Cleansing our Way in Youth, Text (1 of 4)

Cleansing our Way in Youth · Text (1 of 4)

p. 1Cleanſing our Way in YOUTH Preſs'd, As of the Higheſt Importance▪ AND Obſerving the Word of GOD Recommended, As the Only Means.

PSAL. CXIX.9.

Wherewith ſhall a Young Man cleanſe his Way? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word.

THE Divinely Inſpired Author of this long and copious Pſalm was doubtleſs King David, the ſweet Singer of Iſrael; The Matter of it is of the higheſt importance; the Compoſition of it is moſt accurate and artificial; The Scope and Deſign of it is to adorn the Character, and celebrate the Glories of God's Word, to declare the Pſalmiſts own great & long Experience of the admirable ſweetneſs, and uſefulneſs of it, and to recommend it to every ones devout ſtudy, …rm …ief, & practical obſervation.

p. 2IN our Text, The Word o… God is preſcrib'd and commended to Young Men, as the Rule and Means of Spiritual Purification. Wherewith ſhall a Young Man &c. This is call'd by ſome, The Young Man's Practical Catechiſm, ſet down by way of Queſtion and Anſwer. Others indeed take the whole Verſe to be one intire Queſtion, ſtanding thus, Wherewith ſhall a Young Man cleanſe his way, to take heed to thy Word? The Original will admit this Conſtruction, and ſome Ancient Verſions (as Mr. Shower on our Text obſerves) do countenance it. The ſenſe (ſays He) accordingly is, "How ſhall Young Men be purged by Divine Grace, ſo as thereby to be qualify'd for Obedience to (the Word of) God. It is a kind of Prayer (in a Poetic ſtrain) for that Grace, which is neceſſary to holy walking." So Cleanſing the Way of Youth is conſidered as a Means to promote their practical conformity to God's holy Law. Pſal. 119.101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

BUT moſt Interpreters underſtand the latter Clauſe to be diſtinct, and to come in by way of Reply to the former; ſo directing Youth to a careful obſervation of God's Word, as a neceſſary and uſeful means to rectify and cleanſe their way. Pſal, 119.11. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not ſin againſt thee.

WE may here obſerve, that the Word [thereto] is not in the Original, but is a Suppletive of the Tranſlators, and I ſhall preſume to leave it out.

THE Terms in the Text are all obvious and eaſy. By [a Young Man] is meant Youth Literally, altho' ſome interpret it of a "Child of God, o… the New man, according to the Phraſe of the Goſpel"; Youth Indefinitely, all Perſons in their p. 3Early Days, not any appropriate Sex or Individual; Youth Irreſtrictively, It is not to be look'd upon as Excluſive of, or in contradiſtinction to other Ages; Elder and Younger are under the Direction of the ſame Rule, and the Obligation of the ſame Law.

BY [cleanſing his way] is meant a rectifying his inward Principles and temper of mind, and a reforming his outward practice and tenor of Life, which are defiled by Sin; a recovering himſelf and cleanſing his way from moral pollution, a breaking off from Sin, the unclean thing, which defileth a Man, a waſhing off this filth with the Tears of Repentance; purifying his Soul in obeying the Truth. There is indeed another Purging our Sins, which ſounds the ſame with Pardon and Juſtification, He is faithful to forgive us our Sins and to cleanſe us, &c. The Blood of Chriſt cleanſeth from all Sin. But this belongs wholly unto God, (Who can forgive Sins, ſave God only?) and is not the Cleanſing intended in our Text. The Cleanſing here ſpoken of relates to the work of Sanctification, and implies the Mortification of our Laſts, and the Reformation of our Lives. In this work we are ſubordinate Agents, working together with God and in the ſtrength of his Grace. 'Twas Naamans pride and folly, when he came to …liſha to be cleanſed from his Leproſy, He wou'd have had the Prophet do all, and Himſelf nothing; This is the error of the wicked; the Prophets direction is that, Go unto Jordan, waſh thy ſelf ſeven times in it, and thou ſhalt be clean.—Up and be doing and the Lord ſhall be with thee.

BY [thy Word] is meant the Oracles of God, even All Scripture that is given by Inſpiration of p. 4God. Indeed the Writings of the Old Teſtament are here particularly refer'd to, theſe only, (and that but part of them) being extant in Davids time. But the reſt of the Old-Teſtament, and the whole of the New-Teſtament, being Divinely inſpir'd, and profitable to make Men wiſe unto Salvation, they are alſo to be conſidered as imply'd in the Word ſpoken of.

BY [taking heed] to the Word of God, is meant a diligent obſerving or keeping of it. This is the genuine import of the Original Word [Shamar.] It is variouſly tranſlated; Sometimes to obſerve, Gen. 37.11. His Father obſerved the ſaying; So, Joſh. 1.7. Be courageous, that thou mayſt obſerve to do according to all the Law. Sometimes to take heed to, ſometimes to keep; It is thus differently rendred in one and the ſame Verſe. Pſal. 39.1. I ſaid, I will take heed to my ways,—I will keep my mouth. So, Dan. 7.28. I kept the matter in my heart. So in the Verſe before our Text, I will keep thy Statutes,—and in 17 Verſe— that I may live and keep thy Word. Again, Sometimes to preſerve, Pſal. 116.6. The Lord preſerveth the ſimple. Again, to mark, Pſal. 130.3. If thou ſhouldſt mark iniquities—

IF Young Men wou'd Cleanſe their way, they muſt take heed to God's Word, ſollicitouſly ſtudy, critically obſerve, and ſeriouſly ponder it, carefully apply it, and diligently conform to it.

THE General DOCTRINE from the Words, is This, Viz. THAT, For Young Men to take heed to the Word of God, is the moſt proper and effectual method to purify and preſerve their way from ſinful Pollutions.

p. 5IN this DOCTRINE there are ſeveral Things ſuppoſed and aſſerted. As —

(1.) THE Way of Youth is defiled.

(2.) It greatly concerns Men in their Youth to get their Way Cleanſed.

(3.) IF Young Men duly obſerve the Word of God, they take the moſt direct courſe to purify and ſecure their Way from ſinful defilements.

PROP. I. The Way of Youth is defiled; and that in reſpect of Natural Corrupt on, and Actual Pollutions. Cleanſing is an Act, which in its nature ſpeaks the object impure, and implies a Change from loathſome defilement to delightful purity. The way of Youth is polluted, and needs a purifying Change. Here conſider,

1. THE Humane Nature was Univerſally depraved, and defiled upon the firſt Apoſtacy, and this Univerſal Corruption deſcends to the whole Natural P…ſterity of Fallen Adam in all ſucceeding Generations. It is a Truth too palpable and notorious to be diſputed, that the Nature of Man is lamentably diſrob'd of it's primitive unblemiſht purity & perfection, and is now cloath'd with a moſt ſhameful abiding pravity & pollution. The natural Conſcience and daily Experience of every Man …re a Cloud of Witneſſes: The Ordinance of …ſm does evidently ſuppoſe it, and the unerring Oracles of God do plainly and peremptorily aſſert it. I need only mention two Places; Gen. 6.5. God ſaw, that every imagination of the thoughts of Mans heart was only evil continually. Here is a ſad imputation upon Man, His Heart is Evil, (his Nature corrupted,) the Thot's of his Heart are Evil, (The ſettled apprehenſions, & inclinations of the Heart p. 6are by nature falſely byaſs'd, & greatly infected,) The Imagination of the Thot's of his Heart is Evil, (the careleſs rovings, as well as deliberate workings of the Mind are vicious and ſinful,) Every Imagination is evil, is only evil, and that continually. This is the Indictment exhibited againſt Man, & the Witneſs is infallible, unexceptionable. God ſaw it, — and God has ſaid it, that God who judgeth righteous judgment, and whoſe Word is inſtead of a Thouſand Witneſſes, ſeeing it is impoſſible for God to lie. God is an Eye-Witneſs, He ſaw it. It is ſaid, Pſal. 53.2. God looked down from Heaven upon the Children of Men, to ſee if there were any that did underſtand, that did ſeek God: and it follows in the 3d ver. They are altogether become filthy; ſo in the 1ſt ver. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity. Men are by Nature corrupt, their noble Faculties are vitiated, and degenerated from their Original Conſtitution. The whole head is ſick, the whole heart is faint, there is no ſoundneſs in them, nothing but bruiſes and putrifying ſores. Their wounds ſtink and are corrupt▪ They are all over an unclean thing, and as for their Nativity, in the day they were born, they were caſt out in the open field to the loathing of … Perſons, weltring in their own Blood, T… whole Spirit, Soul and Body filled with a loathſome Diſeaſe; They are altogether become filthy, or … & ſtinking, as it might be tranſlated. Whatſoever e…ternal neatneſs, or ſpiritual purity ſome pretending Sinners may boaſt of, it is certain, their Nature is ſo overſpread with abominations of deſolation, that they are a loathſome ſtench in the Noſtrils of the holy God, and an odious Spectacle to Angels. They are abominable and to p. 7every good work reprobate. Their whole Man is defiled, They are full of Sin againſt the Holy One of Iſrael, full of the abominable thing, which His Soul hateth. The rational Powers have loſt their moral rectitude, ſimplicity and order, and are under a deplorable Metamorphoſis, miſerably diſfigur'd and degraded. The Underſtanding, the Eye of the Soul, has loſt its Divine Light and Influence, and is benighted under a Vail of thick Clouds and Aegyptian darkneſs. The Will having loſt its firſt governing principle and true native liberty, is contracted and confined to debaſing and defiling objects, faſtned & fetter'd in the moſt ignominious ſervitude, is impotent & repugnant to that which is Good, but ſtrongly inclin'd to that which is Evil. The Affections & Paſſions have broke the reſtraints of Reaſon, & caſt off the reins of the Divine Law, are impetuous, imperious, & rove without controll. The Memory, is corrupt & unfaithful ſhutting out and letting ſlip the Good, receiving and retaining the Evil, as a Sieve lets out the Flower, but keeps the Bran. The Conſcience is defiled, and debaucht, This Monitor within, this Judge in the breaſt, does not faithfully do its Office, in accuſing, and excuſing condemning, and approving, &c. being blinded … ignorance, or brib'd by corrupt Affection… …he …our Appetites & Powers, which ſhou'd do …ce, mount the Throne, and uſurp the D…. The Senſes, which were to be Informers & …ends to the Soul, are now arm'd in oppoſition againſt it, and hold a treacherous correſpondence with its Enemies: They frequently make falſe reports, and are guilty of many fatal miſtakes; They are become Inſtruments of Sin and Satan, and by p. 8means of them, the Soul is often taken in the Snare of the Devil, wounded by his fiery Darts, and led Captive in the paths of the Deſtroyer. And which is the emphaſis of this infamous miſery, the Sinner is contented in it, and pleaſed with the bondage of Corruption.

NOW the Foundation of this deplorable Change in Mans Nature was laid in the firſt and grand Apoſtacy. The deadly poiſon of the firſt Sin has ſhed a virulent tincture, an impure taint into the blood of all Nations, and Perſons on the face of the whole Earth. This doleful defilement and deformity was brought on our Nature by the firſt Tranſgreſſion, which was a common guilt, & of univerſal influence, reaching all Mankind, and tranſmitting an unavoidable, and habitual ſtain to the whole humane Race. And this ariſes from the Relation, which we all bear to the firſt Sinner, i.e. Adam. We derive Original Sin, conſider'd as a Diſeaſe, from him, naturally, as he was our common Parent: and conſider'd as part of the Curſe, meritoriouſly, as He was our common Repreſentative.—Adam was the Protoplaſt, and the Root of humane Nature,Vid. Dr. Bates, Fol. p. 10…. &c. The natural Principle and Fountain of all mankind; God …ormed Eve (the Mother …iving) of a Rib taken out of Adam, and …hem Twain into one Fleſh by the Bond of …riage, and of that one Blood he hath made all Nations of Men, Act. 17.26. Now the Fountain being defiled by Sin, all the Streams muſt partake of the infection, ſo as that None can be pure who is born of a woman, Job 25.4. For Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one, Job. 14.4. Pure Waters do not iſſue from an impure p. 9Spring, no more do a pure Seed derive from impure Progenitors. This is as impoſſible, as to gather Grapes of Thorns, or Figs of Thiſtles. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruits, Mat. 7.18. Whatſoever is born of the fleſh, is fleſh, Joh. 3.6. Corruption and carnality is faſt rooted and woven into the very Being of Man, and together with that deſcends to us by natural conſequence▪ and neceſſary ſucceſſion. We are born of the fleſh, and of the fleſh we reap corruption. With our natural Body, we receive from our Parents the Body of Sin and Death. Original Corruption is called the Body of Sin, becauſe 'tis derived with our Bodies to us, and chiefly reigns in the members of the Body; and it is termed Fleſh, partly, and principally becauſe it is convey'd by carnal propagation. It is called the Old-Man, becauſe 'tis primitively deriv'd from Adam, the Firſt Man, and in the way of natural Generation devolves even upon lateſt Poſterity. It is one immutable and eternal Rule in Nature, that Every Creature beget its like, and that not only in regard of the ſame Genus or Species, but alſo of the particular Aff…ctions that are appropriate and praedominant. This is obvious in the various ſorts of Animals in the World, they all hold the …ſtinguiſhing complection of their princip…d "retain the vein of their Original, the …ty of their Extraction". Thus a Leopard does not only convey its general nature, (and ſo beget indifferently any Brute-Creature,) but alſo conveys its own peculiar properties, and eminent characters, which make it Offspring like unto itſelf. So… Man conveys to his Poſterity not meerly the humane Nature in general, but alſo the adventitious p. 10qualities, and impreſſions, that eminently affect it. A ſinful Man produces not only a Man, a rational Animal like himſelf; but a ſinful Man, like himſelf, corrupt and depraved. Hence we are told, Gen. 5.3. That Adam begat a Son in his own Likeneſs, after his Image; and call'd his Name Seth. By this here is not to be underſtand barely a likeneſs in reſpect of natural frame, and external form; This is too trivial a Thing to be bro't in ſo ſolemnly as 'tis here, and beſides, it ſhould ſeem more proper to have made this remark at the Nativity of Cain, or Abel, the firſt born of Adam, rather than of Seth, betwen whom and them, many Births (no doubt) interven'd: it muſt therefore be underſtood of the corruption of Adams Nature, and the aim of the Holy Ghoſt in this obſervation was to acquaint us with the Entail of this infection upon the natural Deſcendents of Adam; Hence, it was reſerved 'till the birth of that Son, in whoſe Progeny the Species was to be continu'd, and the Covenant to be entail'd, and this was Seth, thro' whom the Line went down to Noah, who after the Flood (in which all the Old World periſht, except his Family, conſiſting of Eight Perſons) was the Primogenitour of Mankind, and from whoſe Son Shem the Church of … was propagated, and the Promiſed Seed ca… …y lineal Deſcent. Of that Great and Holy M… Seth, 'tis obſerv'd, he was born in Sin, even as Cain, that wicked one, (the Sanctifying Grace of God alone making a difference) and that "this meaning of the words might not be overlook't, there is an emphatical repetition of the ſame thing; Adam begat a Son in his own Likeneſs, after his Image". The Image wherein Seth p. 11was begotten, the Image of Adam, ſeems p…a…ly to be ſpoken of by way of Antitheſis or oppoſition to the Image wherein Adam was created, the Image of God. The Divine Image chiefly conſiſted in knowledge, and true holineſs, but he loſt theſe moral qualities, & contracted the Reverſe, which the Holy Ghoſt here calls his own Likeneſs; in this Image Seth is ſaid to be begotten, intimating his receiving a corrupt Nature from Adam, and this being particularly obſerved of Seth, who was the common Progenitor of the whole ſucceeding Race of Mankind, intimates that the Contagion would ſpread, and the depravation, in which he himſelf was born, would be haereditary, and as a walking Peſtilence hand down it's malignity from Father to Son, even to the End of the World.

AGAIN, Adam was the Moral Head of all Mankind, deſcending from him by ordinary Generation. He was our common Proxy or Deputy, and had a power to chuſe & act, not only for himſelf, but for his univerſal Progeny. All Mankind were radically in him as their natural Original, and virtually in him as their Surety, Surrogate, or Vicegerent; By him they were all to ſtand, or in him to fall.

HERE we muſt note, that Adam tho' created in a ſtate of Innocency, yet was not fixed in a ſtate of abſolute impeccability. Tho' perfect Ho…eſs was a natural and concreate excellency, and he had an innate power neceſſarily conſequent upon his primitive conſtitution, as well as ſupernatural ability to have perform'd compleat obedience, and have prevented his Apoſtacy, yet it was ſuch as properly belong'd to a rational free Agent, in a ſtate of probation, and was no ways, p. 12inconſiſtent with that moral freedom of will, which put him into a ſtate of mutability, and expoſed him to the efficacy of ſinful temptations, and render'd him capable of rewards & puniſhments.

AND accordingly it pleaſed God to treat him, as ſuch, in a Faederal way; entering into a Covenant with Adam, as ſtanding in a publick capacity and perſonating all his Deſcendents, wherein He promiſed Life, and threatned Death. And beſides the invariable moral Law, internal and ſubjective to his reaſonable nature, it pleaſed God to make trial of Adams obedience by a particular poſitive external Prohibition, in a matter of pure indifference antecedently to the Divine Precept, but becoming obligatory meerly by the will of the Lawgiver. This prohibition was, that he ſhou'd not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Gen. 2.16. And this ſpecial Command was of the ſame obligation, & guarded with the ſame Sanctions, as the Eternal Law of Creation. The giving of it, was a mark of Sovereign Dominion, and the obſerving of it would have been a reaſonable Service, & moſt refin'd obedience.

BUT Adam (to the juſt aſtoniſhment of Heaven and Earth) thro' unaccountable careleſneſs was decoy'd by the inſinuating Tempter into rebellion …ruin. Being drawn by Satans Lures, he ſtrangely revolted from God, leap'd the boundaries of the Divine Law, and brake thro' all reſtraints and preſervatives, and did voluntarily eat of the forbidden Fruit. Now this rebellious tranſgreſſion in its nature contain'd a violation of the whole Law, an entire renunciation of God, & embracing the Creature as the chief Good, and Satan as the beſt Maſter. Hence the habit of Original righteouſneſs p. 13was loſt, & all moral excellencies effaced and extinguiſht, and an univerſal permanent corruption and foul deformity introduced, by a judicial act of God as a part of the Curſe, and puniſhment of the firſt Sin. And now this Original corruption and degeneracy, conſider'd as a puniſhment, is meritoriouſly derived from Adam, and "falls under the ordination of divine Juſtice". It is not only a fatal Legacy left us by our Firſt Parents, but a Divine Curſe entailed upon us. All Mankind were legally Parties in the faederal tranſaction with Adam in innocency, and were underſtood to be virtually Accomplices in his Rebellion; hence his tranſgreſſion was not appropriate and meerly perſonal, but a common Guilt, a Sin of the whole Nature and univerſal Race; And the Puniſhment has a proportionable extent and adaquate comprehenſion. Hence Spiritual Death which is one part of the Curſe, and the wages of Sin, is the unavoidable Lot of all the Children of Adam, thro' the righteous Judgment of God. Our Firſt Parents ſinned and are not, and we have born their iniquity; God viſits the iniquity of the Father upon the Children from Generation to Generation. All the unhappy Deſcendents of Adam do taſte the ſowre fruits of his Apoſtacy, and inherit the foul impurity of his Nature; and that juſtly, without any breach upon the Laws of common Equity: For, That which is allowable and unrebukable in the Gods of the Earth, is much more ſo in the Great GOD of Heaven, whoſe Kingdom ruleth over all, and a Scepter of righteouſneſs is the Scepter of His Kingdom. There can be no colour of pretence to impeach the Government of Injuſtice barely p. 14for permitting Children to ſuffer ſuch Evils, as are but the puniſhment of their Fathers Sins, wiſely and juſtly allotted to them by the Laws, which they are ſubject unto. The Publick Authority is not ſatisfy'd (for inſtance) with the puniſhment of Treaſon in the ſingle Perſon of the Rebel alone, but his Eſtate is confiſcated, his Dignities forfeited, his Blood ſtain'd, and nothing but ignominy and poverty deſcends to the unconſenting Heirs, by virtue of ſome humane Conſtitution. And after this, what can we object, what room have we to diſpute the Divine Juſtice in the communication of Original Sin, to the Poſterity of Adam, ſince they, being in his Loins as their Parent, and in his Covenant as their Repreſentative, are intereſted in the guilt of his firſt Tranſgreſſion? Being thus entitul'd to the Penalty, it is juſtly inflicted upon them. Therefore with the Apoſtle we muſt believe with our hearts, and confeſs with our mouths, That in Adam all die, By one Man Sin entred into the World, and Death by Sin; and ſo Death paſſed upon all Men, for that all have ſinned. By the offence of one, judgment came upon all Men to condemnation, and by one Man's diſobedience, many were made Sinners, 1 Cor. 15.22. Rom. 5.12, 18, 9. We muſt every one acknowledge with the Pſalmiſt, (Pſal. 51.5.) Behold I was ſhapen in iniquity, and in ſin did my Mother conceive me. All Mankind agree in their native pravity, "whatſoever difference there may be in their Climates, Colours", and outward Circumſtances. This Spiritual Death not only reigned from Adam to Moſes, but it is an Epidemical Plague, that reaches all Men to the lateſt period of the World.

p. 152. THIS Original Corruption is the Seminary and Principle of all Actual Sins. This is the Womb that conceiveth vanity, & bringeth forth iniquity, Mat. 15.18, 9. Out of the heart, i.e. as depraved, proceed evil tho'ts, murders, adulteries, and every evil work. 'Tis Luſt in the heart that conceiveth and bringeth forth Sin, Jam. 1.15. All ſinful tho'ts, words and deeds are the iſſue and product of our corrupt nature. They are the works of the Fleſh, (Gal. 5.19.) All the Sins of Life take their riſe, and derive their Original from the corruption within, as Streams from the Fountain, Fruit from the Tree, or Branches from the Root.

3. THIS Corruption ſtains and defiles every Age of Life. It is a principle that is always ſtirring, never ſtill; a Fountain ever flowing, and foaming out impurities. It taints our very Conception, "It is interwoven with the whole Thread of Life"; There are always even in the moſt ſanctified, while in this imperfect ſtate, ſome unhappy Remains of the old Leaven. 'Tis as the fretting Leproſy that will never be purged out, 'till the walls of the Houſe be pulled down▪ It is an early and permanent Diſeaſe; it begins with our very Being, and cleaves faſt unto us. This is the Sin, that dwells in us, & the Evil that is always preſent with us, (Rom. 7.20, 1.) The Body of this Death is ſo inſeparably chain'd to our Bodies of Fleſh, that they take their firſt breath, and ſerch their laſt gaſp together. There is no Period of Humane Life, wherein any can ſay, I am pure from Sin, (Prov. 20.9.) The root of bitterneſs ſhoots out, and the corrupt Tree brings forth fruit in every Seaſon. No Age can lay claim to a priviledge in this Caſe. From the Infant of Days to the hoary Head, there is none exempt.

p. 164. THE Age of Youth has it's peculiar and abundant pollutions. Hence we read of Youthful L…ſts, (2 Tim. 2.22.) and of the Sins of our Youth, (Pſal. 25.7.) The different Ages of Men have their divers Luſts and various Corruptions. The impure Streams run in diſtinct Channels, agreeable to the differing Complexions of Men in the ſeveral Stages of Life. Covetouſneſs ſeems to be the more peculiar Luſt of Old Age; Ambition the predominant vice of Middle Age, and Senſuality the emphatical blemiſh of wanton Youth. Yet theſe ſpecial Sins are not ſo appropriate, but that ſometimes they may all conſpire in one Age, even as there is an univerſal collection of Luſts and the habit of all Sins in the corrupt Nature. And if we behold among the Youths, particularly; how notoriouſly do theſe black Characters meet in the firſt Scenes of Life▪ Here we ſee the Children of Pride, the Firſt born of Hell, bloated with Ambition, vainly puff't up with ſwelling arrogance, and walking in an empty ſhew; and there we behold the Sons of Perdition, thirſting after the wages of unrighteouſneſs, and panting after the duſt of the Earth; an heart have they exerciſed with covetous practices, ſteaming with Earthly deſires, canker'd with impatient envy, or rack'd with vindictive malice: Here we ſee others, as natural brute Beaſts, walking after the Fleſh in the Luſt of Uncleanneſs, having eyes full of Adultery, beguiling unſtable Souls, and ſporting themſelves with their own deceivings, thro' much wantonneſs, lying ſecurely in the embraces of the unclean Spirit; and there we behold the Children of Diſobedience, the Lovers of Pleaſure in ſwarms, diſſolving in Senſe, & drowning p. 17in Epicurean luxury, overcharging themſelves with Surfeiting and Drunkenneſs; They run wild and mad into all exceſs of Riot, into many fooliſh and hurtful luſts; They fit in the Seat of the Scornful and walk in the counſel of the Ungodly, They do evil with both hands earneſtly, and weary themſelves to commit iniquity; full of all ſubtilty and miſchief are they, Sons of Belial, Enemies of all righteouſneſs, who make a mock of Sin, and ceaſe not to pervert and ſcoff at the right ways of the Lord, they bend their tongues like their bow for lyes, and their Mouth poureth out fooliſhneſs, they proceed from evil to evil, drinking in iniquity like water.

THERE is a Generation that have no ſenſe of their Filth derived or contracted; They walk in the way of their own hearts, and In the fight of their own eyes; They are like the Swine that love to grovel in the dirt, and tumble in every filthy Kennel, They wallow in muddy ſenſualities as their Element, without deſires of Purifition, and having no fear of God before them.

THERE is alſo a Generation, that are pure in their own eyes, and yet they are not cleanſed to this day. They call themſelves of the holy City, are come forth out of the waters of Judah, and make mention of the God of Iſrael, but not in truth and righteouſneſs. They make a fair ſhew in the fleſh, keep the outſide of the Cup clean, but broth of abominable things is in their Veſſels. They have perhaps kept themſelves from the pollutions of the Times, and attained ſome colourable appearances of Piety & Virtue by the help of commo… Grace, Chriſtian Education & the like… or have reformed ſome Evil ways. The Drunkard p. 18is become Temperate; The Prophane is grown Preciſe, and wears a ſanctimonious meen and air; The Prayerleſs has taken up the form of Godlineſs, &c. And hence they flatter themſelves in their own eyes, and are ready to repeat the proud Phariſee's vain-glorious Speech, I thank God, I am not as other Men, unjuſt, filthy; When (Alas!) that God who has a bright proſpect into the hidden parts, knows that like him, they are but whited Walls, and really remain ſtill in the ſtate of unrenew'd nature. They think themſelves ſecure of an intereſt in the Divine Favour, and expect to be forever bathing themſelves in the fulneſs of Joy, when, Alas! They are ready to be ingulph'd in the whirlpool of Eternal Damnation.

PROP. II. IT greatly concerns Men in their Youth to get their Way Cleanſed. This Propoſition is grounded on the Pſalmiſts great concern and ſollicitous Enquiry, How Young Men might Cleanſe their Way? Which ſhows the importance and neceſſity of it's being done. We may here Enquire into Two Things.

QUES. I. HOW are we to Cleanſe our Way?

Anſ. 1. UNIVERSALLY & Intirely. Thus we're exhorted, 2 Cor. 7.1. Let us cleanſe our ſelves from all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit. So, Jam. 4.8. Cleanſe your hands, and purify your hearts, i.e. all external actions, and internal motions— Our Language ſhould be purify'd; our Mouth a Well of Life, affording ſweet and pure waters. No corrupt communication may proceed out of our Lips, but our Speech ſhould be with Grace, good to the uſe of edifying, that it may manifeſt Grace in us that ſpeak, and miniſter Grace unto others that hear, Eph. 4.29. —Yea, Our whole external Behaviour p. 19ſhould be purify'd; we ſ…ould abandon every evil and falſe way, and become holy in all manner of converſation civil and religious; walking in all the Ordinances and Commandments of the Lord, in all duties Perſonal & Relative, blameleſs as the Children of Light.

AND above all, We ſhou'd ſee to it that the Spring of all be Cleanſed, that we get a clean heart and a right ſpirit renewed within us. Pure Religion is founded in a pure Heart. We muſt purify our Souls in obeying the Truth—(1 Pet. 1.22.) If the Fountain be muddy all the Streams muſt needs partake of the infection. The Rule is, (Mat. 23.26.) Cleanſe firſt that which is within, that the outſide may be clean alſo. Unregenerate Morality is but the Leaven of the Phariſees, which is vile Hypocriſy. We are ſtill in the ſtate of carnal nature, and are but painted Sepulchres, unleſs all the powers of our Souls are waſhed in the Laver of ſpiritual Regeneration. We muſt not only caſt away our Filthy rags, and put off the Garment ſpotted by the fleſh, and cleanſe our ſelves from outward viſible pollutions, but muſt diſgorge all carnal Luſts (thoſe ſweet morſels) in our foul Stomachs, and muſt put on the beauties of true holineſs, and be moulded into the Image of Heavenly purity, elſe we are a loathſome ſtench, and abhorred ſpectacle to the Holy One of Iſrael. The way of the Heart, as well as the ways of the Lip and Life, is to be cleanſed. Thus the work of ſelf-purification muſt be Univerſal. The cleanſing muſt be proportionable to the defilement; The Plaiſter as broad as the Sore. One filthy Luſt, remaining in it's power, will be as a dead fly in the precious ointment, and make all unſavory.

p. 20A. 2. CONSTANTLY and Perſeveringly. It is a work of daily revolution, and perpetual duration. Undefiled Religion is attained gradually and by tract of time. Our brighteſt Graces, and beſt Duties have ſome alloy, ſome mixtures of impurity; and we contract much pollution in our daily walk through this defiling World, by unhappy falls and ſtumbles, and even they that are waſhed and made clean every whit, yet have need to waſh their feet, (Joh. 13.10.) And it ſhou'd be the daily care even of the Regenerate, to be cleanſing themſelves from the remains of carnality, and preſſing after a more perfect purity.

THUS "the Extent of this purifying is comprehenſive of the outward and inward Man, from ſinful inclinations and vitious acts; and the Continuance of it muſt be, 'till we are cleanſed from every ſpot, and become glorious in Holineſs". Progreſs and Perſeverance in this work is an invariable Character of Sincerity, and "the Crown of Chriſtianity". We read, (Job. 17.9.) The righteous ſhall hold on his way, and he that bath clean hands ſhall be ſtronger and ſtronger. We have not only that Precept, (Iſai. 1.16, 7.) Waſh ye, make you clean, ceaſe to do evil, learn to do well: but alſo that, (1 Tim. 5.22.) Keep thy ſelf pure;—Continue in the way of well doing. The days of our Purification indeed muſt run parallel with the days of Life.

QUES. II. WHY do's it concern Men in their Youth thus to Cleanſe their Way? To clear this Head, let us conſider the following Particulars.

Anſ. I. Conſider, THAT Cleanſing our Way is a Work of abſolute neceſſity and everlaſting conſequence. It is neceſſary in order to our acceptance with God here, and enjoyment of God hereafter. p. 21There is a firm and indiſſoluble connection between Holineſs and true Happineſs, which conſiſts in the favour & fruition of God, the Chief Good.

(1) THERE is a Legal Neceſſity of Cleanſing our Ways. A Neceſſity from the indiſpenſable obligation of a Divine Precept, and the inviolable conſtitution of the New Covenant. This is the will of God, even our Sanctification; God hath not called us unto uncleanneſs, but unto holineſs, (1 Theſ. 4.3, 7.) This is preſcrib'd and impoſed, as the invariable Term of Salvation. Touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, (2 Cor. 6.17.) Follow holineſs without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord, (Heb. 12.14.) And this is a wiſe and juſt Eſtabliſhment, neceſſary to ſecure the honour of God's Government, to magnify his Law, and declare his righteouſneſs. Who then may reſiſt His Will?

Again, (2.) THERE is a Moral Neceſſity. A Neceſſity from the Nature and Reaſon of the thing. The Unclean Sinner (while ſuch) is abſolutely unfit for the Divine Favour, and utterly uncapable of Divine Bleſſedneſs. What fellowſhip can righteouſneſs have with unrighteouſneſs? What communion hath light with darkneſs? And what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? (2 Cor. 6.14.) The happineſs of Man lies in communion with God, and the enjoyment of Him. But now the Sinner and Ungodly are excluded from this happineſs by a moral incapacity. H…w can Two walk together, except they be agreed? How can Two oppoſite tempers ſubſiſt together, without Eternal Jarrings? Mutual Endearments, and happy Correſpondence between one and another, are founded in a congruity of Natures, and a conformity of p. 22Inclinations. Unleſs then we are made Partakers of the Divine Nature, it is utterly impoſſible for us to enjoy God, or ſtand in His ſight with any contentment or ſatisfaction. And were we tranſlated in a ſtate of polluted Nature into the immediate preſence of God, in which is the fulneſs of Joy, it would be no better than an Hell unto us. The Entertainments of Heaven wou'd be nauſeous and diſtaſteful to us, not ſuiting the falſe reliſhes of vitiated Senſe; The Employments of Heaven wou'd be a diſagreeable and uneaſy Task to ou… indiſpoſed Powers. In a Word, The moſt irreconcileable contrarieties may as ſoon compromiſe or incorporate, as an unregenerate polluted Sinner obtain and enjoy the undefiled Inheritance in Light. Heaven moral (as one ſpeaks) is an indiſpenſable Qualification for Heaven local. Into Jeruſalem, which is above, that Holy City, enters nothing that defileth, (Rev. 21.27.) Who ſhall aſcend into the hill of the Lord? and who ſhall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, (Pſal. 24.3, 4 — Pſal. 15.1, 2.) Except a Man be born again he cannot ſee the Kingd…m of God, (Joh. 3.3.) Conſider this ye that forget God, and let no Man deceive you with vain words: Know ye not that the unrighteous ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, (1 Cor. 6.9,) The Cleanſing of our Way is a matter (we ſee) of the higheſt Importance, and the laſt Neceſſity; Holineſs ought then to be the ſubject of our principal and moſt ſerious care, and the object of our moſt vigorous and early purſuits. This is the One Thing needful. Eternity depends upon it, an Eternity of weal or woe. A matter of this infinite concernment ſurely challenges our firſt p. 23and chief regards. The great Intereſts of Eternity claim and deſerve a prior conſideration and ſuperiour labour to ſecure them, than the low and little concernments of this tranſitory Life. How fooliſh then are they, how wildly do they act, who miſpend the beſt of their Time in ſerving divers Luſts, and terminate the Cares of their blooming Youth on this periſhing World, who mind Earthly things, and neglect the Great Salvation? But how wiſe are they, that Seek first the Kingdom of God, and his righteouſneſs, That make it their firſt and great care and endeavour to work out their own Salvation, That employ the first opportunities of Life to make their Calling and Election ſure?—Who then among you is willing to conſecrate his Service this Day unto the Lord? Theſe things ſhould quicken all from the womb of the Morning, even the beginning of their days, to devote the Dew of their Youth, their earlieſt affections to the Lord, and to begin betimes to Cleanſe their ways. Is it not a work of the greateſt weight and moment? What Buſineſs or Concern is there that may be ſet in oppoſition to, or ſtand in competition with it? Say not then, I pray thee have me excuſed, on any pretence whatſoever. The neceſſity and excellency of the work, ſpeaks the unreaſonableneſs and baſeneſs of delays.

A. II. Conſider, THIS Life is the only ſpace, or ſeaſon for the accompliſhment of this Work. "This World is the great Laboratory for perfecting Souls for Heaven", the only ſtate of prob…tion and preparation for Eternity. If ever we Cleanſe our ways, it muſt be now. There is no wiſdom, nor device in the Grave, whether we are going, (Eccl. 9. p. 2410.) The Night cometh, wherein no man can work, (Joh. 9.4.) This is the day of Salvation, (2 Cor. 6.2.) They that go down into the pit cannot hope for the truth; the Living, the Living they ſhall praiſe thee, (Iſai. 38.18, 9.) To him that is joyned to the Living, there is hope, To him only. — Death puts an irrevocable period to the Day and Means of Grace, to the Strivings of the Holy Spirit, and the Offers of Salvation: It ſeals us up among the irreparable Ruins of the Apoſtacy, and fixes us under an Eternal impoſſibility of Recovery. As the Tree falls, ſo it muſt lye. The Spirits in Priſon, ſhall not come forth, until they have paid the utmoſt Farthing. They are bound in Chains of darkneſs, which cannot be broken; They are under a Yoke of Bondage, that can't be ſhaken off.

A. III. Conſider, THE Work is Great, and the longeſt Life is not more than proportionable to it. Cleanſing our Ways is not ſome light and eaſy Buſineſs, the work of an hour or a day. It is a Complication of great Services to be done, and of great Difficulties to be overcome. It is an hard work, many acts, many exerciſes are imply'd in it, enough to employ the whole Man in its beſt vigour, and to fill up the whole Life in its longeſt duration. In order to pure Religion, we muſt ſearch and try our ways, and be much in Self-Examination, We muſt act Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which are laborious as well as conſtant Exerciſes; And we muſt lay out our ſelves in the work of Mortification and Reformation, the well-doing of which will require our utmoſt Induſtry, Vigilance, and Reſolution, and challenge ſome Tract of Time. Solemn Reſolutions are to be form'd and fixt, p. 25Knowledge to be digg'd for, ſtrong Prejudices and Corruptions to be conquer'd, ill Cuſtoms to be renounc'd, ſubtil Temptations to be reſiſted, and ſtrong oppoſitions to be encounter'd. Finally, Many and divers Duties to be put in practice, and acts of poſitive obedience performed, A large Field of work to be gone thorow, and many a weary ſtep to be taken. We had need then enter into it betimes, riſe early, take the wings of the Morning, and go forth to labour until the Night, rejoycing with the Sun to run our race. The Task is hard, and many holy Chriſtians that have fear'd the Lord from their Youth, ſpent their Vigorous Age in this work, and continued in it, even unto Length of Days, have after all their Toil & long Labours, not counted themſelves to have apprehended, neither to be already perfect, but have profeſſed to reach towards things before, and confeſſed very humbling Remains of impurity both of Fleſh & Spirit behind ſtill to be cleanſed away. They that begin ſooneſt are but ſcarcely ſaved. We muſt confeſs then, that great is the guilt and folly of ſuch as delay this moſt neceſſary and difficult work, flattering themſelves that they ſhall have Time enough hereafter. Moſt are apt to dream, they've a long Day before 'em, and ſo may ſafely give a looſe for the preſent to their Youthful Luſts, and hope to do this work, at their Leiſure, in more advanced Years:— But alas! the entire Life of Man is but a little ſpace for ſuch a Buſineſs of Eternal conſequence, and Infinite difficulty. Not but that the Time allow'd is ſufficient, if we had but wiſdom to Husband our opportunities aright: yet it is not more than is requiſite in order to do this work to the leſt advantage.—Is it not then moſt egregious folly p. 26to think of crowding that into a narr…w corner of our Day, which will take up the whole. O think of the greatneſs of your Work, and the ſhortneſs of your Day, and judge whether it be not time to begin, and folly to defer.

A. IV. Conſider, Youth is the fitteſt and most advantagious Seaſon to begin this workin. Conſider, Now the work it ſelf is really leſs, than it will be afterward. The work is always great and difficult, but by Age it grows upon us; more work is made for Self-Examination, Repentance, and Mortification. Sins are multiply'd, Corruptions are ſtrengthned, the Underſtanding more darkned, the Heart more hardned thro' the deceitfulneſs of Sin, the ſenſual Appetites & Paſſions grown more headſtrong by cuſtomary indulgence, the Cords of Iniquity twiſted harder, the black Chains of Luſt faſtned and more difficult to be diſſolved, the Conſcience more defiled with dead works, deeper pollutions contracted, and more heavy loads of filth to be diſburthen'd, when we have lain long ſoaking in our corrupt ſtate; Spiritual Diſeaſes more putrify'd and harder to be cured. By long and inveterate Cuſtom Sin grows more natural to us, & we are reduc'd almoſt to an impoſſibility of recovery. Hence the Scripture ſaith, (Jer. 13.23.) Can the Aethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his ſpots? Then may you alſo do good, that are accustomed to do evil. When ill Habits are obſtinately r…oted by frequent and continu'd repetition of Sin, there is unſpeakable difficulty attending the extirpation of them. How hard and painful a work to repent of them and ſubdue them! In this Caſe we may very aptly apply thoſe ſayings of our Saviour, It is eaſier for a Camel to go through the eye of the Needle; p. 27Straight is the Gate; With Men this is impoſſible, but with God all things are poſſible! Thus the Work is made greater and more difficult by delays. Moreover, in Youth our advantages are greater; then we have ſpecial Helps, Opportunities and Conveniencies. If we now begin our work, we have in an ordinary way more Time before us to do it in. And now the Spirit of God is peculiarly ſtriving with us; the Angel of the Lord moſt forward to come to the Pool, and move the Waters of healing; And Youth is the Age of Diſcipline, moſt capable of Inſtruction, moſt flexible to Convictions, moſt ſuſceptible of Impreſſions. Now the Underſtanding is ordinarily moſt ready and perceptive, the Will moſt obſequious, the Affections and Paſſions moſt governable, the Memory moſt deeply receptive as well as ſtrongly retentive, and all the Faculties of Life moſt apt and able for Service and Employment. For Youth is the Age of Buſineſs, (as well as tractableneſs,) the Morning of our day, the Excellency of our ſtrength, the Spring of Life, moſt free and vigorous for Labour, diſpos'd to Action, and admirable at diſpatch. Now the Faculties of Soul and Body are in their prime, moſt capable of bearing the difficulties and doing the duties, that attend the work of Sanctification.—Is it not beſotting folly then, to defer cleanſing our ways, and let ſlip this Golden Opportunity, and make that the task of drooping Sickneſs, or ſupine tottering Age, which demands the moſt ſanguine Efforts of ſprightly Health and active Youth? But further, Youth is more under the checks of Conſcience, and the reſtraints of Shame and Modeſty, which are a good Barrier to ſecure us againſt Sin, and a mighty p. 28Help to reclaim us from it. And moreover, in Youth we have commonly fewer Incumbrances & leſs impediments to clog us in doing our work. Now we are not ſo enſlav'd to the Prince of Darkneſs; the ſoul Spirit, that works in the Children of Diſobedience, has not ordinarily ſuch a full poſſeſſion of us, nor abſolute dominion over us as yet, and now his Temptations have not ſo eaſy acceſs, and his aſſaults may with leſs difficulty be warded off, by the diſcrete, vigilant and reſolute Youth; And further, Now we are not ordinarily ſo far plung'd into the World; we are not ſo much expos'd to the Cares of diſcouraging Want, nor the Snares of treacherous Affluence, nor the burries of perplexing Buſineſs. And by an Early Converſion and Conſecration of our ſelves to God, we ſhall greatly foreſtall our tempting Adverſaries, and ſave our ſelves many Conflicts, recover our ſelves from the Snare of the Devil, and eſcape the Corruptions that are in the World thro' Luſt.

A. V. Conſider, THE Time of Youth, the preſent Time, may, for ought we know, be the only Seaſon allow'd us for this work. For,

1. THE Arreſts of Death may ſoon irrecoverably terminate all our Opportunities. The Time is ſhort, and very uncertain; Death will ſpeedily, He may ſuddenly, ſerve the Execution upon us: And Death's Commiſſion is not dated by Seniority; Mortality is not govern'd by the courſe of Nature, but the Ordination of Heaven. The warm Blood and vigour of healthful Youth is no protection againſt the King of Terrors. When the Decree brings forth, None can ſtay his hand, No Man hath power over his Spirit to retain it. How often do we ſee invincible Death making a Prey of the mighty, p. 29taking away Young Men in their full ſtrength, breaking the bars of Iron and the gates of Braſs. The ſtrongeſt Conſtitution and moſt unbroken Health of Body can't ſtand the dreadful Shock; neither will this ſecure from the danger of a ſudden Diſſolution. Some unkindly Breath of Air may in an inſtant extinguiſh the light of Life, when it is like to burn a long while yet. Unnumber'd Diſeaſes, we are ſubject to, that may ſpeedily ſtop our breath; we know not but ſome fatal Diſtemper is now latent in our Bodies, however hale and luſty we may ſeem, which will ſhortly break down the clayey Tabernable, and gather us again unto the Duſt; and a Thouſand Diſasters, many unforeſeen Caſualties we are obnoxious to, any one of which may quickly diſpatch our unwilling Souls into an awful Eternity, and in a moment bury us in deſpairful horror! And moſt ſurely they, Whoſe Life is among the Unclean, may expect to Die in Youth, and not to Live out half their Days! By their Luſts and Vices they are haſtening their end, jogging the Glaſs, and preparing the Inſtruments of Death for themſelves; and a Thouſand to One if they are not ſnar'd in the work of their own hands, or ſnatcht away in an awful manner by ſome ſurprizing & unexpected Providence!

HOW Dangerous then are Delays of our Great Work! To depend on Hereafter is to "preſume meerly on a remote poſſibility", and to hazard our Eternal ſafety on the moſt precarious bottom in the World, and if this ſandy Foundation fail us, we ſink into irretrievable Miſery. Let us no longer then trifle away our pretious and haſty moments. Let us not flatter our ſelves with the p. 30uncertain reverſion of ſo much as another Day to further Adjournment of our work, but even to Day, while it is called to Day, (This very Evening,) Let us everyone ſet about it, working out our Salvation with fear and trembling, and doing with might what our hands find to do, becauſe the Night cometh, and we know not what ſhall be on the morrow. Boaſt not thy ſelf of to morrow, for thou knoweſt not what a day may bring forth. This Evening can't be too Early, becauſe To-morrow-Morning may be too Late. In a Word, We can't begin too ſoon, nor make too quick diſpatch. Be we as ſpeedy & active as poſſible, the nimble ſands of Time will run down faſter than our work goes on, and ou… Glaſs will go nigh to run out, before we've finiſh'd our Chriſtian Race. Conſider this ye Sinners, and give ear, be not rebellious; for the Lord hath ſpoken, —Give Glory to the Lord your God before he cauſe darkneſs, and before your feet ſtumble upon the dark Mountains, and while ye look for light, he turn it into the ſhadow of Death, and make it groſs darkneſs. But if ye will not hear, my Soul ſhall weep in ſecret places for your pride, and preſumption, Mine Eye ſhall weep and run down with tears.

2. OR, Some Diſtemper may utterly bereave us of our Capacity for this work. We are incident to many things, that may fatally impair our rational Powers, and as much diſenable us to all religious intents and purpoſes as Death it ſelf. May not an Apoplexy, or, Lethargy, a Delirium or Stupor, ſuddenly ſeize us, that we ſhall become as 'twere Dead, while we Live? May we not be bewildred with Melancholy, or diſtracted with Madneſs? May we not be harraſs't with tormenting Pains, and reſtleſs Agonies, that ſhall p. 31utterly unhinge us, and unfit us for religious Duties? Or, may we not ſoon be thrown into a weak, ſhatter'd, languiſhing condition; be exerciſed with frequent faintings, be attended with a conſtant laxneſs of the Animal Spirits, and decays of bodily ſtrength, and be followed with the lingring forerunners of Death; ſo that our enfeebled Powers ſhall not be capable of bearing the earneſt Care, nor doing the intenſe Work of Repentance, and we ſhall have but little or no force & freedom of mind left us to attend the Great Concerns of our Souls, and ſhall probably be debarr'd hereof, leſt it ſhou'd prevent the Cure of our Bodies. Theſe Conſiderations ſhould ſtartle us out of our ſecure and dilatory frame. We are all concerned in this Caſe. None can plead an exemption. Such Evils have ſurpriz'd Others that as little ſuſpected any danger as we. What tho' we are Young, hearty and luſty? ſo were many of Them, yet they were taken in the ſnare, immediately ſtak'd down, and reſerv'd in Chains to the day of Deſtruction. And now what claim have we to a priviledge from this awful Judgment? Let theſe things awaken us to make all ſure and ſafe by a thorow Repentance, and Purification of our ways, while there remains a ſpace and poſſibility.

3. OR, The Means of Grace may be taken away, and the Spirit of Grace withdraw from us, and forſake us for ever. Suppoſing Life and Health and Reaſon ſhould be prolong'd, yet how know we, but that we ſhall be depriv'd of the Means of Holineſs and helps to Salvation? The righteous God may cauſe the Sun to go down over His deſpiſed Prophets, call home His Embaſſadors, and make the Joyful Sound to ceaſe; He may juſtly p. 32puniſh us with a Famine of the word of the Lord, remove his Candleſtick, pull down his Tabernacle, and leave us to periſh for lack of Viſion. Or, if God continues the external Means, yet He may be provok'd to with-hold the influences of His Spirit; and ſo we ſhall receive the Grace of God in vain, and enjoy the Means but in Judgment. It is certain our ſpecial Opportunity of Grace may expire before the day of Life. As the Stalk may continue after the Flower be dropt off▪ As the Tree may ſtand a while, after 'tis paſt bearing Fruit. So a Sinner may out-live his particular Day of Grace, i. e. the Seaſon of the Holy Spirits Motions, and Operations upon his Heart. Men may by obſtinate reſiſting the Holy Ghoſt, and a reſolved impenitency under the Goſpel, provoke Him to ceaſe ſtriving with them, and give them over to the power of Satan and their own Luſts, & leave them under a moral impoſſibility of Repentance unto Life. Our Day of Grace (ſays a Learned Divine) may have a much ſhorter period than our Lives;Dr. Sherlock. Diſc. of Death, pag. 164, 9. Edit. 16. we may out-live the poſſibility of Repentance, God in His juſt & righteous Judgment may give up the Children of diſobedience to a ſtate of hardneſs and impenitence, and they may wander about in this World, as the Iſraelites did in the Wilderneſs, under an irreverſible Doom and Sentence. And hence the Apoſtle to the Hebrews exhorts them, (Heb. 3.7, &c,) To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as your Fathers tempted me, with whom I was grieved, and ſo I ſware in my wrath, they ſhould not enter into my r…ſt.— But why to Day? Is it only becauſe our Lives are uncertain, p. 33and we may die before to Morrow? No, but leſt we provoke God to ſwear in his Wrath, that we ſhall not enter into reſt. It ſhou'd engage us to a ſpeedy Repentance, to conſider, that we may provoke God to ſuch a degree, that He may pronounce the final Sentence on us, That we ſhall never enter into Heaven; long before we leave this World.

THE Day of God's Forbearance often ſurvives the Day of His Mercy. Sometimes He endures with much long ſuffering the Veſſels of Wrath; but frequently He cuts ſhort His Work in Righteouſneſs; and the brighter any One's Day of Grace is, (it's obſerved) 'tis uſually the ſhorter. The Old World God ſpared an Hundred & Twenty Years, but Iſrael, whom He had favour'd above all the Families of the Earth, giving His Word unto Jacob, He endured their manners but Forty Years in the Wilderneſs. The Lord do's gradually withdraw His grieved Spirit and neglected Grace from rebellious Sinners, and finally abandons them to a reprobate ſenſe, intumulates their forſaken Souls under judicial blindneſs and hardneſs in their frozen Grave; That is the fatal Sentence paſſed againſt them, Let him that is filthy, be filthy ſtill, (Rev. 22.11.) Becauſe I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, Thou ſhalt not be purged any more from thy filthineſs, 'till I have cauſed my fury to reſt upon thee, (Ezek. 24.13.) And then their Caſe is irremediable. And this may be the ſad ſtate of Multitudes in the World, who diſcern not their fearful doom. And this may very Early be the deplorable condition of Sinners. We have many inſtances hereof on Sacred Record. Curſed Cain was but of a few days, when he was driven out p. 34from the preſence of the Lord. Scoffing Iſhmael was caſt out, when he was but about Twenty years of Age. Prophane Eſau, who too ſoon took upon him the Gentleman, and devoted himſelf to recreation and ſport, having once weary'd himſelf for very vanity in the violent purſuits of the Field, Sold his Birth-right to Jacob his Pious Brother, for a ſmall refreſhment, and ſo forfeited the Bleſſing, and was rejected; and this was when the B…ys were yet growing up, (Gen. 25.27.)— How many Young-Men think you were in Jeruſalem, when Chriſt beholding that City, wept over it, & ſaid, If thou hadſt known, even thou, at leaſt in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes?

INDEED the Day of Grace, as the Day of Life, hath differing Periods; with ſome it is more permanent, with others more tranſient. With many we ſee it laſts no longer than the time of Youth. "And if theſe Golden Days be loſt (ſays a Venerable Servant of God, whoſe Praiſe is in the Goſpel,Dr. Increaſe Mather, in his Call to the Riſing Generation. Edit. 2. pag. 148. thro'out all the Churches; if the Days of Youth be loſt,) probably thou wilt be undone for ever. I muſt needs tell you that f…r the moſt part it is ſo, that Men are either Converted in their Youth, or not at all. We read but of One that was call'd at the Eleventh hour. If a Tree do not bloſſom in the Spring, it is commonly dead all the Year after; So they that are not Converted in the Spring of their Age are rarely Converted at all. Now & then One is Converted in Old Age, but ſuch Examples are exceeding rare; eſpecially it is true with reſpect unto thoſe that have in the Days of their Youth lived under the Means of Grace, heard p. 35many Sermons, experienced frequent Strivings of the Spirit of God with their hearts: if they remain Unconverted until the Days of their Youth are paſt and gone, the Lord uſually giveth them up to judicial hardneſs of heart that they ſhall never be Converted, never Saved. Young Men think ſadly of it in the fear of God". O hearken to this ſolemn warning, conſider & improve it; Beware of Delays; Quench not the Spirit, Reſiſt not alway the Holy Ghoſt, Do not at any time ſay unto Him, Go away and come again to Morrow, leſt you Sin away the Influences of the Spirit; O do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates, leſt the Spirit of the Lord depart from you, and an evil Spirit from the Lord trouble you. Be inſtructed, O Seed of Jacob, lest his Soul depart from you, leſt be make you deſolate; leſt you unhappily incur the condemnation of Ephraim, He is joyned to Idols, let him alone.— O ſeek the Lord while he may be found, (Iſai. 55.6.) They that ſeek him early ſhall find him, (Prov. 8.17.) But if thou forſake him in the time of Youth, perhaps He will caſt thee off for ever, (1 Chr. 28.9.) It is a bold and bloody adventure in ſinful Youth, a dreadful riſque they run, to forego the preſent Opportunity upon the falſe preſumption of a mere convenient Seaſon hereafter. We are all of Us probably within our limited Day of Grace: But how ſoon, how ſuddenly our Sun may ſet, God only knows. The preſent time may be our last Opportunity; and to expect renew'd offers of Grace upon the leaſt refuſal or delay to accept, is not founded in any Divine Promiſe and is repugnant to the univerſal Tenor of the Divine Threatnings. We ſtand every moment upon the Brink of perdition, nigh unto Curſing; How know we, but that our Eternal p. 36concernments depend upon what we are this Evening, this Inſtant a doing? How know we, but that the revolution of a few hours or minutes will irreverſibly conclude our day of probation? — It is high time to awake unto Righteouſneſs, to conſider our ways and turn our feet unto God's teſtimonies. Young Men, my Brethren, hearken to the voice of God, and no longer harden your hearts againſt the impreſſions of His Grace, and the ſolemn Invitations of His Word, which ſpeaks to you, to each of you, My Son, give me thy heart, and let thine eyes obſerve my ways, (Prov. 23.26.) Waſh thy heart from thy wickedneſs, that thou mayeſt be ſaved, how long ſhall thy vain tho'ts lodge within thee? (Jer. 4.14.) Do this now my Son, and deliver thy ſelf, Give not ſleep to thine eyes, nor ſlumber to thine eye-lids; if thou ſave not thy life to night, perhaps to morrow thou ſhalt be ſlain. Procraſtination is infinitely dangerous. The leaſt delay may coſt us our Souls. Let us fear leſt we c…me ſhort, and look diligently leſt any man fail of the grace of God, (Heb. 12.15.)

A. VI. Conſider, TO begin this work in our Youth, is what the Great God requires of us, and is infinitely pleaſed with in us. God is our Creator, Preſerver, and Sovereign Ruler. We owe Him all poſſible Homage. We are under the moſt inviolable Bonds of obedience to His revealed Will. Now God commandeth all men every where to repent, (Act. 17.30.) And by virtue of this general Precept we are obliged to repent immediately, without delay. It is a Maxim in Law, (as One in a certain place teſtifyeth) that where no day of Payment is limited, the Debt is preſently due. The Debt of Repentance toward God is according to this juſt principle to be paid forthwith, tho' there were p. 37not any expreſs and direct ſpecification of the time of Youth. But we have the moſt plain and peremptory injunctions of Early Obedience. We are not left to our liberty as to the time, any more than as to the thing. He that has bidden us to repent and amend our ways, has alſo bid us do it now, betimes; and there is the ſame obligation upon us to take the Time, as to do the Work, He hath ſet us. Well then, Young Men are indiſpenſably bound to regard and obey thoſe Precepts, wherein they are poſitively and ſtrictly commanded to be ſober & pious betimes: As, Pſal 148.12, 3 Young Men, and Children, Let them praiſe the name of the Lord. So, Prov. 8.32, &c. Now hearken unto me, O ye Children; Hear inſtruction, and be wiſe. So, Eccl. 12.1. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. So, ver. 12, 3. And further, by theſe words of truth, my Son, be admoniſhed of the vanity of the World, and the evil of Sin, and Let us hear the concluſion of the whole matter, Fear God & keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty and happineſs of man. And to mention but one inſtance more; 2 Tim. 2— The Apoſtle exhorts Timothy and in him all other Young Men, in this wiſe, Flee youthful luſts, but follow righteouſneſs, faith, charity, peace, with all them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Thou therefore my Son, be ſtrong in the Grace, that is in Chriſt Jeſus. Study to ſhew thy ſelf approved unto God. Thus Early Religion is enjoyned upon Us by the Commands of God. And as it is a neceſſary compliance with His Preceptive will, ſo it is moſt highly pleaſing and infinitely delightful unto Him, which conſideration ſhould excite us to it. Behold, now is the accepted Time, now is the acceptable Year of the Lord. It was an p. 38Ordinance of Old, Exod. 22.29. Thou ſhalt not delay to offer the firſt of thy ripe fruits, The firſt born thou ſhalt give unto me. The firſt-ripe Fruits (in kind) are ordinarily among Men moſt valued, and moſt eagerly embrac'd. The Firſt-born is the pride of nature, the beginning of ſtrength, and the excellency of dignity. Theſe God expected ſhould be dedicated to Him, and that without delay: which under a Typical conſideration do's plainly intimate, that Young Men ſhould not delay to conſecrate the Firſt Fruits of their Time, the prime and beſt of their ſtrength to the Lord. With ſuch ſacrifices God is well pleaſed, The Lord accepts them with a ſweet ſavour. The kindneſſes of our Youth (the Flower of Age) are what He takes infinite complacency in. The Bloſſoms of Early Piety how lovely, how fragrant are they to Him! The tender Plants that are growing up before the Lord, what a grateful and pleaſant ſight▪ The Delight of Heaven, and the Hope of Iſrael! Such as fear the Lord in their Youth are acceptable to God, and approved of Men. Good Men have no greater joy than to ſee their Children walking in the truth. There is joy in the preſence of the Holy Angels over ſuch. The Lord of Glory takes pleaſure in them; His delights are with the Sons of Men. He was well pleaſed (in the days of His Fleſh) with the Hoſannahs of Children, and took particular notice of them, giving Glory to God, who Out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings had perfected praiſe. He was pleaſed, to have Little Children come unto Him, and He took them up in His Arms and bleſſed them. As a good Shepherd He gathers the Lambs with His Arms, and carries them in His Boſom, the Seat of Love. What an affectionate Concern did He expreſs, and p. 39what a compaſſionate Charge did He give to Peter, about the Lambs of the Flock? Of the Young Man in the Goſpel which came to Him with ſome good inclinations, it is ſaid, Jeſus beheld him, and loved him. John, ſuppos'd to be the Youngeſt among the firſt Diſciples, was emphatically The Diſciple whom Jeſus loved, which alſo leaned on His Breaſt at Supper, the Favourite place. Young Converts are peculiarly ſet as a Scal on His Heart, and as a Signet on His Right Hand. They are near and dear to Him, and pretious in His ſight. The godly Young Man Daniel had that teſtimony, A Man Greatly Beloved. Prov. 8.17. I love them that love me, and thoſe that ſeek me early ſhall find me. Such as honour Him with their Firſt Love, are repay'd & crown'd with his ſpecial Love. The Kings favour is toward ſuch a wiſe Servant. But ſuch whoſe Childhood and Youth are vanity, who give themſelves to Youthful Luſts, are the abhorred of the Lord, odious to the pure Eyes of His Holineſs, and obnoxious to the ſevere Revenges of His Juſtice; and while they go on in their treſpaſſes, the Wrath of God abides upon them. It is a baſe indignity; and moſt unſufferable provocation to the Holy God, to deny Him the reaſonable Service He requires of us, to miſemploy the noble Powers we've receiv'd from Him, and yield them as inſtruments of unrighteouſneſs unto Sin, to pervert His Gifts to His diſhonour, and practically to prefer Sin, Satan & the World (our great Enemies) to God and Chriſt our great Benefactor and only Saviour. This is high handed contempt of the Bleſſed God; and thoſe ſimple and fooliſh Youths that offer this baſe and inſolent affront to the God of all their Mercies, are the objects of His juſt diſpleaſure, p. 40and holy indignation. God is angry with the wicked every day. He deſpiſeth them that deſpiſe Him. The face of the Lord is againſt them that do evil. All the Attributes of God are arm'd with terror, and charg'd with vengeance againſt the workers of iniquity. If then we deſire to be accepted and owned of God, we muſt now break off from our iniquities by Repentance. The awful tho't that while we continue impure and impenitent, we are under the wrath and curſe of God, This ſhou'd rouſe us out of our ſecurity; and the joyful tho't that by Early Religion we prove what is that good and acceptable will of God, and walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleaſing, this ſhou'd encourage and quicken us now in the Days of our Youth to yield our members inſtruments of righteouſneſs unto God. This is the will and pleaſure of God, who has Sovereign Authority to determine the Time, who is infinitely Wiſe, Juſt and Good, and therefore knows and chuſeſt the beſt Time. Let God's Time be Our's. Every thing is beautiful in its ſeaſon, The work of the Day in it's Day. The Manna was to be gathered in the Morning, then it was ſweet and agreeable, but if neglected, it became loathſome and diſtaſteful.

A. VII. Conſider, YOUNG Men that are Baptized, are under the moſt ſolemn Engagements now to Cleanſe their Ways. Baptiſm is a ſtanding Ordinance of the Goſpel, which All ſhou'd be Partakers of; and none ſhou'd dare, as they wou'd not wrong their own Souls, to live in the contemptuous neglect of it. But I preſume, that every one here preſent hath paſſed under …hat bleſſed Ordinance. If ſo, you are obliged then to Cleanſe your Way, as you wou'd anſwer the Sacred Ends p. 41and Bonds of your devoted ſtate, and act agreeably to your Character & Profeſſion. Baptiſm is a Sign and Seal of the Covenant, which obliges to univerſal purity. As many then as are Baptized into Jeſus Chriſt, are Debtors to the whole Law of Faith. In Baptiſm we renounce all our Sins and Luſts, Earthly, Senſual, & Deviliſh; we profeſs and promiſe to live Godly in Christ Jeſus, to walk according to God in the Spirit. If then we proſtitute our ſelves to any …aſe luſt or wicked practice, and alienate our ſelves from the life of God, we retract our Baptiſmal Stipulation, we trample on the moſt ſacred Vows, we reproach that worthy Name whereby we are called, and renounce our Intereſt in the bleſſed Promiſes. And what Man do's not tremat the tho't of this prophane, treacherous, & impious dealing with God and our own Souls? Verily our Baptiſm will profit us nothing, without newneſs of Life. Baptiſm ſaves us, not by putting away the filth of the fleſh, but by the anſwer of a good Conſcience toward God, 1 Pet. 3.21. What will the outward waſhing with Water avail, without the inward waſhing of Regeneration. If we ſtill walk after the Fleſh, and wallow in filthy luſts, our Baptiſm will no ways be ſerviceable or beneficial to us; nay, it will …e a witneſs againſt us. He that is Baptized, and believeth not, is condemned already, condemned …ut …f his own mouth. Ungodly Chriſtians are Sinners above all Men. The Heathen World Sin at a cheaper rate than they. Double Guilt and an aggravated Ruin belong to ſuch.

AND let not any think to …lude this Argument by flattering …hemſelves, It will be ſoon enough hereafter to think of fulfilling their Baptiſmal Engagements. O deceive not your ſelves by p. 42this vain pretence into ſinful delays. The Baptiſmal Covenant binds to preſent and perpetual obedience. It is of the nature of an Eſpouſal; whereupon one is oblig'd immediately to forſake all others, and be entirely devoted to her Husband. —The Promiſe in Baptiſm has the nature of a Vow. Therein we take the Oath of Allegiance to God, and bind our Souls with a Bond, profeſſing to give our own ſelves to the Lord; & having open'd our mouth, we cannot go back, nor put off. The Rule is, (Eccl. 5.4.) When thou voweſt a Vow unto God, defer not to pay it: for He hath no pleaſure in fools; Pay that which thou haſt vowed. Pay it fully, pay it preſently. Conſider this, hear and fear: Are you under the Bonds of Baptiſm? Then you have vow'd to God the Service of your Youth; and if you neglect to perform the Vow, you incurr the guilt of Perfidy, and the moſt abhorred Perjury. To vow and not to pay is a mocking of God, and lying to the Holy Ghoſt. And theſe Fools in Iſrael are an abomination unto the Lord. Take heed therefore to your ſelves, leſt ye forget the Covenant of the Lord your God; for the Lord your God is a conſuming Fire, even a jealous God, (Deut. 4.23, 4.) I beſeech you, immediately come into that neceſſary and noble Reſolution, (Exod. 15.2.) The Lord is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my Father's God, and I will exalt Him.

A. VIII. Conſider, BY Cleanſing our Way in our Youth, a preſent Tribute of peculiar Honour is paid to God, and the Foundation lay'd for illustrious Revenues of Glory to His Great Name. The Earlineſs of our Repentance and Obedience is highly Honorary to God, as it intimates a peculiar ſincerity, voluntarineſs, & fervency in our hatred of Sin, p. 43and love to God; an high Esteem of the Divine Laws, and the vigour of Grace in our Souls enabling us to break thro' the many difficulties & ſtrong temptations of the Youthful Age, and in the face of alluring Pleaſures, againſt the general ſtream of Cuſtom and Example, &c. to amend our ways, and Exerciſe our ſelves unto Godlineſs, To give that the firſt of our Time, & the ſtrength of our Days.— Theſe things tend much to the honour of God. Their Singularity offers praiſe, ſuch things in Youth are a pretious Rarity, which gives them a peculiar Charm & Beauty, and makes them more to the Praiſe of the Glory of His Grace. They are abundant alſo by many thanksgivings to God; whiles others beholding the good Converſation of ſuch, Glorify God for their profeſſed ſubjection to the Goſpel of Chriſt, and for the exceeding Grace of God in them. The riſing flouriſhing Plants are the bright Ornaments of the Garden of Chriſt at preſent, and they afford a proſpect of yielding hereafter much fruit whereby our Heavenly Father is glorify'd. An Early Converſion prevents much diſhonour, which otherwiſe wou'd be done to God by the iniquities of Youth, and upwards; and it alſo tends to bring much poſitive Honour to God, in a vigorous and long exerciſe of Grace and practice of Duty. The warmth and activity of Youth under the direction of a gracious principle within, renders us Veſſels unto Honour peculiarly meet for our Maſters uſe; we are at preſent more inclin'd to action, and more fitted for ſervice, and we are like in an ordinary way to have a longer time of Labour, to contract a ſtronger diſpoſition and affection to God's Glory, and to meet with better and greater Opportunities to promote His Kingdom p. 44and Intereſt in the World than others. The ſooner we riſe in the Morning, the more Time we have before us, and the more work we ſhall probably get done by the Evening.

AND now has the Early Cleanſing of our Ways ſuch an Aſpect upon the Glory of God? Surely then we are oblig'd by all the tyes of Duty, Juſtice, and Gratitude, forthwith to engage in this work, Giving Glory unto God. Not to do this, is the higheſt injuſtice, a robbing our rightful Lord of His due; and the blackeſt ingratitude, an unworthy return to our Great Benefactor. And ſhall we thus requite the Lord? O fooliſh & unwiſe!

A. IX. Conſider, GREAT, and manifold are the Advantages and Priviledges, which by Early Piety, we ſecure unto our ſelves. There are not only great Revenues of Glory accrueing from it unto God, but the richeſt Vintage of Good redounding unto us. It is both Glorious to God, and auſpicious to Man. Lam. 3.27. It is good for a man, that he bear the yoke in his youth. The Yoke of Chriſt, if we take it upon us Early, we ſhall bear it more eaſily, more honourably, more profitably, and ſhall reap many happy advantages in Life, at Death, and in the Eternal World. Let me ſay here,

1. THE ſooner we begin to Cleanſe our Ways, we ſhall obtain the greater Honour. Pure Religion is a Crown of Glory to any one, and makes a Man more Excellent than his Neighbour; But it ſhines with a peculiar beauty and luſtre in the ruddy Youth, and makes him more honourable even than his Brethren. There is an Excellency of Dignity in Early Religion, and Double Honour belongs unto it.

CONSIDER here, This Work puts real Excellency upon us; hence the ſooner we begin, the p. 45greater Degrees of Dignity we are like to arrive unto. This Employment do's Exalt, as well as Exerciſe, our reaſonable Powers, It poliſhes & ennobles our beſt Faculties, and tends to the recovery of our degraded Nature from its preſent vile condition to it's priſtine glory and perfection. Here by we put on the moſt bright and laſting Beauties, and cloath our ſelves with Honour. Hereby we attain the bleſſed End, for which we were created, the Glory of God; and hereby we are made Partakers of the bleſſed Image, in which we were created: and inaſmuch as it is thus perfective of our Nature it is really honourable True Holineſs is true Honour. "Serious Piety ſows the ſeeds of the moſt ſolid Greatneſs." An Heathen could ſay, Vertue is the only true Nobility. Hence the Apoſtle puts them together, (1 Theſ. 4.4.) Poſſeſs your Veſſel in Sanctification and Honour. The Holy of the Lord, Honourable,—are Characters, which God the infallible Judge of Excellency has inſeperably connected, and what God hath joyned together, let no man put aſunder. Holineſs is the mark of diſtinction between the pretious and the vile. The Saints are the Excellent in the Earth, (Pſal. 16.3.) And the Young Saints appear among them as Stars of the firſt Magnitude. They are the First-born among many Brethren, the moſt Precious Sons of Zion, in whom the Beauties of Holineſs are moſt conſpicuous, and are like to be moſt illustrious. The ſooner we begin to purify our ſelves, the nearer approaches we are like to make to the perfection of beauty, and the nearer conformity we ſhall attain to the moſt bright and bleſsed Being. The Work is Honourable and Glorious, and the more ſo, the ſooner it is begun, and the longer 'tis continu'd in.

p. 46AGAIN, Conſider, As the Work it ſelf puts real Excellency on Us, ſo the early beginning of it manifeſts many Excellencies in Us, that are highly honourable in all.—Is Sincerity honourable? This honour have thoſe that are Religious betimes. The Religion of ſuch ſeems to be more choſen, free, willing and Cordial. They ſeem to be led by a generous and ingenuous Principle of Love to God and His ways; while others in the views of approaching Death and Hell are awed by the terrors of Conſcience, and acted by the involuntary & ſervile principle of Fear.

AGAIN, Is Gratitude honourable? This honour alſo hath the Pious Young Man. A Principle of Gratitude is truly great and excellent in any. Now this appears with moſt lively Characters in the Religious Young Man; Such an One gives an undoubted teſtimony of His thankful reſentment & high eſteem of the Divine Favours, He makes the ſpeedieſt and nobleſt returns, even the ſervice of his best days, and of the Years wherein He finds pleaſure.

AGAIN, Is Courage & Magnanimity honourable? This honour alſo belongs to Early Penitents. It ſhews an admirable greatneſs of Soul and Fortitude of mind in Young Men, (whoſe age is ordinarily inclin'd to ſoftneſs and pleaſure) to be able to withſtand the Charms and deſpiſe the Smiles of an enticing World, to overcome the Temptations of a flattering Heart, and a tempting Devil, & maugre all the Diſcouragements that ſurround them▪ to break off from their Sins, and enter into Leag…e againſt the works of darkneſs & the powers of darkneſs, and bind themſelves out to the ſervice of God, reſolving to keep His righteous Judgments; p. 47This, I ſay, ſhews ſignal vigour and valour of Mind, which is a Garland of Glory to pious Youth.

AGAIN, Is Wiſdom, honourable? This honour is theirs alſo. They chuſe the beſt of Ends, they are engag'd in the beſt and moſt neceſſary work, they improve the beſt of their Time and Strength in it, they embrace the firſt and fitteſt opportunity, They hereby prevent a great many dangers and evils, and take the beſt method to ſecure and promote their higheſt Intereſt, They lay up in Store a good Foundation againſt the time to come, &c, All which are Characters and Expreſſions of true Wiſdom. If thou be wiſe, thou ſhalt be wiſe for thy ſelf. A wiſe man's heart diſcerneth time and judgment. He that gathereth in Summer is a wiſe Son. A good Underſtanding have they, that diſcern Things that differ, & approve things that are moſt excellent. — And how valuable, how honourable a thing is Wiſdom? In her left hand is Honour. The Wiſe men after the fleſh are the Men truly of high degree in the World. But now the Wiſdom that is from above as much excelleth the Wiſdom of this World, Light excelleth Darkneſs. The Wiſdom of God is an Ornament of Grace to venerable Old Age, and a Diadem of Beauty to amiable Youth. The Young Man's diſcretion maketh his face to ſhine. Who is as the wiſe Young Man? Who among the Sons of Men may be compared with him?

AGAIN, Conſider, Early Religion is honourable, as it entitules & leads to many excellent and worthy Privileges. (1.) Such as are Religious betimes are ordinarily privileg'd with the Love & Eſteem of Men. They obtain a good Name, which is better than pretious oyntment. To be ſober, juſt, holy, temperate, is lovely, praiſe worthy, and of good Report.

p. 48GOOD People do affect & reſpect all, eſpecially Young Men, that do vertuouſly. Rom. 16.5, 7. Salute my well beloved Epenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto Chriſt. Salute Andronicus and Junia my Kinſmen, and my fellow Priſoners, who are of Note among (or with) the Apoſtles, who alſo were in Chriſt before me. Would you be of Note and Well beloved among the People of God, and in honour be prefer'd before others? Then be Religious betimes, and get into Chriſt before others. It is one Article in the Character of a true Citizen of Sion (Pſal. 15.4) In whoſe eyes a vile Perſon is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. And the Royal Pſalmiſt profeſſes, as to Himſelf—(Pſal. 119.63.) I am a Companion of all them that fear thee. (Pſal. 16.3.) My Goodneſs extendeth to the Saints, the Excellent in whom is all my Delight. And there is that Divine Precept,—Be kindly affectioned one to another in the love of the Brethren, in honour preferring one another. (Rom. 12.10.) The Rich ſhould condeſcend to Men of low …e, and the Elder ſhould be ready to ſerve the Younger, they ſhou'd treat the Younger Men as Brethren. And ſuch as truly fear God will be far from deſpiſing their Youth: Young Men that are ſober minded, all ſober People will eſteem highly in love for their works ſake.—Yea, they commend themſelves to every Man's conſcience. They are accepted in the ſight of all the People, a Delight to them that do well, a Terror to them that do ill. Sincere & undisguis'd Religion, even in the Young Man, carries with it ſuch a Grandeur and Majesty, that it extorts univerſal Reſpect, & ſtrikes even the looſe and prophane with a ſecret Veneration. It is ſaid, (1 Sam. 18.) Saul was afraid of p. 49David, becauſe he behaved himſelf wiſely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. Mr. Henry Notes upon the place, "Thoſe are truly great, and to be reverenc'd that have God with them. Men think the way to be fear'd, is to huff, and hector and threaten, which makes them fear'd by Fools only, but deſpis'd by the Wiſe & Good; whereas the way to be both fear'd and lov'd, fear'd by thoſe to whom we wou'd wiſh to be a terror, and lov'd by thoſe to whom we wou'd wiſh to be a delight, is to behave our ſelves wiſely". Nebuchadnezzar highly eſteemed the lovely Young Man Daniel, in whom was the Spirit of the Holy God. Ahab ſtood in awe of Elias. Wicked Herod had a great value & veneration for John Baptiſt; Mar. 6.20. Herod feared John, knowing that he was a juſt man and an holy, and paid regard unto him. Holy Paul, his preſence was awful, among the Soldiers, among the Mariners, and where ever he came. "The Image of God in Adam was a terror to the Beaſts: and this Image repaired in the Saints, is awful to wicked Men: even the Unclean Spirit that poſſeſſed the Damoſel at Philippi, could ſay of Paul and Silas, Theſe are the Servants of the moſt High God." True Piety in the pooreſt Saint commands regard and reverence, even from the greateſt among the Ungodly. In this ſenſe may that o… the Pſalmiſt be underſtood, (Pſal. 149.8, 9.) To bind their Kings with Chains, and their Nobles with Fetters of Iron, This honour have all his Saints. There are Scoffers indeed, Boaſters, Deſpiſers of thoſe that are Good, who profeſs neither to fear G…d, nor reverence Man, who openly blaſpheme Religion, throw contemt on the Godly, and careſs their Brethren in iniquity. But the opinion of ſuch (Be p. 50it real) is not to be minded, becauſe they are blind and cannot ſee afar off, They have not eyes to diſtinguiſh between things that differ, nor hearts to approve things that excell: And their Say is not to be heeded, becauſe they often prevaricate with their own Conſciences, and give the lye to the inward ſober ſentiments of their Souls. And after all the floods of Reproaches which they have pour'd on Religion, it's beauty remains untarniſht. The Moon is not ſully'd with the foul breath of the Dogs that bark at it.