Early Piety Exemplified, Sermon 3

Early Piety Exemplified · Sermon 3

p. 47THE DUTY AND INTEREST OF YOUTH: OR, The Thought of an Elder, on the Death of a Younger Brother. Uttered Octob. 28. 1688.

Eccl. XII. 1.

Remember Now thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth.

THE great Emperor, Auguſtus, making an Oration to his mutinous Army, began it with that ſurprizing Expreſſion, Audite ſenem, Juvenes quem Juvenem ſenes p. 48audierunt; when I was a young Man, old Men counted me worthy to ſpeak unto them; now I am an old Man, methinks young Men ſhould not refuſe to mind what I ſay: Truly, ſuch might the Speech of our Solomon be, by way of Preface to the Text now read unto us; ſurely this old Preacher deſerves the attention of every young Perſon among us all. It is a Paſſage uttered by this matchleſs and inſpired Prince, in Prov. 22. 20. Have not I written to thee excellent things? It is by ſome rendred ſo, Have not I three times written for thee? He hath indeed ſo; we have three Books compoſed by that Royal and Renowned Pen; one of which wears the Title of Eccleſiaſtes, becauſe that ſuch was the Author of it. We are told of ſome in 2 Chron. 11. 17. They walked in the way of David and of Solomon: What way is that? It was the way of David, that he ſinn'd, he fell, he diſhonoured God exceedingly, but he ſoon Repented and recovered, and then by writing the fifty firſt Pſalm he gave an Evidence of his doing ſo. This was the way of Solomon too; he departed from God with a wonderful Apoſtacy, but being reclaimed and reduced from his Wanderings, he now Publiſhes p. 49a Teſtimony of it unto all the World.

This Book is a ſacred and ſolemn Treatiſe, concerning the chief good of Man: It contains the Holy and Humble Retractations of a famous Monarch, who had ſought where he could not find the ſatisfaction of an Immortal Soul; he had got up to the top of all ſublunary Felicity, and from thence beholding poor Men toil and ſweat unreaſonably to get up the rocky ragged Hill after him, with a loud Voice he now calls unto them all, You are miſtaken, there is nothing but Vanity and Vexation here: Upon this the wiſe Man aſſures us all, That in the Acquaintance and the Enjoyment of God alone is all our Happineſs; and in the inculcation of it, Young Men are particularly apply'd unto: We have a Dehortation given to them in the concluſion of the former Chapter, and an Exhortation in the beginning of this: In the former is a ſharp Sarcaſm, but a grave Counſel in the latter. Two things make up the Exhortation.

Firſt, A Duty enjoyned, Remember thy Creator; in the Hebrew 'tis Thy Creators, which notes a plurality of Perſons in the adorable Godhead.

Secondly, A Seaſon adviſed, In the dayes of thy Youth: It intimates not that Perſons p. 50paſt their Youth are exempted from this Command, but that Perſons in their Youth are peculiarly engaged herein; wherefore the Doctrine before us, is,

Doctrine. It is the Duty of All Men, and peculiarly of Young Men, to Remember their Creator, ſo as to acknowledge Him.

Prop. I.

The Bleſſed God, who is Father, and Son, and Spirit, is the Creator of Men: Unto Man about God it may be ſaid, He is thy Creators. Indeed in God there are more Perſons than one. In the New Teſtament that Myſtery of a Trinity is more particularly inſiſted on. Athanaſius of old would ſay unto them that had any Doubt about the Trinity, Go to Jordan, and you may ſee what you ſeek. On the Banks of Jordan, at the Baptiſm of our Saviour, in Matth. 3. 16, 17. we have a Glorious Repreſentation of it. But in the Old Teſtament too, the Miſtery of a Trinity is not concealed from the Church of God; the p. 51Hiſtory of the Creation alone may be enough to give a mention of it: We find God the Creator, we find a Creating Word, and we find a Creating Spirit there diſtinctly ſpoken of. The very firſt Clauſe in the Bible is, In the Beginning God Created: The Name, God, is in the plural Number, but the Verb, Created, is in the ſingular; which intimates, that though there be but one God, yet there is more than one Perſon in Him. The like Intimation is given to us, in Gen. 1. 26. Where God ſaid, Let us make Man in our Image. It is impious to ſuppoſe that the Angels are conſulted or invited for the making of Man; 'tis expreſly ſaid, God made him: Nor in any Caſe would the Moſt High ſpeak to Inſtrumentul Cauſes in the fi…ſt Perſon plural ſo. The fond and blind Jews are put unto wretched ſhifts, when they would baniſh their Notice of a Trinity from Scriptures thus plain and clear. Now this great God, who is thus Three in One, is the Creator of the World. The moſt High God who is the Poſſeſſor, is alſo the Creator of Heaven and Earth. It is true, that in ſome ſort the Work of Creation belongs moſt properly to the Father, but the Son and the Spirit alſo are not excluded from p. 52a glorious concurrence in it: Unto him is every Man to aſcribe his own Creation and Original: We are thus called upon in Pſal. 100. 3. Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we our ſelves. That ſtyle, my Maker, that is the ſtyle in which all Men that were not far worſe than Devils have ever ſpoken of the Lord.

Prop. II.

It is the Duty of All Men to Remember their Creator: It is a juſt matter of Enquiry here, What it is to Remember God?

The Anſwer in ſhort is this, To Remember God is to Acknowledge God. Or, Take Solomon's own Explanation of it, in our Context here: It is to fear God, and keep his Commandments. There is both Ʋnderſtanding and Affection imply'd in this Remembrance: To Remember God is to Remember all the Reſpect which we owe unto him, and to Render all that we Remember. The Phraſe of Scripture is to be Interpreted by ſuch comprehenſive Rules as this. It is the Character of wicked Men, to forget God. 'Tis ſaid in Pſal. 9. 17. The wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, and all the p. 53Nations that forget God. So then, to Remember God, this is the Character of Godly Men: To be ſenſible of God, that, that is to Remember him. There is a two-fold Remembring of a thing: There is a keeping of it in our minds, and there is a calling of it to our minds: This Remembrance we are to acknowledge God withal. In ſhort, we may obſerve that Solomon much imitated his Father, both in the matter and the manner of his Preaching to the World; particularly, what Solomon here ſays to us, is but an Expreſſion of the ſame that his Father ſaid to him, in 1 Chron. 28. 9. My Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and ſerve him. In this manner we are to Remember God.

Firſt, We ſhould Remember God by our knowing of him: We are to Remember, That God is, and, That he is a Rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him. We are to Remember, that there is a God who is Infinite in his Power, his Wiſdom, his Juſtice, and his Goodneſs, and that his Kingdom ruleth over all. It is ſaid in Jer. 51. 50. Remember the Lord afar off: Part of the meaning is, Know the Lord. Strictly, 'tis impoſſible for a Man to Remember what he do's not Ʋnderſtand. We ſhould know God in his ſufficience, p. 54and Know God in his efficience; we ſhould know God as repreſented in his Words, in his Works, and above all, in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. It was of old counted a needful Counſel, Know thy ſelf; it is no leſs important and pertinent, Know thy God: This Knowledge, it hath Life Eternal in it.

Secondly, We ſhould Remember God by our Thinking on him. The Pſalmiſt could ſay in Pſal. 63. 6. I Remember thee upon my Bed, and Meditate on thee in the Night-watches. We ſhould have a Remembrance of, with a Meditation on the Holy God; awful and ſerious Thoughts of God ſhould come into our Hearts often in a day: We ſhould often be Thinking of God as our Judge, and we ſhould Remember with our ſelves, I am now under the flaming Eye of God, and I ſhall one day ſtand before the Judgment-ſeat of God. We ſhould often be Thinking of God as our End, and we ſhould Remember with our ſelves, God has formed me for himſelf, I ſhould ſhew forth his praiſe. We ſhould often be Thinking of God as our Good, and we ſhould Remember with our ſelves▪ The Lord is my portion, and I have a goodly heritage. Briefly, what the Lord is in himſelf, the ſame is he to be in our daily Thoughts of him.

p. 55Thirdly, We ſhould Remember God by Turning to him: It is a Prophecy in Pſal. 22. 27. All the Ends of the World ſhall Remember, and turn unto the Lord. We ſhould have a Remembrance of God, that ſhall produce Repentance for ſin: The Pſalmiſt has communicated this Experience of his unto us, I Remembred God, I was troubled: O thus we ſhould Remember God, and be troubled for our forſaking of him; be troubled for our provoking of him; and when we are troubled for, we ſhould alſo be turned from all our evil wayes. We are to Remember God, ſo as to chooſe him, and to take him for our God, and ſincerely ſay, Lord! What have I any more to do with Idols? ſincerely ſay, I will be now for the Lord, and not for another.

Fourthly, We ſhould Remember God by Living for him. It is the Profeſſion of that good man in Pſal. 119. 55. I have remembred thy Name, and have kept thy Law: There ſhould an Obedience accompany that Remembrance which we have of God. The Prophet could ſay, I Remembred the Lord, and my Prayer came unto thee: Thus we ſhould be able to ſay, I Remembred the Lord, and I ſought his Face: Be able to ſay, I Remembred the Lord, and I heard his Word: p. 56Be able to ſay, I Remembred the Lord, and with my whole care I pleaſed the Lord. An Honouring of the Lord, is the beſt Remembring of Him.

Fifthly, We ſhould Remember God by Truſting in him. It was an Holy Triumph, in Pſal. 20. 7. Some truſt in Chariots, and ſome in Horſes, but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God. A Remembrance of God ſhould be with a Reliance on him. That Believer could ſay, O my God, my Soul is caſt down within me, therefore will I remember thee. Are there Diſtreſſes on us, that cauſe Dejections in us? We ſhould then Remember that God who can do what he will; then Remember that God who has bid us hope in him: And when we Remember him, we ſhould ſtill joyfully ſay, My help is in the Name of the Lord.

Finally, Such a Remembrance of God as will procure an Intereſt in God; ſuch a Remembrance of God as will maintain a Communion with God: This is the Remembrance that we are to endeavour for.

Prop. III.

To Remember their Creator is a thing that Young Men are very particularly oblig'd p. 57unto. Indeed Young Men are apt to reckon this the moſt improper and unpleaſant Addreſs that can be made unto them, Do thou Remember thy Creator: They judge it fitter only for elder Men to hear of ſuch a ſerious thing: But the Voice of God is even to Thee and Thee, O Young Man! Do thou Remember me. There are two Arguments here ſet before us, evincing this to be a moſt reaſonable thing.

Argument 1.

'Tis thy Creator certainly: The Young Man, be he never ſo young, has cauſe to Remember him. It was but a rational Propoſal in Pſal. 95. 6. O come, let us worſhip and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. If God be thy Maker, it becomes thee to be his Servant: Thou art wholly beholden to God for all the Powers of thy Spirit, for all the Members of thy Body: Whom ſhouldeſt thou then firſt uſe them for, but the Lord alone? It was a ſharp Rebuke to Belſhazzar in Dan. 5. 22. The God in whoſe hands thy breath is, him thou haſt not glorified: Even ſo, thy Breath and Being is from the Lord, and ſhall it be ſaid of thee, Him thou haſt not Remembred? p. 58this were a very vile thing indeed! It is a ſimilitude uſed, if I miſtake not, by ſome of the Ancients, If any Man could be ſo ingenious as to make an Engine able to think or ſpeak, he might juſtly expect the firſt work of that Engine ſhould be to acknowledge the maker of it. Thus, Young Man, it was but lately that thou camoſt out of the Hands of God; the firſt rational Action of ſuch an one, ſurely ſhould be a Religious Action. It cannot be too ſoon for thee to Remember him, in whom thy living, and thy moving, and thy very being is.

Argument 2.

The Evil Dayes are coming, of which thou ſhalt ſay, I have no pleaſure in them. Old-Age is not a Time for the Service of God to be begun in, or to be delayed unto; Youth, Youth is the only Time.

Firſt, Old-Age is not a proper Time for us to defer the Remembring of God unto. It is an unworthy thing to deal with the God of Heaven ſo: It is an abſurd as well as a wicked thing. The Lord complained of this, in Mal. 1. 13. Ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the ſick, thus ye p. 59brought an Offering, ſhould I accept this of your hands, ſaith the Lord? In like ſort, Young Man, is it ſuitable that the Devil ſhould have the Prime of thy Strength? And that God ſhould be put off with a few lame and ſick Devotions after all? Is it ſuitable that thou ſhould'ſt waſt all thy very Marrow and Spirit upon thy curſed Idols, but bring unto God a few Torn crazy Howlings, at the laſt? Should I accept this of your hands, ſaith the Lord? There is a Story of one who did attempt to Repent in Old-Age, after a Diſſolute and ungodly Youth; but heard ſuch a Voice from Heaven as that, Des illi Furfurem cui dediſti Farinam: The Devil had thy Flower, and doſt thou think to bring thy Bran to me? In thy Youth wilt thou continue a Traitor and a Rebel againſt the God of Heaven? And wilt thou imagine to be received and protected by him in the Age, when perhaps thou haſt none elſe to go unto? When thou art ſcarce able to ſin, at thy uſual rate, ſhall that be the only Time for thee to leave it off? Hear O Heavens, and give ear O Earth; was there ever any thing ſo Diſingenious?

Secondly, Old-Age is not an eaſie Time p. 60for us to defer the Remembring of God unto. Young Man, wilt thou not look unto the Lord, that thou may'ſt be ſaved; Until thine Eyes are almoſt out? Until thoſe that look out of the Windows be darkned? Wilt thou not lay hold on Eternal Life, until thy Hands are ſhaking with a Palſie? until the Keepers of the Houſe do tremble? Wilt thou not Run the Race that is ſet before thee, until thy Feet call for a Staff? until the ſtrong men do bow themſelves? Alas, theſe things will not be eaſie then. Know, that thy Sin will then be ſtronger: If it be hard for thee to part with a Luſt now, what will it be then? An old Tree, and an old Luſt are not eaſily pulled up by the Roots: It is ſaid, in Jer. 13. 23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his ſpots? then may you alſo do good that are accuſtomed to do evil. An old Cuſtom, and an old Diſeaſe are not eaſily cured. We read of a Devil diſpoſſeſſed with a wonderful Difficulty, in Mark 9. 25, 26. The Spirit cry'd and rent him ſore, and he was as one Dead: What was the cauſe of thoſe terrible convulſions? We are told, the foul Spirit had been in that Perſon, of a Child. An unclean Spirit, a drunken Spirit, a profane Spirit, that has p. 61dwelt in a Man from his Childhood unto Old-Age, O 'tis not eaſily driven away: It is ſaid, in Heb. 3. 12. Exhort one another to day, leſt any of you be hardned through the deceitfulneſs of ſin. Deceitful Sin, tells the Young Man, To morrow, to morrow will be ſoon enough to leave thy evil wayes: But the Heart grows harder and harder ſtill, To morrow, than it was to day.

Know likewiſe, that thy ſtrength will then be ſmaller. The Philoſopher truly called Old-Age, the Winter of life: We commonly ſay of Old-Age, It is it ſelf a Diſeaſe, and attended with a thouſand more. Then it is that, Pallor in Ore ſedet, Macies in Corpore toto: A pale, a lean, and a feeble State of Body comes upon us; and then alſo the Mind grows more heavy and liſtleſs: It is as much as the Old Man can well do, to encounter the manifold Infirmities of his Age: And wilt thou never obey the Lord until thou canſt not enjoy thy ſelf? When David ſaid unto Old Barzillai, Come thou over with me: The Old Man anſwering, in 2 Sam. 19. 34.—How long have I to live! can I diſcern between good and evil? Can I taſte what I eat or drink? No; let Chimham go. Thus our David, our Jeſus, when he ſays to an Old Man, Come over to me; the reply p. 62may be: Alas, I have but a little while to live; the Force of all my ſenſes is abated; let the Young man go over to the Lord.

Thirdly, Old-Age is no ſafe Time for us to adjourn our Piety unto. The Young Man allots upon Old-Age, as that which he may very ſeaſonably grow ſober in: But Young Man, what if thou ſhould'ſt never arrive to Old-Age at all? That is the Hap of multitudes, multitudes every day: The Sons of Job were all of them Young Men, but they died ſuddenly, ſeven of them at once. We have that Warning often repeated unto us, in Job 21. 23. One dyeth in his full ſtrength. Young Perſons of both Sexes are liable to the Stroke of Death: We read in Luke, about the Funeral of a Young Man, the Son of a Widdow: We read in the ſame Evangeliſt, about a young Woman, which lay a dying when ſhe was but about Twelve years of Age. The Arreſt of Death likewiſe falls upon young Perſons of all Eſtates. The Son of Jeroboam was a Gracious Youth; but he dyes. The Sons of Eli were Vicious Youths, and they dye too: So does the young man, Abſalom, after his Brother Amnon. As young as thou art, and as lively and as luſty too; 'tis poſſible thou may'ſt like p. 63Eutichus fall down dead, before the Congregation be diſmiſſed. Haſt thou a lewd Dream of an Old-Age, to reſerve all Virtue for? Alas, there are more die before Twenty, than after Sixty Years of Age. A Child once being obſerved to become a very prayerful and penſive Child, gave that Account of it, I was in the Buryingplace t'other day, and there I ſaw a Grave ſhorter than my ſelf. Let the youngeſt of us all go to ſuch a place, and ſee whether there be not Graves of our Dimenſions there? And what if now thy Death find thee before thy Peace be made with God? What if thy Death find thee a poor Unconverted, Unregenerate Creature before the Lord? It may be written on thy doleful Grave, It had been good for that Perſon, that he had never been Born. Infinitely more than a thouſand Ages of Woes and Plagues muſt be the Portion of ſuch a miſerable Soul.

Fourthly, The young Man has many Conveniencies to excite and aſſiſt his Remembrance of the Lord. There ſeems to be a ſort of Correſpondence between Youth and Grace: Youth ſeems mightily adapted and agreeable to the Exerciſe of that lovely thing.

p. 64A quick Wit is one Prerogative of the young Man: Well, how can he lay it out better, than by doing like that young Man, in Pſal. 119. 9. Taking heed unto the Word of God? The Young man has a Tenacious Memory: What can he do better with it, than fill it with Divine Treaſures? Warm Affections are ſtirring in the young man; where ſhould he ſet them but upon the things which are above? The Spirits of young men are mettleſome; why ſhould they not be fervent, ſerving the Lord? The Bodies of young men are vigorous; why ſhould they not be a living Sacrifice unto God? There is a brave Courage in Youth; how can it better ſhow it ſelf, than by overcoming the Wicked One? Youth is a merry Age; let it then rejoyce in the Lord. O nothing is more comely, or natural, than that young Men ſhould remember God.

Prop. IV.

All the three Perſons in God are to be diſtinctly conſidered by us, when we remember him.

Not only our Creator, but alſo our Creators is to be remembred.

Firſt, We are to remember God the p. 65Father. Him we are to remember under that conſideration in Eph. 1. 3. The God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Remember Him as the Fountain from whence all does proceed, and to which all muſt Return. Remember Him as the firſt cauſe and ſo the laſt end of all things. Remember Him as the Father of thy Lord, and go to Him for a Fathers Bleſſing in His Name. O remember Him, and let the outery of thy Soul be; Let this Father be my Father for evermore.

Secondly, We are to remember God the Son; Him we are to remember under that Conſideration, in Act. 5. 31. A Prince and a Saviour, to give Repentance unto Iſrael, and Remiſſion of ſins. Remember Him as the Saviour in whom all fulneſs dwells. Remember Him as the Jeſus who delivers from Wrath to come. Remember Him as a Redeemer able to ſave unto the uttermoſt, and go to Him for that Salvation; entreat Him to be thy Prophet, and thy Prieſt, and thy King for ever.

Thirdly, We are to Remember God the Spirit. Him we are to Remember under that Conſideration, in Pſal. 143. 10. The good Spirit that leads into the land of Ʋprightneſs. Remember Him as the Quickner p. 66of them that were dead in Treſpnſſes and Sins. Remember Him as the Comforter of all that mourn. Remember Him as the Inhabitant of the Contrite and the Humble Heart; and ſeek to be led by Him, World without end.

Thus are we to Remember our Creator in the dayes of our Youth.

ƲSE I.

Let them that have not Remembred their Creator in the days of their Youth, now in the days of their Age be aſhamed of it, and afflicted for it.

There are two ſorts of Aged People to be now treated with: There are ſome that are Converted unto God but late: They ſquandered away moſt of all their Youth, before they turned their feet unto the Teſtimonies of the Lord. It becomes theſe Perſons now, as they Remember their God, ſo likewiſe to Remember their Sin: You make that your daily Prayer, in Pſal. 25. 7. Remember not againſt me the ſins of my youth. Be aſſured that God's dealing with you will in many regards be quite contrary to your dealing with your Sins. If you love them, he will hate you: If you ſlay them, he will ſave you: If you would have God p. 67not Remember them, O then do you remember them your ſelves: 'Tis ſaid in 1 Cor. 11. 3. If we would judge our ſelves, we ſhould not be judged of the Lord. Well then, every one of you, like Pharaoh's Butler, now ſay, I remember my faults this day. O Remember all the lying, all the idleneſs; all the profuſeneſs and profaneneſs of thy Youth. When Paul was a young Man, he had an hand in Abuſing and Murdering an Eminent Miniſter of God, but he Remembred it with ſorrow all his dayes: O! ſaid he many Years after; When the Blood of Stephen was ſhed, I was conſenting to it. Come now and ſit down in the Duſt this day before the Lord; come, and lament it, and bewail it, that you ſo long lay out from God, and that you ſo long did the things, for which the Wrath of God comes upon the Children of Diſobedience. Be able to ſay, My Soul has this in remembrance, and is humbled in me. But perhaps there are ſome of you that never yet were Converted unto God at all: As they ſaid in Jer. 8. 20. The Harveſt is paſt, the Summer is ended, and we are not ſaved; thus may too many confeſs, Our youth is paſt, and we are not Renewed. Surely 'tis Time, 'tis high Time for you to Remember your, p. 68God, yet at laſt, before you go hence and be no more: Let this encourage you, That it is not too late as yet for you ſo to do. The Lord ſaid in Jer. 3. 1. Though thou haſt play'd the Harlot with many Lovers, yet return unto me: Even ſo, thô thou haſt committed many ſins; thô thou haſt been ſinning many years; yet return unto me, ſaith the Lord. There was in this very Land, one that had lived a carnal, ſtupid, ignorant Perſon for about an hundred years, and yet became a ſerious Chriſtian before he dyed. Unto the Oldeſt Enemy of God among us all, I this day proclaim the mercy of the Lord: O let this break thy heart, and cauſe thee to come and ſay, I will do Iniquity no more.

But let this alſo Terrifie you, it will be too late for you e're long: It is ſaid in Pſal. 6. 5. In Death there is no Remembrance of thee. Thy Death, thy Death is juſt ready to ſeize upon thee, and there is no work, no wiſdom in the Grave, whither thou art going. Then thy cry, will be like that of Deſpairing Ones, All too late! All too late! God prevent ſuch a miſcarriage of thy never-dying Soul.

p. 69ƲSE II.

Let us that are in our Youth, Now Remember our Creator in it.

There are a multitude of young Perſons, to vvhom the Word of God may reach this day. Now the Almighty God make this Word of his, Quick and powerful, and ſharper than a two-edged Sword within their Souls! Hear, O Young People; Hear that your Souls may live: It is reported of Jotham, in Judg. 9. 7. He ſtood in the top of the Mount, and he lift up his voice and cryed, and ſaid, Hearken unto me, that God may hearken unto you. Thus would I do, thus would I ſpeak this day. Here I ſtand in the Name of God that made you all: I would lift up my voice, and cry, and ſay, O Remember your Creator now, in the dayes of your youth. If you will not hear this Call of God now, God will not hear your cry to Him another Day. God will be deaf to the Words of thy Roaring, in the dayes of thy Age, and of thy Death, and of thy Wrath, if thou art now deaf to the Words of his Counſel. The Counſel (and it is wholſome Counſel) of our God now unto us, is, Remember me betimes: p. 70In order thereunto, theſe things are to be done.

Rule I.

Let us Remember that which will help us to Remember God.

Firſt, Remember thy Death, and thou wilt Remember thy God. A Remembrance of Death will produce in a Man a ſerious and godly frame of Spirit. One that was Remarkable for his Devotions, gave that Reaſon of it, O I muſt Dye! I muſt Dye! If a Young Man would awfully realize unto himſelf that thing, I muſt dye! it would highly promote an Acquaintance between God and him: And young Man, it is not too ſoon for thee to have the Apprehenſions of it. There was a young Man in this Land, that left behind him in Writing, Meditations to promote Preparation for Death. O that every young man would be no Stranger to ſuch prudent Meditations!

Let every young Perſon Remember this: I ſhall dye very certainly: As Job could ſay, in Ch. 30. 23. I know that thou wilt bring me to Death: So let the young Perſon ſay, I know that I muſt e're long look the King of p. 71Terrors in the Face; and I know that e're long I ſhall go thither, whence I ſhall not return. Often look upon that Scripture, in Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed unto all Men once to dye. Often look upon that Scripture, in Pſal. 89. 48. What man is he that liveth, and ſhall not ſee Death? And let theſe warnings make a deep Impreſſion upon thy Mind. There was a Prince who gave a Penſion unto a Perſon, that he might once a day come and ſay unto him, Remember that thou art a Mortal Man: Do that office unto thy ſelf every Day. Look upon Death as the way of all the Earth; And Remember, I muſt go that Way: Look upon Death as the End of all men; and Remember, I ſhall have that End. Remember, there is no diſcharge in that War.

Let every young Perſon alſo Remember this, I ſhall dye very ſpeedily. While we are young, we ſtrangely promiſe our ſelves to live long. Do not harbour that miſtake; but rectifie it by that Premoniton, in Jam. 4. 14. What is your life? It is even a Vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and vaniſheth away: Rectifie it by that Premonition, in 1 Chron. 28. 15. Our dayes on the Earth are as a ſhadow, and there is none abiding. What are the poor Seventy years, that the Life of Man is now contracted into! Remember, p. 72they are winged things, they fly away, with a marvellous Velocity. We are truly told of them, in Job 9. 25. that they are ſwifter than a Poſt; yea, more than ſo, ſwifter than a Ship; yea, more than that, ſwifter than an Eagle haſt'ning to the Prey. Beſides, Remember, 'tis poſſible, that half of thoſe years may be all that thou ſhalt ever ſee; it hath been well ſaid, That an old Man has Death before his Face; but a young Man has Death behind his Back: Perhaps, Death may ſtrike thee down before him that is old enough to be thy Father. Remember that there are Skulls of all ſizes in Golgotha.

Secondly, Remember thy Soul, and thou wilt Remember thy God: Thou haſt a never-dying Soul within thee; a Spiritual and an Immortal Subſtance, able to diſcern, and argue, and affect with a wonderful Apprehenſion. How frequently and fearfully do young Perſons forget that they are Owners of ſuch a Jewel.

Let every young Perſon Remember this, The ſtate of my Soul is miſerable. Remember the guilt and filth, which thy Soul, by it's becoming a conſtituent Eſſential part in one of Adams Children, ſoon was defil'd withal. Remember what a dreadful Anger and Vengeance of God, thy p. 73Soul by thy ſin is expos'd unto. Remember that Character of thy Soul, in Gen. 6. 5. Every imagination of the thoughts of the heart, is only evil continually. Remember that condition of thy Soul, in Eph. 2. 12. Without Chriſt, a ſtranger from the Convenant of promiſe, having no hope, and without God in the World. Remember what thou haſt been doing unto thy Soul, ever ſince thy Birth: It is ſaid in Prov. 8. 36. He that ſinneth wrongeth his own Soul. O Remember what Wrongs, what Wounds, thy own Soul has had from thy own hand; and Remember what an ever-gnawing Worm, what an ever-burning Fire, is now ready to ſeize upon that poor Soul of thine: Thou art mindful of thy Body, of thy Eſtate, of thy Credit, and mindful of almoſt every Creature which thou art concerned in. Thy Soul now begs of thee, O Remember me!

Let every young Perſon likewiſe Remember this, The worth of my Soul is invaluable. A Great Man was well adviſed once every day, to remember that Sentence of our Lord, in Matt. 16. 26. What is a man profited, if he gain the whole World, and loſe his own ſoul? Thou canſt not Remember a more important thing. Remember the Glorious Faculties and Endowments of thy ſoul. Remember what a price, what a vaſt price, p. 74the Lord Jeſus counted not too much for thy ſoul. Remember how deſirous the Angels are to aſſiſt, how deſirous the Devils are to deſtroy that ſoul of thine. Remember theſe things, when thy Enemies are bartering for thy ſoul. When our Lord was betrayed for a little Money, He ſaid in Zech. 11. 13. A goodly price was I valued at of them! Remember that as the voice of thy Soul, when thou art under Temptation to evil things. When thy Tempters would have thee ſell thy ſoul for a ſong: When they would have thee pawn thy Soul for a Cup, or an Oath, or a Penny, or indeed for the beſt thing in this World, now Remember that Expoſtulation of thy own ſoul; Am I worth no more than ſo? A goodly price am I valued at!

Thirdly, Remember the Word, and thou wilt Remember the Lord: The Word of God Written, the Word of God Preached, is vouchſafed unto us: Remember that, and be able to ſay after the Pſamiſt, in Pſal. 119. 16. I will not forget thy Word. Let our Memories be full of Truth, and they will be full of God. Our Memories are a coſtly, curious Cabinet; it is pity that there ſhould be only vile rags and ſhreds laid up therein: We can Remember too well, old ſongs, and old wrongs. Our Memories p. 75are too like the Walls of the Houſe which Ezekiel ſaw, in Ezek. 8. 10. whereon the Forms of creeping things, and abominable Beaſts, and curſed Idols, were pourtray'd all round about. For theſe things we may ſay, as one ſaid unto his Friend, that offer'd to teach him the Art of Memory; Sir, (ſaid he) If you would teach me the Art of Forgetfulneſs, I ſhould be more pleaſed with it: But for the things of God, there our Memories ſhould ſerve us, there our Memories do fail us wonderfully. I have read of a young Man, whom all the pains in the World would not make to Remember the letters of the Alphabet: Such lamentable forgetfulneſs in the Sacred and Solemn things of another World, are young people too ſubject unto. It is Recorded of Joſeph, in Gen. 41. 51. that he called his Firſt-born Son, Menaſſeh, or Forgetfulneſs. Such, O ſuch a Name young Perſons may often put on their own Souls, when the Word of God is brought unto them; their Souls are ſo many Menaſſeh's, O how forgetful are they, when God has been ſpeaking to them! Our Lord ſaid unto his Diſciples, in John 15. 20. Remember the word that I ſaid unto you. Every time you read a Chapter, or hear a Sermon, then Remember that the Lord ſays, p. 76Remember this: The Apoſtle ſo ſpeaketh, in Heb. 2. 1. The things which we have heard, we ſhould not let them ſlip: 'Tis an alluſion to a Leaky Veſſel. Young People, the Great God is pouring his Commandments, and Promiſes, and Threatnings into your Souls every day; O do not ſuffer them to leak away. Retain in your own Souls, the ſenſe and uſe of the things that you hear from God the Lord: It is ſaid in Rev. 3. 3. Remember how thou haſt received and heard. When thou haſt received and heard a meſſage from the God of Heaven; give thy Soul now that charge, Remember this, O my Soul, Remember it.

Fourthly, Remember Eternity, and thou wilt Remember Him that inhabiteth Eternity: It is ſaid in Eccleſ. 11. 8. Let a man Remember the days of darkneſs, for they ſhall be many: Thus would I ſay, Let a young man remember the dayes of Eternity, for they ſhall be endleſs. The Pſalmiſt has that Expreſſion, in Pſal. 77. 5. I have conſidered the years of Ancient Times: There are who ſo render it, I have conſidered the years of Eternity. O Remember that Eternity which every hour brings thee a Step nearer to, than thou waſt before. Remember that Eternity wherein thou ſhalt enjoy inexpreſſible Happineſs, or endure intolerable Miſery p. 77World without end. A Perſon of Quality having ſpent ſome Time in unlawful Games, at Night could not ſleep; giving this Anſwer to one that required the Reaſon of it; Yeſterday, I caſt my Eye occaſionally on a Book, wherein I ſaw that Word, ETERNITY; and that word has broke my Heart within me: O that thing, Eternity, Eternity! the Remembrance of it will Awe thy Heart, if it will not break thy Heart within thee. Remember that thou art going to an Eſtate of Weal or of Woe; and that thou ſhalt remain in that Eſtate, fixed like a Rock, for infinitely more than a thouſand Million of Ages.

RULE II.

Let us Abandon that which would hinder us to remember God. There are ſome fatal things that are called in Job 13. 26. The Iniquities of youth: And in Jer. 31. 19. Tbe Reproach of youth: An Entanglement in thoſe, will ſpoil a Remembrance of God. To all young Perſons now is that Call of Heaven, in 2 Tim. 2. 22. Flee youthful Luſts.

To particularize,

(1.) Abandon the Sin of Ill Company-keeping, that you remember your Creator. Be able to ſay with him, in Pſal. 26. 4. I have not ſat with vain perſons. Many an hopeful young man has been ruined, by falling into the Society of the Profane: Never was p. 78there a more bloody Murderer of Souls than that Society. The very Heathen could obſerve, and the Apoſtle Paul quotes the Speech of an Heathen Poet for it, That evil Communications corrupt good manners. Now they are Evil Companions with whom thoſe evil Communications are. Young man, doſt thou ſee others, that will Drink, and Game, and Swear, and Scoff? I would call upon thee, as Moſes upon them in Num. 16. 26. Depart from the Tents of theſe wicked men, leſt ye be conſumed in all their ſins. Do not ſo much as begin a needleſs familiarity with Wicked men: Don't Walk with the ungodly, leſt you come to ſtand with the ſinners, and at laſt ſit with the ſcornful: Remember that bad Companions will cauſe you to ſin with them. The Jews in Babylon grew very cold in the matter of Building the Houſe of God. Why ſo? Their dwelling among the lewd and wild Babylonians, procur'd this indifferency. I have thought, how came Corah, a Levite, to hook in Dathan, and Abiram, and the Reubenites into a Conſpiracy with him? I find that the Levites of Kohath, and the Reubenites pitched their Tents near together, on the South-ſide of the Tabernacle. So they infected one another: Remember, that bad Companions will cauſe you to dye with them too. I pray how came Ahaziah p. 79to meet with his Death before his Time? It was by viſiting a debauched bigotted Idolater, the infamous Jehoram. When you fall into a Knot of Impious Men, you are like the Man Travelling to Jericho, who fell among Thieves that ſtripped him, and wounded him, and departed leaving him half-dead. Some Perſons going out of the World, have comfortably pleaded that with God, Lord, let me not be with wicked men for ever, for I never cared to be with them here: Sad is the Caſe of them who cannot plead ſo. O that every young Man would remember that ſaying in Prov. 1. 10. My Son, if ſinners entice thee, conſent thou not; walk not thou in the way of them; and remember that ſaying in Prov. 13. 20. He that walketh with the wiſe ſhall be wiſe, but a Companion of fools ſhall be deſtroyed. What ſhall I ſay more? In fine, Remember, young Man, that on thy Death-bed thou wilt gnaſh thy Teeth at the ſight of ſuch Companions, thy groan will then be, O gather not my ſoul with ſinners! and one of them in thy Chamber would then be thy Torment there. Well then, ſave your ſelves from this untoward Generation.

(2.) Abandon the Sin of Sabbath-breaking, that you may Remember your Creator. It is the Command of God in Exod. 20. 8. p. 80Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy: Men are like to Remember God himſelf, if they remember this day of the Lord as they ought to do. If you look through the World, you ſhall ſee that Mens Religion is as their Sabbath is. The Sabbath is the Engine by which, by the Bible, true Remembrance of God is kept alive. It is the Deſcription which the Lord gives of all good Men, in Iſa. 56. 4. They that keep my Sabbaths, and chooſe the things that pleaſe me. Young Men, this is the Day, to which all other days may ſay, Thou art worth Ten thouſand of us: Of this Day it ſhall evermore be ſaid, O thou Day that is highly favoured, the Lord is with thee, bleſſed art thou among the Dayes, and curſed is he that deſpiſes thee! Young Perſons are apt on this day to be vain in their Thoughts and Words, and Idle in their whole Behaviour: But labour thou to ſpend this Day as a Market-day for thy Soul; ſpend it in Holy Duties, and in thoſe things that may prove both a Cauſe and a Sign of thy Reſt among the People of God for ever: Do according to that in Iſa. 58. 13. Call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honourable. Do not abuſe this high Day of God; as the Prophet ſaid unto Gehazi, Is this a Time to receive Money? ſo let me ſay, p. 81Is this a time to be making of Bargains, or to be ordering of Journeys? Much more, Is this a time for Rioting and Drunkenneſs, for Chambering and Wantonneſs? or for ſuch things as are never ſeaſonable? No, 'tis not ſuch a Time: To the young People that make it ſuch a Time, I would ſay as in Neh. 13. 18. You bring Wrath upon Iſrael by profaning the Sabbath: Such Perſons are the meer Achans of the Land they live in.

Finally, There are many other ſins of Youth, eſpecially that ſin of Ʋncleanneſs, which we muſt avoid, and forſake, if we would Remember God: Let no Young Man allow himſelf in thoſe curſed things.

RULE III.

Let us Remember the virtuous Example of them that have been good betimes, eſpecially the Holy Pattern of the Holy Jeſus. It is ſaid in Heb. 13. 7. Remember them whoſe Faith is to be followed: So it may be urged, Remember them whoſe Youth is to be followed: If we remember them, we ſhall remember God. There have been young Perſons that have had the Grace of Forty at the Age of Twenty in them. Sometimes a young Man has given up himſelf to God by a Covenant never to be forgotten. A young Man has maintain'd a courſe of daily ſupplication, and beſides often had his extraordinary Dayes p. 82of Prayer and Praiſe; a young Man has upheld a courſe of daily Meditation, and beſides accuſtomed himſelf to read the Scripture with ſuch Attention, as to fetch a Note and a Wiſh out of every Verſe before him, ſuch an one I have lately follow'd unto the Grave: Many more ſuch Inſtances of Early Piety, perhaps a Young Man here and there may afford unto us: O now, Go thou and do likewiſe.

But above all, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt calls for our Imitation: It is ſaid of Him, in Pſal. 110. 3. Thou haſt the Dew of thy Youth: In his Youth it ſelf a Dew of Grace was to be ſeen upon him; in his Youth he fulfilled the whole will of God; in his Youth he was always about his Fathers buſineſs: He now ſays to Young Men, what he ſays to All Men in Joh. 13. 15. I have given you an Example, that you ſhould do as I have done. O then ſtudy Chriſt Jeſus, obſerve Chriſt Jeſus, follow Chriſt Jeſus; ask, What was the Behaviour of Chriſt Jeſus in his Youth? and, Be as he was in the World.

RULE IV.

Let us remember the profitable Inſtruction of them that wiſh well unto us.

There is a twofold Inſtruction which young Perſons among us are made partakers of: There is Paſtoral Inſtruction, and p. 83there is Parental Inſtruction, under which you ſit. Regard this Inſtruction, leſt you mourn at laſt, and ſay, How have I hated Inſtruction, and not obeyed the voice of my Teachers!

You enjoy Pastoral Inſtrnction, O deſpiſe it not! You have with Sermon after Sermon been publickly and ſolemnly called upon to Remember God. Beſides this, I have perſonally treated with ſome ſcores of you, about your Eternal Welfare, and I hope I may live to viſit every one of you for this end, earneſtly and urgently beſeeching of you to be Reconciled unto God. It was of old enjoyned in Deut. 31. 12. Gather the People together, Men and Women, and Children, that they may hear, and learn, and fear the Lord: Behold, the Children as well as the Adult have been adviſed here, to Remember the Lord. What is now the effect of it? I will for once wax bold with you, and ſay as Dying Bolton ſaid unto his Children, Children, let any of you meet me at the day of Judgment in a Christleſs unregenerate eſtate if you dare! I will teſtifie againſt you, I ſay again, I will teſtifie againſt you before the Lord Jeſus, if you do.

You enjoy Paternal Inſtruction too; O refuſe it not! Does not thy Father, or thy Maſter, or thy Mother, charge thee to Remember God? Did they never charge thee to read the Word, and ſeek the Face of God, p. 84and to make Conſcience of thy Wayes▪ Then, My Son, hear the Inſtruction of thy Father, and forſake not the Law of thy Mother. What befell the Sons of Eli, thoſe Sons of Belial? in 1 Sam. 2. 25. They hearkened not to the Voice of their Father, becauſe the Lord would ſlay them. Art thou a young Perſon, counſelled by a good Parent to Remember the Lord? The Lord will ſlay thee; yea, The Lord will Damn thee, if thou doſt not Hearken thereunto.

Thus are we to Remember God: And, O who among you are more than almoſt perſwaded hereunto? Let a few Conſiderations more add weight unto thoſe that have alſo beſpoke it of you.

CONSIDER. I.

The God of Heaven has Commanded you to Remember him; you have this Command in a ſhadow under the Law of old: It was required in Exod. 22. 29. Thou ſhalt not delay to offer the firſt of the ripe fruits unto me. The Lord thus calls, Bring me the firſt of thy Age, and, Bring me the firſt of thy ſtrength: How dareſt thou then carry it unto the Devil inſtead of him?

This Command is yet more expreſs, where the Lord calls for a preſent Repentance, a preſent Obedience from us; ſaith he not in Jer. 25. 5. Turn ye now every one from his evil way? ſaith he not in Pſal. 95. 7. O that ye would hear his Voice to day? ſaith he not in Pſal. 147. 12. Both p. 85young Men and Maidens, old Men and Children, O Praiſe the Lord? Young Man, do not venture to ſlight the Command of that God who can ſpeak thee into Hell for ſlighting it: Do not offend and provoke that God who can with hot Thunder-bolts avenge thy doing ſo.

CONSIDER. II.

'Tis for your own Interest and Benefit now to Remember God. It is impoſſible to reckon up all the Advantages of Early Religion: Indeed, Godlineſs is profitable for all things; but Early Godlineſs, that, that is it which brings moſt profit unto the Owners of it: It is truly ſaid in Lam. 3. 27. It is good for a man that he bear the Yoke in his Youth. Young Man, Remember God, and it will pleaſe Him. It was very pleaſing unto God, when Abel brought the Firſtlings of his Flock unto Him: The Lord ſaid in Jer. 2. 2. I Remember the kindneſs of thy Youth. If we Remember God in our Youth, God will Remember the ſeriouſneſs of our Youth, the ſavourineſs of our Youth, and the kindneſs of our Youth a great while afterwards. It was the Speech of God in Hoſ. 11. 1. When Iſrael was a child I loved him. When Perſons are in their Childhood vertuous and gracious, and ſuch as Remember Him, ſuch perſons are loved exceedingly by Him that loveth the Righteous. When little Children were brought unto the Lord Jeſus, He bleſſed them: What will the Lord then do for them that Remember to come themſelves unto Him? He will bleſs them, for they pleaſe him exceedingly.

Remember God, and it will alſo ſave thee: O what a matchleſs Promiſe is there ſet before thee, in Prov. 8. 17. They that ſeek me early ſhall find me! Thou ſhalt find Chriſt, and find God, and find the Pearl of great price by the Ea…ly ſeeking thereof: Whoever does miſs of mercy from God, yet unto the Young Perſon, the Lord ſaith, in 1 Chron. 28. 9. If thou ſeek him he ſhall be found of thee. This is a certain way to find Grace, to find Glory, to find every good thing; ſeek early for it. Indeed, they are not only centain Finders, but alſo glorious p. 86Finders, Eminent and Tranſcendent Finders, that are Early Seekers of the Lord; they are the Joſephs, and the Samuels, and the Davids of the World.

CONSIDER. III.

Remember God Now, or there is Danger that you never will at all: As he ſaid in Joh. 3. 4. How can a Man be born when he is old? ſo, How can a Man be New-born then? It ſeldom is. Our Text ſays, Remember thy Creator in the days of thy Youth; It may be rendred, In the days of thy Choice. You now make your Choice: If you chooſe God in your Youth, Well; but if you now chooſe Luſt and Sin, a thouſand to one but God will confirm that Choice; the Lord may ſay, Let him that is filthy be filthy ſtill, and, Let him that is wicked he wicked for evermore: Beſides the Mortality, there is alſo an Obduration which thou art in danger of: It is a direful Menace of God in Gen. 6. 3. My Spirit ſhall not always ſtrive. If thou doſt now reſiſt the ſtrivings of the Lord, thou doſt as it were ſmother them and baniſh them; 'tis to be fear'd that they will take an Eternal Farewell of thy forſaken Soul. Doſt not thou Tremble at this, O thou Heart of Adamant? If this horrible thing ſhould be the Portion of thy Soul, Down, Down, Down thou goeſt into the Pitt, among them that cannot hope for the Truth of God.

God prevent ſo great an Evil! God make every young Perſon among us a Joſiah, that While he is yet young, ſhall ſeek the Lord. God make every young Perſon among us an Abijah, that while young ſhall have in him ſome good thing toward the Lord. God enable every young Perſon to ſay as Obadiah did, I fear the Lord from my Youth.

Now, unto thee, O God, I bend my knees, with my Prayers, that thy Converting Grace may produce multitudes of ſuch tender Grapes in this Vineyard of the Lord.

FINIS.

End of the text · Cotton Mather, Early Piety Exemplified (1689)