Cleansing our Way in Youth, Text (2 of 4)

Cleansing our Way in Youth · Text (2 of 4)

p. 50THUS we ſee Good Underſtanding giveth favour in the ſight of Man. Men will praiſe thee when thou doſt well. To follow Righteouſneſs is the way to be in reputation for wiſdom and honour. And the earlier we begin, the more ſhall we be eſteem'd while Living, and prais'd when Dead. One of the Philoſophers once ſaid of Virtue, It makes poor Men Wealthy, Old Men Happy, and Young Men Honorable. The Gracious Youth, his Name is Excellent, and his Memory Bleſſed. How do the celebrated Names of Abel, Enoch, Joſeph, Samuel, David, Obadiah, Joſiah, Daniel, John, Timothy, and others, ſhine in the Sacred Story? Theſe all by their early Obedience obtained a good report, and being Dead are yet ſpoken of with honor. Their Works recorded praiſe them in the Gates, and at the mention of them, univerſal Poſterity riſe up and call them bleſſed. And now do not theſe things move you? — A Good Name is an Ornament of great Price, a Bleſſing of ſuperlative worth & importance, affording many valuable advantages to all, eſpecially to Young Men; and Youth is the beſt opportunity for ſecuring a fair and laſting reputation. Now it may be done to the beſt advantage. p. 51And if theſe Conſiderations will not prevail with you; Let me add another, even the Divine … recept which binds it as a Duty upon you. That ſacred Injunction directed to Timothy do's …nqueſtionably reach and oblige you,—Let no Man deſpiſe thy Youth. q.d. Do nothing to ſtain & blemiſh thy Youth, and expoſe thy Name to the contemt of any one. Young Men are here call'd upon ſo to behave themſelves in Word and Converſation, as to preſerve an unſully'd luſtre on their Character, and eſtabliſh a durable intereſt in the good Opinion of others.

BUT further, (2.) There are many ineſtimable Privileges & Dignities, which they, that cleanſe their way in their Youth, receive from God, who is the Fountain of Honor: It ſhall be for their honor from the Lord God. Since thou waſt pretious in my ſight, thou hast been honorable, (Iſai. 43.4.)

1. SUCH are inveſted with many Honours in the Life that now is.—They are admitted into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God. Civil Liberty is honorable as well a… …ightful, much more Spiritual Liberty. The Saints are delivered from the Bondage of Corruption; The Law of the Spirit of Life in Chriſt Jeſus hath made them free from the Law of Sin and Death; They are the Lords Freemen, free indeed. They alſo have the Privilege of the Divine Love and Favor, Preſence and Communion. It is an honor to ſtand in the Kings Preſence, to have His Ear, to be accepted in His ſight, &c. Greater honor than this hath no Subject. Such honor have all the Servants of the King of Heaven. They have free acceſs unto Him, gratious entertainment and fellowſhip with Him, the favour of His Ear, the ſmiles of His Face, the kiſſes of His Lips, the p. 52embraces of His Arms, & refreſhing taſtes of His Goodneſs. The high & lofty One dwells with them, manifeſts Himſelf to them, ſo as He do's not to the world, lifts up the light of His countenance upon them, reveals His ſecret unto them, makes an everlaſting covenant with them, and ſatisfies them with good things, The ſecreſy of His preſence is their pavilion, and His banner over them is love. He alſo cloaths them in rich & royal Apparel, He puts on them the white Robes of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, the Garments of Salvation, and the Ornaments of Grace, which are in the ſight of God of great price. And He puts magnificent Titles upon them, He adopts them into His Family and enrolls their Names among the Firſt-born, calls them Children of the moſt High, the Brethren and Companions of Chriſt, and votes them His Favourites, the Heirs of His Love and Kingdom. He ſtiles them Kings and Prieſts to the Father, Friends of God, Servants of the Lord God Almighty, &c. the loweſt of which ſacred Epithets do's more adorn and exalt One; than the Names of the Great Ones of the Earth. He alſo Honors them with the peculiar care of His faithful Providence, with the Miniſtry of the holy Angels, and with the ſpecial Aſſiſtences of the Divine Spirit, the Spirit of Glory. He graves them upon the palms of His Hands, ſets them as a Seal upon His Arm, & keeps them as His Jewels and peculiar Treaſure. He guides them by His Fatherly Counſel, encourages them with His gracious Eye, leads them with His tender Hand, & upholds them with His Everlaſting Arms underneath. He alſo fights their Battles for them, & crowns them with Victory over all their Enemies, Crucifies the Fleſh and the World, and bruiſes Satan under their feet.

p. 53AND ſometimes He exalts Pious Young Men to uncommon Grandeur in the World, cauſes the Glory of their Houſe to increaſe, and makes them to ride on the high places of the Earth, As Job, Joſeph, Moſes, David, Daniel, and others. The Favorite…Youths in the Kingdom of Grace, became the viſible Dar…ings in the Kingdom of Providence. It is ſometimes ſeen, that the Evil bow before the Good, and the Wicked at the Gates of the Righteous. Behold, the Lord maketh them of the Synagogue of Satan to come and worſhip before their feet, and to know that He hath loved them.

AND further He ſometimes dignifies them with great Uſefulneſs in the World. He makes Pious Young Men to be for a Praiſe and a Name and a Glory unto Himſelf, and ſingular Bleſſings to their Generation, the ſtrength and glory of … People, the very Breath of their Noſtrils, their Crown and Riches. Sometimes He makes them the Pillars of the State, and ſometimes He ſets them for Burning and Shining Lights in the Church. Their Mouth is made a Well of Life to the World, and their Prayer as Salt unto the Earth, to purify and perpetuate it. By the bleſſing of the Upright the City is exalted. Judgments for their ſake are kept off or remov'd, and MercieMercy… continu'd, reſtor'd or added, altho' a blind and wicked World is ignorant of them, and acknowlegeth them not.— Thus God Honors godly Young Men in the Days of their Life. And will none of theſe things move you?

2. GOD Honors ſuch alſo at their Death. Then it pleaſes the Lord of Glory to beſtow high Marks of diſtinction upon ſuch. They dye in a …ed of Honor. Bright Beams of Glory enlighten p. 54the dark Valley of Death. It is ſaid of David, who was godly betimes, that He dyed full of honor. God do's not then ſtrip His Children of their Glory, nor lay their Honor in the duſt. It is the Reproach and Curſe of the Wicked, that their Glory ſhall not deſcend after them. But it is the Bleſſing of the Righteous, eſpecially ſuch as were ſo betimes, that their Reſt is Glorious. The Glory of their Laſt Days is greater than of the Former. At their Death the Miniſtration of the Spirit is exceeding Glorious; then they receive more Honor from Men; and then the Lord aſſigns them a moſt honorable Attendence, and thoſe that were Pious betimes, a more honorable than others. He appoints them a ſpecial Guard out of the higheſt Order of the Bleſſed Angels. A bright Hoſt of thoſe Miniſtring Spirits, that flouriſh in Heaven with an Immortal Youth, are ſent forth to miniſter unto theſe Heirs of Salvation, to encamp round about them, and be the Conv…y of their departing Spirits. Moreover, He tranſlates them to a moſt Glorious Place, to the Regions of Light, and there He prefers them to the higheſt Seats of Honor, to a ſuperiour Poſt & Station, to an exalted Office, and Employ, and furniſhes them with the moſt bright & diſtinguiſhing Accompliſhments, &c. Such is the Honor which the Great God puts at Death upon them that are godly betimes.

3 HE will put Illustrious Honor on ſuch in the Great Day, the Day of the manifeſtation of the Sons of God. Then their Faith ſhall be found unto praiſe and glory and honor. Now it do's not appear what they ſhall be, but when Chriſt who is their Life ſhall appear, They ſhall be like Him and appear with Him in Glory, and be honored with many honors. p. 55In that Day of the reſtitution of all things, They ſhall receive the Adoption, and the Redemption of the Body. When the Wicked ſhall awake to ſhame and everlaſting contemt, They ſhall have a bleſſed Reſurrection to Honor & Praiſe, in the Day of Chriſt, who ſhall change their vile Body, and faſhion it like unto His own glorious Body. And the Bodies of thoſe ſhall hereafter be moſt conform'd to Him in that viſible Glory, whoſe Souls have been here moſt conform'd to His inviſible Image thro' Sanctification of the Spirit. Such ſhall in an eminent manner come unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt. And further, In the Day of Judgment, (the Pretious and the Vile, the Clean and the Unclean being ſeperated) they ſhall be placed at the Right Hand of the King of Saints; and neareſt to Him, — which ſpeaks ſuperior Reſpect. Moreover, They ſhall receive a moſt glorio…s Sentence, fill'd with all imaginable tokens of dignity and endearment; their ſmiling Judge will then own and bleſs them, honor & magnify 'em before the univerſal Conſiſtory of Men & Angels. Furthermore, They ſhall then ſit upon the Bench by the Judge, as Aſſeſſors with Him, approving, applauding, and giving their Voice in, the Sentence of Condemnation paſſed upon the World of the Ungodly, and the Spirits of Darkneſs, (according to our common interpretation of thoſe Texts, Mat. 19.28.1 Cor. 6.2, 3.)

4. And finally, WHEN this awful Solemnity is over, a more joyful Scene will open, a Glory ſhall follow; then will the bleſſed Judge ariſe out of His Tribunal, and return in Triumph to His Everlaſting Kingdom, and the Ranſomed of the Lord ſhall make part of the ſhining Train that p. 56will follow Him; and they ſhall enter with Him the City of the Great God; there they ſhall be receiv'd into the Chambers of His immediate Preſence; The Place where His Honor dwells ſhall be their Everlasting Habitation. The Kings Daughter ſhall be brought unto the King in Raiment of needle-work and in Cloathing of wrought Gold, ſhe ſhall enter into the Kings Palace, the Ivory Palaces which He hath prepared, She ſhall be preſented as a chaſt Virgin unto God, be ſweetly embrac'd and careſs'd in the Arms of His Love, and receive an Euge from the Mouth of Bleſſing. Her Husband alſo he praiſeth her, then Chriſt will eminently be an Honor to them that believe; Then the Royal Bridegroom will emphatically rejoyce over the Queen standing at his right hand in Gold of O…hir, as a Bride adorned for her Husband, ſitting with Him on his Throne, beholding Him in his Beauty, and ſharing with Him in His Glory. And then every Mouth ſhall be filled with the High Praiſes of the Lambs Wiſe. All the Heavenly Choir will riſe up and call Her bleſſed, and every one ſpeak of Her Glory, the Glory revealed in Her, & the whole Heaven ſhall ring with Congratulory Acclamations, welcoming of Her to Her Heavenly Fathers Houſe, Her bleſſed Eternal Home. This Honour have the Saints, even all they who have done vertuouſly; but ſuch as have excell'd, ſhall have a more Excellent Glory. Indeed the meaneſt among all that ſhall be beautify'd with the Great Salvation, will be (as it's ſaid of the Kings Daughter) all Glorious, dignify'd with an excellent Greatneſs and triumphant Glory; in compariſon of which all the pomp and ſplendour of this preſent World is but an empty ſhew & a painted ſhadow. But thoſe p. 57who have bro't moſt Honor to God, ſhall receive most Honor from Him. And thoſe that have fear'd God from their Youth are of this happy Number. He will exalt the Horn of theſe, the praiſe of all His Saints, a People near unto Him, His peculiar Treaſure; He will ſet them on high. Among the many Sons that He will bring to Glory, theſe ſhall be dignify'd with the weightieſt Crowns, the moſt flouriſhing Laurels, the richeſt Manſions of Glory, the moſt ſplendid Entertainments, the brighteſt Viſions and the neareſt Views of the Eternal Majeſty, &c. In a Word, Such ſhall receive more abundant Honor in the Life that now is, and Glory exceeding abundant in that which is to come.

THIS, This ſhall be done to the Man, the Young-Man, whom the King delights to Honor. Thus the Wiſe inherit Glory, Riches of Glory. Thus, Young-Man, Pure Religion is Life unto thy Soul, and Grace unto thy neck, it ſhall promote thee, it ſhall bring thee to honor when thou dost embrace it, it ſhall give to thine Head an Ornament of Grace, a Crown of Glory ſhall it deliver thee.—By Humility and the Fear of the Lord cometh Honor. O let Young Men be perſwaded then ſo far to conſult their own Honor, as now in the Days of their Youth to purify themſelves. Be exhorted to put away Sin, which is a reproach and cauſeth ſhame; Be exhorted to follow Righteouſneſs, which exalteth a Perſon or People, and in the ways of well doing ſeek for Glory and Honor.

THIS was the firſt Advantage of Early Religion mentioned, It is moſt Honorable.

2. THE ſooner we Cleanſe our Ways, We ſhall obtain the more Pleaſure, Comfort and Satisfaction. Our Work will be more eaſy to us at preſent (as p. 58we heard before) and will be more delightful to us afterwards, and greater will the Joy of our Salvation be, if we begin in Youth to Cleanſe our Ways.

1. IF we begin Early to Cleanſe our Ways, we are like to meet with greater Comfort than others, in the Days of our Life. Let me ſay here—

(1) OUR Work is like to be more eaſy and pleaſant to us. The Work indeed implies hard Duty and laborious Service, therefore it is compared to entring in at a ſtrait Gate, taking upon us a Yoke and bearing a Burden, &c. But if we accuſtom our ſelves to bear the Yoke in our Youth, it will afterwards ſit more eaſy on our Necks, it will not gall and fret us: the Commands will not be grievous unto us. Cuſtom will lighten the Burden and endear the Yoke. If we enter early into our Labours, we ſhall (by that time moſt others think of entering) come to eſteem our Work not only a reaſonable ſervice, but perfect freedom, and with an enlarged heart to run the race ſet before us. And the longer we walk in the Paths of that Wiſdom which is firſt pure, the more we ſhall find them by happy experience to be ways of pleaſantneſs, and paths of peace. We ſhall find the hardest Duties of Chriſtianity grow eaſy and pleaſant. How ſevere and difficult ſoever Repentance, Mortification, enduring the Croſs, & the like, may ſeem to Fleſh and Blood, yet they will in time grow delightful to the Early Convert. How harſh and ſelf-denying ſoever it may ſeem to others to forgive injuries and put up affronts, the Young Diſciple may by ſincere and conſtant Prayers and Endeavours bring himſelf to take more pleaſure in Chriſtian Forbearance, and Forgiveneſs, than p. 59others do taſte ſweetneſs in Revenge. How hard ſoever & unpleaſant it may be to others to ſubmit to the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and truſt wholly and only in that for Pardon and Salvation, yet the Young Diſciple will in the ſtrength of Divine Grace by frequent acts of Faith unfeigned, be bro't at length (with Paul the Aged) to glory in the Croſs of Chriſt, and to know nothing but Chriſt and Him crucify'd, willingly & firmly to confide in His Merits and highly to prize ſuch his Confidence, as having great recompence of reward.

THUS, Uſe will take off from the difficulty of our Task, and bring us in time to go on with alacrity over the moſt weariſome ſtages of Duty. The Principle of Grace in the Saints do's ſo harmonize with their Work, as to incline them to it, and the longer they have poſſeſs'd and exercis'd this Principle, the more vig…rous and active it daily grows, which renders their work daily more and more natural. And finally, it becomes their Meat and Drink to do the Will of God. They taſte a Divine Delight, and take an high Satisfaction in their Duty, which the carnal World have no ſenſe nor reliſh of: and while others that began late are drudging & toiling, & driving heavily, thoſe that began ſ…on are walking at liberty, and are in their Work as in their Element, rejoycing as a ſtrong man to run a race, making Gods Statutes their Song, counting their Work their Wages.

(2) SUCH as begin Early have ordinarily more of the Comforts of the Holy Ghoſt. They are made to drink larger Draughts of the River of His Pleaſures, He extends … unto them like a River, and glory like a flowing ſtream; as one whom his Mother comforteth, ſo are they comforted, their p. 60heart rejoyces and their bones flouriſh like an herb; Thus the hand of the Lord is known towards theſe his Servants. He gives them peace of Conſcience and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, and anoints them with the Oyl of Gladneſs above their Fellows. The Spirit applies His comforting influences to them, brightens their Evidences of a good Work wro't in them, and gives 'em a ſatisfying ſenſe of their Intereſt in the great and pretious Promiſes, and thus He creates in them a holy ſerenity and ſecurity of mind.— They are filled with comfortable reflections; when they review their paſt Life, at any time, This is their rejoycing, even the teſtimony of their Conſciences, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, not with fleſhly wiſdom, but by the grace of God they have had their converſation in the world. And they are fill'd with pleaſing tho'ts of the ſafety and felicity of their preſent ſtate, The ſpirit witneſſing with their ſpirits that they are the children of God, that they are paſſed from Death unto Life, &c. and alſo with refreſhing Proſpects of their future happineſs, delighting their Souls with the abundance of their expected Glory.— They have the peace of God which paſſeth all underſtanding, Joy which a stranger intermeddleth not with. Comforts which the ſmiles of the World cannot beſtow, and which the frowns of the World cannot bereave us of. They have ſtrong Conſolation which makes them ſing in the ways of the Lord, and gives them boldneſs in all their approaches to God in holy Duties. They have comforts that ballance and ſilence all their Griefs, that brighten their Days of Darkneſs, that ſweeten their bitter Cups of Affliction, that temper their moſt fiery Trials, and afford them Light under Darkneſs, Eaſe under Pain, Joy under Sorrows, Contentment under p. 61Neceſſities, and Satisfaction in a Little of this World, 2 Cor. ….10. As ſorrowful, yet always rerejoycing, as having nothing yet poſſeſſing all things. They ſee the Hand of Love over-ruling all things for their Good, which conſideration accommodates their frame to their ſtate, and attempers their mind to all Events of Providence. Thus holy David, who made the Lord his Trust from his Youth, cou'd ſay by happy experience, In the multitude of my (diſquieting) tho'ts within me, thy comforts delight my ſoul. (Pſal. 94.19.) Divine Conſolation do's likewiſe ſweeten the common Comforts of Life, and ſeaſon all their Earthly Enjoyments. They taſte the ſpecial Goodneſs of God in his ordinary Bounties, which gives them a peculiar reliſh and ſuperadded ſuavity, turning water into wine. The Commands of God, they teach us how to abound, they direct the acquiſition, enjoyment and improvement of the good things of this World, ſo as to ſecure us the comfort of them and preſerve us from the ſnares of 'em: But the Comforts of God they do further ſublimate & refine the moſt pleaſant enjoyments of this World, they give life & ſpirit and a more exquiſite reliſh to them.

THUS it appears that Religion miniſters to the tranquility, peace & pleaſure of Life. How true and faithful are thoſe ſayings?—Great peace have they that love thy Law, and nothing ſhall offend them, (Pſal. 119.165.) The work of righteouſneſs is peace, and the effect of righteouſneſs quietneſs and aſſurance for ever, (Iſai. 32.17.) True ſatisfaction is to be found only in pure Religion. Such lead the moſt quiet & peaceable lives, that live in all godlineſs & honeſty. None enjoy themſelves like thoſe that live godly in Christ Jeſus. There is p. 62no peace, ſaith the Lord, unto the wicked, (Iſai. 48.22) Either in the midſt of laughter their heart is heavy, or afterward their mouth is filled with gravel. At beſt the pleaſures of Sin are but jejune, and inſipid, and of mirth it may be ſaid, What doth it? Theſe things will neither give eaſe to a wounded Spirit, or a pained Body, nor give ſecurity to a fearful Heart; and ſuch as live in wantonneſs and pleaſure on Earth, have a ſecret Worm gnawing in their Breaſts, that eats out all Satisfaction, that often ſtings them, and ſpeaks indignation and confuſion to them, that "they ſpend their days like Men under the Sentence of Death, while the Execution is ſuſpended. And they that go on still in their treſpaſſes, are multiplying the cauſes of grief and the grounds of terror, and do expoſe themſelves to more ſevere Laſhes of a guilty Conſcience, and muſt expect more terrible Convulſions while they continue impenitent, and a more terrible Converſion, if ever they are bro't to Repentance. When Perſons go on in Sin, adding iniquity to tranſgreſſion, they are treaſuring up Wrath againſt the day of Wrath, or ſtoring up ſorrow upon ſorrow againſt the Day of Mercy, and if ever they are ſaved, it will be ſo as by Fire, it will be with fear, being pull'd with doleful ſhrieks out of the Fire. Their long courſe of Sin will coſt them a ſad and ſhameful Repentance, many tears and fears and deſponding thot's, even as the pangs of Death, & the agonies of broken bones. Then will the Lord write bitter things against them, & make 'em to poſſeſs the iniquities of their youth. Then they ſhall be aſhamed, yea even confounded, becauſe they bear the reproach of their Youth: and it may be their hearts ſhall reproach them ſo long as they p. 63live, and they ſhall remember the Wormwood and the Gall, and feel the ſting of Youthful Luſts, as a ſword in their bones, and go mourning in bitterneſs of ſoul, walking in darkneſs and having no light, all the days of their remaining Pilgrimage on Earth.

NOW this is many times (if not always) prevented by an Early Converſion. Hereby Young Men remove ſorr…w from their hearts, and put away evil from their fleſh, and lay the foundation for abundance of peace in all their enſuing days. They ſecure laſting comfort & ſatisfaction to themſelves. The fruit of righteouſneſs is ſown in peace. They that ſow in tears ſhall reap in joy. They th… to the ſpirit, ſhall have the fruit of the ſpirit, … is love and peace. He that ſoweth to the fleſh, ſhall reap thorns, vanity and vexation of ſpirit. Suffer then the Exhortation; In the morning of Youth ſow your Seed, ſow to your ſelves in righteouſneſs, Break up your fallow ground, (cleanſe your hearts from vile affections and filthy luſts, and apply yourſelves to all works of Piety, Juſtice, Charity, & Sobriety,) for it is time to ſeek the Lord, till He come & rain righteouſneſs upon you; ye have plow'd wickedneſs, and reaped iniquity, ye have eaten the fruit of lies, (Hoſ. 10.12, 3.) What fruit had ye in thoſe things whereof ye are now aſhamed? (Rom. 6.21.) For the end of theſe things is terror and confuſion. Let the time paſt of your life ſuffice then to have been doing evil: Now learn to do well, and you will reap the peaceable fruits of righteouſneſs. The Young Convert will in the diligent practice of Godlineſs ſpin out his Life in a golden thread of ſolid contentment & ſatisfaction.

2. IF we Cleanſe our Way in our Youth, we are like to have greater Comfort and Peace at our p. 64Death. Death is not far from any of us; Death is behind the Young Mans, back as well as before the Old Mans face. And it is a moſt ſolemn and tremendous thing to Dye, 'tis a dreadful ſhocking time to Nature, and a trying time to Grace: It is uſually a dark and difficult hour with the Children of Men.— As to the Wicked and Ungodly, ſuch as Dye in their Sins, whether Young or Old, it is their common lot to Die in diſtreſs and horror. Indeed this is not the Caſe of every one without exception. It muſt be granted, that too …ny Die in a perfect indolency and ſtupidity thro' …oſs ignorance, or in wretched ſecurity, thro' …mptive hopes and ſtrong deluſions: They periſh with a lie in their right hand, and have no bands in their Death. They dye, e'en as they liv'd, tho'tleſs, ſenſleſs of their Sin and Miſery, and fearleſs of their approaching Doom! Their Life (it may be) was full of Hal…yon-days, they had the Sun of Proſperity ſhining warm and bright upon them, They ſwam in the delights of ſenſe, Things ran glib and ſmooth, they met with little or nothing to ruffle their tranquility or cloud their ſerenity; Peace, Peace was the joyful ſound; Soul, Take thine caſe, eat, drink, and be merry, thou hast Goods laid up for many Years—were the pleaſant notes they ſtruck to themſelves. Their Conſciences were gage'd, their preſumption ſtrong, their ſecurity ſottiſh! Thus they liv'd; and in like manner they die. Even when the bright Lamp of Life is burnt down and expiring, they have no dread of that black and diſmal Eternity that is advancing upon them. Tho' the glittering Sword of Divine Juſtice be brandiſht over their Heads, tho' the Heralds of the Goſpel p. 65proclame War, and cry out, Fire, Everlaſting Fire over them, yet they are unmov'd, unaffected; they are undaunted at the very Gates of Hell and in the Suburbs of Deſtruction. They fence themſelves with Iron, and their Brow is Braſs. Let Mount Sinai ſmoak and flaſh, and the Law threaten and L…ghten as it will, it is but an amuſement, not an amazement to them. They ſhut their Eyes and ſtop their Ears againſt any thing that might diſturb them, and quietly ſleep in the Embraces of Self-love. Their minds are ſteeled againſt the dint of Convictions, the warmeſt efforts will not faſten the Arrow… of ſharp Rebuke in their brawny Conſcience. The fierceſt ſhower of fiery darts will not enter this rock, will not warm this frozen clod, Here they either break or cool. — Tho' it may be ſometimes the ſound of War is in their Ears, a dreadful ſound, yet like a hollow ſound in the Air, it ſoon languiſhes & vaniſhes. Tho' they may ſometimes feel a ſpark of heat or ſee a gleam of light, and give a ſtart as one in a Dream, yet they continue ſleeping, & the Terrors of the Lord are but as a Viſion of the Night, and as a Dream when one awakes. They are quiet from the fear of evil, & big with expectations of the Glory to be revealed, and it may be wait with a ſeeming impatience for the happy minute, when they ſhall excharge the preſent imperfect pleaſures of Hope for the joys of full Fruition. They make Lyes their refuge, & Falſhood their confidence. When paſſi…g into the Ocean of Eternity, They make a Bridge of their ow… ſhadow, and ſo plunge themſelves into the Depths of Miſery. From hopes high a Heaven they fall as deep as Hell. A Clo…d of Deluſion carrys them with tranſports of joy into the Den of perdition, and p. 66they are awakened from their pleaſing dreams by the doleful and hideous Outcries of the Damned.— Oh deplorable diſappointment! Oh fatal preſumption! — But this notwithſtanding, how many are there, that have lived in heedleſs Security, and in a perpetual neglect of the Great Salvation, who at laſt lie down in ſorrow, over…med with deſpairing Conſternation, & with …eful a…ſtuations at the approach of ghaſtly Death, ſwallowed up in an abyſs of confuſion in the view of the Pale Horſe and H…ll following. When …re Hypocrites are faſten'd to the Bed of Languiſhing, bound with the cords of Affliction, and hang by a ſlender brittle thread over the Everlaſting Burnings, Oh how is the pleaſant Theatre now turn'd into a black and melancholy Scene! Where is the hope of the Hypocrite, when God taketh away his Soul? How are they bro't into D…ſolation, as in a moment! They are utterly conſumed with Terrors. How are they ſtruck with quivering horror at the proſpect of that amazing Change that is haſtening upon them? How do the ſenſual Joys of their careleſs unthinking health flee as a ſhadow, and vaniſh as the morning Cloud? their laughter iſſues in tears of Confuſion, and their carnal mirth ends in heavineſs, lamentation and black deſpair! Their Calm and ſeeming Sunſhine is exchanged for an Horrible Tempeſt. Now the dark ſide of the Cloud is turned toward them. Killing Vexations ſucceed their falſe & flaſhy Satisfactions. They have much ſorrow and wrath with their Sickneſs, (Eccl. 5.17.) And they die in the bitterneſs of their Soul. (Job. 21.25.) Deſtruction from God is now a Terror to them. Now the fiery indig…ation of that God, with whom is terrible Majeſty, p. 67flaſhes in their…s, and the Law Thunders loud in their Ears: Now the deceiving Tempter puts off his ſmiling flattering Airs, and turns a Dire Tormentor, gnaſhes upon them & is buſy to diſtract them with wrathful terrors: Now their hurtful Luſts rend and rage as ſo many waking Furies▪ Now their inflamed Conſcience bites as a Serpent… ſtings like an Adder, takes hold on vengeance, and renders Tribulation to whom Tribulation is due. Now Conſcience (which (it may be) they had by ſome unhappy Arts hitherto brib'd and baffled) ſpeaks to their Confuſion, accuſes them, teſtifies againſt them, condemns and puniſhes them. Conſcience looks over it's faithful records and draws up a black Indictment, reads it with a terrible Grin and Frown, and ſtabs at the repetition of their Guilts; It laſhes the Deceiver, ſcourges the Drunkard, ſtones the Adulterer, wounds the Blaſphemer with the piercing Eccho of his prophane Oaths and Curſes, ſtrikes a mortal qualm on the harden'd Infidel, awfully ſurprizes the Hypocrites in Zion, muſters up the moſt exaſperating conſiderations, and impreſſes them on the awaken'd minds of Dying Rebels, ſo that they are like a troubled Sea, when it cannot reſt, They are afflicted toſſed with Tempeſts, and not comforted, they are troubled on every ſide; without are fightings, within are fears, indignation and ſelf revenge, all is in a tumult & fermentation. Clouds & Darkneſs gather about them, & the pains of Hell get hold upon them. And now in this day of diſtreſs, all Creature Comforts take to themſelves wings and flee away; Their refuges of lyes fail them at a time when help and comfort would be doubly welcome. Riches will not profit them in this Day of Wrath, p. 68Carnal Pleaſures will not now divert or refreſh them, neither will the moſt exalted Honors be able to ſupport their ſinking minds, or ſooth 'em into quietneſs. Now the World appears an injurious and perfidious Cheat; Now Sin appears exceeding Sinful, exceeding hurtful; Now Hell, which opens it's mouth wide upon them, appears the moſt Terrible of Terribles, exceeding dreadful. No No Arts of Oblivion can cancel the remembrance of their Sins, which ſtrikes like a dagger to the heart; No ſoft Airs can lay the evil Spirit, nor palliating remedies ſubdue the anguiſh of their bleeding miſeries. They are driven away in their wickedneſs, and a Whirl-wind hurls them out of their place. Thus it is with the Ungodly, this is their common End.

BUT with the Godly it is not thus. The Day of their Death is often the Day of the gladneſs of their hearts, a lightſome hour, a Time of refreſhment from the preſence of the Lord. Indeed to ſome even of the Children of God Death is ſometimes awful and terrible, eſpecially to ſuch as have been too lax in their actual Preparations, and to ſuch as are of a ſcrupulous and timorous temper, and to ſuch whoſe Repentance was late, in the cloſe of a ſinful Life; To theſe, and the like, Death is not ſeldom a dark and difficult time. Youthful follies do often ſit heavy on the Children of God in a dying Hour, and give dreadful alarums to their fear, and dreadful ſhakes to their hope, and they paſs out of the World in a gloomy Cloud, fill'd with diſtreſſing doubts. But as to ſuch as have from their Youth feared God & ſerved Him faithfully, it is ſeldom knows that they die …ncomfortably. Pious Young Men, that are nip… p. 69in the Bloſſom, do often look Death in the face, with an unſhaken Faith, with good hope, tranquility and joy, ſatisfy'd with Life, and deſiring to depart. And thoſe Pious Young Men, that grow up into Trees of Righteouſneſs, and bring forth fruit even to Old Age, ſuch are ordinarily refreſhed with ſtrong Conſolation in the Valley of the ſhadow of Death, and are full of holy longings to be tranſplanted into the Heavenly Paradice. Indeed ſometimes the firſt apprehenſion of ſuch an awful and important Change, as Death, approaching, do's ſtartle the beſt Chriſtians, and throw 'em into no little concern, hurry and anxiety. But it is generally ſeen, that upon renewal of their Repentance and Faith, and a review of their paſt Experiences, &c. they ſoon revive, and recover. The Clouds ſcatter, and the Sun breaks forth upon them and ſhines with a new and ſurprizing glory and pleaſancy. Tho' weeping may endure for a Night, yet joy cometh in th… Morning. Unto the upright there ariſeth light in darkneſs, (Pſal. 112.4.) Mark the perfect man and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace, (Pſal. 37.37.) Such eſpecially as have ſerv'd the Lord with all their ſtrenth, and die in a good Old Age, do dye not only full of Years, but full of Comfort. Their Early Religion then affords them an Harveſt of ſubſtantial Comfort, which makes a Death-Bed eaſy to them. They have the Teſtimony of a good Conſcience, which takes out the ſting of Death, and the Earneſt of the Spirit which takes off the terror of Death. They have hope in their Death, and finiſh their courſe with joy. They have many times ſuch comfortable reflections and joyful proſpects, as refreſh them greatly under the ſorrows of Pain and p. 70Sickneſs, and raviſh the Soul amidſt the agonies of a dying Body, and the throws of reluc…g Nature.—And verily it is ſuch an awful and difficult thing to die, that in ſuch an hour to have an unreproaching Heart, and the full aſſurance of Faith, is a Cordial of unſpeakeable worth, and all that a Man has wou'd he then give for it. True peace and comfort in the ſhades of Death is an abundant recompence for the labours of a whole Life. One ſweet Tranſport then is ſuch a ſeaſonable Refreſhment, as richly makes amends for all the pains that can poſſibly be taken in the work of Religion.—Oh that we had all of us hearts to believe and conſider theſe things aright! Oh! cou'd we duly realize the unſpeakable happineſs of having Divine Comforts in our laſt Moments, Living Comforts in our dying Moments, when we moſt of all need Comfort, and when it will be moſt welcome, This cou'd not but very movingly recommend to us a Life of pure Religion, and quicken us now in the days of our Youth to turn our feet into the way of holineſs. And cou'd we duly realize the unſpeakable Agonies of an unprepared convinced Sinner, when Death arreſts him, it wou'd chill and damp the heats of Youthful Luſts, overcaſt the pleaſures of Sin, and greatly embit…er them unto us. O Let us be often conſidering our Latter End, and think how awful Death will be to them, whoſe Life is among the unclean, and how joyful it will be to them, who are undefiled in the way. And let us now get Sprinkled from an evil Conſcience in the Blood of Chriſt, and exerciſe our ſelves always to keep a Conſcience void of offence, & then may we have confidence towards God; & let us continue in the ways of well doing, and hold faſt the p. 71rejoycing of hope firm to the end. If we are religious betimes, and give Diligence to make our Calling and Election ſure, we may expect to live comfortably, and die triumphantly, having great boldneſs in the Faith, and being tranſported with Heavenly Viſi…ns,—Or, if die not ſo, yet calmly & compoſedly, or, if we not ſo, yet ſafely & happily. If we do not depart in Peace, nor paſs off the Stage in Triumph, yet we ſhall have a ſafe paſſage thro' the darkſome Valley, and be tranſlated to the lightſome Regions of Joy. Tho' our "Souls may leave out Bodies with an unwilling ſhrug", tho' we may groan out our Souls with black and melancholy views, yet contrary to our fears, and beyond our hopes, our departed Spirits ſhall enter into Reſt, into Joy, our Masters Joy. We ſhall be receiv'd into Paradice, a Place all calm and pleaſant, bright and beautiful, adorned with the Preſence of the Lamb, who is the Light thereof, and in whoſe Preſence there are Rivers of pleaſures for evermore. We ſhall be preſented faultleſs & without ſpot before His Face in Glory, and that with exceeding Joy. We ſhall reſt from all our labours, griefs and temptations, lay aſide our mourning weeds, and put off ou… melancholy Airs. All tears ſhall be wiped from our Eyes, ſorrow and ſighing ſhall flee away; all afflictive Evils vaniſh, all complaints ceaſe, and inconceivable pleaſures ſucceed and raviſh our happy Souls.

3. WE ſhall have boldneſs and joy in the Day of Judgment. When the Wicked ſhall awake to ſhame, and come trembling and aſtoniſh't before the Judgment-Seat, cover'd with confuſion, fill'd with horror, and crying out to the Rocks and Mountains p. 72to fall on them and hide them from the wrathful face of Him that ſitteth on the Throne. While the Wicked are in this wretched and diſmal Caſe; on the contrary, The Righteous, and peculiarly thoſe that were righteous betimes, ſhall hold up their heads with joy in the Day of Chriſt, when He ſhall appear they ſhall have confidence, and not be aſhamed before Him at His coming, (1 Joh. 2.28.—4.17.) Think, with what ſmiling faces & raviſh't hearts, we ſhall mount up to meet the Lord in the Air, with what tranſports we ſhall receive the Euge of our bleſſed Judge, with what triumphs we ſhall entertain the Congratulations of the holy Angels and our Fellow-Saints, and with what raptures of delight we ſhall ſhout forth our thankful Doxologies to the Great Redeemer, our judiciary ſufferages to the Sentence paſt on the wicked World, and our Songs of holy exultation, glorying and triumph over Satan, and all our accurſed Adverſaries.

4. THINK, how, after the Judgment is ended, We ſhall make part of the happy Retinue, that will with our glorious Head mount up to the bleſſed Seats, above the viſible Heavens, and make their Publick Entry into the City of Peace; how with the ranſomed of the Lord we ſhall return and come to Zion with ſongs and everlaſting joy on our heads; and how we ſhall there obtain joy and gladneſs, even the fulneſs of joy, Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory. In Heaven we ſhall enjoy the moſt pure & perfect, ſweet, ſolid and ſatisfying Pleaſures. Pleaſures, that will infinitely outweigh the heavieſt ſorrows, pains and labors that may fatigue us in our purſuits thereof; Pleaſures that will infinitely exceed the moſt tranſporting delights of p. 73this World: Pleaſures that will infinitely outbid our biggeſt expectations, and out-reach our preſent moſt rais'd conceptions: Pleaſures that will never ſower nor wither: Pleaſures indefective and undecaying. — In Heaven we ſhall be admitted to the open Viſion and full Fruition of God, our exceeding Joy: and there we ſhall emphatically rejoyce in Christ Jeſus; there we ſhall moſt intimately ſolace our Souls in happy Communion with the Royal Bridegroom; There will be the utmoſt Heights of mutual affection, complacency and endearing intercourſe: and there we ſhall enjoy the delightful Society of the Angels; and Just Men made perfect; and with them we ſhall joyn in admiring, adoring and magnifying our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, having our Hearts fill'd with Ecſtaſies of Gladneſs, and our mouths with chearful Songs of Praiſe. And in this happy State, Company and Employment, We ſhall ſpend an Eternity, a joyful Eternity, which is the Crown and Perfection of all. — Behold! This is the Recompence of the Juſt. The common Reward of all the Saints of the Lord is to Drink of this River of His Pleaſures, & to Banquet with the King in His Royal Palace; but they who have ſerv'd Him the longeſt and the beſt here, ſhall drink the largest draughts of Heavenly ſatisfaction and refreſhment hereafter. They ſhall be exceeding abundantly ſatisfy'd with all manner of pleaſant fruits, with the feast of fat things, & the Wine of Conſolation, when they ſhall ſit down with Chriſt at His Table on the Mountain of Spices.

THUS we ſee how Early Religion tends to promote our peace and comfort in this World, and our joy and bliſs in the next World. It is a p. 74never-failing Spring of the nobleſt, the moſt generous and ſublime Delights; which the ſanctify'd Soul in this Life reliſhes a ſatisfaction in, that the whole confluence of Earthly comforts and the ſweets of Senſe cannot afford, nor the abſence of them can ta…e away; and which the glorify'd …oul in the other Life will be fill'd with unknown Tranſports and Raptures in the complete enjoyment of.

AND now what a forceable Argument is this to engage Men in their Youth to cleanſe their ways? Youth is the Age of Pleaſure: Delight is the peculiar bait or temptation to draw and allure Young Men. Let the Pleaſures of Religion then powerfully recommend unto them the practice of Religion. Hearken to the counſel of God by the wiſe Man; My Son forget not my l…w; but let thine heart keep my commandments: for length of days, and peace ſhall they add to thee. Bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart. Get wiſdom, get understanding, All her ways are ways of pleaſantneſs, and happy is every one that retaineth her.

3. ANOTHER Advantage of cleanſing our ways in Youth is, that it will be more for our intereſt, profit & benefit. The Apoſtle tells us, Godlineſs with contentment is great gain, 1 Tim. 6.6. So in the 4th Chapter, 8th. ver. Godlineſs is profitable unto all things, having the promiſe of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.—Bleſſings are on the head of the just. In keeping of the Commandments they have a great Reward, and after this an exceeding great Reward. Behold, the Righteous ſhall be recompenced in the Earth, and much more in the Holy Heaven. Let me ſay here briefly;

p. 751. IF we cleanſe our Way in Youth, We are like to obtain greater Bleſſings in this Life, both Secular and Spiritual.

(1) SECULAR and External Bleſſings. As Temperance has a natural tendency to ſecure our Health and Eaſe, and Humility to exalt us to Honor; ſo Frugality, Fidelity, Juſtice, and the like Virtues are the ſureſt method to promote our outward Proſperity.—Art thou Poor and Low in this World? Religion will contribute to your Advancement. The diligent Hand maketh rich; and Religion tends to promote Induſtry: The Bleſſing of the Lord maketh Rich; and the promiſe of this, is only to the Righteous, to them who ſeek firſt the Kingdom of God, and ſeek this World after a Godly ſort. Further, to be conſcientious, upright, and honeſt, is the way to find favour and good underſtanding in the ſight of Men; By undiſguis'd humility and unaffected piety Men ingratiate themſelves with all thinking ſober People; every one will be ready to pay reſpect to them, to put confidence in them, and put them into buſineſs and employment, &c. becauſe they are true Men, the faithful in the Land. All which Articles conſpire to promote the Poor among the Brethren. Or, art thou Rich in this Worlds Goods? Your Religion will ſtill ſerve your temporal Intereſt, as it teaches you how to abound, directs & influences the enjoyment and improvement of your Eſtate, ſo as tends to ſecure and increaſe it. — And ſometimes Good Men, eſpecially ſuch as have feared God from their Youth, have met with ſignal Proſperity▪ in the World, have been the viſible Favorites of Providence, and remarkably diſtinguiſht on outward accounts. We've many Inſtances on Scripture record: p. 76Abraham, the Father of the faithful, was rich in Cattle, and in Silver & Gold, &c. So good Jacob; All that he did was made to proſper, and the Man increaſed exceedingly, and had much Cattle, & Maid-Servants and Men-Servants, and Camels &c. And was not Joſeph exalted in the Land of his Affliction, made Lord of all Aegypt, and Poſſeſſor of the peculiar Treaſures of Kings and Provinces? And was not Job rich in Subſtance, and the greateſt of all the Men of the Eaſt? and did not David die in a good Old age, full of Riches?—Indeed it muſt be confeſt, this is not the ſtanding and common Lot of the Righteous. No; Many that are the Holy of the Lord, are the Poor of this World. God do's not give to all his Children a rich abundance of outward Enjoyments, nor may any expect this but with great ſubmiſſion; yet all have the undoubted Security of His inviolable Promiſe for a preſent ſufficiency. Hence in the Inventory of the Believers privileges (1 Cor. 3.22.) the Apoſtle inſerts the World and Things preſent. They have a juſt Title to ſo much of the World as may be truly for their Advantage, and verily they ſhall not want any thing, that their Heavenly Father knows they have need of, Mat. 6.32, 33. The Lord is a Sun & Shield, He will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Pſal. 84.11.) Surely the Curſe of the Lord is in the houſe of the wicked; but he bleſseth the habitation of the juſt. (Pro. 3.33.) The Tabernacle of the upright ſhall flouriſh, & in the houſe of the righteous is much Treaſure: but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble, & vexation of Spirit. And better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great riches and trouble therewith. (Prov. 15.6, 16.)— How abject & obſcure ſoever p. 77any of the Saints may be in their outward Circumſtances, tho' they are wretched and miſerable and poor, and blind, and naked, yet they are rich & increaſed with Goods, & have need of nothing; they have the fear and favour of God, the Merchandize whereof is better than the Merchandize of Silver; & the gain thereof than fine Gold, more pretious than Rubies, and all things thou canst deſire are not to … compared thereunto. Better is it to be of an humble Spirit with the lowly, than to divide the ſpoil with the proud. (Pro. 16.19.) So, Pro. 9.18, 19, &c. Riches and honor are with me, (ſaith Wiſdom) yea, durable riches and righteouſneſs. My fruit is better than Gold, and my revenue than choice Silver. I lead in the way of righteouſneſs, that I may cauſe thoſe that love me to inherit ſubstance, and I will fill their treaſure.— And when they are viſited with diſtreſſing & afflictive diſpenſations, God is chaſte…ing of them for their profit, Heb. 12.10. Tho' They ſow in tears, they reap in joy, they reap the fruits of righteouſneſs, which are vaſtly preferrible to the gain of this whole World. — But now as to the wicked, they are digging miſchief for themſelves; oftentimes the way of the wicked ſeduceth them, and tranſgreſſors are ſnared by deceitful Works; "Sin opens the flood-gates for an Inundation of temporal Evils."— But tho' the Wicked ſometimes proſper, it is but in judgment, and their Treaſures profit not. Go to now ye rich Men, howl and weep for your Miſeries that ſhall come upon you. Ye have heaped treaſures together for the laſt days. Ye have lived in pleaſure upon Earth; Ye have nouriſhed your hearts as in a Day of Slaughter (Jam. 5.1, &c.) God will curſe your very Bleſſings, there will be poiſon infecting p. 78your moſt pleaſant Cups, and all you outward ſucceſs and proſperity will be only like …he Banquet of Old provided for the Perſian Captive,The late Learned and Reverend Mr. Pemberton. Advi…e to a Son. pag. 16. reſerv'd for Sacrifice, who was fed high, that he might bleed more freely, when he ſhould fall a Victim to the Altar.

(…) SPIRITUAL and Internal Bleſſings▪ Peace and … in the Soul are the true Riches. (Luk. 16.11.) Now if we are religious betimes, we are like to obtain a greater Stock of Divine Comforts, & more happy Experiences of Spiritual Conſolation, (as we heard before.)—We ſhall alſo have Grace multiplied to us, as well as Peace. If we begin early to cleanſe our way, we ſhall in an ordinary courſe …r…ive to great degrees of Holineſs, and extraordi…ry meaſures of Grace. To him that ſeeks ſhall be …iven, and to him that hath ſhall be added, He ſhall have abundance of Grace, and the gift of righteouſneſs. Early obedience is like to grow unto eminent obedience.— It muſt be own'd, that ſuch as are ſincerely pious will perſevere. There is no final Apoſtacy from real Grace: We have not ſo much as one Example hereof in the Sacred Story, neither do's the Doctrin of the Goſpel countenance ſuch an opinion, & it is againſt the whole ſtream of the Divine Promiſes. And God is faithful that hath promiſed, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation alſo make a way to eſcape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Cor. 10.13.) Whoſoever is born of God, doth not commit Sin; for his ſeed abideth in him: and he cannot ſin, becauſe he is born of God. I have written unto you Young men, becauſe ye are ſtrong, and the p. 79word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (1 Joh. 2.14. — 3.9.) I am confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good w…rk in you, will perform it until the day of Jeſus Christ. (Phil. 1.6.) Such as are begotten again, are kept by the mighty powers of GOD thro' Faith unto Salvation. (1 Pet. 1.3.5.) This is the great ſecurity of the Saints, that they are kept by the power of God: & this conſideration may eſtabliſh their hearts againſt the fears of a final miſcarriage. Provided we be ſincere, (ſaith a Great Divine) He will not ſuffer us to be ſet upon by temptations that are too big for us. Or, in caſe of temporal falling,Theſe are the Words of A. Bp. Tillot ſon. Fol. Vol. ad. pag. 314, 316, 317. the Providence and Goodneſs of God will give us the Grace and opportunity of recovering our ſelves from our fall by Repentance. For the Providence of God may ſometimes, for wiſe ends and reaſons, ſee it fit to leave good Men to their own frailty, and to faint and fall ſhamefully, & this ſometimes in order to their more glorious Recovery, & the greater triumph o… their Faith and Conſtancy afterward; ſometimes to puniſh their vain Confidence in themſelves, as in the caſe of Peter, who declared more reſolution, and bare it out with a greater confidence than any of the Diſciples, when he ſaid to our Saviour, Tho' all Men forſake thee, yet will not I; and yet after this He fell more ſhamefully than any of the reſt, ſo as to deny His Maſter with horrid Oaths and Imprecations, and this, tho' our Saviour had pray'd particularly for Him, that his Faith might not fail. From which Inſtance we may learn, that God doth p. 80not engage Himſelf abſolutely to ſecure good Men from falling, in caſe of a great temptation and trial; but if they be ſincere, He will not permit them to fall finally, tho' He may ſuffer them to miſcarry grievouſly for a time, to convince them of the vanity of their confidence in themſelves and their own Strength. The Promiſe of God is not abſolute, that good Men ſhall be preſerv'd from falling; but that the Temptation ſhall have a happy Iſſue, and that they ſhall not finally miſcarry. For Promiſes of this Nature are to be interpreted by us, and underſtood, as we do our Saviours Prayer for Peter before his Fall, that his Faith ſhould not fail finally; but tho' he fell through too much Confidence in Himſelf, He ſhould thro' the grace of God aſſiſting Him be enabled to recover by Repentance.

INDEED it has ſometimes been awfully ſeen, that Perſons have declin'd from good beginnings, and their latter end has been worſe than their beginning: But it muſt be ſaid concerning ſuch, They had not root in themſelves, (Luk. 13.21.) They had only the external form of Godlineſs, & were deſtitute of any vital Principle within to perpetuate their Obedience, and by the juſt judgment of God for their hypocriſy and prevarica…tion were left to the luſts of their own heart, and the power of Satan. This was particularly the Caſe of Simon Magus. The Promiſe of God do's not engage him to prevent Hypocrites diſcovering themſelves; but their guilt expoſes them to his righteous Judgments.

AND on the other hand, it has been joyfully ſeen that ſuch, whoſe hearts were right with God, p. 81and ſound in His Statutes, have been ſtedfaſt in His Covenant, and continued in the ways of well-doing to the End. That of the Wiſe Man has often been exemplify'd, (Prov. 22.6.) Train up a Child in the way he ſhou'd go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. How true is that Obſervation concerning the godly Man? (Pſal. 1.3.) He ſhall be like a Tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in his ſeaſon; his leaf ſhall not wither.

AND as the truly Religious will perſevere; ſo they will improve in holineſs. It is one Character of Sincerity, to reach forth to the things which are before, preſſing toward the mark. Hence, ſuch, as are ſincerely religious in Youth, are like to make great proficiency in the Chriſtian Life. They will be not only ſtedfaſt and immoveable, but always abounding in the work of the Lord. The tender Plants early ſet in the Garden of Chriſt, ſhall grow up into Trees of righteouſneſs; and the Branches of the Lord, which he makes ſtrong for Himſelf, ſhall be as the fruitful Boughs of goodly Trees; they ſhall be fat & flouriſhing, and bring forth abundantly the fruits of holineſs. They are like to bring forth more and better fruit than others. They will ſtill bring forth fruit in Old Age; (Pſal. 92.14.)— There is a ſpiteful and malicious Proverb in the World, that A Young Saint will prove an Old Devil: The Author of which was the Devil, the Father of lyes: It is a lye and the truth is not in it. "There is the greateſt Fear, that a Young Devil will prove an Old Beelzebub. How many Young Saints have attained Mnaſon's worthy character, An Old Diſciple? (Act. 21.16.) And how many, that were early Chriſtians have in time come to be eminent Chriſtians? Verily Saints in p. 82Youth are like to become Angels in Age. Obadiah fear'd the Lord betimes, and ſo came to fear him greatly, (1 Kin. 18.3.12.) Job even from his Youth walked in the ways of pure Religion, (Job 31.18.) and ſee how the Lord boaſts of him, (Job 2.3.) Haſt thou conſidered my ſervant Job, that there is none like him in the Earth, a perfect and an upright Man? and ſtill he holdeth faſt his integrity. Indeed in the whole Conſtellation of Scripture-Saints, none ſhine with a more radiant and conſpicuous Glory than thoſe who cleanſed their way in Youth. The Time wou'd fail me to ſpeak of Joſeph, & Samuel, & Joſiah, & David, & John, & Timothy, and others, who were all rich in Faith & good Works, & arriv'd to uncommon improvements in Grace and ſpiritual Experiences, having ſet up the gainful Trade of Godlineſs at their firſt ſetting out in the World. —As the Body of Sin & Death gathers ſtrength by Age, and "Vices like ill weeds grow a pace, and if they once take to the Soil, it will be hard to kill 'em": even ſo, the principles of the Heavenly Life, implanted in Youth, will deeply root and ſweetly ripen with Age, and the powers of the New Man will come to excel in ſtrength and influence. If we partake of the Divine Nature betimes, we ſhall grow to a greater ſpiritual ſtature, receiving Grace for Grace, and going from ſtrength to ſtrength: we ſhall come to be almoſt complete & perfect men in Chriſt, when others are but as New-born Babes.—Perfection in Grace is attain'd by various ſteps of aſcent, and degrees of growth, and the more ſpeedy our beginning, the higher will our advances be and the greater our progreſs. Such as ſet out early in the Chriſtian race, keep on ſteddily, and ſpend the vigor of p. 83active Youth in running it, are like to ſtretch a great way forward by that time their day declines, and to get far a head of others, who began late.

NOW that Early Religion is of ſuch happy conſequence in the preſent Life, ſhou'd be a prevailing Argument and Inducement to all Young People to get ſanctify'd betimes.

2. IF we cleanſe our ways in our Youth, we ſhall obtain richer Bleſſings in the Heavenly Places. Death is a moſt profitable Change to the Godly, (To them to die is gain, Phil. 1.21) And the Reſurrection alſo will bring unto them much gain, the Fruit they now bring forth ſhall then abound to their account.

IN this World the Saints have greater Riches than all the Treaſures of Aegypt; but the moſt of their Eſtate lies in a better Country, even an Heavenly. They have an Houſe in Heaven, a Building not made with hands; They have an Inheritance in Light incorruptible and undefiled, They have Treaſures in the Everlasting Kingdom, goodly Pearls of great price, and all kind of Riches, which are ſatisfying realities, better and more enduring ſubſtance, incomparably ſuperior to all the Wealth and Riches of this World which are but lying vanities. The Saints have a Title to the Unſearchable Riches of Chriſt, (in competition with which they count every thing but loſs,) they are joint-heirs with Chriſt, Heirs of God; they have God Himſelf, who is the Fountain of Bleſſedneſs, for the Portion of their Inheritance, and their exceeding great Reward. Now they have the earnest of the Inheritance in the Graces and Comforts of the Holy Ghoſt; Hereafter they ſhall receive the reward of the Inheritance, when the Time of refreſhment p. 84and the redemption of the purchaſed p…ſſeſſion ſhall come. As an Heir, when come to Age, enters upon his Eſtate: ſo ſhall they upon the Eternal Inheritance, purchas'd for them by the pretious Blood of Chriſt, ſettled upon them by the Promiſes of God—a goodly heritage indeed, a very worthy Portion, unſpeakably great, and invaluably rich! Who can declare the riches of the Glory of the Inheritance of the Saints? Eye hath not ſeen, neither ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. We know in part, but how little a portion is heard? The happineſs of Heaven is too big and bright a… Object for our preſent weak and imperfect powers to conceive or take a view of. It's enough to fix and fill our boundleſs deſires, equal, yea tranſcendent to our wiſhes, and immortal as our Souls.

BEHOLD, ye Children of God, the end of your Faith, the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven! And conſider, ye Sons of Men, the Prize of the high Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus. Conſider, Young Men; Eternal Life is ſet before you; Lay hold on it. You are now upon Probation for the high perferments, the rich entertainments, and unperiſhing enjoyments of Heaven; you are Candidates for an incorruptible Crown, and for durable Riches, as well as Joy unſpeakable.—Now can any one too ſoon ſecure a Title to this inviſible …nd invaluable Inheritance? Is not this our chief Interest? And is it not our great Wiſdom to give the preference to the ſupreme Good, and to improve preſent advantages, the firſt opportunities, to make haſte and not d…lay, to ſettle our grand Concerns, and make ſure work in a matter of the p. 85laſt conſequence to us? If a Man has a price in his hands to make himſelf (as we ſpeak) for this World, by a good Bargain, or the like, if he have no heart to it, will not all Mankind point at the Fool? He that is wiſe will be pr…fitable unto himſelf, and he that underſtands his way will with induſtrious care embrace and improve all fair opportunities to enrich himſelf. If a wealthy Friend ſhould aſſure him Ten Thouſand Pounds upon very eaſy and reaſonable Conditions; wou'd he not haſten ſeaſonably to fulfil them, and take all poſſible care to pleaſe and endear ſo generous a Benefactor? Now this is our Caſe; The God of Heaven offers to us a Reward, infinitely preferrible to this whole World, upon the beſt ſecurity, if we will cleanſe our ways, and ſerve before him in holineſs, which is but our reaſonable ſervice. — It is the madneſs of folly then one moment to delay accepting the offer and complying with the terms. Conſider; If we begin a life of pure Religion in our Youth, we ſecure the Reward, and make our Election ſure, that we are ſafe and happy both living and dying. And, moreover, ſhou'd it pleaſe God we live on to more mature Years, or Old-Age, we are ſtill greatening and encreaſing our reward. If we continue to bring forth fruit, and grow in Grace, we are ſtill laying up Treaſures in Heaven; and when we have finiſht our weary Pilgrimage here in a ſtrange Land, we ſhall receive the Kingdom, and by Inheritance obtain more excellent Riches in Glory. Great will be our Reward in Heaven, greater than others.— For our impartial Judge will proportion the Prize to the length of our Race, and the conſtancy and fidelity of our Service. He will give to ev'ry man p. 86according to his works, in reſpect of quantity as well as quality: He that ſoweth ſparingly, ſhall reap ſparingly; and he that ſoweth bountifully ſhall alſo reap bountifully. Hence, They that like Hananiah, fear God above many, they that, like the Apoſtle, labour more abundantly, than they all, they that ſet out early in the way of God's Commandments, that strive earneſtly and endure to the end, ſuch ſhall receive a far more exceeding, triumphant, and hyperbolical Reward.—And is not this a good reaſon why we ſhou'd cleanſe our way and begin our great work in our Youth? O Let us aſpire after the higheſt degrees of Glory, and the largeſt ſhare of the Heavenly Treaſures. Let us ſet our Affections on things above, and let us ſet our aims high; high as Heaven, as the heights of Heaven. Let a generous & brave ambition, to be as holy, and as happy, as poſſible, poſſeſs and actuate us betimes, and influence us, now in our Early Days to purify our Soul in obeying the Truth, and apply our ſelves unto every Good Work, that if God lengthen out our Lives, and Opportunities, and afford us proportionable Aſſiſtences, we may come to be rich towards God, and to ſhine as Lights in the World: and when the Earthly Houſe we at preſent tabernacle in ſhall be diſſolv'd, we may be tranſlated to a brighter Orb, a better Country, and there we may inherit a double Portion, and ſhine forth as the Sun, while others only glimmer as the Stars. O Let us give all diligence, begin ſoon and be abundant in the Work of the Lord, and preſs toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jeſus, if by any means we might attain unto the richeſt Inheritance among the Saints in Light. p. 87Let us fear, lest any of us ſhould ſo much as ſeem to come ſhort. Be diligent unto the coming of the Lord, that no Man take away thy Crown. Let not any mean temptation whatſoever induce us, any longer to neglect the Great Salvation, when every moments neglect will leſſen the noble Prize, ſhou'd we at laſt obtain it. If ever we are brought to mind the things of our Peace, we ſhall very heavily reflect on the many pretious opportunities of getting and doing Good, which we have irretrievably loſt; and we ſhall bluſh and grieve in the proſpect of thoſe many degrees of Glory, we've forfeited, by out-ſinning the days of Youth, our beſt days.—Thus I've been beſeeching you by the mercies of God: But if I have not prevailed with you yet,—

LET me now perſwade you by the Terrors of the Lord. If you are not fond of Heaven; it may be you are afraid of Hell. Hope of happineſs, and Fear of miſery are the powerful Springs of action, and the great Engines to move rational Creatures; and no paſſion of humane Nature has a more conſtraining and governing influence, than Fear. If therefore this bright proſpect of Eternity has not allured you, I will now ſhift the Scene, change hands, and turn the gloomy ſide to affright you.

KNOW then, O Young Men, if you walk in the way of your own hearts, and in the ſight of your own Eyes, and impenitently indulge Youthful Luſts, Know it, I ſay, that for all theſe things God will bring you into Judgment, and puniſh you with everlaſting destruction. Whatever apprehenſions diſſolute Youths may now have about an inviſible eternal ſtate, However they may drown the preſent ſecret whiſpers, or louder clamours of a p. 88convinced Conſcience, and ſtifle their preſaging fears of an Evil Day to come, by the hurries or Buſineſs, by the noiſe of ſenſual riot, or flattering Company, or the ſtupifying opiate of infidel Saduciſm; Tho' for the preſent they may bravely mock at fear, and ſecurely laugh at Hell & Judgment, as only the poetical Fiction of ſome wild luxuriant Fancy, or the politic Invention of ſome aſpiring humane power to awe the World; However they may reſolve the ſecret rebukes and fears of a guilty mind into the impreſſions of a ſuperſtitious Education, & accordingly give themſelves up to the government of humor & paſſion, and purſue their ungodly Luſts with an affected and reſolved blindneſs, and unbounded licence; yet let ſuch remember, that as ſure as this World had a Creator, ſo ſurely has Mankind a Judge; even the Lord God who is Almighty, and can call us to an account; He is just alſo and righteous, and cannot but do it; He is infinitely wiſe and knows how to do it? He is invariably true and faithful, and hath He ſaid it & will He not do it? "If the Word of God be true and there be any weight in the reaſon of the Thing," we muſt all one Day appear before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt, and give up a ſtrict Account; All Ages and Sizes of Men, Childhood and Youth not excepted, neither the Perſons nor the Actions of Youth.— Even theſe ſhall be bro't into Judgment. Such as die Young ſhall ſurely come upon trial, as well as others; and the luſts and follies of blooming Youth muſt be recko…'d for at the Bar of God, as well as the Sins of riper Years, and withering Age. The Sins of one of Sixteen are cognizable before the flaming Tri…nal of Divine Juſtice, p. 89and juſt matter of Eternal Condemnation, even as the Sins of one of Sixty. There are many prophane and prodigal Youths, who tho' they are not ſunk ſo low, as to deride the belief, and diſpute the poſſibility or probability in general of their being Judg'd; yet there is reaſonable ground of jealouſy, that they are tainted with a corrupt expectation of an abſolute indulgence for their juvenile follies, and flatter themſelves that their Age will juſtify their preſent levity and indiſcretion,Vid. Dr. Sherlock. Diſc. of Judgment. Edit. 7. pag. 290, &c. that a gracious God, will take compaſſion on the weakneſs and giddineſs of Youth, as He winked at the times of ignorance: And hence at preſent they preſume to live as they liſt; they think they are now their own Maſters, and live at a mad rate, and in wild extravagance. But let Young Men conſider, that they (even as ſuch) are accountable to God as well as others; they are now even in their imperfect beginnings the Subjects of Divine Government; reaſonable Agents, capable of knowing the differences of good and evils, endow'd with a power of chuſing & refuſing, are under the juriſdiction and direction of the Divine Laws, and capable of being governed by them; and hence are reſponſible and liable to be judged for the keeping or breaking of them. But further, this may be argu'd from the impartial Juſtice of the Nature of God, who without reſpect of Perſons judgeth every man. (1 Pet. 1.17.) Young Men are equally ſubject to His Laws, and obnoxious to His Judgment with others: ſhould the Judge then exempt Young Men, or the Age of Youth, from trial, (only for ſome particular circumſtances or conſiderations, p. 90which do not at all touch the merit of the cauſe,) This would be Partiality and accepting of Perſons, from which the Divine Nature is at an Eternal diſtance. But further, this Age is really and ſtrictly more inexcuſable, than any other: There are hardly any Temptations befall us in this ſtage of Life, but what are common to Men, or may be ballanc'd by the peculiar difficulties of another ſtate. Nay Youth, before it is actually debauch'd, & native corruptions grown incorrigible, meets with the ſlightieſt difficulties and the feweſt temptations, and has the moſt powerful Checks, Reſtraints and Advantages of any Age, (as has been ſhew'd before.) And now for Young Men to break thro' all th…ſe Obligations, & to Sin in the face of ſuch diſwaſives, induces an heavy aggravation of their Guilt, and ſpeaks 'em to be in danger of the Judgment; and as ſurely as God is immutably just and holy, their Youthful Lusts will not eſcape His righteous Cenſure.—Beſides it would be an indelible reproach to the Divine Wiſdom to grant ſuch an indulgence to Youth, and let the follies thereof eſcape with impunity. Can it become the wiſe Ruler of the World to act ſo repugnantly to the great ends of His Government, as to licence the villanies and frenzys of Youth? When this is the Age moſt flexible and governable; the Age of hopes and of leiſure, and the critical Age which ordinarily determines the byaſs of the mind, and forms the character of our after-Life in this World. For God to looſe the reins to this important Age, and not pre-engage it to his own Service, and antidote it againſt the tempting Lures of the God of this World, by the fears of Eternal Judgment, (which only can weaken the p. 91attraction of earthly Goods, and embitter the reliſh of fleſhly Pleaſures, and powerfully curb and cool voluptuous licentious Youths in their eager purſuits of carnal Satisfactions,) and for God to permit Satan to take the early poſſeſſion of them, and lead 'em captive at his will, to habituate 'em to evil practices and prejudice 'em againſt ſerious Religion, which prepoſſeſſions will "give law to riper Years", and render it infinitely difficult to reduce and reclaim them from the errors of their ways to the wiſdom of the Juſt, This wou'd be of fatal tendency to ſtrengthen the hands of the wicked One, and to leſſon the Authority, blaſt the Deſigns, and cloud the Glory of the Divine Government. And therefore the Judge of the whole Earth, who is God only wiſe, muſt be acquitted of an imputation, ſo abſurd, & ſo full of abuſe & indignity. And as ſure as God is wiſe in heart, & mighty in ſtrength, glorious in holineſs, & just in all his doings towards the Children of Men, ſo ſurely may we expect, that God will judge and puniſh Youth, ſince it is ſo reaſonable, expedient, and neceſſary.— Let none of us then go about now to baniſh the thots of Judgment, that we may ſecurely live in carnal eaſe a…d wa…tonneſs, as if our Youth wou'd excuſe our …ew…neſs: But let us ever live under the awful ſenſe, and governing influence of a future reckoning. If thine heart be wiſe, O Young Man thou wilt be in the fear of the Lord all the day long, and there ſhall be a reward, for the Judge standeth at the do…r. But if thou hatest instruction and deſpiſest reproof, and obeyest unrighteouſneſs, doth not he that pondereth the heart conſider it? and He that keepeth thy Soul doth not He know it? and p. 92ſhall not He render to every Man according to his works? Thou art inexcuſable, O Man, whoever thou art▪ We are ſure that the Judgment of God is according to truth against them, which commit ſuch things. And thinkest thou this, O Man, that thou ſhalt eſcape the judgment of God? Or deſpiſest thou the Riches of his forbearance, not knowing, that the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardneſs & impenitent heart, treaſurest up to thy ſelf wrath against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render indignation and wrath, tribulation, and anguiſh unto every ſoul of man, that doth evil. Therefore hear now this, thou that dwellest careleſly, that art given to pleaſures, Hearken, ſimple Young Man, that art ſurfeiting on the ſickly ſatisfactions of Senſe, and roving in the forbidden paths of Sin; look forward, look downward, and conſider, What fruit thou art like to have of theſe things! the end whereof are the ways of Death. Conſider what will be thy Lot, the Portion of thy meaſures from the Lord. Verily, if you go on to add iniquity to tranſgreſſion, you are a Veſſel of Wrath fitting for destruction. And if you die in your Sins, Everlasting Burnings will be your Portion! If Death remove you in … guilty ſtate, This ſhall you have of my hand, (ſaith the Lord,) you ſhall lie down in ſorrow, and periſh in your Corruption. When the ſlender thread of Life (the Silver Cord) ſhall be …ut aſunder by the Sword of Juſtice, your unprepared Soul muſt drop into endleſs miſery. Think not, O vain Man, that the Sinner and Ungodly ſhall inherit Eternal Life. I tell you nay; but except you repent in time, you ſhall periſh wonderfully. The Word of God which endureth for ever hath told us, p. 93Rom. 8.13. If ye live after the fleſh ye ſhall die; You ſhall die inevitably, die eternally.—If you die in Youth, and have not cleanſed your ways, your guilty Soul ſhall be drag'd by the Unclean Spirit into the place of Him that knoweth not God, the den of Dragons▪ from whence there is no retreat, nor reprieve: And where inſtead of the preſent forbidden mirth of Fools, & the forfeited joys of the Bleſſed, you muſt reap eternal ſorrows and inſupportable torments, and be broken to pieces with the agonies of a wounded Spirit. You ſport and revel it now perhaps, glory in your ſhame, and brave it out in fool-hardy preſumption: But let Destruction from God be a terror to you. O be perſwaded no longer to harden your heart, leſt ere long that Sentence of Death ring in your Ears, Depart, depart, ye curſed into Everlasting Fire; And Thou mourn at the last, and in enrag'd confuſion make that bitter lamentation, — How have I hated instruction, and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers! Who can dwell with the dev…uring Fire —and come to feel by unhappy experience, that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

AND if God ſpare your Life yet longer in this World, and you continue to Old Age, and after all die impenitent, and are not not waſhed from your filth, and healed of your diſeaſe, do not imagine that the Holy Heaven is a Hoſpital to entertain the halt, the blind & corrupt; do not think that God will proſtitute the glorious Immortality, and receive your expiring Soul, ſtill thirſting after ſenſual ſatisfactions, but no longer capable to reliſh nor allow'd to enjoy them▪ I tell you nay ▪ But you ſhall be turned into Hell, p. 94the proper receptacle of them that forget God: Yea, you ſhall be thruſt down to the lowest and hottest Hell, into the depths of Hell! O how dreadfully aggravated will your Damnation be by your continuance in Sin! The wages of every Sin is Eternal Death; and every Degree of Damnation is unſufferable: But a much ſorer Puniſhment will ſome have than others. The Degrees of Miſery, which the wicked ſhall be condemned to, ſhall correſpond with the degrees of Wickedneſs which they are charged with. The Hypocrites in heart heap up wrath by every days impenitence, They are but filling up their meaſure, and crouding their Ephah. The openly proſtigate are by every days guilt piling up fuel for Hell-fire, to enrage its flames, and heat their Furnace ſeven times hotter; They are treaſuring up heavy aggravations, and adding to the weight of their future Miſery.

YOU then, that have made a Covenant with Death, and ſeem to be accelerating your own deſtruction, and taking Hell by force and violence; Go on, Go on (I ſay) in the ways of Sin, take your fill of carnal pleaſures, "give a looſe to all your fire", never baulk your ſenſual appetites or paſſions, never stick at any thing to gratify the fleſh, take your eaſe, eat, drink and be merry, never think of abandoning your ſelves to the mopiſh, melancholy life of Religion, never listen to the checks of Conſcience, ſhut your eyes againſt the light of God's Word, and let nothing interrupt you in your ſinful carriere; Rejoyce, O Young Men, in your Youth, and walk in the way of your own hearts: — But know ye, that for all theſe things, God will bring you into Judgment. Conſider, O fooliſh wretches, conſider, p. 95before it be too late, O conſider, that all this will be but a glittering Prelude, a flouriſhing Preface to a miſerable Eternity, (Ah, how miſerable! Verily no wit nor words can fully declare, or conceive; nor tongue of Men nor Angels can ſay, how miſerable your future ſtate will be,) where the moſt doleful Tragedes and ſad Scenes of gloomy horror ſhall inceſſantly harraſs your guilty minds, full Vials of the burning wrath of God, Wrath to the uttermoſt, ſhall be pour'd into your capacious Souls; a rebuking Mind ſhall ſting and wound you as a gnawing Worm in your boſoms, the remembrance of former Sins ſhall be as gall & poiſon, the iniquities of Youth and upwards ſhall ſit heavy upon you, a burden too heavy; your ungrateful refuſals of offer'd Mercy ſhall ſink you into deeper miſery, your many fooliſh and hurtful Luſts ſhall rend as ſo many wild domeſtic furies, and caſt forth the rage of their wrath with flames of Fire; you'l be the ſcorn of Devils and the objects of their cruel hatred, They'… gnaſh their teeth and prey' upon you, bitterly taunt and triumph in your deſtruction; and your Tempters to Sin and Companions in miſery will be your perpetual Tormentors: "You that are now Partners in Sin, when you come to be ſharers in Woe, as Tares bound in bundles for the Fire, you will be a terror to one another". In a Word, you ſhall ſuffer the unrecoverable Leſs of ev'ry bleſſed Enjoyment, Earthly and Heavenly, of all Good real and imaginary: and Evil ſhall be preſent with you, all manner of Evil; All the Curſes, written in the Book of the Law, ſhall come upon you in their perfection: — So that your complicated miſery ſhall be p. 96intollerable, & you ſhall with bitter accents repete that deſpairing exclamation of curſed Cain,—My puniſhment is greater than I can bear! And all this is unavoidable and irretrievable. How ſhall we eſcape? When once your impenitent Souls are paſſed into Eternity, the impaſſible Gulph is fixed, the acceptable Year of the Lord is paſt, the Door is ſhut, you are then paſt hope and help. Hell has now clos'd its mouth upon you, and nothing can break in ſunder the Bars of Iron, or burſt the Gates of Braſs; now the Compaſſionate & Almighty Saviour of the World is become your Enemy; His Power is arm'd with Vengeance, and His M…rcy cloathed with Fury, and as a conſuming Fire His jealouſy burns againſt you, and will be continually diſcharging hot Thunderbolts upon you & diſſolving in floods of Fire, and all the billows of His flaming wrath ſhall be rolling over you, and the ſmeak of your Torments be aſcending up for ever and ever! — So that after the …moſt periods imaginable are ſpent in this unutterable unſufferable miſery, it will then be but the beginning of ſorrows; for there is an Everlaſting Puniſhment, & an unknown never-expiring Eternity of Wrath yet to come, which is the very Emphaſis, the killing Accent of Hell-Torments, and the Sting of the Second Death. And this the damned Sinner ſhall undoubtedly know; and his deſpairful proſpects of Eternity, (that black and boundleſs Abyſs!) ſhall continually fetch in new Terrors, give freſh wounds to his bleeding Soul, and exaſperate the flames of his incenſed Conſcience.