Three Decades of Sermons, Decade 2 · Sermon 1

Three Decades of Sermons · Decade 2 · Sermon 1

p. 1JOB 13. 26.

For thou writeſt bitter things againſt me, and makeſt me to poſſeſs the Iniquities of my youth.

YOU are all well acquainted with the Hiſtory of Serm. 1. at St. Maries Oxon. Iune. 25. 1650.Job, this eminent pattern of Integritie, as to his ſufferings and patience, which are upon Divine Record, both for our inſtruction and imitation, Jam. 5. 10, 11. I ſhall wave the Narrative, being ſo abundantly known, even to a Proverbial Speech: OnelyOnly thus much I ſhall premiſe to make my paſſage clear unto my Text: Job being on the Dung-hill ſorely afflicted with variety of ſufferings, his Friends came with an intention to comfort him, but, through miſtakes, they proved miſerable Comforters, even Phyſicians of no value; and added affliction to affliction, paſſing uncharitable Cenſures upon him, and looking upon p. 2all his Sufferings as juſt Puniſhments of his Hypocriſie: Many Dialogues there paſſed between Job and his Friends, with ſeveral Anſwers and Replyes. At this time he hath to deal with Zophar the Naamathite; Zophar gives him good counſel indeed, To put iniquity far away, Job 11. 13, 14. It's true in Theſi, but not in Hypotheſi: The Doctrine is good, the Application, as to this upright man Job, altogether impertinent; thereby he inſinuates, as if ſome Bribery was in the hands of Job, being an innocent Perſon, as to Men; and indeed chaſtened thus by God, not becauſe he was a greater Sinner then others, but for his tryal, the demonſtration of his Faith and Patience, and to make it appear to all the World, that the Devil was a Lyar; Job, I ſay, vindicates himſelf from his Friends aſperſions, and betakes himſelf, in the 12, 13, and 14 Chapters, to a plenary anſwer; his affliction makes him to ſpeak, Job 12. 3, 4.Job 12:3Job 12:4he's ſenſible how cheap an eſteem they had of him, Job 12. 3, 4. He was as one mocked of his neighbour: The remedies they apply to Job 13, 4.Job 13:4him, are worſe then his diſeaſe; he ſpeaks plainly to them, Job 13. 4. But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all Phyſitians of no value: He's ſurrounded with miſeries, he's like a very Skeleton, all his Bones may be told; he lives a dying life. Mark his Queſtion, Job 13. 14. he gives in an excellent Anſwer and Reſolution, Job 13. 15. But that which renews his grief, is Gods hiding his face from him; if men fail him and deſpiſe him, he can eaſilier brook that; he ſtands upon his vindication, quoad hominem; but if God be angry, and account him an enemy, there's his grief, that's the wound indeed, v. 24. He further expoſtulates the matter, v. 25. (i. e.) Wilt thou break that which hath no power? A leaf is a weak thing, its driven too and fro; Wilt thou ſet thy power againſt weakneſs? and wilt thou purſue the dry ſtubble, that will be ſoon on a flame, and conſumed? Now Job is inquiſitive after the cauſe; God is angry, but there's good cauſe for it; God writes bitter things againſt him, but youthful ſins are call'd to remembrance, and now reckoned for in old Age.

The words read are a heavy Charge, or a Bill of Indictment againſt Diviſ. 1. 2. 1. 2. 3.a Delinquent; wherein you have two generals. 1. The Charge it ſelf. 2. The Sentence given upon it. In the Charge, you are to conſider of the matter or thing charged, 1. Iniquities. 2. The aggravation of them, drawn from the Age that commits them; they are ſins of youth. 3. The perſon againſt whom this Charge was drawn, viz. againſt Job. In the Sentence given, you p. 3have here ſet down ſore afflictions, which Job reckons as exceeding heavy upon him, which may be repreſented by theſe aggravations.

1. Theſe are not ordinary afflictions, but bitter things. 2. They 1. 2. 1. 2.are aſſured, and made firm to him two ways. 1. By writing, there is as it were, a writing drawn firm and ſure. 2. By poſſeſſion: And makeſt me to poſſeſs, as if he had authentick **Scribis tand…m ſententiaque tuâ, manu & ſigillo munis, ut acerbiſſunâ morte plectar, Pineda in Loc. Aſcribis ſive imputas mihi quae admiſi in juventute, quorum non recordor amplius. Vatabl. Rev. 10. 10.Rev 10:10Writings, and Livery, and Seiſin, given for theſe bitter things. Now in handling this Scripture, I ſhall firſt premiſe an Explication of the words, then draw forth a point of Doctrine, and prove it, and ſo conclude with particular Application.

For Explication of the words, theſe Queries are to be reſolved. 1. What is meant by bitter things in the Text? ſome underſtand by bitter things, the evil of ſin, and indeed, ſin is a very bitter thing, Deut. 29. 18. It is called a root that beareth gall and wormwood: There's an Expoſition of this place, Heb. 12. 15. where it is called a root of bitterneſs. Though ſin be ſweet in the acting, yet there will be bitterneſs in the end; like the Roll, which was ſweet in the mouth, but bitter in the belly. This is a plain truth, that ſin will bring all bitterneſs to the ſoul: yet I ſhall rather incline to ††Malim acerba intelligi ſupplicia, dolores graviſſimos qui bus diſcruciatur. Merc.Mercers Expoſition, By bitter things he underſtands bitter puniſhments, and grievous ſorrows, wherewith Job was afflicted: And this I take to be the proper meaning, you ſhall hear Job complaining of terrors, pouring out his ſoul, &c. Job 30. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Now amongſt ſeveral kindes of ſavours, bitterneſs is moſt offenſive to the Pallate: Bitterneſs is ſpoken of, and applyed to ſad afflicted conditions, Ruth 1. v. 20. Call me not Naomi, (i. e.) pleaſant and delectable, but call me Marah, (i. e.) Bitter, for the Ruth 1. 20.Ruth 1:20Lord hath dealt very bitterly with me. Afflictions in themſelves are very grievous and bitter, moſt diſtaſteful to the Pallate; No chaſtening for the preſent, ſeemeth to be joyous, but grievous: So then Heb. 12. 11.Heb 12:11by bitter things we are to underſtand thoſe ſad croſſes, and bitter afflictions which were incumbent upon Job, thoſe Arrows of the Almighty which ſtuck faſt in his ſides, all evils of puniſhment or chaſtiſement.

2. What's meant by writing of bitter things: This, ſaith Learned Q. 2. Scribendi verbum judiciale …uto ut Grae…i dicunt. Merc. in Loc.Mercer, is a judicial phraſe, the Graecians were wont to write theſe Sentences in their judicial proceedings: Writing alludes to that which in Civil Law is an a…cuſation called Libelling. Its the uſual courſe of Law, to bring in Charges or Bills of Indictment in writing againſt p. 4the Offender **Caryl In locum.A Reverend Divine obſerves on the place, That God hath a double Book, and both in a Figure; he hath a Book of reſolved Decrees, and a Book of his acted Providences: This Book of his acted Providences, is but a Tranſcript of the former; Job is to be underſtood of this latter Book of Providences, in which God writ bitter things againſt him. By Writing, Chryſoſt.Chryſoſtome underſtands, The firm and irrevocable Decree of the Judge: This writing is firm and ſtedfaſt, foreign, ſaith John 19. 22. Dan. 6. 8. Job 31. 35.John 19:22Dan 6:8Job 31:35Pilate, which is as if he ſhould ſay, It is written under my hand, it ſhall ſtand; like the Laws of the Medes and Perſians, which alter not: Jobs wiſh gives a good gloſs to our aſſertion, Job 31. 35. where he marketh, that that his Adverſary had written a Book againſt him. The Laws of Draco were written in Blood, and the Decrees of God againſt Job (as he conceived) were written with gall and wormwood.

3. Why doth Job make ſuch peculiar mention of the ſins of his Q. 3.youth? **Quidam in locū exiſtimāt ſuae Adoleſcentiae peccata vocare quae à filiis ſuis Adoleſcentulis perpetrata fuiſſent. Pineda in Loc. Job 1. 5.Job 1:5Why is ſuch a brand of Infamy put upon young men? For Anſwer, Pineda mentions, That ſome think that God imputes his childrens ſins unto him, as if he were remiſs in his duty towards them: And the verſion of the 70. ſeems to favor this ſenſe, foreign, (i. e.) Thou haſt impoſed or laid upon me: But this ſenſe is foreign, though God doth puniſh Children for their Parents, and Parents for their Childrens ſins; yet I conceive it not ſo to be underſtood here; and we have a good warrant for a more charitable opinion of Job, c 1. v. 5. becauſe we read he ſanctified his ſons. Job here is to be underſtood, ſpeaking of his own perſonal ſins: Sins of Infancy and Childhood could not ſo well be remembred, but youthful ſins may more eaſily be called to remembrance: Ita Jobus ipſe meditatur, Sanctius in Loc.quia eum recentium peccatorum non morderet cruciaretque conſcientia, &c. As if Job had not been conſcious to himſelf of late ſins, therefore he conceives that he now ſuffers for former ſins; thus ſome con…ecture, as Sanctius obſerves on the place: But this ſavors not of Jobs ſpirit, though he was exemplary for holineſs, yet he was ſenſible of daily ſins, he knew himſelf to be a daily ſinner, he knew what a ſinful nature he had, full of pollution, yet his youthful ſins carryed the greateſt filth and guilt in them, which, in his apprehenſion, made the greateſt gaſhes and wounds upon his conſcience; he knew that his youthful ſins had moſt aggravating circumſtances p. 5in them, that a Bill of Indictment drawn up againſt them would be blackeſt, and charge him homeſt: Where upon Judicious Mr. Calvin gives two reaſons why he ſpeaks of the ſins of his youth; one is, Becauſe in that age luſts are moſt predominant, the Calvin. in l… cum.nature of a man, which is ſinful, doth then caſt up his greateſt froth; the paſsions are moſt violent, and therefore that age hath need of the ſtrongeſt Bridle. Another reaſon is, Becauſe Job meant to declare, that God brought all his ſins to remembrance, as if he ſhould frame an Indictment againſt him of all that he had done ever ſince he was a childe. And herein he ſeems to complain of rigor, ſeeing thou haſt pardoned them, wherefore doſt thou lay them before me? But we may not finde fault with God, he puniſheth leſs then we deſerve: The Lord is righteous, we have ſinned againſt him.

A fourth Query is, what is meant by poſſeſſing the ſins of Q. 4. Hieronymi tranſlatio. Chald. Parap. Jun. in Loc.youth: Jerome reads it, conſumere vis, youthful ſins may bring Conſumptions upon old Age. The Chalde Paraphraſe reads it, Me haereditare facis: Thus Junius interprets, Efficis ut poſsideam haereditario jure. As if elder years did inherit youthful ſins: Gray Hairs, even old perſons gray headed in ſins, receive the puniſhment of their youthful green headed ſins for their inheritance: It's an obſervable note of Pineda on the place, * Puniſhment is the Poena eſt quaſi culpe prognata & filia, atque adeo ipſe homo grandevus & ſenex, ſuccedit ſibi ipſi puero & Adol…ſ…nti. Pineda in Loc.Daughter of ſin: An old man is ſucceſſor to himſelf a young man. There is, as it were, a natural ſucceſſion and derivation of ſins committed in youth, to become the inheritance of old age: So that a ſinner becomes his own Heir, the old ſinner the young mans Heir. The meaning is, A man that runs on in a riotous ungodly courſe, following his ſwinge and full career in wickedneſs in the days of his youth, ſhall feel the ſmart and bitterneſs of his ſins in his old craſie bones: We render the word in the Text ordinarily to poſſeſs, and that is Emphatical: A man that hath preſent poſſeſſion of his Inheritance, hath moſt points in the Law; The right next Heir hath a legal Title. Now when the Heir hath poſſeſſion of his Inheritance, this adds to the ſtrengthning of his right. Now an old ſinner doth inherit and take poſſeſſion of his youthful ſins; and this is a ſad poſſeſſion, to poſſeſs the inheritance of ſin. It was charged upon Ahab, for killing and taking poſſeſſion; there is the killing of the ſoul, when there is poſſeſſion took of ſin. He then may be ſaid to poſſeſs the ſins of his youth, who feels the ſmart and pain of them, who ſuffers bitter ſorrows p. 6for them, when the ſins committed in his youth, even breaks his bones when he comes to be old.

I have one Query more to propound: How is it, ſince Job an holy Q. 5man, whoſe ſins were pardoned, yet complains of ſuch an hand-writing againſt him, charging upon himſelf youthful ſins?

For anſwer, you muſt know, 1. That ſins repented of and pardoned, A. 1may yet prove gall and wormwood to the ſoul: They that have repented, muſt renew their repentance. The remembrance of the wormwood and the gall, the bitterneſs of ſin will coſt Gods people many a ſalt tear.

2. Though ſins may be pardoned, yet the ſoul may not be able 2to read that pardon, it may want the manifeſtation of the pardon; though there may be a pardon ſealed, an acquittance, a white ſtone in the Court of the Judge, yet it may not appear ſo in the Court of a mans own Conſcience.

3. We are to know, that Fatherly chaſtiſements are the lot and 3Heb. 12. 5, 6. Rev. 3. 19.Heb 12:5Heb 12:6Rev 3:19portion of Gods deareſt Children, as the Scripture plainly ſheweth There is a Judgement of Revenge, and a Judgement of Chaſtiſement; Judgements of Revenge are the portion of the wicked; Judgements of Chaſtiſement are incident to the generation of the righteous: As a Judge, God will not paſs an eternal Judgement againſt his people; They are the beloved of his Soul, and he loves them to the end; but as a Father he may, and doth pronounce many temporal Judgements as Chaſtiſements againſt them: The fruit whereof is, to take away their Droſs and Tin, and to make them partakers of his holyneſs.

4. It is wiſdom in a godly man, when preſent ſufferings are upon 4him, to call former ſins to remembrance: Afflictions brings ſins to remembrance. Job lookt back upon his former failings, he was not unmindeful of his preſent failings, but his former, in an eſpecial manner, might call for a rod of correction to whip out his folly. When afflictions befall us, we ſhould inquire into the cauſe, and ſearch out our ſins, and be humbled for them: So Joſephs Brethren, when diſtreſs befell them in Aegypt, called to minde their Gen. 42. 21.Gen 42:21cruelty againſt Joſeph, many years before committed.

Thus you have heard the Explication of the words, from which I'le draw one Point of Doctrine, which I take to be the fundamental Doctrine of the Text:

That ſins committed in our youth, will cauſe much ſmart and bitterneſs Doct. in our elder years.

p. 7This Point lies plainly in the Text, & I ſhall make it the groundwork of my enſuing Meditations: In the proſecution whereof, I ſhall purſue my plain and accuſtomed method, by proving the Point from Method. of handling the Doctrine.Scripture, confirming it by evidenc… of Reaſon, and reducing all to point of practice, by way of Uſe and particular Application.

For Scripture proof, Job ſpeaking of the momentary joy of wicked men, cap. 20. v. 5. ſets forth his judgement, v. 11. His bones are full of the ſins of his youth, Hoſ. 12. 14. He ſhall leave his blood upon him, (as Diodate and others obſerve) God will not pardon him his ſin, nor cleanſe him from it, but will keep it ſtill in remembrance, to puniſh him for it at his appointed time. God makes a grievous complaint againſt Samaria and Jeruſalem, under the names of Aholah and Aholibah; Aholahs youthful Whoredoms are charged upon her, Ezek. 23. v. 8. And likewiſe the ſame charge is given in againſt her Siſter Aholibah, v. 19. See their doom, v. 33, 34. The cup of aſtoniſhment and deſolation ſhould be their portion. David being ſenſible both of the ſins of his youth, and riper age, how heavy they would be upon him if God call'd them to remembrance, prays earneſtly, That God would not remember them againſt him, Pſal. 25. v. 7. Though he was a potent King, and an excellent Muſitian, a Man of a ſanguine complexion, (and ſuch naturally are moſt chearful) yet after he had committed thoſe two ſcandalous ſins, Murther and Adultery, he loſt his former chearfulneſs, he complains of broken bones, Pſal. 51. 8. of reſtleſs bone, Pſal. 37. 3. of diſeaſed bones, Pſal. 6. 3. His ſad condition is fu… ther aggravated, Pſal. 6. 6, 7. & 38. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. You know by experience, that ſome ſprains and bruiſes that you have got in the heat of your youth, afflict you ſore in your old age; old men feel ſome blows, ſome aches and pains which they have got many years before; ſome over-ſtrain themſelves by running, wreſtling, or ſuch like violent Exerciſes, and they feel the ſmart thereof in their old bones: So likewiſe the ſins which young me… venture on, their Whoredoms, Voluptuouſneſs, Carouſing and Gaming, which they make light of now, may lie heavy upon their ſpirits in old age; ſo that when green ſins and gray hairs, young ſins and old bones meet together, there will be more bitterneſs in the remembrance of them, then ever there was pleaſure in the commiſſion of them. The Devil will let a man alone a great while, whil'ſt he is young and follows his Voluptuouſneſs: The p. 8Devil thinks he is ſure enough of him; But when old age comes, and a ſinner then is awakened from his ſecurity, then the Devil beſtirs himſelf all that he can; bringing all his ſins to remembrance, and tempting him to d…ſperation. It's a good note of Eſtius, Eſtius.Inſidebit calcaneo: The Serpent will be moſt buſie to do us miſchief in the end of our life; So then, take it which way you will, when God comes to reckon with ſinners, there will be bitterneſs: Sin it ſelf is a bitter thing; Affliction is the puniſhment of ſin, and that is a bitter thing; and Repentance, which is the inſtrumental means preſcribed, is no pleaſant potion. The iſſue is indeed ſweet, becauſe they that ſow in tears ſhall reap in joy: Yet the Scripture ſets forth Repentance by breaking the heart, afflicting the ſoul, going mourning all the day long, like the mourning for an onelyonly Son, Zech. 12. 10. Sin will cauſe bitterneſs in the end. That this may appear more evidently, I will give in the demonſtration of the Point, by evidence of Reaſon.

The firſt ſhall be drawn from the rule of Equity and Juſtice: There is a Commutative and a Diſtributive Juſtice; in the Commutative R. 1. Drawn from the rule of Equity & Juſtice.Juſtice, Inter vendenda & emenda, equity and good conſcience muſt take place; the Commodity ſold muſt be worth the money given, and the money given muſt be worth the Commodity, this is moſt true, yet not in that ſence which I drive at this preſent: But there is a diſtributive Juſtice, and the rule thereof is, ſuum cui que Tribuere, this ſerves for my purpoſe: It's juſt with God to give a ſinner his own, to pay him in his own coyn, to let him reap what he hath ſowed; That as in his youth he hath ſown the ſeeds of wickedneſs, ſo in his old age he ſhould reap the fruits of ſorrow and bitterneſs: It's Eliphaz experience, Job 4. 8. They that plow iniquity and ſow wickedneſs, reap the ſame; youth will have its ſwinge: No bands will hold them, no bounds will keep them in, they will have their own ways, and its juſt with God to let them be filled with their own ways, Prov. 5. 22, 23. His own iniquity ſhall take the wicked Prov. 5. 22, 23.Prov 5:22Prov 5:23himſelf, and he ſhall be holden with the cords of his ſin: he ſhall die without inſtruction, and in the greatneſs of his folly he ſhall go aſtray: Iſa. 3. 10, 11. Rom. 6. 23. foreign, Pro ſtipendio & quovis ſalario accipitur, Piſcut.Isa 3:10Isa 3:11Rom 6:23Compare thoſe two different Sentences together, Iſa. 3. 10, 11. Sin hath a voice, it cries aloud for it's wages, and that is a dead pay, Rom. 6. 23. foreign, Young men ruſh into ſin with greedineſs, but they take not into their thoughts the conſideration of a day of an account: There will come a day of viſitation p. 9a day of recompenſe, when God will reckon with thee for thy moſt delightfull ſinnes. In thy elder age thou muſt feel the ſmart of them and poſſeſs a bitter inheritance: Read that ſacred Irony of the wiſe man, Rejoyce O young man &c. Eccleſ. 11. 9.Reaſ. Second, drawn from the nature and quality of Sinne.

A Second Reaſon ſhall be drawn from the nature and quality of ſinne, every ſinne is a pollution, a defileing of the conſcience, there is an abundance of filthineſs in every ſinne, this the Pſalmiſts queſtion implyes wherewithall ſhall a young man cleanſe his ways? Pſal. 119. 9. Sinne in Sctipture is called lewdneſs, folly, perverſneſs, uncleanneſs, compared to a menſtruous cloath, to dung, vomit, mire, poyſon &c. There is nothing ſo loathſome in our eyes, as ſinne is in the pure eyes of God, ſinne is the poyſon of the ſoul, ſinne is worſe then hell, then the Devil, more black, more ugly then either of them, Quod efficit tale eſt magis tale. There would be neither hell, nor devil were it not for ſinne. Now then if every ſin be thus filthy, what ſhall we ſay of youthfull ſinnes, which are committed with vigour, greedineſs, alacrity. when men ſell themſelves to work wickedneſs, and ſpend their marrow and ſtrength in the devills ſervice, theſe (though they litle think of it) will one day feel the ſmart of their youthfull vanityes if God open their eyes to ſee the filthineſs of their wayes and to loath themſelves, their ſinnes will coſt them many a ſalt tear: Hence will follow an holy ſelf-confuſion ſelf-diſplacency, and abhorrence, Jer. 13. 19. Job. 42. 6.Jer 13:19Job 42:6as was i… Ephraim, and Job. Though they wanted foreign fore witt, Its a great mercy if they have foreign after wit.

A Third and laſt Reaſon ſhall be drawn from the ſeverall aggravations of thoſe ſinnes which are committed in the dayes of our youth.Reaſ. Third. from the aggravations of youthfull ſins 1 Aggravat. becauſe youthfull ſins are committed with greater violence. Job. 11. 12. foreign &c. Ariſt. Eth. l. 1. … 1.Job 11:12

1. They are commited with a great deal of impetuouſneſs and violence: Though the ſtory of Phaeton be fabulous (and I purpoſely wave Poeticall Fictions) yet the morall is ſound, that raſh young men may ſet all in a combuſtion: Job hath a full compariſon: A young man is like a wild Aſſes Colt. Ariſtotle accounts him an unfit hearer of morall Philoſophy. Neither Ariſtotle his Ethicks, nor Tullyes offices, can break a young colt. This one word Volo is the bane of many young men. They are refractory, and will have their own will, and a ſelf-willed-man is felo de ſe, his own executitioner: p. 10with what violence doe young men purſue their luſts? They leaue no ſtone unmoved for the ſatisfaction of their humours: They meaſure not things by the light of judgment, much leſſe by the rule of the word, but they act according to fancy and paſſion. And there is an Anarchy in their paſſions, or ſuch a tumult or Ataxy in them, as that they love what they ſhould loath, deſire what they ſhould abhorre, rejoyce when they ſhould mourn: Nitimur in vetitum, is the main trade they drive. And thus unbridled youth, without all government, is like a City without gates and walls Satan and all his inſtruments will enter in ſpeedily and ſurprize them.

A Second aggravation is becauſe ſ…nnes commited in dayes of 2. Aggrav. Becauſe youthful ſins are committed with greater delight.youth are with abundance of delight and complacency acted by ſinners. Old men cannot act ſome …innes (though their hearts are as naught as ever) by reaſon of naturall Impedements, and indiſpoſition of their preſent conſtitution: But yong-men whoſe bones are full of marrow, they delight in joviall company, drinking, gameing, ſeeing Theatricall Enterludes, They are young, and therefore they put far from them the evil day, Let them read that dreadfull woe Amos 6. 3. 4. 5. 6. Its the young man voyd of underſtanding that was enticed by the Whore, Prov. 7. 22. Abſolon was a young man that rebelled againſt hi… Father, O what eager purſuits was there, what delight what deſire and endeavour to accompliſh his deſignes? He falls a fawning and flattring and ſo ſteales away the hearts of the people, and then he will not tarry till his fathers death, but on hee goeth with his deſigne, A vow to God he pretends in his mouth, but he meditates Treaſon and …ebellion in his heart, And you know what became of him. David ſeemes to extenuatet he matter, when he bids deal gently with the young man Abſolom. However the Rebell is no whit leſſe in excuſeble.

A Third aggravation is drawn from the many Pleas, and vain 3 Aggravat. is drawn from the waine pretences which young men make.pretences that young men make, they will tell you that youth muſt have a grain allowed, what's a Gentleman but his pleaſure, Now they are young hereafter they will think upon their ſoules, They muſt hauehave a time to ſow their wild Oates, They can quote the **Laetitia juvenem Frons …ecet, triſtis ſenem. Sen. Trag.Tragedian; Mirth becomes a young man, gravity an old man. Would they were as well verſt in the book of God, there they may read 2 Tim. 2. 22. Flee youthfull Lusts: I have often ſeriouſly thought that Its no wonder to ſee ſo many wanton youths, when as p. 11there remaine ſo many wanton Authours (Poets I mean eſpecially) ſuch as Horace, Martiall, Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius &c. …ho corrupt many young men, Its high time that all ſuch bookes were either throughly purged or els condemned to the fire as theirs were Act. 19. 19. You youngmen doe not plead for your pleaſures, Solomon tells you that Childhood and youth are vanities. I remember Tertullian hath a ſaying Vides convivium peccatoris interroga ejus conſcientiam &c. There is death in the Pot; In the middeſt of Tertul.laughter the heart is ſorrowfull. There is death in the Adulterers bed, death in the Drunkards cup, death in the deceivers falſe weights, never plead pleaſure in ſinfull wayes.

But youth will plead, will you allow no Recreation?Eph. 5. 16. foreign. Emercantes, hoc eſt, dato pretio …ſserrere in libertatem. Eraſm. Eſt curioſe merces conſiderare, u… emas meliores. C. a Lap:Eph 5:16

I Anſwer that no recreation that is ſinfull may at any time be allowed, no recreation of ill report and ſcandalous, no recreation as a vocation, no miſpending of time, for we are commanded to redeeme time or making a good Market of time. Only ſuch recreations may be uſed as are of Good report, which may ſerve as files and whetſtones to devotion, to draw thee neerer to God, and not to keep thee farther off. I may ſay of recreations as a Reverend Divine ſaid of Ceremonyes ſome are tollerable, none neceſſary, but moſt be abominable, Would you know the right pleaſure? It's in the ways of wiſdome Prov. 3, 17. would you know the right object of rejoycing? Vis nunquam eſſe triſtis bene vive. Bern. de modo bene vivendiIt's in God Phil. 4. 4. Bernard hath an excellent ſaying Wouldeſt thou never be ſad, live well. Lay aſide all your vaine pleadings, ſtudy the ſcripture, be much in prayer, much in meditation, and ſ…earching your own hearts, and then you will find by experience that there is more true pleaſure in one moments communion with God, then in all the delights and vanityes of the whole world were they all put together.

The fourth and laſt Aggravation that I ſhall name, is this, Sins 4 Aggravat. Sins of youth are greater becauſe committed againſt warning and invitationsof youth are greater ſins, and will cauſe the greateſt bitterneſs, becauſe yong men ſin after ſo many invitations, calls and warnings from God. The ſoul of God loves the firſt ripe fruits; The Holy Ghoſt calls to day, not to morrow, Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth: Thou muſt conſecrate thy freſh green years to God; Thou muſt dedicate the firſt fruits, the… firſt born, the Mich. 7. 1. Eccleſ. 12. 1.Mic 7:1Eccl 12:1…dren of Iſrael were to give their firſt fruits, their firſt born, the beſt of their flock, a Lamb withot blemiſh God calls for thy youth, Wilt thou put him off with the refuſe, thy old crazy p. 12bones, (that I may ſpeak it with reverence) when the Devil hath ſuckt out the Marrow? Wilt thou offer God empty bones? Mal. 1. 8. Thy Governor will not accept of it: Now thy ſin is aggravated, Hin… colligit ſe affici nimis gravi Injuriâ, quod Judaei audeant offerre, quod mortalis homo reſpueret. Calv.becauſe thou doſt refuſe Gods call at preſent, upon preſumption of ſpace, and grace for the future, neither of which are in thy power; He may give thee neither, whileſt thou art a refuſing at the call of God, to give him thy youth. and thy freſh green years, he may be a ſweating that there ſhall be no more time, and cut thee aſunder in the midſt of thy ſins, and caſt thee into eternal torments; or if God give theeſpace, it's doubtful whether he will give thee grace, It's ſaid of Jezabell, Rev. 2. 21 I gave her ſpace to repent but ſhe repented not: There is a Peradventure, 2 Tim. 2. 25. They encouraged the blinde man, ſaying, Behold he calleth thee: Chriſt Loquitur non de fidelibus tā tum ſed de omnibus hominibus in genere, praeſertim nondum credentibus in Chriſtum. Muſcul.knocks at the doors of your hearts, he offers to be your gueſt, Will not you now open to entertain Jeſus Chriſt: Now we are ſent on Embaſſy, 2 Cor. 5. 20. To pray you to be reconciled unto God: If you hearken not to day, our commiſſion may be out of date tomorrow; I know Chriſt calls at ſeveral hours, I dare not ſet a bar againſt ancient people, I invite them to come unto Chriſt, and Miniſterially perſwade them: For, ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 5. 10. We perſwade men: Now let them begin and bewail their miſ-ſpent time, and though they have begun later, let them work the harder that work of faith, that labor of love, that patience of hope: 1 Theſſ. 1. 3.1 Thess 1:3Yet I dare not encourage any, for all the world, to put off their repentance to their old age; They that begin ſooneſt, will finde the moſt comfort, the moſt experience, and the leſſe work to doe when they come to die: Yet let not elder perſons ſay 'tis too late, let them not ſhut the door of mercy againſt themſelves, and ſo judge themſelves unworthy of eternal life: But let them lay aſide all excuſes, and now come and work in Chriſts Vineyard, and be faithful, and they ſhall receive their penny.

Thus I have given you the Doctrinal part of the Text, I ſhall improve it in four Uſes for Humiliation, Exhortation, Direction, and Conſolation: This ſhall be my particular Application of all unto our ſelves.

The firſt Uſe ſhall be for deep Humiliation: Let us all be humbled Uſe 1. For Humilia…ion.for the ſins of our youth▪ Let us ſmite upon our Thighs, ſigh to the breaking of our loyns: Let us abhor our ſelves, and repent in duſt and aſhes. Youth is eaſily over-taken with ſin: Plato tells us, Furioſus p. 13eſt Juvenibus animi habitus: Ariſtotle ſaith, He is headſtrong, given to his paſſions: foreign. Ariſtot. Eth. l. 1.But Solomon gives his experimental verdict, inſtar omnium, Eccleſ. 11. 10. Youth is vanity: Let us refle…t upon our youthful ſins, and aggravate them with all their ſinful circumſtances, and be confounded and abaſed even to the duſt, at the remembrance of them. Mr. Bolton in that excellent Tract, Entituled, Helps to Humiliation, takes it for granted, that Chriſtians Mr. Boltons Helps to Humiliation.keep two Catalogues of their ſins; one before, another after their converſion: Did we indeed keep a Diary of our lives, we ſhould finde abundant cauſe of a heart-melting Humiliation; as for all, ſo eſpecially for thoſe notorious Pollutions that cleave to our youthful days. Auſtin made Confeſſions and Retractations, which Books, amongſt his Works, can never be enough admired, but are accounted the very Marrow and Quinteſſence of all his Works: In his Confeſſions, amongſt other ſins, he ſets out a ſin which many idle Truantly Boys now adays would laugh it out, and would make nothing of, accounting it onelyonly as a trick of youth: It was 1Aug. Conf. l. 2.the robbing of an Orchard, which he confeſſeth with a bleeding heart in ſeveral aggravations. 1. Saith he, This ſin which I committed, was not onelyonly forbidden in the book of God, but I had it daily in my heart. 2. I did it with a previous reſolution, with full purpoſe of heart. 3. I did it not for want, but in diſdain of goodneſs, 2. 3. 4. 5.and out of an eager deſire to do wrong. 4. I had abundance of the ſame kinde at home, and better. 5. I did ſteal them not ſo much to enjoy the thing, as my own luſt, That it might be ſaid to my old companions, that I robbed an Orchard. 6. He aggravates his ſin 6from the bad company, there were a great many ſwaggerers, and incarnate Devils with me. 7. From the unſeaſonableneſs of the time, 7. 8.It was at mid-night. 8. From the baſe imployment they had been at, before they came there; we did it when we had been Sporting, Dancing, and Drinking. 9. We carryed all away, ſo that they were a burthen 9. 10.to us. 10. When we came home, we gave them to the Swine. I have enlarged this Confeſſion of Auſtin, hoping, through the Grace of God, that it may do a great deal of good. My Brethren, I beſeech you look back on former ſins, call to remembrance your many mad pranks committed in your youth: Some now adays glory in their youthful ſins, and will make a Jeſt of them: But you know Solomons cenſure of ſuch, Prov. 14. 9. That fools make a p. 14mock of ſin: Some will boaſt even of thoſe ſins that they never Prov. 14. 9.Prov 14:9…mmitted, thereby to ingratiate themſelves with their boon Companions. Many there are, who will finde matter for diſcourſe, by talking of their old ſins, with what delight and merriment can they talk of youthful vanities, ſuch ſlippery tricks and wanton carriages? and by the delighting in the narration and repetition of them, they poſſeſs their youthful ſins, and they act them over again. I am fully of that Reverend Divines opinion, who hath took excellent pains in his Expoſition upon the place, That ſo often as a Caryl on the Text.man remembers a ſin which he hath committed, with conſent, he commits it again: Take heed then of boaſting and telling pleaſant ſtories of your youthful ſins; Be humbled, be humbled for every ſin, eſpecially for youthful ſins: Call to minde your prophanations of Sabbaths, Sabbath ſins will ſit cloſe upon the conſcience: Call to minde your barrenneſs under the means of Grace, your raſhneſs, precipitancy, frothyneſs of wit, wantonneſs, ſelf-willedneſs, all your youthful vanities; ſpread the letter before the Lord (as Hezekiah did in the caſe of Rabſhekah) ſpread the black Bill of Indictment againſt your ſelves, take ſhame to your ſelves, glorifie God, by making confeſſion to him; if there may be any poſſibility of hope, any healing of your errors; you are yet alive on this ſide Hell, on this ſide the Grave and Eternity, you cannot promiſe unto your ſelves the leaſt moment of time. Now there is hope, there is a door of mercy opened, the voice of the Turtle is heard in our Land, you live under the ſound of the Goſpel: Now I am ſent in …mbaſſy, the ſubſtance whereof, is to perſwade you to make ſin your greateſt ſorrow, and Jeſus Chriſt your greateſt joy, to be ſenſible of the ſtingings of the Fiery Serpents, to be affected with the wounds of ſin, & then to look up to the brazen Serpent Jeſus Chriſt for a perfect cure. Had not you better mourn for ſin now, whileſt you have breath, ſpace, hope, then weep and wail, and gnaſh your teeth in Hell fire, in that hopeleſs condition whence there is no redemption, where the Judge hath veil'd his face, and paſt a Sentence irreverſible: And becauſe many Scholars bewail in an eſpecial manner their Univerſity ſins, conſidering, that here they have committed thoſe ſins with delight, which in their elder age, will prove Gall and Wormwood, even Gravel, as Solomon ſpeaks: Prov. 20. 17.Prov 20:17Give me leave, out of love to your ſouls, to deal plainly with you, and to be your Remembrancer of ſome peculiar reigning ſins, p. 15which upon obſervation, I finde more ripe amongſt young men; I exclude not, nor excuſe them from other ſins, for who can ſay his heart is clean? whoſe heart is not a Womb, to bring forth the moſt hideous Monſters? whoſe heart is not a Garden to bring forth the moſt rank poiſonous weeds? whoſe heart is not a ſink, to entertain the moſt noiſom carrion? but that Grace preventing, renewing and ſanctifying Grace ſteps in, and keeps a ſoul from ſuch foul acts: …ut I ſay, upon grounded experience, theſe ſins amongſt young men are moſt notorious, for which there is exceeding great cauſe of humiliation.

The firſt ſin I ſhall mention, is Voluptuouſneſs: Young men 1. The ſin of Voluptuouſneſs.are all for their pleaſures, addicted to their ſports and vanities: It's lamentable to conſider what a great deal of precious time is thrown away in vain pleaſures by ſome young men (I wiſh there were none ſuch within our Walls) What abundance of time is ſpent, I ſay, miſ-ſpent by many young men, in Ball-courts, Cards, Dice, Tables, with Hawks, Hounds, one of which hours cannot be recalled. I have read the Story of John Huſſe, whom Luther calls Sanctiſſimum Martyrem, when the Biſhops put a ridiculous Crown upon his head, to make him their Ludibrium; he made this Anſwer, My Lord Ieſus for my ſake did wear a crown of Thorns, why ſhould not I then for his ſake wear this l…ght crown, be it never ſo ignominious? Truly I will do it, and that willingly: You know (ſaith he) In my younger years (which grieveth me now) I have d… lighted oftentimes to play at Cheſſe, have neglected my time, and have unhappily provoked both my ſelf and others to anger many times by that play: You may make good uſe of the words of this Holy Martyr, which were the words of a dying Man; and an eminent Martyr for Chriſt: I ſhall not diſpute at preſent the lawfulneſs or unlawfulneſs of that Play: Be it never ſo innocent, never ſo indifferent, where thoſe ill conſequences are produced, viz. Loſs of much time, and provocation to much anger; its the ſafeſt way to lay it aſide: and the like may be ſaid for other Games, which Cicero.are doubtful & diſputable, Abundans cautela non nocet: Ariſtotle by no means will have happineſs to conſiſt in pleaſure: He calls voluptuous perſons Slaves, foreign, that lead a life more beſeeming a Beaſt then a Man. The beſt of Orators gives this character of Pleaſure, That it is eſca omnium malorum, and looks upon a voluptuous perſon, as one that hath un-manned himſelf, and not worthy p. 16the name of a man. It was a famous Speech of Titus Caeſar, That he had loſt that day wherein he had done no good: Conſider of O amici perdidimus di…m. Tit. Caeſ.this, that day is loſt wherein you have done God no ſervice; when you have waſted your time in idle Company, Drinking, Gaming, Carowſing, What comfort can you take when you come to die? What good will your boon Companions do you? They will prove as miſerable Comforters, (as the High Prieſts to Judas) Matth. 27. 3. They ſaid, What's that to us, ſee thou to that: O this ſin of Voluptuouſneſs reigns thorowout the Land; How many make their Recreation their buſineſs, their imployment, eating and drinking, and riſing up to play, with the Idolatrous Iſraelites: Believe it (my Brethren) miſ-ſpent time will lie heavy upon your conſciences when you come to die: Then thou wilt cry, Call time again, call time again, as ſome have done on their Death-beds: Then what promiſes would'ſt thou make if thou might'ſt live a little longer? Thou would'ſt redeem every vanity with an age of preciſeneſs. O how thou wilt curſe thoſe prophane Companions that called thee from thy Study to the Tavern; that inticed thee from a Sermon to a Whore-houſe! Then thou wilt finde by experience that thou haſt been miſtaken all the while, and that there is no ſolid real pleaſure in the ways of ſin: May theſe conſiderations diſengage and wean your hearts from ſenſual Pleaſures: Neither do I cry down all Pleaſures this day, onelyonly I perſwade you to make the beſt choice, to turn the ſtream of Carnal and Senſual, into Spiritual and Heavenly Pleaſures: Would you have Pleaſures follow Wiſdoms Tracts? Prov. 3. 17. Are you all for Delights? Delight your ſelves in God, Pſal. 37. 4. Are you for Joy? rejoyce in God, The joy of the Lord is your ſtrength, Neh. 8. 10.

A Second ſin I ſhall name is contempt of ſuperiours, Young 2. Contempt of Superiors.men would gladly have the reynes of government let looſe, they will fain be lawleſſe, left to their own liberty, every one to doe that which is good in his own eyes, no Bonds will hold head ſtrong refractory ſpirits, they joyne with thoſe in their reſolution to breake of all bands. Pſal. 2. 3. I could wiſh heartily thoſe complaints were not verified of our times Iſa: 3. 5. Lam. 5. 12. Lam. 4. 16. I am ſure the 5th commandement is obligatory, ſo is the precept. Heb. 13. 17. God is the God of order, and not of confuſion: if the order primi & ſecundi be not obſerved, If there be not governing and obeying: But if Levelling deſignes of a rude multitude p. 17that bellua multorum capitum, take place, there will be a diſſolution of the continuum, and we ſhall be reduced into the firſt Chaos. Therefore to you (my Elder Brethren) I addreſſe my exhortation, to keep up that authority that God hath put into your hands; Let no man deſpiſe you: Keep up good diſcipline: Set up Catechiſing in all your houſes: Teach thoſe under your charge their particular dutyes, ſeaſon them with the knowledge of God in their youth and train them up in their duty, and when they are old, they will This I heard Mr. Herbert Palmer preach at Aldermanburynever forget it. I have heard that in the beginning of that horrid Iriſh rebellion, ſome Servants cut their maſters throats, and told them they ſhould have taught them better. Were there better Maſters, there would be better ſervants. You that are Tutors and have the inſpection of others, look upon your ſelves as Pro-parents, and be faithfull in your truſt. Doe you read diligently to them? I wiſh you all did elſe. Take heed of ſloathfulneſs, of hiding your Talents in a Napkin. But let me ask you plainly, you that find young men licentious, head-ſtrong and refractory, doe you pray frequently with them, and for them? Doe you Catechiſe them? Doe you teach them knowledge in Aristotle, and doe you not much more teach them knowledge in Jeſus Chriſt? Let us then all in our places and capacityes look to our charge, and doe our duties with diligence and fidelity, and leave the ſucceſs to God.

A Third ſinne is an affectation of Novelty, or deviſing wayes 2. Sinne, affectation of Novelty.beſides, or quite contrary to the knowledge of the word of God; We brayd of the humour of old Athens: we have Itching eares after novelty. It is ſad to conſider how many young mens heads affect froth of wit, and ſpend much time in reading ſtage playes, Poets, Paſquills, Romances, high-flown non-ſenſe of late Scriblers: Others out of curioſity are not afraid to meddle with Judicial Aſtrology, which was Mr. Perkins his ſinne in his younger years, and his ſorrow in his elder years. Another ſort there are, who are much affected with New-Lights, (i. e.) Antinomian and Familiſticall writers, who with a ſwelling Title in the frontiſpice, allure men, as the Syrens doe with their Muſick, and then devour them; Some of their bookes are no better then guilded Pills, or guilded Rats-bane, which whileſt they pretend the exaltation of Chriſt and bright morning beames (as ſom…e of their Titles pretend) they deceive young heads, and whileſt they pretend new lights, they revive old Antiquated Her eſies, and like an ignis fatuus miſlead p. 18multitudes, ho follow after to their own deſtruction. Therefore lets all as one man be exhorted not to be wiſe above what is written, not to follow any further then they follow Jeſus Chriſt. Keep cloſe to the good old rule, unto the law and the teſtimonyes, ſtudy the Scriptures and converſe with thoſe Mnaſons, thoſe old diſciples, ſtudy their works ſuch as were Greenham, Perk…ns, Regers, Hilderſham, Dod, Dyke, &c. Their memory is bleſſed, their works prayſe them in the gate. And let me communicate an experience unto you: I have obſerved of ſome, that at firſt out, of pregnancy of parts, and ſingularity, they would be ſcepticall and hold Paradoxes in Philoſophy: In tract of time they ſtayd not there, but they would ſet their wits a working and afterwards they became ſcepticall and Heterodoxe in Divinity. And therefore take heed of Sceptiſme: There is ††Mr. John Bidle a notorious Heretique.One whom I knew very well, a man of a proud ſpirit, that uſed in the ſchooles to be ſ…epticall and maintaine Paradoxes, and to goe againſt the principles of Philoſophy: He is gone further now, and hath wrote a blaſphemous book againſt the Divinity of the holy Ghoſt. Whither will not pride and vaine glory carry any man? And what becomes of the beſt wit, the beſt parts, when God leaves any man unto himſelf?

The Fourth and laſt ſinne I ſhall now name is pride, and of all 4. Sin, Pride.pride, ſpirituall pride is moſt dangerous, when a man is proud of any gift of God, his pride will prove like the wild gourd, eſt mors in olla. Pride is the poyſon of the ſoul, it ſoon ſwells a man, and then burſts him. And many times men of learning ſmart for their pride, God bereaves them of their ſenſes and they doe even obruteſcere with Nebuchadnezzar, who in the middeſt of his proud vainglorious boaſting, was ſent a grazing among the beaſts of the field. And there is another ſort of pride, which I dare not let goe unreproved (i. e.) the ſtrange Exotick Garbes of theſe times, worſe then former ages, m…ny cannot be content with the haire v. Mr. Pryn's unlovelyneſs of love-looksthat God gives them, they like not the colour of it, but they borrow other folks hair, ſome are ſo phantaſticall as to Criſp and Powder their hair, and wear long Locks, fitter to be called Pride-locks then Love-locks. I cannot hold my peace, to ſee ſuch vanities and prodigious ſights, even like buſhy Comets p…tending ſome miſcheif to the place where they live. You ſhall not talk ſcarce with any Trades-man, but he will tell you, its a hard time, he hath much adoe to live: And many poore houſholders have much adoe p. 19to keep themſelves alive: when as in the mean time a Phantaſticall Gallant wears ſo many Ribbands (even all the co…lours of the Rainbow) in his Hat, ſo many Ribbands about his waſte, ſo many Poynts about the knees, as the price payd for them would maintain many poore families a great while. Brethren, I ſpeak theſe things ſadly and ſeriouſly, when I conſider ſuch ſuperfluityes and vanityes, which if they were pared off, and that money converted to the poor, it might ſupply the honeſt neceſſity of many a poor ſervant of Jeſus Chriſt. Hopeing therefore of your Reformation, I proceed to a Second Vſe for Exhortation.

Let old men call to mind their youthfull ſinnes, and mourn for 2 Vſe, For Exhortation. Admonentur hic ſenes ut ipſt delicta juventutis ſuae …gnoſcant, deteſtentur, illorutn que veniam precentur. Davidem non imitantur, qui gloriando de praeteritâ ſuâ ſtultitiâ garriunt, & adhuc tales eſse vellent. Muſc. in Pſal. 25. Quid…m ex hoc loco colligun eximiam viri ſanctiſſimi ſanctitatem, qui in aetate jam confirmatâ & maturâ nihil ſibi conſcivit, Sanct.Ps 25them: I am confident there are divers aged perſons, that have repented of their youthfull ſinnes, which ſins were they to commit again, they would not commit them for all the world. And doe not paſſe by the ſinnes of your riper years: David prayes that God would charge neither upon him, but remember him according to mercy, Pſal. 25. 7. Covetouſneſs and Paſſion are amongſt others two eſpeciall ſinnes that accompany old age. Beware of theſe in an eſpeciall manner. Theſe are beloved boſome ſinnes, O ſubdue them: when Goliah was ſlain the Philiſtines were vanquiſhed preſently. When Covetouſneſs and Paſſion (which are the championſins, the accuſtomed ſins of old age) are conquered, other ſins of ordinary incurſions will more eaſily be ſubdued. I have read of Bellarmine, that when the Prieſt came to confeſs him, he could not remember any particular ſins of his preſent age, but was fain to call to mind the ſinnes of his youth: put ſurely this man was a meer ſtranger to his own heart, he had not ſtudied his own heart, otherwiſe he might have found many preſent ſinnes to bewail, if he had not gone back as farre as his youth: …owever the oldeſt Saints find matter of humiliation, for daily and hourely ſinnes, and they lam…n… their ſinnes committed in all ages, (viz) Infancy, Childhood, Youth and old age: …nd to you that are yong, let me beſeech you to give God the prime of your youth, conſecrate your youth to God. A young Timothy O how delightfull is he to God, The time you have before you, O redeem it, and be good husbands of it, and improve every minute of time to the glory of God! and the beſt advantage of your precious ſoules. O labour with a holy greedineſs to get ſaving graces, faith, love, hope, patience, meekneſs and humilitie. Now you have a time of plenty, ſtore up againſt a year p. 20of famine. Now you have many prices put into your hands, to get wiſdom withall, O that God would give you hearts to make a right improvement of them! You have ſtrength …nd marro… in your bones, you are in the flower, and prince of your age, your ſpirits are vigorous, your memories moſ… retentive, O then conſecrate all the members of your bodies, and faculties of your ſoules to the ſervice of the Lord. We uſually ſay Spes Eccleſiae in Juventute: There are many hopefull young plant… in Gods garden, they muſt bring …orth more favory fruit in their elder age. In a word, let me exhort you ſo to ſpend your time, as when you come to be old, you may look back upon your young dayes with comſort, and bleſſe God, that hath ſeaſoned you with his fear from your youth: Both to old and young let me apply my ſelf, and faſten on them theſe few moving conſiderations, which may be as ſo many foreign or preſervatives, and meanes to prevent ſinne.

1. Conſider ſeriouſly the omniſcience of God, ſo did Joſeph 1 Conſider the omniſcience of God. † Metaphora ab animalibus diſſectis, & excoriatis, Hyperius.Gen. 39. 9. This was a Monitour to Job, chap. 10, 14. and Heb. 4. 13. foreign, as I may ſay naked and anatomized before him. Imagine God to be, as the Arabians fanſied, foreign all eye to ſee thee, He knowes thy thoughs, penetrates thy ſecreteſt receſſes, knowes the Meanders, windings and diverticles of thy heart. Did men ſeriouſly conſider that they are alwayes in the preſence of an Omniſcient Lord; This conſideration might prevent ſinne.

2. Conſider, as God knowes thy wayes, ſo he keeps exact Records. 2 Conſider God keeps exact records.Here is a Chirograph in the text for iniquities, and he keeps a Book of remembrance of the Saints religious conferences together, Mal. 3. 16. In a proper ſenſe we cannot ſay that God keeps a Book, the formality of writing down is infinitely below God. This is a ſigurative ſpeech, the meaning is, that all that is thought, done, or ſpoken is alwayes before him. Conſcience likewiſe keepes a Book that one day will act the part of witneſs, accuſer, and judge.

3. Conſider before hand what ſinne will coſt thee. Reckon the 3 Conſider before hand what ſinne will coſt thee.coſt of it. Rom. 6. 21 old, and young will have cauſe of ſhame, as Peter Martyr *obſerves. Who of underſtanding would be a ſlave to ſo unprofitable a maſter as ſin is? When you are tempted to ſinne, aske † Si vel Seni vel Juveni aliquid revocetur inmemoriam, quod non recte videatur factum, erubeſcunt ob dolorem dedecoris, in quod ſevident incurriſſe. Pet. Martin.thy ſelf the Queſtion, ſhall I diſplenſe an holy God? ſhall I defile my ſoul? wound my Conſcience by ſinne? will there not be bitternes in the end? When thou art tempted to uncleanneſſe conſider p. 21…ore hand that he that is abhorred of God is enticed of a Whore, …nd wouldeſt thou be abhorred of God? I'have read that a young …an thus tempted by a Whore, bit off a peece of his Tongue, that ſo he pain of it, might divert him from ſo wicked a Temptation. Say …ot Who…edome is a Trick of youth, ſuch youthfull tricks (unleſs …epented of) will damne thy ſoule to all eternity. When thou art empted to Immoderate Drinking, conſider before hand thy body …hould be the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, ſhall I make it a Tem…le for Bacchus? will not dayes of mourning follow dayes of Jolli…ye …nd Carrouſing? will not cups of trembling follow cups of health…ng? may not there be ſuch an Hand-writing againſt me as was againſt Belſhazzar? In a word could men ſeriouſly premeditate a…orehand, what ſinne would coſt them, they would not ſo raſhly …dventure upon it, to wound their conſcience, and diſpleaſe ſo holy a Lord God.

4. Conſider the four laſt things, Death and Judgment, Hell and 4 Conſider the four laſt things. 1 Conſider Death.Heaven: 1. Conſider Death, Its the ſtatute law of Heaven: That all ſhall dye, and every one ſhal ſee death, as we read Heb. 9. 27. Pſal. 8. 9 40. This life is of a ſhort continuance; compared to a flower, a vapour, a Weavers Shuttle: Young dye as well as Old: Upon this moment depends eternity: And in eternity we return to the Land of the living. We all ſtand at the doore of eternity: we may be ſummond by death preſently, for ought we know. So ought we to live every day, as if it were our laſt day that we may have nothing to doe but to dye. Wouldeſt thou have death call thee ſuddainly? art thou prepared? Doſt thou ſo live, as thou canſt look the King of …errours in the face, and with comfort and confidence breath out thy ſoul unto Jeſus Chriſt? O therefore cleanſe thy ſoul, ſet upon the work of purification, Trimme up thy ſoul to entertain Jeſus Chriſt.

2. Conſider of the day of judgment, 2 Cor. 5. 10 Conſider before 2 Con…ider the day of Judgment.hand that of Solomon Eccleſ. 11. 9. Conſider there will come a day of account. As death leaves thee, ſo judgment will find thee. If thy peace be not made with God before thou dyeſt, Judgment will return thee an enemy to Jeſus Chriſt: And if Chriſt be thy enemy who is thy Judge, thou wilt wiſh that the hills might fall upon thee, and that the mountaines might cover thee from the face of the Lamb. Let the conſideration of the day of …udgment be always in your thoughs, and aske thy ſelf the Queſtion, Doe I that p. 22which I can anſwere at the day of judgment? ſhall I not be called to an account for theſe things?

3. Conſider the Torments of Hell, the lot and portion of all 3 Conſider the torments of Hell.thoſe who are unreconciled to Jeſus Chriſt. Aske thy ſelf the Queſtion, doth not Whoredome, Drunkeneſs &c. lead thee away into the pit? will not curſed delights in burning luſts end in eternall burnings? Will not ſinne cry aloud for its wages, and bring with it but a dead pay?

4. Conſider of the joyes of Heaven, the inheritance of the 4. Conſider the joys of Heaven.Saints, noe unclean thing ſhall enter there; nothing that defiles ſhall ever enter into the new Jeruſalem. Would I then be in Heaven hereafter? Heaven muſt begin in me upon earth. Doe I deſire happineſs? I muſt labour to be holy: Mark to whom bleſſedneſs is appropriated Pſal. 119. v. 1 To the undefiled and pure in heart, Matth. 5. 8. Every one of theſe conſiderations ſeriouſly layd to heart, may be preſervatives againſt ſinne.

In the next place I muſt preſcribe ſome Directions which that I may doe, Ile deſcend to

A third Uſe, which ſhall be for direction: You that would Uſe 3. For directiongladly have this Ch…rographum in my Text cancelled, and be healed of the ſores and wounds of ſin, I preſcribe theſe means.

1. …e humbled to the duſt for all your ſins: Be afflicted and Dir. 1. Be humbled for all your ſins.mourn, let your laughter be turned into heavyneſs, and your joy into mourning: Let there be ſuch a bitter ſorrow for ſin, as for the loſſe of a firſt-born; like the mourning of Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megiddo: Peter denyed ſhamefully, and wept bitterly: David watered his Couch with his tears: Mary Magdalen, out of whom Chriſt caſt ſeven Devils, waſht Chriſts feet with her tears, and wip'd them with the hair of her head: Let it be bitter to remember, that thou haſt been ſo undutiful to ſo gracious a God, that thou haſt provoked ſuch a merciful God to wrath, whoſe nature is to ſhew mercy: O how this conſideration ſhould melt thy heart into a ſoul-reforming ſorrow! Sins may be compared to the waters of Marah, ſo bitter as none could drink of them: Sin is a very bitter thing, it produceth bitter effects: But God ſhewed Dir. 2. Look through all Humiliations unto Jeſus Chriſt.Moſes a Tree, which made the Waters of Marah ſweet. The bitter Tears of Repentance, and the moſt bitter afflictions which ſin produceth, will end in joy to thoſe that are truly penitent.

2. Though thou muſt be humbled (and he that was never humbled, p. 23never truly believed) yet thou muſt not reſt in thy humiliation, but look unto Jeſus Chriſt for a cure; Thou muſt be ſenſible of the ſtings and wounds of ſin, and look unto Jeſus Chriſt, by the eye of Faith, for a cure: He is our peace, Eph. 2. 14. No reconciliation but by him, 2 Cor. 5. 19. No way to get healing, pardon, ſalvation, but by him; ſue then out a Pardon ſealed by the Blood of Chriſt: O pray that be would cancel the hand-writing againſt thee, and that by his Blood he would Juſtifie, Sanctifie, and Save thee: No name, no Mediator, no Blood can make an Atonement for thee, but this Blood of Sprinkling, which ſpeaks better things then the Blood of Abel.

3. Having got a pardon through the Blood of Chriſt, walk Dir. 3. Walk circu…ſpectly. foreign, Qui exacte vivunt nolunt vel in minimis deficere. cedere, ſolent enim vel minutiſſima obſervare. Favorinus.circumſ…ectly in thy whole converſation, Eph. 15. 5. There is an Emphaſis in the Adverb foreign, bids be watchful and circumſpect, take heed of re-acting thy youthful ſins; …ill be renewing thy repentance, and pray for more manifeſtation of Gods love unto thy ſoul.

4. And laſtly, To conclude, here is one word of comfort unto thoſe, upon whom God hath poured the Spirit of Repentance: Old people, that have truly repented of their ſins, ſhall have them imputed unto Chriſt, and Chriſts righteouſneſs unto them for Juſtification; and let them read their bleſſedneſs, Pſalm 32. 1, 2. Happy are they, whoſe ſouls are waſht white in the blood of the Uſe 4. For Conſolation.Lamb: You that mourn for ſin, you ſhall be comforted: You that bewail your ſins and hate them, and endeavor to walk cloſely with God, in a holy conformity to his will, you ſhall have this hand-writing blotted out: And whether your ſorrow be right and genuine, you muſt try it by thoſe Apoſtolical Characters, 2 Cor. 7. 10, 11. Let no man apply comfort to himſelf, but upon Goſpel terms: And to you that are young, upon whoſe hearts God hath wrought ſaving Grace in your tender years; I muſt pronounce comfort to you, Happy is it with you, that God hath begun with you betimes, and hath planted his fear in your hearts betimes: You have heard how dear youthful ſins coſt many in their elder years, O now be adviſed, take warning, fly youthful ſins, labour to be grave and ſerious in your carriages: God hath done much for you, what will you do for him? ſpeak good of his name, advance his glory, incourage your fellows to come unto God: Remember that counſel which Chriſt gives Peter, When thou art converted, p. 24ſtreng then thy brethren. I beſeech you all in the fear of God, in the cloſe of my Sermon, to beware of youthful levity: There is Mr. Jeremy Burroughs.a great deal of frothy with amongſt young men. A Reverend Divine, now with God, uſed to pray, That of all ſpirits, God would be pleaſed to deliver him from a frothy ſpirit: Beware of fooliſh Jeſting. Though the word foreign be allowed in Ariſtotle, yet it is condemned by St. Paul. Eph. 5. 4. Let young Timothy be a patern for your imitation, of whom Paul had ſuch confidence: And always labor to cleanſe your ways, according to that rule which I ſhall leave with you for a cloſe of all, Pſal. 119. v. 9. By taking heed thereto according to the word.