Early Religion, To the reader
To the Young READER.
BEing deſired by the Author of the following diſcourſe, to write ſomething before it by way of Preface, I have thus far complied with him, rather to bear Testimony to what he ſpake, concerning the Young Gentleman, whoſe early Death gave Occaſion to it, then that I thought my name of any ſignificancy to recommend it to the Publick. My preſent Circumſtances are ſuch (as is not unknown to the Author) that I have not had time for ſo much as a thorough peruſal of the Sermon, and therefore am not to be accountable for every thing a critical, much leſs a Capricious Obſerver may Cavil at: Midwives are not reſponſible for every Mold or Mark on the Children they help into the World. Let it ſuffice that as I have found, in what I have Read of it, many things ſerious, ſavory, profitable, ſo I have heard the whole much commended by thoſe that heard it Preached in a Congregation, moſtly of Young ones, for whoſe benefit it was deſigned, and to whom it was chiefly accommodated: it did affect when heard why may it not when Read? The account given of the Party deceaſed in the latter end is moſt of it true, upon my perſonal Knowledge, who was frequently with him in his Sickneſs, unto whom much then mentioned was ſpoken; the reſt I believe to be true upon the Authority of credible Perſons who were with him when I was abſent. He had the ill Fate which attends many Young Men (to the Blasting thoſe Hopes their Relations, or Country might have of them) to fall into ſome bad Company, and then (as wonder if) into ſome bad Courſes. Though he never arrived at any height of Debauchedneſs; But beſide the more timely Checks, God gave him in the way of his providence by ſome Croſs Occurrents, and the ſtop he was thereby put to (which in his Health, I have heard him acknowledge to have been his mercy) he was further in his Sickneſs awakened to a ſerious conſideration of his ways, which he did with great regret reflect upon, and judge himſelf for, not only making promiſes (no leſs deceitful in most under his Circumſtances, than frequent) of what he would do, and be, ſhould the Lord reſtore him; but Earneſtly Praying for Christ, and Grace, both for pardon, and purging, with ſeveral ſerious, and ſpiritual Expreſſions, more then was expected from one who had lately been under ſo unhappy an Education. I cannot but have charitable thoughts of him, believing that if ever Death-bed Repentance be ſincere, it is in thoſe that being Young are not ſo hardned in Sin, nor have reſiſted ſo many motions of Gods Spirit, nor rejected ſo many offers of Grace as Older Sinners have done. However let not Young ones preſame upon the account of this, or any like Inſtance, but, Remember their Creator in the Days of their Youth, and health, conſidering their Lives are in Gods Hand, who is a ſoveraign, and may as well not give them Hearts to repent when Old, as not give them Time to grow Old. How many are Nipt in the Bud, or Cut off in the Flower of their age, when their Hearts are filled with Wordly lusts, and their Minds lifted up with worldly Hopes. And they Dream of nothing leſs than the End of their Days, and an Eternal State. Were there the Reaſon, and Judgment of Elder Men in the Heads of the Younger, it might be an eaſiertask to deal with them; but Youth is a ſlippery Age, full of Paſſion, Raſhneſs, wilfulneſs, and ſo, apt to deſpiſe the Counſel of thoſe that are more Grave, and experienced, and to think it proceeds not ſo much from the Love they have to Young Souls, as the Envy they bear to their Youthful pleaſures. But what folly is this, and how much to be lamented in them, if we cannot reclaim them from it? Can you, Sirs, Clip the Wings of Time that it may not fly from you, or put off the approach of Eternity that it may not hasten upon you? Can your Luſts, and pleaſures prevent your Death, or prepare you for it? think ſeriouſly of it, and you will be of my Mind. Why then are ye not up and doing as ſoon as you can? Why do you not Work out your Salvation, as Hard as you can, all your Time and ſtrength are little enough for ſuch a Work. Let every Example of Mortality in others, and this in particular, mind you of your own: Live like thoſe that know you muſt die, and ſo as you will certainly wiſh you had lived, when you come to die. You are growing up to be the Succeſſors of us that are Elder, and to fill up our places in the World when we are gone out of it. May you outdo us in all that is good, and praiſe-worthy; may your Zeal for God, and Holineſs ſhame the degeneracy, and Coldneſs of preſent profeſſors. Religion loſes ground in this age, if you keep it not up in your ſelves it will be quite loſt in the next. And therefore I muſt again inculcate, what is the ſcope of this diſcourſe, begin betimes, and give God your ſtrength and the Morning of your Day; never think it too ſoon to turn to him, nor too long to ſerve him; you will not count an whole Eternity too much for your own Happineſs, do not count your whole Life too much for his ſervice. The Lord himſelf give you Counſell, who is able by the Power of his Grace to make you willing to take it, which is the unfeigned deſire of him who is
Your Souls Friend, and Servant for Jeſus Sake. E. Veal.