but a paucity of Walkers, and ſometimes a ſingularity, as Noah in his day was ſingular, and Elijah in his day left alone, when there were 400 falſe Prophe…s of Baal; and Jeremiah, was fain to weep in ſecret. I confeſ… this is a ſhrewd temptation to …oung People, and of all Ages, that age of Youth is moſt in danger of ſtumbling at it; but O Youth, is it not better to be …aved alone, or with a few, than to periſh with millions? Had you lived in Noah's time when the Flood came, would you not have rather choſe to have been preſerved with Noah's Family alone, than drown'd with the reſt, tho' you had all the world to keep you company? I remember the learned Breerwood divides the World into 30 parts, and after a diligent pondering of it, telleth us, that 19 of the 30 are Paganiſh; and of the 11 parts that remain, he ſaith Mahumetiſm takes up ſix, ſo that there remains but five for Chriſtianiſm. O that the Deſire of all Nations might come, and accompliſh that Prophecy, Iſa. 2. 1, 2. When the mountain of the houſe of the Lord ſhall be exalted on the top of the mountains, and all Nations ſhall flow into it. So that you may ſee by this, O Youth, that thou muſt either renounce all hopes of Heaven, and lay aſide thy Chriſtianity, or elſe be willing to be ſingular to the World that lies in wickedneſs; it's the World's faſhion to be prayerleſs and graceleſs: but will you read Rom. 12. 1. with Jam. 1. 17. And then with theſe Scriptures, ſee 1 John 2. 15, 16. But it may be objected, That you are c…me out of the Pagan and Mahumetan World, you go with the Chriſtian World; and therefore …hat can be ſaid againſt you, but that you may do as other Chriſtians do? I anſwer, with the Apoſtle that ſpake expreſly of our times, in that of 2 Tim. 1. and the five firſt Verſes: This know, that in the laſt days perilous times ſhall come; Men ſhall be ſo and ſo, even in the Church of God, having a form of godlineſs, but denying the power. Well, what Advice doth he give as to theſe nominal Chriſtians? why, in the very next words, he ſaith, From ſuch turn away. Alas! in the Chriſtian World the number of ſound Believers is but ſmall, indeed if all that name the Name of Chriſt, might paſs for true Chriſtians, the number would be great; but if no more muſt be accounted true Chriſtians, than ſuch as are born again, and all old things are done away, and all things become new, being dead to ſin, who once were dead in ſin, &c. O then the number is but ſmall! It's amazing to me, that ſtrange blindneſs and heavy judgment that is fallen upon thouſands of titular Chriſtians at this day, they will ſeverely condemn a Man that he is no good Chriſtian, that doth not profeſs his Faith in Chriſt, and come to Church, and the like; and yet will hug themſelves with this, that they are good Proteſtants and Chriſtians, althe' they will make nothing of omiſſion of Cloſet and Family-Prayer; they will many of them ſwear and curſe, and live in Rioting and Drunkenneſs, yet if they but come to Church, &c. all is well. It were impoſſible to reckon up here the thouſands of ways how Satan a…d Sin blind poor Sinners in the Chriſtian World to their everlaſting deſtruction. Now …en, O young Man, conſult not with fleſh …d blood, it may be there are many about …ee, carnal Friends and Neighbors, that …ve no fear of God, and theſe are ſeeking to …w you off: O remember this advice, …t it's infinitely better to be ſaved with a …, than be damn'd with a multitude.
2. Conſider ill Company, whereunto …uth is exceedingly prone, is a Self-deſtroy… Evil; nothing more emboldens Sinners … wickedneſs. A company of wanton, looſe …ths met together, is like a Peſt-houſe for …ection; they do a world of miſchief in …milies, Churches, Kingdoms; here it is …t ſo many of England's, London's Youth …train'd up for Hell, they ſoon aſcend the …t of the Scorner, and ſo are quickly ripe … a Deſcent down to Hell. Here they ſowe …ows under one anothers Elbows, and ſtu…uſly argue one another to damnation; … they let flie againſt Religion, deriding … Godlineſs, jeering at others, ſaying, What … grow preciſe? You turn Fool? Thus as …od ſought the death of Chriſt, and de…oyed the young Babes in Bethlehem; ſo …e ſeek the deſtruction of any hopeful …nings and good motions that are at any … found in perſons of tender years: And … to be lamented exceedingly, the ſad Suc… this hath had in this City, O the innumerable Tears and Groans of godly Parents that this hath coſt! And, after all, no recovery of their prodigal Children out of this Snare of the Devil's ill Company. The Lord be merciful to us, and convince the Youth (into whoſe hands this Book ſhall fall) of this Nation, of this City, of the truth of this, and cauſe them to keep at the utmoſt diſtance from this Pit of deſtruction. It is upon this account that wiſe Solomon ſo frequently calls upon the young Man, No… to come near the borders of this temptation, not to paſs on that ſide of the way, or near the threſhold of the houſe where this bait is laid. O young Man, be watchful of your Company, the greateſt danger is when you are among vain and carnal Friends, and Acquaintance; theſe are the great Impediment… in your way to Heaven. In all probability many had been converted, if they had aſſociated with gracious perſons. The Man after God's own heart, begins his firſt Pſalm, with, Bleſſed is the Man that walketh not in the company of the ungodly. O it's an excellen… means to the ſaving of Souls to be there, where there is continual helps to Converſion and Holineſs, as Prayers, and heavenly Inſtructions, and godly Examples: whereas among the ungodly, there are continual temptations to Sin; wicked Society is the Devil's Boat, wherein he ferrieth over multitudes to Hell. O young Man, as you would not be gathered with the ungodly at …ſt, take heed of joining with them now. It …as the Prayer of a godly Perſon under …ouble, on a dying Bed, O Lord, let me not … to Hell, where the wicked are; for, Lord, …ou knoweſt, I never loved their Company here? O it's a Soul-deſtroying Evil to keep com…any with thoſe whoſe nearneſs will ſet me …ther off from God, to be there where Worldlineſs, Prophaneneſs, and Wantonneſs, …nd Senſuality reign, what is this, but the …ery Suburbs of Hell? And then
3. Conſider what an Honour and Commendation it is to reſiſt Temptation while …ou are Young, and the ſollicitations of vain …erſons are ſtrong, O then, to flee their en…cements, how excellent and laudable is it? … was Lot's unhappineſs to dwell in Sodom, …ut it was high honour to be righteous there. … ſhewed (ſaith an ingenious Writer) that … holineſs was of a ſtrong complexion, to retain … healthfulneſs in ſo corrupt an Air. It's a …reat Sin to be bad among the good, but it is … high Honour to be good among the bad. O remember, Young Man, how well God …akes it, when evil Company do ſtrongly and …iolently draw and entice thee to the ſervice …f the Devil, the Fleſh and the World, then …o break through all thoſe helliſh importuni…es as Joſeph did, and cleave to the Lord with …o invincible and holy reſolution. See the honour of this in that ſacred and ſweet portion of Scripture, 2 Cor. 6. 14. to the end: I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people; wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a Father to you, and ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, ſaith the Lord God Almighty. If therefore you flee, and withdraw from evil Company, you ſhall be honoured with God's Company and Acquaintance, and what can you deſire more? See how David triumpheth in this Priviledge, Pſal. 23. 4. Tho' I walk through the valley of the ſhadow of death, yet will I fear none ill: why? becauſe thou art with me. Hence Iſa. 43. 2. When thou paſſeſt through the water, I will be with thee, fear not drowning. When fleſh and heart faileth, God will never.
4. Conſider, That yielding to the enticements of the ungodly, and joining with them, is not only a foul Sin, but a fearful ſign of a graceleſs perſon; for what fellowſhip hath righteouſneſs with unrighteouſneſs? and what communion hath light with darkneſs? and what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? Now this Argument ſhould mightily move you to abhor and flee the company of the wicked, as you would a houſe marked out for the Plague. It was the ſaying of an Heathen, That Company is of an aſſimulating na…ure. Seeſt thou a Perſon chooſing commu…ion with one that is carnal, that liveth after the fleſh, &c. You may be ſure that that Man is ſo too; for as Face anſwereth to Face, ſo do Mens Hearts and Lives to one another after their kind. They that are af…er the Spirit, do all ſavour and chuſe a ſpi…itual Converſation; ſo they that are after the Fleſh, do chuſe a carnal Converſation. Hence David, who was a gracious Man, pro…eth it by this ma…k, Pſal. 16. 3. ſpeaking of the Saints, the excellent ones of the earth, ſaith he) in whom is all my delight. And …he heavenly Apoſtle John giveth you this very ma…k of true godlineſs, in 1 Joh. 3. 14. And, on the other hand, a keeping and lo…ing the company of ungodly perſons, is made the badge of an unconverted perſon, Hoſ. 7. 8. Ephraim he hath mixed himſelf …mong the People. What People? why, the …dolatrous Heathens. And what's this a ſign of? why, that he was but an Hypocrite, elegantly expreſſed in that Metaphor that followeth, Ephraim is a Lake not turned. O therefore, as you would eſcape the mark of an Enemy to God and Godlineſs: Flee this youthful Luſt of ill Company, have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, but rather reprove them, Eph. 5. 11. Company …t with him that is a Fornicator, 1 Cor. 5. 9. Walk not in the way, enter not into the path of evil Men, Prov. 1. 1. and 4. 14. And this brings me to lay down Remedies againſt the next Sin that Youth are prone to, viz. The Sin of Intemperance.