The Works of Jeremiah Burroughs 8, Part · Chapter 62
CHAP. LXII.
Uſe 12. If there be ſo much evil in ſin, then it is of great concernment to be Religious betimes, and there by prevent much ſin.
Uſe XII. AGain; One Uſe more. If there be ſuch evil in Sin, Then it is of great uſe to begin to be Godlie and Religious betimes, for yong ones to come to be godlie betimes: why? Becauſe they may come to prevent ſo much evil and ſo much Sin. Oh happie thoſe that begin to be godlie when yong; you prevent a thouſand ſins, that others commit by their not knowing ſin betimes. True, if there were no other uſe of Godlineſs, than meerlie to bring you to Heaven, then you might ſtay till your ſick and death beds, and then be Religious, it were enough: but beſides bringing you to Heaven, there is uſe of Godlineſs to keep you away from Sin and Ungodlineſs; and there is enough in that to countervail anie pleaſure: ſuppoſe you yong people abſtain from ſome pleaſure, or joy that others have; the truth is, you have greater and better pleaſures; but ſuppoſe you had none but keeping of your ſouls from ſin, this meerlie were enough to countervail whatſoever you ſuffer in the waies of God. There are manie converted when they were old, and what would theſe give for to be delivered from the guilt of ſome ſins committed when they were yong? When they look back to their lives, Oh this ſin I committed in ſuch a familie, and when I was an Apprentiſe in ſuch a place; Oh that I were delivered from them! Oh they lie upon my heart! Oh that vanitie and wickedneſs! Oh thoſe oaths I ſwore in ſuch a companie, among yong men! Oh thoſe Sabbaths I brake! Oh thoſe lyes I told, and the drunkenneſſe I was drawn to! Oh I cannot look back to theſe, but my thinks I could even tear my heart from my bellie, to think what a heart I had, to ſin againſt God, and multiplie Sin againſt Him. Thus at the beſt, when God awakens their hearts, they would give ten thouſand worlds to be delivered from the Sins of their Youth: And therefore now, you yong ones, ſeeing there is ſuch evil in Sin, Oh prevent it: You know how the Sins of Youth lay upon David, Remember not againſt me the ſins of my youth; therefore now prevent thoſe Sins that otherwiſe will lie ſo heavilie upon you, as that you will be forced to crie out, Oh remember not againſt me, the Sins of my Youth: Oh it is a happie thing to ſee yong ones good; and it is the greateſt hope that God will ſhew merciemercy to England, in that God begins to draw yong ones on in the waies of Godlineſs, ſo that we hope there will not be ſo manie Sins committed in the Age to come. We have cried out of the Sins of yong ones; and one Generation that hath followed another, hath been but like the Kennel, the lower and further it goeth, the more filth it hath gathered; and ſo the lower Generations have gone, the more filthie they have been. But we hope God intends to turn the courſe, and to make Godlineſs as much honored, as it hath been diſhonored heretofore, and that there ſhould not be ſo much Sin in the next Generation. Heretofore yong people when they had daies of Recreation, what did they but multiplie Sin? what abundance of wickedneſs was committed by Youth then? and on Shrove-Tueſdaies, abundance of wickedneſs committed by Youth then; and ſo the Generation was filled with Sins of Youth. But now God is pleaſed to ſtir up the hearts of yong ones, that inſtead of multiplying of Sin, they be got together on ſuch daies, to Faſt, and to Pray, and make daies to attend upon the Word, and ſo avoid Sin: It is that certainlie, that doth encourage the hearts of Gods People to pray to him, and to ſeek him for merciemercy, that God gives hearts to yong people that they multiplie not Sin as heretofore. If there be anie here that have begun this, Oh go on in that way, and when others multiplie wickedneſs upon ſuch daies, get alone, and attend upon the Word, and recreate your Souls in the Word, and holie conference: true, God gives libertie to recreate, but let it he as it was wont to be with the Companies in London, though they did recreate, they would have their Sermons too. So inſtead of horrible wickedneſs that was wont to be upon thoſe daies, as I ſuppoſe ſome of you can remember; upon Shrove-Tueſdaies infinite wickedneſſes was committed in the Citie, and thereabouts: we hope inſtead of wickedneſs, and joyning together in wickedneſs, there will be joyning together in the Waies of God: And thus doing, you wil encourage us in the Waies of God; and Peace and MercieMercy will be upon you.