Cleansing our Way in Youth, Title page – Preface
Cleanſing our Way IN YOUTH Preſs'd, As of the Higheſt Importance: And Obſerving the Word of GOD Recommended, As the Only Sufficient Means.
In a DISCOURSE Upon PSAL. CXIX. Ver. 9. Wherewith ſhall a Young Man Cleanſe his Way? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word.
By THOMAS FOXCROFT, M.A.
With a Recommendatory Preface, by the Reverend Mr. WADSWORTH, Paſtor of the Firſt Church of CHRIST in Boſton.
BOSTON: in N. E. Printed by S. KNEELAND, for. S. GERRISH, and Sold at his Shop in Corn-Hill, near the Brick Meeting-Houſe. 1719.
A PREFACE.
AS 'tis Man's Sin, Shame and Miſery to be eſtrang'd and alienated from God; ſo it's his duty, honour and intereſt to return to God, be acquainted with Him, conform'd to His Image and poſſeſs'd of His ſpecial favour in Chriſt. Men conſider'd as Fallen & Apoſtate (as they derive from rebellious Adam) are running away from God, and poſting on in the broad way to deſtruction; but the Son of God was manifeſted to deſtroy the works of the Devil, to reduce ſinful Men, and bring them back to the only Author of their being and bleſſedneſs. He ſuffered, the juſt for the unjuſt, that He might bring us to God. He gave himſelf for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us to Himſelf for a peculiar People zealous of good works. And His Holy Word, the Holy Scriptures are the grand Means or Inſtrument of purifying Sinners: they're able to make Men wiſe to Salvation, thro' Faith in Chriſt Jeſus. The Scope and tendency of them is, to turn Men from darkneſs to light, from the power of Satan unto God. Sanctify them thro' thy truth, thy word is truth. The Sanctification of the Spirit, does not go without the Belief of the Truth. All therefore who enjoy the Word of God, ſhould diligently Read, Hear, Study the ſame, meditating on it Day and Night: they ſhould endeavour & pray that they may rightly underſtand it, and univerſally and continually conform their hearts and lives unto it. All under the Goſpel ſhould do ſo, and the ſooner they begin, and the more conſtant and vigorous they are in ſuch a courſe, ſo much the better; ſo much the more 'twill be for God's Glory and their own Advantage. Young Ones therefore ſhould be moſt ſpeedy, hearty, and alſo unmoveable and diligent in conforming to God's holy revealed Will. A ſerious reading the following Sermons, muſt needs be proper to move and quicken them to ſuch a Life. They contain ſuch ſtrong Arguments, weighty Motives, lively and cogent Inculcations of Duty, plain repreſentations of the danger of careleſs ſloth & negligence, and ſuch ſuitable Directions; as that a ſerious, healty, attending to them, and regarding of them, muſt needs be very uſeful and profitable to all Young Perſons whatſoever. Indeed a ſerious, deliberate peruſing of them, can't but be profitable to all Perſons whatſoever, even the Oldeſt, and thoſe that have made moſt proficiency in the practice of Piety: here they may find freſh occaſion, to bewail their deficiences & ſhort comings, as well as to praiſe the God of all Grace for the great things He has done for their Souls. They're profitable for Old Sinners, that by conſidering how they have trifled away their precious Opportunities, abus'd Divine Patience lengthen'd out to long-ſuffering, practically deſpis'd the Precepts, Promiſes, Threatnings of the Glorious God, and thereby render'd themſelves grievouſly obnoxious to His moſt terrible Vengeance; they may be mov'd and quicken'd, to the moſt ſpeedy vigorous endeavours to get their peace made with God, before their near approaching Death overtakes them. They're profitable for thoſe who have Young Ones under their Care, that they may be mov'd hereby to do their utmoſt for their ſpiritual good and benefit. But as theſe Sermons were more eſpecially deſign'd, for the benefitting of Young Perſons, ſo to ſuch I would hea…tily recommend the ſerious reading of them, that thereby (thro' the Bleſſing of God) they m…y be enlightened, awaken'd, convinc'd of their ſin, guilt, danger, and of their abſolute need of Chriſt, of His Righteouſneſs to juſtify them; of His Spirit of Grace to renew and ſanctify them, and lead them in paths of righteouſneſs for His Name ſake. That the Laborious Endeavours of the Worthy Author of theſe Sermons, (My Fellow-Labourer in the Goſpel, and in the ſame Church) may be follow'd with God's efficacious Bleſſing, & made inſtrumental of ſpiritual ſaving Good to thoſe who partake of them; is the Prayer of a mean unworthy Servant of JESUS CHRIST,
BENJ. WADSWORTH. Boſton, October …8. 1719.