The Duty of Young People to Give their Hearts Unto God, Sermon 2

The Duty of Young People to Give their Hearts Unto God · Sermon 2

p. 36Sermon II.

PROV. XXIII. 26.

MY Son give Me thy Heart.

THE great and gracious God ſpeaks to us all in theſe Words, but more eſpecially to young People.

DOCTRINE. THAT it is the duty of young People to give God their Hearts and Affections, and to be ſeriouſly religious in their early days.

THE Method I went into was, … conſider the Obligations upon young p. 37People to give God their Hearts,

1. In point of duty of God.

2. To Themſelves.

3. To Others.

I have gone through the firſt of theſe Heads, and have ſhewn it to be the Duty of young People to give God their hearts,

1. In Obedience to his Precept to them.

2. Becauſe of his Propriety in them and Right to them;

1. As their Creater, Preſerver and Benefactor;

2. As their Redeemer and Covenant God. — I come now to the ſecond Head.

II. YOUNG people ought to give God their Hearts in point of duty to Themſelves. For their own ſake they ought to do this thing, It is their Intereſt, and their Happineſs depends on it. Man is a ſelfiſh Creature. In a good ſenſe he is ſo, and ought to be To. Angels are ſo and it is their W… dom & Duty. Our firſt reſpect muſt …e to the Glory of God from us, and …o his Will reſpecting us; and then …e may and ſhould reſpect Our ſelves, …ur Happineſs in God, and his Fa…r and Bleſſing to us. God is firstly p. 38and ultimately regarded in all this and we our ſelves only in the ſecond place, and in ſubordination to his Will and Glory. He has commanded us to …ve this Reſpect to our ſelves, and … us with that Principle of ſelf love which is invincible. It is his great Glory that he has made us to be happy, and made it out duty to ſeek after Happineſs. But then our Happineſs is found only in the way of Holineſs, which is the way of Obedience to the Will of God, and Devoted neſs to the Glory of God, and of ou… coming to the everlaſting Enjoyment of God. Wherefore we do moſt and beſt ſeek our Selves, by giving ou… hearts to God.

GOD made us holy at firſt becauſe i… was our Bleſſedneſs to be holy. And God has redeemed us from our Sin becauſe they are our Miſery. Becauſe he would have us again holy and happy he gave Christ for us. And no… as a redeemed People he requires … to give him our Hearts, and to do early, as the Means of our true Hapineſs. p. 39For the …lier it is done we ſo much the more conſult our Happineſs. For though he that gives his heart late to God ſhall be happy, yet he that does it in his Youth is happier, both as to Body and Soul, Time and Eternity. He ſhall eſcape many G…ilts, and enjoy much more of God in this Life; and he lays up the more in ſtore againſt the World to come; greater degrees of Happineſs for ever.

THE Word of God calls thee, O young Man, to this far exceeding Weight of eternal Glory: in requiring thee now to give him thy heart. This is the Way to it, the Means of it; and therefore thou oweſt it to thy ſelf. God is very good to thee in this Precept. If thou be wiſe thou ſhalt be wiſe for thy ſelf. Prov. 9.12. Is it profitable to God if thou giveſt him thy Heart? No: If thou be righteous what doſt thou give Him, &c? Job 35.7. The Benefit is only to thy Self and Others here on earth. Indeed God is pleaſed and thou art ſaved. He is pleas'd and gratified to ſee thee ſaved. He has p. 40commanded thee, this for thy Good, as well as for his own Glory. Hear it and know it for thy good. And let it move thee to give thy Heart to God that his Soul may bleſs thee. It is Gods Favour and Bleſſing that makes Man happy. Gods Heart toward us makes us bleſſed: his heart turned againſt us makes us miſerable. Now what can be the way to have God's heart turned toward us, to bleſs us and make us happy? but this — to give our Hearts to Him.

WHEREFORE come ye Children, hearken unto me, I will teach you the Fear of the Lord, and the proper Motive to it: Pſal. 34.12. What Man is he that deſireth li…e, and loveth many days that he may ſee good? let him give his Heart be…mes to God and to the ways of Religion, for the Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous, and his Ears are open to their Cry. And they are happy indeed on whom the Eyes of the Lord are, and to whoſe Cries his Ears are open … Chron. 22.11. My S…n, the Lord be with thee and proſper thou

p. 41WELL then, It is thine own Intereſt to give God thy heart while thou are young. Thou oweſt it to thy Self. The law of ſelf love teaches it to thee. You ſin againſt Self and are your own Enemy if you do not give God your heart betimes. You wrong your own Souls, and injure your own Bodies. You are guilty not only of ſelf-neglect, but of ſelf deſtruction. You are ignorant of, or wretchedly careleſs about your preſent temporal & worldly Intereſt; as well as your ſpiritual, future and eternal Intereſts.

To be particular therefore in this Argument.

1. IT is thy temporal and worldly Intereſt to give God thy Heart betimes. God condeſcends to move us by theſe low and inferior things. And why not? when he has made us to live and ſojourn a while in this World, to tabernacle in Bodies of fleſh and blood. For while we are here we have a temporal and worldly Intereſt to ſe…k, together with (but in ſubordination to) our ſpiritual & eternal Intereſt God p. 42has therefore joined theſe things in his Word, as well as in their own Nature; the one to ſubſerve unto and promote the other; and that He might omit no kind of Motive proper to uſe with …s. Deut. 4.1. Now therefore hearken O Iſrael unto the Satute… and the Judgments which I teach you, … do them; that ye may live, and go in & poſſeſs the Land which the Lord giveth you. To proſecute a little this lower Argument.

1. IT ſhall be thy Credit and Reputation, my Son, among good Men and in the Church of God, if thou give God thy heart. What is there more to be eſteemed than a Child that fe…ts and loves God? Like CHRIST he increaſes in Wiſdom as in Stature; and grows up in favour with God and Man Even thoſe that have not given thei… own hearts to God, will be likely t… admire and praiſe the Child that does it. But to be ſure, all that have done it themſelves will love & eſte… the Child that does it O ſuch … be ſure thou ſhalt be had in honour, an… p. 43that ſhould content thee altho' others ſhould contemn and ſcoff at thee. — Let your Parents ſee that you have given your heart to God, & they will doubly love and eſteem thee. You ſhould value their good opinion of thee very much; to be tender and only beloved in their Eyes. My ſon, if thine Heart be wiſe my Heart ſhall rejoice, even mine. If thy heart be wiſe thou wilt give it to God, and this ſhall rejoice the heart of thy godly Father and Mother; and make thee doubly dear to them. And ſo if you value the eſteem and love of your Miniſters and of the People of God, and the honour that cometh from God; this is the way to have it; Give thy heart to God. As Eli loved Samuel when he ſaw that be Lord had called the Child, and all …ſrael ſaw with pleaſure that he was …ſtabliſhed a Prophet of the Lord. 1 Sam. …. 20 As Solomon ſays of the Woman …hat feareth the Lord, ſo may we of …he Son and Daughter that does ſo, — He or She ſhall be praiſed. As David …ad this Praiſe in his Fathers houſe; p. 441 Sam. 16.18. Behold I have ſeen a So… of Jeſſe the Beth…mite, a comely Perſon prudent in matters and the Lord is with him. What Son of ours is there, that ſhould not be very ambitious of this Character? It ſhall be thy Honour among wiſe and good Men, my Son, if thou giveſt thy heart to God. Prov 3.4. So ſhalt thou find Favour an… good Underſtanding in the ſight of Go… and Man.

2. IT ſhall be Health to thy Body, to give thy Heart to God. You will believe the God of thy health who ſays ſo; Prov. 3.8. Fear the Lord and depart from evil, it ſhall be Health to thy navel and morrow to thy bones. 4.22. My ſon attend to my Words, keep them in the midſt of thy Heart, for they a… Life unto theſe that find them & Heal… unto all their fleſh. The good Habit of the Body depends very much o… the good habit of the Soul. A good Diſp…ſition of Soul in young people would often preſerve a good Constitution of Body; which is very often broken by youthful Luſts, and the giving p. 45the Heart to Wine & Women inſtead of God. My Son, by giving thy Heart now to God thou ſhalt preſerve thy ſelf from many hurtful Luſts which are deſtructive to bodily Health; as Intemperances, Uncleaneſſes, Sloth, Paſſions, &c. As Solomon warns the ſimple One of going after the Harlot till a Dart ſtrike through his liver, and he die of a Conſumption the Effect of his Intemperance. Our Health and long life depends on the Bleſſing of God; but to give Him our Heart is certainly to put our ſelves in the way of his Bleſſing. This has the Promiſe of life and health here, ſo far as God ſhall ſee it beſt for thee: Prov. 3.2. Long life ſhall they add to thee. To be ſure the Commandments of God tend only to Life; They are a Tree of Life to them that keep them. Obedience to' them never burt any ones Health, in an ordinary courſe of things. But God has ſometimes ſmitten young Sinners, and for being wicked they have died before their time.—It is true that young People may give God their p. 46Hearts, and yet remain ſickly & weekly; or grow ſickly after they ha… done it: But then it ſhall be best fo… them to be ſo, and God will turn it to the Health of their Soul. Yet it may certainly help a weakly Body, an… will never hurt it, to give the Hea… to God. But to give it to Sin is the way to hurt and conſume it apace for a weakly Conſtitution will waſh away the ſooner under waſting Luſt… It will follow alſo upon this,

3. IT may ſerve thy bodily Beauty … thou giveſt thy heart to God. Thi… may ſeem a mean and ſmall thing … bring into the Argument I am upon and comparatively it is ſo, and ſo … bodily Health too. But the Lord is ſo the Body, even for the Beauty of it … the Health of it. For by Beauty I … not mean ſo much Features, as th… Complexion & Vigour of Health whi… makes the Face to ſhine, and give… Life and Sprightlineſs wherein … Comlineſs of the Perſon is moſt c… ſpicuous. So God took care of Dan and his Companions, and bleſſed th… p. 47bread and their water, becauſe they …d given him their hearts, & would not defile themſelves with the Kings meat and wine: Their Countenances were the fairer and they fatter in fleſh Dan. 1.15. The Hearts of young People are too much given to their Beauty; and alas! they give it away from God from a vain and wrong conceit of making themſelves appear beau …ous. But after all, ſome of the Ornaments they pl…ſe and deceive themſelves with do …on…dd to their Beauty, but take from it: And the Extremity of their Adornings is their Blemiſh in the Church of Chriſt. It ſhews an Heart given to Vanity rather than to God. And tho' theſe Daughters of men may be fair in the Eyes of ſome of the Sons of God, yet a Heart more given to God and ſet leſs upon theſe things would make 'em look fairer in the Eyes of all that regard the inward Adorning. Favour is deceitful and Beauty is vain, but the young Perſons that give their hearts to God they ſhall be praiſed. The one is skin deep, the other deep as p. 48the Heart, whoſe Praiſe is of God Which is faireſt? a fair Face or a fa… Soul? Beſides that the fair Soul ſhines through the fair Eye and Face, and makes them fairer. — Give God thy heart, and as it will not alter thy Features, ſo to be ſure it will not hurt them. It will add the inward to the outward Beauty; the hidden and incorruptible to that which is viſible and fading. The heart that is given to God ſhould be the more ſerene and Joyous, and ſhine thro' the Face and irradiate it. So Moſes skin ſhone, and Stephens face was beheld as if it had been the Face of an Angel. But to be ſure the way to have the Body rais'd in Glory, like Chriſts transfigured Body which ſhone as the Light, is to give our hearts to God. This Reſurrection Body can never be look'd for, i… the Heart be not now given to God. And as one Body will then differ fr… another in Glory, ſo where the Heart has been given young to God there may the greateſt Degree of Glory b… look'd for.— But to return from thi… Excurſion.

p. 494. IN reſpect of thy Worldly Eſtate … ſhall be thy Intereſt to give thy Heart to God while thou art young. It will give thee P…udence and Conſideration, and make thee ſober, moderate, diligent in thy worldly Buſineſs. It will preſerve thee from Idleneſs and Intemperance which are the way to Poverty. It will give thee Credit and Truſt among Men, when th… ſee thee religious, virtuous and temperate, prudent & diligent, righteou… and conſcientious, juſt and upright, and true to thy Word. Men will love to deal with thee; and good Men to aſſiſt thee and put thee forward. The Bleſſing of God alſo, which maketh rich, will attend thy honeſt Induſtry, and give thee Food convenient for thee. While you ſeek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteouſneſs, God will add other things needful and convenient for thee. So Christ has promiſed and you may take his Word Mat. 6.33. Both Riches and Honour come of Him, & of thoſe ways of Wiſdom which He has laid p. 50out for us to walk in. You may ever indent with God when you are going forth into the World, as Jacob did, Gen. 28.21. If God will be with me in the way wherein I go, and will give me Bread to eat and Raiment to put on. But this muſt be done with a Moderation of Deſire to the things of this World, and with Submiſſion to the Will of God reſpecting them, & with a Reſolution through his Grace to adhere unto his Covenant, Worſhip and Service, in the Acquiſition and Enjoyment of them: all which muſt needs be ſuppoſed in Him that has given his heart to God. Such a one is fitteſt to be rich in this world, that will be rich in good works. But God who knows Men, only knows what is fitteſt for them. We may think that there's many a good Man that does good with his Competency, would fall into Temtation and a Snare and into fooliſh and hurtful luſts if he had much more. God chuſes for his Children, and they pray to him daily, lead me not into Temptation. So Agur prayed, Give p. 51… neither Poverty nor Riches, Feed me with food convenient for me.

5. To give God thy Heart in thy Youth will intereſt thee in the ſpecial providential Care of God from thy Youth up. Gods Heart is toward thee, if thou haſt given thy heart to Him. Yea becauſe his Heart was to thee for good, thou haſt given thy heart to Him. You may truſt in the Lord therefore and do good, ſo ſhall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou ſhalt be fed. Pſal. 37.3. God will not fail him that caſts himſelf upon Him in his early days. He ſhall take thee up in the hands of his fatherly Providence, and of his Covenant Mercy. He ſhall give his Angels charge concerning thee to hold thee in their hands, to incamp about thee; to miniſter to thee in all thy way, through this world, as an Heir of Salvation. So Jacob gave his Heart to God as he ſet out, and at his Return the Angels of God met him, and he ſaid, Theſe are the Lords hoſts. They were an heavenly Guard order'd to attend and defend that Heir of p. 52Promiſe, who as a Prince had power with God and had prevailed. Many a… the Afflictions of the righteous, but yet no Evil happens to the Juſt. All is meant for good, and made to work together for their beſt good. So take that Promiſe along with thee when thou haſt given thy Heart to God, Pſal. 91.10. There ſhall no evil befal thee. This Secret of the Lord is with the righteous, and he ſhews them his Covenant when others ſee things with them juſt as with other men, or it may ſeem worſe. But th…y and their works are in the Hand of God; and they ſhould conſider themſelves ſo, and ſay All is well. Is it not ſo, if God is thy Hope and Truſt from thy Youth? thy Guardian & Guide from it? and even unto Death? and thy Portion after it. Yet ſurely it is and ſhall be thus with thee, if thou giveſt Him thy Heart from thy Youth.

6. To give thy Heart to God in thy Youth is the way to be made a Bleſſing to all about thee as long as thou …v…ſt. That Bleſſing of Abraham ſhall here by p. 53come upon thee, as one of his ſpiritual …eed, Gen. 12.2. And thou ſhalt be a Bleſſing. What a bleſſed thing is this! What a Bleſſedneſs to a Perſon to be a Bleſſing to the World he lives in, all his life! from the early to the lateſt days of it: So ſhall the Man be bleſſed that gives his Heart early to God. A Child thus becomes a Bleſſing to his Parents, and the Joy of their hearts. Thy Father and thy Mother ſhall be glad. Such a Child becomes a bleſſing in the Family, to his Brethren and Siſters, and to the Servants in the houſe. A little ſpiritual Leaven may leaven the whole lump. A little ſpark of Fire preſently catches the Tinder that lies in its way, and ſpreads over it.

WHAT a Bleſſing was Joſeph rendered by his Piety to his Fathers houſe, both on temporal & ſpiritual accounts? and ſo Samuel to all Iſrael, as well as to his Parents? How did Hannah's heart rejoice in the Lord on his account? her Horn was exalted in the Lord: i. e. her honour, happineſs and joy. — But the great Inſtance of a p. 54heart always with God, from the firſt exerciſe of Underſtanding and from the firſt uſe of Reaſon, was our Lord Jeſus Christ; who came to bleſs us and to give us an Example; to love us, teach us and die for us; in whom all the Families of the Earth are bleſſed. Would our Children be in their places Bleſſings to the World, as Chriſt was; let them now give their Hearts to God and be before Twelve Year old, and after it about their Heavenly Fathers buſineſs. It became Him, in whoſe Heart Gods Law was from his Conception and Birth, and in whom was no ſin, that in Him all the Families of the Earth ſhould be bleſſed▪ The Child that ſconeſt gives his heart to God is moſt like to …riſt, and moſt like to be a Bleſſing … the Church of Chriſt.

GODLY … like to ſerve their own … Samuel and David did … to the Will of God; … a Foundation for many …. That Bleſſing is greatly to be deſired, Pſal. 144.1… p. 55That our Sons may be as Plants grown up in their youth, that our Daughters may be as Corner ſt…nes poliſhed, &c. The way for our Children to attain this Honour and become this Bleſſing, is for them to give their Hearts now to God. Happy is the People that is in ſuch a Ca….

7. And laſtly, GIVE thy Heart young to God and it will prevent thy giving it to other things, deſtructive of Soul and Body, and injurious to all about thee. God has his Rivals which ſtand Candidate for thy heart, and vehemently ſollicite for it. And alas! thy fooliſh corrupt and vile Heart naturally & ſtrongly inclines to them, and is averſs to God till he change and conſtrain it. Sin, Satan and worldly Lusts would inſnare, captivate and poſſeſs thy Heart for ever. Thy heart is gone to them, but God requires thee to give it back to him; and he will help thee to do it, if you will ſeek his help. Wilt thou give thy Heart to the greateſt Evil, and to thy greateſt Enemy? Is this thy Intereſt? p. 56No; it is to r…ne and deſtroy thy ſelf. Nothing can ſave thee from this Deſtruction, but the giving thy heart to God. Give it not to deſtructive Vices rather than to God. He would ſave it and theſe damn it forever. Deſtroy not that for which Chriſt died. Hear the words of King Lemuel, the Prophecy that his Mother taught him; Prov. 31.1, 2. What my Son, & what the Son of my Womb, and what the Son of my Vows! Give not thy strength to Women, nor thy ways to that which deſtroyeth Kings: It is not for Kings to drink wine, nor for Princes ſtrong drink. That meaning is, that if young People do not give their hearts to God betimes they will be in great danger of giving them to one deſtructive Vice or other to their after undoing on temporal and on ſpiritual Accounts. To prevent this, give thy Heart betimes to God: It w… ſave thee on all accounts: It is thy temporal and th… worldly Intereſt, — This was the firſt thing propoſed. I … to ſay,

p. 572. IT is thy ſpiritual and eternal interest to give thy Heart unto God … thy Childhood and Youth. If thou loveſt thy precious Soul, do this; place it on God and portion it in Him. This is of more price than all earthly and temporal Things. What ſhall it profit a Man, if by giving his Heart to this. World he could gain the whole of it, and ſhould l…ſe his own Soul? or what ſhall a man give in exchange for his Soul? O that thoſe Words of Chriſt were graven on our Hearts! What are all the poor Intereſts of Time, when compared with thoſe of Eternity?

OUR Hearts are made for ſpiritual and inviſible Things, things heavenly and eternal. The eternal God is their Portion. They are made for ſpiritual Exerciſes & for ſpiritual Enjoyments; and thoſe out of the Body and beyond the Grave; and in the Body for ever after the Reſurrection, in Glory and Incorruption.

OUR Hearts are made to know and love and deſire God, to thirſt after the living God, to chuſe Him & ſeek after p. 58Him; to walk before Him and enjoy Him; and attain Glory, Honour and Immortality in his Preſence, where is the fulneſs of Joy and at his right Hand Pleaſures for evermore.

OUR Heart were never made for this World and the temporary paſſing things of this life. Our immortal Souls can never find a Happineſs in a dying Body, and in things which they are going from; but only in Him that only hath Immortality to Whom they are going; and in whoſe Favour is their Life, and in his Anger is their eternal Death.

THE young Perſon may die to day or to morrow, and if he have not given his Heart to God, what will then become of Him to all Eternity? Or ſuppoſe that he may have many Years to abide in the Fleſh, yet it is his ſpiritual everlaſting Intereſt to give his Heart now to God, as much as if this night his Soul were to be required of him. For why is Life given us, but to be preparing therein for a bleſſed Eternity?

p. 59BESIDES that it makes the whole Life eaſie and pleaſant, if the Heart is given young to God. Then go, eat thy Bread with a merry heart. Then lay thee down in peace and ſleep. Then take the Comfort and taſte the ſweetneſs of all the good things of this Life that God giveth thee. The Work of Righteouſneſs is Peace, and the Effect thereof Quietneſs & Aſſurance for ever.

AGAIN, Thy Advan…s and Proficiency in Grace from thy Youth are the true Riches, the enduring Subſtance. The Heart and Treaſure are in Heaven. This is the good Foundation againſt the Time to come, that thou may eſt lay hold of eternal Life. This is to chuſe that good Part which ſhall never be taken away from thee.

WHEN Old Age comes (the evil Days to him that has never given his Heart to God) O the Conſolation to him that gave his in Youth to God. When the Grinders ceaſe you ſhall Feaſt on this and ſing, Pſal. 71.14. I will hope continually and will yet praiſe Thee more & more.

p. 60OR let Death come, ſooner or later, it is diſarm'd of its Terrors, its Sting is taken away, by having given our Hearts young to God. The aged Believer may then be waiting for his Departure in peace, like Simeon. Of if the Believer die in the Prime of Life, he may take up Hezekiah's Prayer, Lord remember how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a perfect heart. The Angels of God will be near to that failing Heart, to take it and carry it to the boſome of Abraham. Like Daniel it ſhall ſtand in its Let, and that a very glorious one, at the End of Time.

THUS bleſſed is He like to be that gives his Heart young to God. He is the Candidate for that Bleſſing. Rom. 5.17. Abundance of Grace and of the Gift by Jeſus Chriſt. Theſe are the Sons, and theſe the Daughters, that are like to ſit on Chriſts right Hand and on his left in his Kingdom. For the… furely it is prepared of the Father.

p. 61AND thus in point of Duty to Themſelves ſhou'd young People give their Hearts to God. It has the Proſpect and the Promiſe of the Life that now is and of that which is to come.

WE wiſh you Happy as to both Worlds, and therefore require you now to give your hearts to God. We urge you as Rebecca did her Jacob, to ſeek and get the Bleſſing of Abraham. Obey our Voice. God give thee of the dew of Heaven and of the fulneſs of the Earth! But what is infinitely more, God crown thee with the Riches of Grace here and of Glory hereafter. So Iſaac kiſſed Jacob and ſaid, See the ſmell of my Son is as the ſmell of a Field which the Lord hath bleſſed ††Here this Sermon may be divided..

I come now to the third and laſt Head, which is,

III. YOUNG people owe this to Others, to the World they live in, to all that are about them, and more eſpecially p. 62unto all Thoſe that are related ſo them and concerned in them: For the ſake and benefit of Others they ought to give their Hearts to God.

THIS is an Argument of great weight alſo, though it ought to come after the other two which have been already named and urged. God is firſt, our own Souls are next, and then the Souls of Others. The whole moral Duty of man lies in theſe three Branches, our more immediate Duty to God, to our Selves and to our Neighbours. So our Saviour and his Apoſtle have taught us; He in his Goſpel, the Other in his Epiſtle. Mat. 22.37. Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul: This is the firſt and great Command. And the ſecond, is like unto it, Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbour as thy ſelf. On theſe two Commandments hang all the Law & the Prophets. Tit. 2.16. For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men, teaching us to live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly in this preſent World. Young People are not p. 63righteous toward Men, no more than godly before God, unleſs they give themſelves unto God. If they give their Hearts unto the ways of God they are dutiful to Him, they are wiſe for themſelves, and will be but juſt & righteous to others. God has ſet us all in mutual Relations one toward another, and there are the Duties of thoſe Relations to be diſcharged; and pure Religion before God and Piety toward Men lies in the diſcharge of thoſe Duties. And young People ſtand in various Relations to one and another as much as their Elders; and are as much bound by the Law of God to render unto all the Duties of theſe Relations, as Others are: All Souls are Gods to obey him, and the Law of God binds all Souls alike to their particular Duties; even the ſoul of the Son and Daughter as much as the ſoul of the Parent. Therefore young People cannot be Religious before God, if they be not Righteous and dutiful toward all that they ſtand related unto; whether in a nearer or p. 64more remote Relation. And the Glory of God from them, and their own Happineſs and Comfort in their Obedience to God, depends upon their doing their Duty to Others, in their ſeveral places and Relations.—God has ſent us into the World to do good in it, to do good to all about us, to be Bleſſings to them among whom we live, to whom we are related, with whom we have Converſation and Acquaintance. Our very Children know that they ſuſtain theſe and thoſe Relations, to their Parents, to their Brethren and Siſters, to their Maſters and Teachers, to their Miniſters, to their Rulers, and to the Church and People of God whereof they are a part; Now if they give their Hearts betimes to God then and then only they will anſwer all the Duty of all the Rela… ons which they ſtand in to Others For the Word of God and the Lo… & Fear of God teaches them all theſ… Duties; and if they refuſe their Heart… to God, to his Word & Ways, then the… will never do their Duty to other… p. 65according to his Will and Commandment: And therefore young People owe this unto Others that they give their Hearts now to God becauſe then and not till then will they be juſt and righteous to all about them, whether Superiors, Inſeriours or Equals.

My Text points me to this Argument with young People, that for the ſake of Others and particularly of their Parents they ſhould give their hearts to God. For thus runs the Context, My ſon if thy heart be wiſe my heart ſhall rejoice even MINE; thy Father and thy Mother ſhall be glad, and ſhe that bare thee ſhall rejoice. Solomon ſpeaks here as a Father, and ſays to his Son, My Son! for my ſake give thy heart to God, do it for thy Mothers ſake as well as mine; We command thee to do this; do it in obedience both to God and us; and do it for our good, for our Comfort and Benefit, for the Joy that it will give to us; to ſee thee wiſe and good and happy. — You ſee then that I muſt forget my Text and depart from that, if p. 66I do not purſue this Argument a little, and move young People to give their hearts to God, for the ſake of Others, that ſo they may have Comfort in them, and Good from them.

I ſay therefore again, Young People owe this to Others, to the World they live in, to thoſe they are more nearly related to, and unto all about them that they give their Hearts unto God. — And to be particular, and to begin where Nature and my Text teaches me to begin,

1. YOUNG people owe this unto their Parents, to give their Hearts betimes to God. They owe it to their godly Parents as an Act of Obedience to their Commands; and as an early Requital of all their Love to them, and Pains and Cares and Prayers for them. They owe them this Joy; for the Father of the Righteous ſhall greatly rejoice, and he that heget…eth a wiſe ſon ſhall have joy of him. Prov. 10.1. A wiſe Son maketh a glad Father, but a fooliſh Son is the heavineſs of his Mother. Here is an Argument with Children p. 67that love their Parents, why they ſhould give their Hearts to God, becauſe hereby they will glad the hearts of their Parents, and if they do it not they will be a Grief of heart unto them. What do not Children owe to their Parents? and what ſhould they not be glad to do for their Comfort? And what can they do to comfort them and make their Hearts glad like this, to let them ſee the Fear and Love of God in them while they are young? How will they, like Mary, lay up all they ſee of this in their Hearts; and give God Praiſe for it? For what is a Parents hope, or joy, or Crown of Rejoicing? or what ſhould it be, but this! even the Grace of God in their Children? the Earneſt of their ſeeing them hereafter in the Preſence of the Lord Jeſus at his Coming! Every pious Parent is ready to ſay to his or her pious Offspring, as the Apostle to the Theſſalonians, Ye are our Glory and our Joy. If Children did but know and conſider how it would pleaſe, gratify and even edify p. 68their gracious Parents; it would … of ſome force with them to cauſe them to be religious in their early days. Prov. 29.17. Yea he ſhall give Delight to thy Soul. So Jacob did … the Soul of Rebecca, and Joſeph to the Soul of Jacob, and Samuel to the Sou… of Hannah, and JESUS to the Soul o… Mary: And ſo ſhould you to the heart of your pious Parents.

2. YOUNG people ſhould give God their hearts for the ſake of their Brethren and Siſters, and for the good … the Family whereof they are a part They owe this Duty to all that are in the Houſe with them; to let them ſee that God has their hearts. Hereby they will be Examples to the Children and Servants of the Family, and e… cite them to give their Hearts to God and will reprove and admoniſh them if they are wicked and do it not They will become a living Leſſo… and daily Monitor to all that li… with them. So thy Fathers Childre… ſhall learn of thee; and thou may … ſave the Souls of them that live w… p. 69thee. Beſides, that if You give your Heart to God, you will daily pray to Him for others, when you do for yourſelf. For thy Brethren and Companions ſake therefore, now give thy heart to God. Who knows but you may ſave ſome of the Houſhold? yea and others in the nei'bourhood where you dwell?

3. YOUNG people owe this to their Maſters according to the fleſh, to give their Hearts early to God; that they may the better do their Duty to them in obedience to the Word of God, and become Bleſſings in the Families where the Providence of God diſpoſes of them. So Jacob, having given his heart to God, carried a Bleſſing with him to the houſe of Laban. He ſerv'd him faithfully by day and by night, and the bleſſing of the Lord accompanied him in all that he ſet his hand unto. Laban found by Experience that the Lord had bleſſed him for Jacob's ſake, Gen. 30.27. So Joſeph went down a ſold ſervant to Egypt, … he had given his heart to God, p. 70and was prudent and diligent in hi… Maſters buſineſs, for he feared God; and God bleſſed the Egyptians houſe for Joſephs ſake. Gen. 39.5. — And ſo it will be always good for a Family to have ſuch young People come into Service in it; who have given their hearts to God and his Ways; they will ſet themſelves to do their Duty, in their place, to their Maſter and Miſtreſs, to the Children of the houſe, and to their Fellow ſervants, in ſingleneſs of heart, fearing God. And ſuch Servants are an unknown Bleſſing in a Family. And for this reaſon, among others, young People ſhould give their hearts to God, that they may be Bleſſings to the Families where they may go to ſerve. Read what a Bleſſing religious Servants are to a Family, and what an Argument it ſhould be with young People in their Services to be religious that they may be ſuch Bleſſings; Eph. 6.5, 6, 7. Col. 3.22, 23, 24.

4. And laſtly, YOUNG people ſhould give their hearts to God, for the ſ… p. 71of the Generation which they are to ſerve by the Will of God, if they live. Young people ſhould not build upon living long; but they ought to prepare and lay in for a godly Life of Service to God and Good to Men, if it ſhould pleaſe God to prolong their lives. And in order to this the ſhort Rule before them is this in my Text, My Son, give God thy heart, Thou wilt then give thy ſelf to his People according to his will, to do good in the place wherein his Providence ſets thee; that thou mayeſt be a Bleſſing both in Church and State. If a young Perſon has given God his heart, he is like to make a grave, prudent, judicious, faithful Man in his civil Capacity and Relations, and into whatever public Offices he may be called. And in like manner he that gives his Heart young to God is like to be a …hining exemplary uſeful Chriſtian …n the Church of Chriſt. Both in …tate and Church, he will be ſeen and …bſerved with a raye of Moſes ſhining …e upon him. So Joſeph having p. 72given his heart early to God, what a Bleſſing was he made to the World, and unto Iſrael? And ſo we may ſay of Moſes & of Joſhua; and of Samuel and David; and of Daniel. The Luminaries, and Glories, and great Benefactors to the World, have been ſuch as have given their hearts young to God. In Theſe, in their meaſure after Chriſt, (from the Spirit of Chriſt dwelling and ruling in them) has been exemplified that Bleſſing of bleſſings, the Glory of the Son Himſelf in our Nature; In thee the Families of the Earth are bleſſed. And what … Motive and Reaſon ſhould this be to young People? that they may be great Bleſſings in their places as long as they live, even unto old Age if God ſhould ſpare them to it.

AND thus for the ſake of Others you ſhould give your hearts to God while you are young.

HAVING now gone thro' the ſeveral Arguments I propoſed, and ſhow… that young people owe this Duty … p. 73God, to Themſelves, and to the World they live in;

I come now to make ſome Improvement and Application of the Doctrine. and it may be in three or four Uſes, of Examination, of Reprehenſion, of Conſolation, and of Exhortation.

1. OF Examination, and ſerious Self-Enquiry. Have we yet given our hearts to God? Child, haſt thou done it? and you that are Parents did you do it in your younger days? or is it done even to this day? And ſhould you not do it now? Should it not have been done many a Day, or Month, or Year paſt? and when ſhall it be done? when ſhall it once be?

2. THE Uſe is of Reprehenſion to all ſuch as have not given their hearts to God, whether Elder or Younger Perſons. The youngeſt among us are very wicked and miſerable if they have not yet given their hearts to God. Our Children may not excuſe themſelves or think God will excuſe p. 74it in them. They may and ſhould ſee their own vile Nature, the Plague of their hearts, how vitiated and depraved their Minds are, alienated from God, and Enmity againſt him. It is a deſperately wicked heart of thine, or it would give it ſelf to the bleſſed God. It is a curſed heart that departeth from the Lord its God. —But then how criminal and guilty are Elder People, under the power of this evil Heart; and in the ſame gall of bitterneſs and bond of Iniquity! Our Children are to be bewailed under it, but much more our Adult people. As Moſes lamented over the Children of Iſrael, Deut. 29.4. Yet the Lord hath not given you a Heart to perceive, nor Eyes to ſee, nor an Ear to hear unto this day. How wretched is their caſe that have lived long in the world, but all their days without God in it! that are juſt going out of the world and have never given their hearts to God! It is a hard word to the youngest ſinner, but ſhould ſound terribly to the Older; Of the Rock that bega… p. 75thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

3. THE next Uſe is of Conſolation, to all them that have given their hearts to God, but eſpecially them that have done it in their younger days. If it is done at all, tho' done late, bleſſed be God for it, and bleſſed be thou of the Lord thy God. Happy is he that can ſay with the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 15.8. Laſt of all He was ſeen of me alſo, as of one born out of due time. But happier is he that can ſay with Him, My manner of life from my Youth up, has ſhown a heart given to God. Happy was Obadiah, who could ſay of himſelf, 1 King. 18.12. I thy ſervant fear the Lord from my Youth. Let the Mouths of ſuch be filled with God's Praiſe and Honour all the day. — Happy is the young perſon that has given his heart to God; whether he lives to ſerve God in this World, or whether he dies and goes to enjoy him in a better. Of ſuch is the Kingdom of Heaven; p. 76the Kingdom of Grace here, and o… Glory hereafter. Where ever Jeſu… ſees any ſuch young People he loves them; and ſuch Children be takes … in the Arms of his Grace and Covenant, and bleſſes 'em.

4. THE laſt Uſe is of Exhortation; and let it be directed to all, both elder & younger Perſons, as the Voice of God to them; Give God your hearts. What a gracious Exhortation is this, which ſpeaketh to us as unto Children? for ſurely it is a Father that asks of us our hearts. Who can refuſe this to God? For let us conſider,

1. GOD only has Right to our hearts. To whom ſhall we give them, if not Him? What has ſin or ſatan, the world or fleſh, to do with theſe hearts of ours? God that made us this Soul, made it for Himſelf He fill'd the heart of Man at firſt with Himſelf, and fix'd it on Himſelf, and He has redeemed it for Himſelf. He claims but his Own, and of his Own we give Him, when we give him our Hearts.

p. 772. THY Heart is too great and good I thing for any thing below God. It is I Spirit, and made for ſpiritual Bleſſedneſs: It is a living and immortal ſpirit and made for a bleſſed Immortality. This World therefore, with all the Objects of ſenſe which it is filled with, is not ſuted to nor ſufficient for thy Heart. Theſe are not great, good or durable eno' to fill and ſatisfy that. Wherefore reverence thy ſelf; know ye not their own ſelves? that you are ſpirits and not fleſh; like the horſes and cattle about your doors, to feed & live upon the husks of this World; and that you are immortal Spirits, made for a future and eternal World. You muſt not therefore bow down to this ſtock, nor ſacrifice your Hearts to theſe empty and tranſitory things, nor proſtitute your noble Souls to trifles and childiſh Vanities? to Riches and Honours which neither improve nor ſatisfy the Souls of Men while they live, nor can deſcend after them when they die? Or wilt thou give thy Heart to p. 78thoſe ways of Sin and Wickedneſs, which render this Life miſerable, and which end in Hell and eternal Damnation? Surely thy Heart is too good to give it to the devil; and yet in effect thou giveſt it to him if it be not given to God.

3. CONSIDER that you owe your heart to CHRIST, who has died to purchaſe it for God; to redeem it from Sin, to recover it from the devil, to purify it for God: Thou art bought with a Price, therefore glorify God with thy Body and Spirit. 1 Cor. 6.20. Thy whole Spirit Soul and Body is due to Him, who gave Himſelf a Ranſom for thee; who made his Soul an Offering, who thro' the Eternal Spirit offered up himſelf without ſpot to God! He claims thy Heart, for he has dearly bought it with his Blood, to ſanctify and cleanſe it, for an Habitation of God, a living Temple and a living Sacrifice. Rom. 12.1. I beſeech you therefore Brethren, by the Mercies of God, that ye preſent your bodies a living ſacrifice, holy, acceptable p. 79unto God, which is your reaſonable ſervice. 14.7. For none of us liveth to himſelf, and no man dieth to himſelf; for whether we live, we live unto the Lord: and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lords. For to this end Chriſt both died, and roſe, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

4. LET young people conſider that they have been given to God in Baptiſm, by which they are bound and obliged to give their hearts to God. And now it lies upon them to make this Act and Deed, the Dedication of themſelves to God; ſecretly and publickly. Your Parents and Miniſters who have done their part in giving you up to God according to his Appointment, and all the Lord's People that ſaw you bro't under the holy Bonds of God in your Baptiſm; do all join in calling upon you to give your hearts to God And God calls upon you as the Seed of his Covenant People, as a devoted Seed to him, and p. 80as your Covenant God—My Children, give me your hearts. To refuſe him is in effect to deny & renounce your Baptiſm.

5. And laſtly, GOD will give Himſelf, his Son and Spirit, his Heaven and Glory, to all them that give their hearts to Him. He requires our hearts, that he may beſtow Himſelf on us. The Heart of the Bleſſed Trinity is toward thee in this Demand of thy Heart for God; it is that thou mayeſt be bleſſed in God, in his Love and Favour, in his Preſence and Glory for ever and ever. Give thy heart to God & God will come down into it and poſſeſs it for Himſelf, and dwell and reign in it, and prepare it for his heavenly Glory. Give thy Heart to God, and the Grace of Chriſt, the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt ſhall be with thy Spirit. Give thy heart to God and when fleſh and heart faileth God will be the Strength of thy heart and thy portion for even. Give thy Heart to God, and when thou dieſt God will take thy Spirit p. 81to Himſelf; to his Preſence where is the fulneſs of Joy for ever and ever. All that God has to give, and that thou canſt receive, God will give to thee another Day if thou giveſt thy Heart to him now.

BY way of Direction,

1. GIVE thy heart to God, and do it inſtantly. What you do, let it be done quickly, forthwith, preſently. Do it now: To day if you will hear his Voice. Delay not in a matter of this Importance. To morrow may be too late; you may be dead before it …omes; This night may thy Soul be required.

2. GIVE thy heart to God and give … wholly to him. He requires of thee all thy Heart and all thy Soul. He … a right to It all, He will not accept of a part, a divided heart. His Glory forbids it. It is wholly His, …d muſt be all devoted to him, all …ployed for him. Thy Soul and all p. 82that is within thee, thy whole Spirit, Soul and Body; This is God's claim.

3. GIVE thy heart to God & give it for ever to him. It is a living immortal Spirit, that thou rendreſt to the living God, the everlaſting King. Thy heart muſt be given abſolutely and irrevocably. This is my God, and my Heart ſhall be his for ever and ever. Come and let us joyn out ſelves to the Lord in an everlaſting Covenant, never to be forgotten. You are acting for Time & Eternity.

4. GIVE thy heart to God and do it joyfully and thankfully. It is thy greateſt Honour and Happineſs that he will accept of thy poor heart, and that thou haſt a heart inclined to give it ſelf to him. Who am I, O Lord God! and what is my People, that we ſhould be allowed to effer ſo willingly after this ſort! Thy heart! it is a wonder of Grace that God ſhould allow thee to make a Tender of it to Him. If he has prepar'd it for Himſelf it will be a moſt willing Offering a Thank offering.

p. 835. GIVE thy Heart to God and give it to his People, in all his appointed Ways. Give your own ſelves firſt to the Lord, and then to Us by the Will of God; As the Apoſtle ſpeaks; 2 Cor. 8.5. Give thy ſelf to God and come into his Church, and be walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameleſs. As Ruth clave to Naomi and her People, having given her ſelf to the God of Iſrael: Ruth 1.16. Entreat me nor to leave thee, nor to turn from following after thee; for thy People ſhall be my People, and thy God my God. Let our young People ſhow that they have given their Hearts to God by coming into full Communion; and by continuing ſted faſtly (all their Life) in the Fellowſhip of the Saints. Give your Hearts to God and it will bring you on to the Table of Chriſt, and make you welcome there. Yea when you have given your Heart to God, you may give Thanks unto the Father who hath made you meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light.

p. 846. And laſtly, GO to God in the name of Christ that he would give the… a Heart to give to Him The Prep… ration of this heart in Man is of the Lord, and we muſt ask it of H…m. It is a ſingular Gift of his Grace. Let us ask of Him a new Heart, a purified and clean Heart; a holy and heavenly Heart; that He would put his …ar in our hearts & ſhed abroad of his l…ve in them Let thy Heart anſwer to God's; O that there were ſuch on Heart in me. David has r…ght us to pray, Unite my Heart to fear thy name; Incline my heart unto thy Teſtimonies. And David has aſſured as that God will hear the … of the Humble, w…en that is their Petition; he will prepare their Heart, & cauſe his Ear to hear.