1. What are we to understand by the Kingdom and Righteousness of God. There is a three-fold Kingdom of God. 1. The Kingdom of his Power, 1 Chron. 29. 11. Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above All. 2. The Kingdom of his Grace, Luk. 17. 21. The Kingdom of God is within you. 3. The Kingdom of his Glory, Joh. 3. 3. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Gods Power be sure is not here spoken of, some understand hereby the King­dom of his Grace: But I rather think, that in this place the Kingdom of God is to be taken for the Kingdom of his Glory, where the chief and perfect happiness of men doth lye, which our Saviour would [Page 5] have them to seek, and not be sollicitous about earthly things which are so empty and transitory: And I the rather conceive that it is to be taken for the Kingdom of Glory, because the Kingdom of Grace which is the way to Glory, is included in the next word, namely, the righteousness of God, as Rom. 14. 17. The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, &c. There is a twofold righteousness of God, 1. That righteous­ness which is imputed to us, whereby we are justi­fied, called the righteousness of God by Faith, Phil. 3. 9. 2. That righteousness which is wrought in us, be­gun in regeneration, when we are renewed after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness, Eph. 4. 24. and in the work of Sanctification is more and more increased and augmented, whereby we grow in our spiritual stature, untill we come to a perfect man, to be perfectly righteous, even as Christ Is righteous. The Object then which we are to seek is the Kingdom of God, the Crown of glory, which God hath layd up for his people, the Happiness of Heaven as the End; and the righteousness of God, reconciliation to him, through the imputation of his Sons rightcousness; and conformity to him through the working inherent righteousness in us by the ope­ration of his Spirit, as the way to this Kingdom, and necessary means to attain this end.

2. The second thing is to shew what it is to seek the Kingdom and Righteousness of God: and here two things are implyed, 1. A diligent Enquiry after these things. 2. A diligent endeavour in the use of means to obtain them.

[Page 6] 1. A diligent enquiry after these things, and that both after the things and after the means; such as seek after this kingdom and righteousness, they first inform themselves in the nature, worth and need which they have of these things, and then diligent­ly inquire how they may get a part and i [...]terest in them: First, they enquire who will shew us the chief good? We see that the Creatures cannot yield us satisfaction, we cannot finde any perfect and com­pleat happiness upon the Earth, where shall we finde it? And being informed by the Word and Or­dinances that God is the chief good, that his favour is better than life, and that in his righteousness there is the beginning of true happiness, and in his King­dom there is perfection of happiness; that in his presence there is fulness and eternity of joy and bles­sedness, and that whilest they remain under the guilt and power of sin, they are under the Curse; and be­fore they obtain his righteousness, and a title to his Kingdom, they are in a lost estate, their condition for the present is miserable, and they are exposed every moment to be thrown into the dark and deep dungeon of Hell, where they shall be most horribly and eternally tormented; they further (being con­vinced of sin, and awakened with the fear of punish­ment) earnestly enquire how they may be delive­red from the estate of sin and misery, and be brought into a state of salvation; as the Jaylour, Act. 16. 30. Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And being told that Christ only can save them from sin and wrath to come; they enquire how they may get an interest in Christ, and share in his righteousness; and being told of the Happiness in the Zion which is above, they enquire how they may get a title to the Kingdom of [Page 7] Heaven, and ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, as the Church, Jer. 50. 5. Such as seek the Kingdom of God to purpose, they set their fa­ces towards the heavenly Jerusalem; their hearts are set upon it, they are resolved to get it whatever it cost them; they ask the way not with their faces Hell-ward, as some do, but with their faces Hea­ven-ward, being resolv'd to submit to any terms; to make use of any means so they may obtain it.

2. Seeking after Gods Kingdom and Righteous­ness, doth imply a diligent endeavour in the use of means (having found out what means are requisite) that they may obtain these things. Having found the Field where the Treasure is hid, there they dig that they may possess themselves of the treasure: Having found the Cabinet where the Jewel doth lye, they labour to open the Cabinet that they may get the Jewel: Having found the Shop, the Market where the Oyl is sold, they come to the place and buy: Being informed of a Scepter of grace held forth, they come and lay hold on it: Being informed of a Door of mercy, they come and knock, there they will lye, there they will crye, there they will dye, if they perish, they will perish in the use of means: Pray, hear, read, meditate, they will use any means, which God hath prescribed in his Word, though never so harsh and displeasing to flesh, and cross to their carnal interest: Though the use of power­full means may be hazzardous, though they may en­danger Liberty, Estate, Life, they will not flirich and start aside out of Gods way to his Kingdom what­ever enemies and opposition they meet withall therein; they w [...]ll persevere in the way when the Sun of persecution shines hot upon them, they will [Page 8] hold on their course whatever the way and weather be, and so by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour, and immortality, Rom. 2. 7. if by any means they may attain the possession of this King­dom of God.

3. The third thing is to shew what is implyed in this word First, Seek first the Kingdom and righte­ousness of God.

1. Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righte­ousness, that is, seek these things timely, before other things; seek them in the Morning of your Life, in the Spring of your years, in the flower of your Youth. Read Ecclesiastes 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth, while the evil dayes come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Remember thy Creator, that God that made thee, and who alone can new make thee; who formed thy body in the womb, and who alone can form Christ in thy heart; who created thy soul, breathing into thee the breath of life, and who alone can create the New Man in thee after his Image, by breathing into thee his quickening Spirit: Remem­ber thy Creator, who not long since brought thee out of the loathed estate of Nothing, and numbred [Page 9] thee amongst his Creatures; and who can bring thee out of the more loathed estate of sin, and num­ber thee amongst his Children: Remember him, endeavour to know him, how great and good he is, how glorious and gracious; remember him, minde him who is every where present; remember him, get a holy awe and dread of him upon thee; re­member him, get an interest in him, and acquain­tance with him; remember him, make choice of him for thy God, and chief good; seek his favour, seek his Kingdom and Righteousness: And that Now in the dayes of thy Youth, in thy first years, when it is not long since thou camest out of his hands; remember him in thy Spring and bloom, before the Winter come; remember him in thy best dayes, b [...]fore the evil dayes, and the years of old de­crepid age draw nigh, when thy body may be full of diseases, thy bones full of the sins of thy Youth, and thy Soul full of evil habits, and thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; when God whom thou hast forgot, shall say, I have no pleasure in thee; and thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in my Life; when thou shalt have neither inward nor outward com­fort; when thy heart shall say concerning riches, ho­nours, and all sensual enjoyments, I have no plea­sure in them; I hoped for good, but I have met with disappointment; I looked for sweetness and satis­faction, but I am more unsatisfied than before; that which I formerly took delight in, hath a bitter taste and reflection: My years now are irksome, and te­dious, and I can finde no pleasure in them. This was Solomons advice to young men to remember their Creator in the dayes of their Youth, and this is the advice of our Saviour a wiser than Solomon, to [Page 10] seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness; to seek this timely, before other things.

2. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and his righte­ousness, that is chiefly, and above other things. The things of this world may be sought; but it must be in subordination to the things of Gods Kingdom: You must make Earth to stoop to Heaven, and the concernments of the Body must give place to the concernments of the Soul; you must let the things of God have the chief of your thoughts and care.

4. The fourth thing is to shew that all the children of men ought first to seek the Kingdom and righte­ousness of God: All are bound to do it by vertue of the Precept in the Text, as well as engaged by their own Interest. It is for Gods glory that they should do it, and it is requisite in order to their own good; and it is very reasonable for men to obey when God commands nothing but what is in order to their own happiness, which they cannot neglect, but it will be to their ruin and destruction: This duty then lyeth upon every one, to seek Gods Kingdom and righteousness; no wealth, honour, dignity, or whatever else this world conceits and flatters can give a supersedeas hereunto; no condition, calling, temptation, or whatever engagements any may pre­tend, can excuse from it; neither the voluptuous in­clination of Youth, nor the tedious infirmities of Old Age can be a sufficient dispensation for the neglect of it. The Emphasis of the word First I shall reserve to speak to in the word of Advice by and by.

I. FIrst seek the Kingdom of God. Here is a King­dom proffered to you, not an Earthly King­dom, but the Kingdom of Heaven: here is a Crown set before you, not a Crown of Gold, but that which is infinitely more precious, a Crown of Glo­ry: As mean as you are, you may be all Princes, Sons and Heirs of the King of Heaven, if you will look and seek after it. Some Youths have aspiring mindes; like the Eagles they sore aloft, and would set their nests among the starrs, as Obad. 4. you can­not aspire to a greater dignity, than to get a title to the Kingdom of God; here you may mount as high as you will in your aim without sin, and attain an eternal Habitation, and Mansion above the Stars, even in the Palace of Heaven. Some young men have covetous desires after the World, and they will spare no labour in seeking after earthly riches, and an Inheritance here below: Let me entreat you to covet earnestly the b [...]st riches; do not endeavour so much to hoard up riches, as to lay up treas [...]res, I mean treasures in Heaven, which neither mo [...] nor rust can corrupt, nor thieves break thorow and steal, Mat. 6. 20. Get a title to the Inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and sadeth not away, which Jesus Christ hath purchased and prepared. Some young men addict themselves to the pleasures of the flesh, they are very jovial and frolick in their youth, walking in the wayes of their heart, and in the sight of their eyes, and very desirous of carnal delights, and sensual satisfactions; here are delights [Page 17] and pleasures before you of a higher and purer na­ture, more reall and substantial, more durable and lasting. The way [...]s of God are wayes of pleasant­ness: But Oh what Joyes are there laid up in store, what delights are there in Heaven, in the immedi­ate vision and full fruition of God the chief good O seek the Kingdom of God, where there are full and everlasting pleasures.

And if you would get a title to this Kingdom of God, and at length possession of it, you must,

1. Study the vanity and emptiness of all things here below; hearken to Reason, which will tell you so, because these things are unsuitable, unpropor­tionable, uncertain, of a fading and perishing na­ture. Believe the report of the Word concerning the World and all things therein: Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher, all is vanity, Eccl. 1. 1. read that book throughout. Take the experience of others, who have tryed the world, and after the fullest and most desireable enjoyment of these things, have come off with dissatisfaction. Think how dangerous it will be for you to try: Let the Rocks which others have split themselves upon, be a warning to you to steer your course another way. Never look for, never seek happiness in the World; believe me, it is not there to be found. And therefore do not lay up your treasure on Earth.

2. Look into the Word, where life and immortality is brought to light; where the glory and happiness of Heaven, and the things which God hath there pre­pared for them that love him, are in some measure revealed. Look into the Gospel, which like a Pro­spective-glass will give you some view of the glory which is above; there you may perceive that Heaven [Page 18] is a place of rest, of peace, of light, of joy, of per­fect and eternal happiness.

By the Word you may understand what happi­ness is prepared for the Body, how gloriously that will shine, even like the Sun, and be made like Christs most beautifull and glorious body at the Re­surrection: There you may understand what glory will be put upon the Soul, what shining garments of Holiness it will be cloathed withall, and what Joyes of the Master it will be filled with.

3. Compare Earth and Heaven together in the ballance, and see which doth outweigh; whether the exceeding and eternal weight of glory be not more ponderous, than all the glory and happiness which the world can give, which indeed is not so much as the dust of the ballance to compare with it. And having made diligent enquiry and seriously con­sidered and compared both these, then make your choice; the time of your Youth is the choosing time; renoun [...]e the World, and make choice of this King­dom of God for your portion and Inheritance; and be [...]o tented to stay for your chief happiness till you come forth of the World: take not that for your portion which will so soon be spent; but choose that which will be both satisfying and everlasting, though you stay some time before you come to the full possession of it.

4. Apply the Promises of Eternal Life, 1 Joh. 2. 24. This is the promise which he hath promised, even eternal life. Titus 1. 2. In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lye, hath promised: Build upon these and the like Promises, they are a firm footing and ground for Faith, which will not fail.

5. Apply your selves unto Jesus Christ, in whom [Page 19] all the Promises are yea and amen, who hath pur­chased this Kingdom, and hath taken possession of it, and alone can give you title and admission.

6. Be earnest for this at the Throne of Grace, that whatever God giv [...]s, he would not deny you his King­dom, that he would not put you off with the world for your portion, that you may not have your good things only in this life; urge the promises of eternal life, thew him his hand-writing, plead the merit and mediation of his Son; resolve to take no denyal, press in at the door, strive to get in at the strait gate; en­deavour to take Heaven by violence; of which more by and by.

7. Get those qualifications which are needfull to fit you for this Kingdom, which are included in this Word Righteousness: And that is the second thing I would press you unto.

II. If you would seek Gods Kingdom, so as to obtain, you must also seek Gods Right [...]ousness. Seek imputed righteousness; the guilt of sin must be re­moved before it is possible for any to have admission into the Kingdom of God. You all are guilty of sin, God is offended, his Justice must be satisfied, you are insufficient, being finite; Christ hath made it in your stead, his righteousness is perfect, there must be an imputation hereof unto you, if you would ob­tain remission of sins, and an inheritance among the people of God. Your salvation doth depend upon your application of Christs righteousness; study your need, get conviction of sin, consider your danger whiles [...] under guilt, understand the intent of Christs suffer­ings, acquaint your self with the tenour of the Cove­nant of Grace. And. C [...]rist being held forth to you, [Page 20] lay hold on him by faith, his righteousness being in­tended for you, and proffered unto you, make appli­cation of it; cloathe your selves with it by faith, and therein appear with confidence before God, pleading for pardon and acceptation.

2. Seek imparted righteousness: Imputed righte­ousness is necessary to entitle you to Gods Kingdom, imparted righteousness is necessary to qualifie and prepare you for Gods Kingdom. This righteous­ness here is imperfect, and cannot be the causa reg­nandi, the cause of reigning, yet it is via ad regnum, the way to the Kingdom. This righteousness is be­gun in Regeneration, and further increased in San­ctification, as hath been said.

1. You must be regenerate, born again, if ever you would see the Kingdom of God, John 3. 3. Old things must pass away, and all things must become new, 2 Cor. 5. 17. As a man must be born be­fore he can possess an Earthly Inheritance, so a man must be new-born before he can possess the Heavenly Inheritance. First you must be Children before you can be Heirs of God; you must be Children by ado­ption, and you must be Children by regeneration. Labour then after a gracious change in your heart, see your need of it, apply your selves to God for it; beg earnestly that he would by his Spirit be pleased to effect it; put your selves under the influence of the Word, be ready to yield to the movings and strivings of the Spirit.

2. Having shot the Gulph, passed thorow the strait gate of Regeneration, and obtained the be­ginning of the work of grace, you must endeavour after Sanctification, that you may grow up in holi­ness. You must by the Spirit mortifie the deeds of [Page 21] the body, and cleanse your selves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God; and hereby you will be made meet to be made partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in light; and an entrance will be administred unto you most assuredly into the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 7. 1. Col. 1. 12. 2 Pet. 1. 11.

1. The time of Youth is the most acceptable time, 2 Cor. 6. 2. The Apostle speaketh of the day of the Gospel, and I may speak it of the day of Youth: Behold now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation. Any part of the day may be accepta­ble; [Page 22] be sure the beginning of the day is most ac­ceptable. God is best pleased with young ones who seek the things which belong to his Kingdom, and their salvation; that dedicate themselves to his ser­vice betimes, before Sathan and the World have ra­vished their Virgin-affections. Under the Law God required the First-fruits and First-born for Sacrifice, and under the Gospel God requireth the first-fruits and first-born of our time, and thoughts, and af­fections: The first-fruits under the Law were to be mingled with Oyl and Frankincense, which gave forth a sweet savour, Lev. 2. 15. when you devote the first of your time, and parts, and strength to God, this is a sweet savour to him. God taketh especial notice of, and is exceedingly pleased with ea ly seekers, and timely services. Jer. 2. 2. I remem­ber the kindness of thy youth, and the love of thy espou­sals; and Cant. 6. 11. we read of Christ, going down into the garden of the Church, to see if the Pome­granates budded; the buddings and blossoms of Youth are sweet and pleasing to Chr [...]st: the youngest Disciple was Christs beloved Disciple. It is recorded for the commendation of Josiah, that he did that which was right in the sight of God when he was but eight years old, 1 King. 22. 1. and of Timothy, that from a Childe he had known the Holy Scriptures, whereby he became wise unto salvation, 2 Tim. 3. 15. None are like to bring so much glory to God, as those that s [...]ek his Kingdom and Righteousness in their youth; and therefore this time is the most ac­ceptable time.

1. The grace of young persons is most conspicu­ous; it is like the Morning-blush, like the first open­ing of the Rose, like a Diamond set in a Ring of [Page 23] gold; early grace hath a sweet fragrancy, and glo­rious lustre in it: The beauty of it doth then most shine, and the power of it doth then most appear, when young ones do deny themselves, and take up the Cross, and bear the yoak in their youth; when young ones do deafen their ears against all entice­ments unto pleasing sins, and break thorow the temptatious they meet withall, and with full pur­pose of heart stick close unto God. This doth shew the power of grace, and tendeth much to Gods glory.

2. The time of young ones is longest which they have to glorifie God; when they seek and serve God betimes, they may not only escape many pollutions in the World wherewith other youths are defiled, to the dishonour of God, and the wounding of their own Consciences; but they may bring much glory to God in their generations. God hath work enough to employ them in (all tending to his glory and their good) thorowout the whole day of their lives, though they should begin in the Morning so soon as they can see, and work a whole and long Sum­mers day, untill the night and darkness of old de­crepid years. I might instance in some of the works they are to be employed in; they have a pardon to sue out, evidences to clear, corruptions to mortifie, graces to get and improve, a treasure to lay up, tem­ptations to resist, relations to fill; so many duties to perform to God, to Man: They may finde more work than time; Eternity-work is begun in this life. Now look, as a Master who driveth a great trade, is best pleased with those servants who rise most early, and are most diligent in his business; so God who hath so much work for his people, is best [Page 24] pleased with young persons, who seek him early and diligently.

3. The Strength of young persons to serve God with, is the greatest. 1 Joh. 2. 14. I have written un­to you young men, because you are strong. Marvellous is the strength and power of grace in some young ones, who have been sanctified betimes, whereby they have been enabled to do him some notable service in the world. In youth, as the Body is most strong and active, so the Soul is most vigorous and lively, and ther [...]fore most fit to be employed by the Lord. Se [...]k then Gods Kingdom and Righteousness in the time of Youth, because this is the most acceptable time, God is best pleased therewith.

2. The time of youth is the most seasonable time. There is a time for all things, saith Solomon, Eccl. 5. 1. The time of youth is the most s [...]asonable time to seek the Kingdom of God. There are four things requisite in seeking Gods Kingdom to all such as would obtain it.

• 1. The Breaking of the heart for sin.
• 2. The Breaking of the heart from sin.
• 3. The Opening of the heart to Christ.
• 4. The Furnishing of the heart with Grace.

The time of Youth is most seasonable for all.

1. You must get your heart broken for sin, if ever you would enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; you must mourn for sin here, or weep for sin for ever; you must sowe in tears, if you would reap in joy. The time of youth is most seasonable for this; your sorrow is like to be loss heavy, and more kindly: The heart hath a natural hardness, but if it hath [Page 25] got a contracted hardness, it will with more diffi­culty be broken, if ever it be broken: Custom in sin will take away sense of sin; and if you continue in the practice of sin, you will feel a senselesness and stupidity grow upon your spirit; and Conscience more tender and timorous at first, by degrees will grow feared as with a hot Iron, and be past feeling. Bring your hearts therefore now under the hammer of the Word, that they may be broken; the longer you deferre, the harder you will finde it to re­pent.

2. You must get your hearts broken from sin; you must turn from your evil wayes, otherwise ini­quity will be your ruine. The longer you continue in sin, the harder it will be to leave sin; custom will be a second nature to you; the changing whereof will be like changing the skin of the Aethiopian, and taking away the spots of the Leopard. When sin is rooted and riveted in you, if so be you should turn from it, it will be with unexpressible tearings, and divulsions of spirit. It is a hard thing to irradicate old habits, which at first in the tender years may be done with more ease: Therefore, Dear young ones, labour to get sin rooted out of your hearts betimes. Get sin mortified before it hath got too much life and strength; oppose sin before it hath got too much head and power, which you may do with more fa­cility and success.

3. You must open your hearts and give entertain­ment unto Christ, if you ever expect to have the gate of Heaven opened unto you, and to be entertained by Christ in his Kingdom. Such as shut the door of their hearts against Christ when they are young, will finde (if Christ doth not withdraw, and leave [Page 26] knocking) that the door will be faster bolted and barred within against him; the longer you hold it out, the more will Sathan strengthen the Fort against Christ, and more easily beat off whatever assaults are made upon you by the Word and Spirit. Christ will come in most willingly to them that open to him presently; and the match will quickly be made up, if in youth you hearken to the motion. Let me beseech you, therefore, my dearly beloved young ones, to open the door to Christ without any further de­lay; by me he standeth now and knocketh for enter­tainment; what answer shall I return, that you have harboured lusts there, where his lodging should be, and would not part with them? that you put me off till a further day, untill you had a little longer tasted the sweets of sin: O take heed of such carriage of heart towards Christ, Qui non est hodie, cras minus aptus erit, if you be not willing to open to Christ now, you will be more unwilling to morrow: do it then presently; may I be instrumental to joyn the Lord Jesus Christ and you together in marriage; re­ceive him into your hearts, and accept of him, to love, honour, and obey him, and do it heartily and resolvedly, and he is yours.

4. You must get your hearts furnished with grace, if ever you hope to share in the glory of Gods King­dom. Grace is glory in the seed, and glory is grace in the flower; grace is glory in the root, glory is grace in the fruit; grace is glory in the first-fruits, glory is grace in the harvest: You must get the seed sown, the root planted, or no flower, no fruit, no harvest is to be expected; you must get the King­dom of Gods grace within you, Luk. 17. 21. if ever you would be admitted into the Kingdom of his [Page 27] glory. And the time of youth is the most seasonable time for the getting of grace; no time like the Spring for setting of this Plant of grace in the heart; in the youth the heart is more plyable, and like the yield­ing Wax more ready to receive the impressions of the Spirit.

3. The time of youth is the most safe time. If you make it your first care to seek the kingdom and righteousness of God, you are most likely to finde and be successefull; but if you make delayes, you run your selves upon great uncertainties: there is danger that you will never obtain, if you do not seek whilest you are young. The danger lyeth in three respects:

1. In respect of the uncertainty of Life; no Age [...]s secure, and fenced against the arrowes of Death: Some flowers are nipped in the bud; some Springs run into the Sea so soon as they arise; the thred of Life in some is quickly cut, and the Candle blown [...]ut within a while after it is lighted. You may dye whilest you are young, and if you do not seek Gods kingdom and righteousness now, you may not have [...]ime to seek these things at all.

2. Your danger is in respect of the uncertainty of the Means of Grace: you have now means and opportunities of seeking, hereafter you may be de­prived of the means, if you be not deprived of your [Page 28] lives. You have calls now, hereafter you may be placed where you shall be out of call: you now are planted in a fruitfull soil, where the Sun shines, and the Dews of the Word do fall; if you remain fruitless God may remove you out of his Garden, or he may withhold the dews, and cause the Sun to retreat into a cloud: He may either take away the Means of grace from you, or take away you from the Means; and if you do not seek and obtain whilest you enjoy the Means, are you like to do it when you are deprived?

3. Your danger is in respect of the uncertainty of Gods working by the Means, though he should continue them unto you; the winde blowes where and when it listeth. In youth you may feel the sweet breath of the Spirit moving upon your hearts; if you do not hoist up sail when you have a fair wind, possibly you may never have such a winde again as long as you live, God may swear in his wrath that his Spirit shall no longer strive with you, God calleth upon you when you are young, if you refuse, you may hereafter call, and cry, and seek, and knock, and not be heard or answered, and the door be shut up against you for ever. See Prov. 1. 24. to the 31. Mic. 3. 4. Zacb. 7. 11, 12, 13. We read of Esau's weeping for the blessing to no purpose; and the foolish Virgins going to buy Oyl when it was too late; and our Saviour telling Jerusalem, that their day was spent, and the things which belonged to their peace were hid from their eyes. There are many that neglect the things of Gods Kingdom when they are young, that have their day of grace set upon them, before their lives be half spent; God doth leave off calling, and the Spirit doth leave off working, and they are given up to a judiciall hard­ness, [Page 29] as Act. 28. 26, 27. The time of youth then is the most safe time. Hearken then, O ye young men, and be perswaded in this your day to minde the things which belong unto your peace, and to seek. Gods kingdom and righteousness. Seek this first, that is timely, before other things, and that you may seek so as to obtain.

1. Young men labour to be strong.

(1.) In what ye should be strong. In generall, labour to be strong in Grace: Read the Exhorta­tion of the Apostle unto his Son Timothy, 2 Tim. 2. 1. Thou therefore my Son be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. Labour whilest you are young to get grace; above all gettings to gain this riches which is of far more value than all earthly treasures; some of you are of one trade, and some of another, and you endeavour to get an Estate hereby; let me advise you all to trade for grace, which will be an Estate it self during your abode here, and will be the earnest to you of an Inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter: Labour to get grace in the truth of it; take heed that you be not mistaken, and deceive your selves with dross and brass in stead of true gold, I mean with counterfeit instead of true grace: And labour to get grace in the strength ofit; Grace is strong in it self; it can do more than all [Page 34] the wisdom and learning in the world; let it be strong in you; the Fountain is in Christ, let the Stream be in you; in him is the Ocean, labour that as full and strong tides as may be, may flow from him into your hearts. Let the habits of Grace be deeply and strongly rooted in you, and live in the powerfull exercise of those habits.

1. Young men, labour for strength of Faith: some of you have strong bodies, others have strong memories, others have strong fancies; labour all of you to get a strong faith. Faith is an excellent grace, it is more precious than gold, 1 Pet. 1. 7. labour to get faith, and a strong faith. Abraham was strong in faith, and hereby he brought glory to God, Rom. 4. 20. shew your selves to be children of faithfull Abraham, by getting such a faith as he had for kinde, and such a faith as he had for measure; this will be for Gods glory and for your honour. Let your faith have a strong bottom, a firm and sure footing; build it not upon the sand, or earth, much less upon the waters, but build it upon the Rock, upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Rock of Ages; build it upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief corner-stone; build it upon the Word of God in the Scriptures, and build it upon Christ who is held forth in the Word. Let your faith have a strong bottom, and let your faith put forth it self in strong actings; let your assent be [Page 35] strong unto divine Truths; and let your recum­bance be strong upon Christ and the Promises of the Gospel. Get a strong eye of Faith to discern those spiritual objects which cannot be seen with the eye of sense, to look upward to God, and the glory which is about his Throne, to look downward to Hell, and the torments which the damned do there endure for sin, to look forward to the coming of Christ, and the general Judgement of the World at his appearance; and get a strong hand of faith to lay fast hold on Christ, to apply his righteousness for the remission of sin, and to receive his Spirit for the cleansing you from filthiness, and perfecting holiness which is begun in you. Let your trust and confi­dence be strong in God through his Son: Young men are apt to be too credulous, too ready to believe and put confidence in men, when the Scripture telleth us, that all men are Lyars, if not actually so, yet they may be so, and the most are so; young ones before they have tryed the world are apt to trust in men, old ones that are more experienced, are more cautious; but you cannot put too much con­fidence in God; he cannot lye, he never deceived any, he never will fail them that put their trust in him. Some trust in Chariots, and some in Horses, but let your trust be in the Lord; some trust in Princes and great persons, others in Hosts and strong Forces, most in arms of flesh, which are weak, and cannot give that help as is expected; but let your confidence be in the Name of the Lord, who is a shield and buckler, and present help to his people in the time of trouble; whose Name is a strong. Tower into which the righteous may flye and be safe, in times of the greatest danger, Prov. 10. 18. [Page 36] Be strong in Faith, according to the strength of this grace, all your other graces will receive strength, Faith being the Nurse of them all.

2. Young men, labour for strong Love. In the time of youth affections do spring, and they put forth themselves with more strength and vigour than in the cold winter of Old age: Dear Youths, endeavour that your affections may be directed to the right objects, that you may not defile your affections with fin, nor debase your affections with the world; that you may not by misplacing your Love, lose your Love, and with the loss of your Love, lose your Souls and your happiness. You may love, and that with the greatest strength you have a capacity for, and it is your duty to be strong in Love, but then let it be carryed forth in this order,

• 1. To God,
• 2. To one another.

1. Be strong in love to God; your hearts now will settle upon something; they will work some way; if they do not work upward, they will work downward; if they be not placed upon God, they will be placed upon the Creature. You have now many suitors for your love; all the sensitive alluring objects which are about you would entice and ra­vish your hearts; but these things if they seem fair, will wither and prove deceitfull, they are unworthy of your love. Give me leave to be a suitor for your love; let me beg your Love for God and his dear Son. This is the first and great Commandement, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your minde, Matth. 22. [Page 37] 37, 38. God commandeth you to love him, it is your duty; God alloweth you to love him, it is your priviledge; God doth chiefly require your love; My Son, give me thy heart. If you give any thing, every thing you have besides, and keep back your heart, it will not be accepted: And God doth best deserve your love; he is the most suitable object for your love; other objects will debase your love, God will ennoble and dignifie your love: you cannot bestow your love better; none so amiable as God, especially as he represents himself in his Son: If you look for greatness, he is the most great and glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth: If you look for power, he is Omnipotent, hath done, and can do whatever he pleaseth: If wisdom hath a beauty in it in your esteem, his understanding and wisdom is infinite: If truth, faithfulness, mercy, goodness be amiable in your eyes, he is truth it self, and cannot lye; he is full of mercy and kindness, he hath most tender bowels, he hath riches and treasures of grace and goodness: If love be an attractive of love, his love is beyond comparison, beyond conception; there is a heighth in his love which cannot be reached; a depth in his love which cannot be fathomed; a breadth and length in his love, which cannot be comprehended; his love is first, without any beginning; his love is free, without our deserving; his love is constant, without any changing; his love is eternal, without any ending: He is most lovely, this should draw forth your love much; he is most loving, this should draw forth your love more; he is love it self, 1 J [...]h. 4. 8. God is love, not only hath love, but is love; he is all beauty and sweetness, all goodness and kind­ness, all bowels and love, O what an incentive [Page 38] should this be to your love! whither are your hearts wandring? O gather in all your scattcred affections, and fix them upon this most beautiful object! place your love upon God now, before it be too far en­gaged to something else, from whence it may be very difficult to withdraw; love him with all your heart; love him truly, and love him strongly; love him sincerely, and love him servently; love him supream­ly, and love him constantly; let the fire of your love ascend to him, as to its sphere; let the stream of your love run to him, and lose it self in the Ocean of his goodness, where alone it can finde suitableness and satisfaction; here you may bathe your selves without fear of drowning; here you may expatiate without fear of exceeding; here you can never transgress the bounds of love; love him strongly whom you can never love too strongly. Be strong in love one to another; you may love one another, and you ought to love one another; love is the summ of the Law, the first Table is fulfilled in love to God; the second Table is fulfilled in love to your neighbour. See how the Apostle expresseth it, Kom. 13. 8, 9, 10. Owe na man any thing, but to love one another; for be that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear false witness: And if there be any other Commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neigh­bour as thy self. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law. There is a common love which you should bear to all, even to the wicked and your enemies, which should not on­ly with-hold you from offering any injury unto them, or rendring evil for evil; but also should put [Page 39] you upon doing good offices for them in reference to their reputation, estate, relations, bodies, as the Lord doth put opportunities into your hands, and they stand in need of your help: You should be pitiful to­wards the worst in their distress; if your enemy hun­ger, you should feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: You should bless them that curse and revile you; do good unto them that hate you; pray for them that despightfully use you and persecute you: You should be loving and courteous in your con­verse and behaviour towards all men; you should grieve at their afflictions, rejoyce in their good, and be glad of occasions wherein you may sh [...]w a real af­fection to them you have acquaintance with; chiefly you should express your love to their souls in your prayers, friendly admonitions, hearty counsels; you should endeavor to awaken them, whom you see sleep­ing on the brink of the bottomless pit; to reduce them that are hastening in the broad way of sin towards their own destruction; you should use arguments with them to leave their sins, and to close with Je­sus Christ; especially if any of your relations and [...]eer friends in whom you have interest, be in a state of nature, you should use all possible endeavours to perswade them to draw in the easie yoke of Christ with your selves: Thus you must love all strongly: [...]ut you must love them that bear the Image of God [...]pon them, that love and fear the Lord most strong­ [...]y: Your love to the Brethren must be unfeigued, [...]are and fervent, as the Apostle directs, 1 Pet. 1. 22. This will be an evidence to you that you are D [...]sciples [...]f Christ, Joh. 13. 35. By this shall all men know, much [...]ore may yourselves know, that ye are my Disciples, [...]ye love one another. This will be an evidence that [Page 40] ye are passed from death to life, 1 John 3. 14. We know that we are passed from death to life, because we love the Brethren. This will be an evidence that ye are born of God, and have a true knowledge of him, 1 Joh. 4. 7, 8. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God; he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love. You should mingle your converse with Gods people, with hearty and fervent love, which will be pleasing to God, sweet to your own spirit, and advantagious to them you converse withall: You should be made up of love and kindness; pass by in­juries, bear reproaches, cover infirmities, sympathize with sorrows, relieve necessities, joy in the good of others as if your own, and be ready to do good to all, especially to them who are of the houshold of faith. This is the second grace you should abound in, namely, the grace of Love.

3. Young men, labour for strong desires; not after riches, and honours, and pleasures, and friends, though these things in their place, and order, and measure, may be desired; but if they be desired chief­ly, if they be desired too strongly, the fruit will be, not the looked for good and satisfaction, but disap­point and vexation to your selves, besides the dis­pleasing of God hereby: But let your desires follow your love; let them be carried forth chiefly, and most strongly towards God, and the things which concern his Kingdom and Glory, your own peace and salvation. Because you lie under the guilt and power of sin without a Christ, labour in the first place af [...]er strong, earn [...]st, thirsting desires after Jesus [Page 41] Christ and his Righteousness, that you may have your sins pardoned, and hearts renewed: Cry out, None but Christ, none but Christ; give us a Saviour, or else we are lost; give us Christ, or else we die and perish eternally: Let your strong wishes be, O that we had an interest in Christ! O that our hearts were united and joyned to Christ! O for a drop of his blood to sprinkle our consciences! O that he would undertake for us! that he would be our Advocate to plead for us, and reconcile us unto the Father! Let your prayers be, Lord, thou hast given thy Son for us, give thy Son to us; thou holdest forth thy Son, help us to lay hold on him; thou callest us to thy Son by thy Word, draw us to thy Son by thy Spirit; thou hast put thy Son to death for sin, and accepted of the sacrifice which he hath offered, O that our sins might be forgiven upon his account! Let your desires go forth strongly after the favour of God; there are many that say, Who will shew us any good! Lord, shew us thy face! Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us! Desire earnestly with David, the presence and communion with God in his Ordi­nances, as Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, to dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, &c. And Psal. 42. 1, 2. As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee O God; my soul thirsteth for God, for the Living God, when shall I come and appear before God! Many young men have earnest desires after the company of their friends, that are of pleasant conversation; let your desires be carried forth most earnestly after the com­pany and communion with God in his Ordinances, wherein the chiefest pleasure is to be found: There­fore [Page 42] prize and desire Ordinances for the sake of God; because they are the means of bringing you and God together; of joyning your hearts unto the chief good; and if you desire the company of men, let it be the company of Gods Children, who are the ex­cellent of the Earth. Labour for strong desires af­ter the Image of God, that you may be holy as he is holy; after conformity to Christ, in his death by dying to sin, and readiness to suffer for his sake; in his Resurrection, by your newness of life: Let your d [...] ­sires be strong after the Spirit, that he might be given to you, and abide in you; desire every grace of the Spirit in the highest measure, and content not your selves with any degree; desire the comforts of the Spirit, the joyes of the Holy Ghost; desire strength for every duty, that you might be made use of to glorifie God in your generation; that you might be kept from sin, rather than from any evil; that you might be made victorious over all your spiritual ene­mies; especially let your desires be carried forth with the greatest strength after the Crown of glory, the undefiled and never-fading inheritance in Heav [...]n, after the beatifical Vision, and full fruition of God in the New Jerusalem; the perfection of holiness and happiness which is reserved for hereafter; the fulness and eternity of joy in Gods glorious presence; and desire the hastening of Christs second appearance, that he would come quickly and put you into the posses­sion of that Inheritance which he hath purchased and prepared for you.

4. Young men, labour for strong Hope. Young men usually are big with hope and expectation of some [Page 43] great things in the world; they hope for such an [...]state, and then that they shall be content; such de­ [...]ights and sensual enjoyments, and then they shall be [...]appy, and satisfied; but they that are elder, and have [...]ad greatest experience, finde the world, and all [...]hings in it, to be empty and vain, and their hopes [...]ave been frustrated: however, being unacquainted [...]ith higher things, their hearts are still most irra­ [...]ionally set upon the world; but I would exhort [...]ou young men to have higher hopes than world­ [...]ings, and let your hopes be strong. Do not hope for [...]ch in the creature, it hath not what you hope for, [...]ut let your hope be in God, let your expectation be [...]rom him only: Do not hope for much here below; [...]his is not the place of your rest and happiness; but [...]et your great hopes be of things above; as your [...]esires should be strong after them, so your hopes [...]hould be strong of them. Hypocrites have some [...]ind of hopes, but they are thin weak hopes; like [...]he Spiders web, Job 8. 14. which is easily torn in [...]ieces by the wind; the wind of affliction doth rend [...]he hopes of Hypocrites from them; they have hopes, [...]ut such as quickly perish and are cut off, Job 13. 14. They are like the giving up the Ghost, Job 11. 20. When they give up the Ghost, their hopes give up [...]he Ghost; they and their hopes perish together, be­ [...]ause they are groundless and presumptuous. Labour [...]herefore for a strong hope; such a hope as is well grounded, which will end in fruition, and never in disappointment, and make ashamed. Let the object of your hopes be God, and the things which are above; and let the bottom, the foundation of your [...]opes, be those two immutable things the Apostle [...]peaketh of, Heb. 8. 17, 18, 19, 20. Wherein God [Page 44] willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of Pro­mise, the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oatb; that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong conso­lation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have, as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entreth into that within the Vail, whither the fore-runner is for us entred. The two immutable things which are the foundation of our hope, are Gods Promise, and Gods Oath; his Promise, This is the Promise which he hath promised, even eternal life, Job. 2. 25. His Oath which he sware by himself to Abraham, and in him to all his chil­dren: Surely blessing, I will bless thee, Heb. 6. 13, 14. which doth include eternal blessedness. God who can­not lye giveth his Promise and his Oath: God who can do whatever he will, and will do whatever he hath promised; here is a good ground for your hope to build upon; let your hope be strong, let it be a strong anchor to your soul, sure and stedfast; and that it may be so, it must not be cast downwards, like those of ships, which are cast to the bottom of the waters; but they must be cast upwards into Heaven, into that within the Vail, whither the Lord Jesus Christ the fore-runner is for us entred to prepare Mansions for us. Let your hope of Heaven be strong and lively.

5. Young men, labour for strong Joy; if your hopes be strong, and well grounded, you may thence have strong consolation, Heb. 6. 18, That which dis­courageth many young men and women from put­ting their feet into the waies of God, is the appre­hensions [Page 45] which they have, that should they engage in this way, they must bid farewell to all mirth and chearfulness, to all delights and pleasures, and make tears and sorrows their companions, which they are loth to do at least too soon, whatever necessity they see there is of being religious: Whereas, although grief and sorrow be needful to sinners at their first engage­ment in the waies of God, to imbitter sin, and pre­pare them for the more ready closure with Jesus Christ; and a mixture of sorrow is needful after, be­cause of the mixture of sin in their lives, and the better to ballance and temper the spirit; yet the Lord doth call his people to higher delights and pleasures in his waies, than can be found in the waies of sin. God doth not require that his people should lay aside all delights, but change their sinful delights for those that are spiritual and heavenly: God giveth them leave to rejoyce, and he commandeth them to re­joyce; not in waies of sin, he forbiddeth the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season; not excessively in the creature (though moderately and subordinately they may) but they may and ought to rejoyce in himself. Read what Solomon saith to young men, Eccles. 11. 9. Rej [...]yce O young man in thy youth, and let thine heart cheer thee in the daies of thy youth, and walk in the waies of thine heart; and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement. Young men, you may rejoyce and be cheerful in your youthful daies, but if your joyes be in the waies of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; if your joyes be in the waies of sin, in the lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, if it be in satisfying the desires of your flesh, and pleasing your senses unto the dishonour and displeasing of [Page 46] God; know, that God will bring you into judge­ment, and then all your sinful, sensual delights wil be turned into bitterness and terrour; but you may be cheerful in the waies of God; and if you are re­conciled unto God through his Son, and have an in­terest in his favour; if you are renewed after his Image, and have a Title to his Kingdom; you have reason to rejoyce more than any wicked persons in their greatest outward prosperity. Shall the slaves of Satan rejoyce, and have not the children of God more grounds? Shall the wicked rejoyce that are dancing upon the brink of Hell, and are ready every moment to tumble into the burning lake? and should not you rejoyce that are come to the borders of the heavenly Canaan, and live in hopes of the glory of the New Jerusalem? Rejoyce in the Lord continually, Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce in the Lord alwaies, and again I say rejoyce. And rejoyce in the Lord greatly: Strong joy will be your strength, it will be a means to quicken all your affections towards God, and make you shine brightly in the sphere where the Lord hath placed you.

Thus I have shewed in what you should be strong.

[Page 47] 1. Young men, labour for strength to do; you have many things to do, great things to do, necessary things to do, and difficult things to do. I am not now speaking of the works of your particular callings which require strength of body; but I am speaking of the works of your general calling, as Christians, which do more immediately concern Gods glory, and your own salvation; such as treasuring up a stock of saving truths; making your peace with God; get­ting your hearts broken for sin; closing with, and living by faith upon Jesus Christ; getting your hearts furnished with every grace; living in the powerful exercise of it; denying your selves; mortifying the deeds of the body; laying out your selves, time and talents for the glory of your Master; standing daily upon your watch; improving the means of grace; worshipping God, and seeking him diligently in publick, family, closet; making it your business to be religious; laying up your treasure in Heaven; and labouring to get your heart more loosened from [...]hings below, and raised and fixed upon things above; [...]hese, and the like things, are the works which the Lord requireth of you all; all other employments are of an inferiour nature: These things you must do [...]ere, or you will not have opportunity for them [...]ereafter: These things you must do, or you are un­one for ever; and since they are hard works to [...]esh and blood, therefore you had need to get much [...]rength to enable you hereunto; I do not mean [...]xternal strength, but internal spiritual strength: [...]eak sickly men cannot endure hard labour; you must [...]e strong, that you may work for the Lord, that you [...]ay work for eternity.

[Page 48] 2. Young Men, labour for strength to suffer, I mean to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ. If you would be Christs Disciples, you must take up his Cross and follow him, Math. 10. 24. and sometimes his Cross is very weighty. It is not a weak shoul­der that can bear an heavy burden; and it is not a weak Christian that can bear an heavy Cross, that can endure weighty and pressing afflictions. You must therefore get much strength, great strength, that you may suffer great things for the sake of Christ; otherwise you will shrink when you are put upon the tryall; you will be offended when sore persecu­tions do arise for the Word. The Apostle prayeth for the Colossians, chap. 1. 11. that the Lord would strengthen them with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness. Young ones, look for sufferings, reckon upon them, and make full account of them before-hand; and prepare for sufferings, get on win­ter Garments against winter seasons, I mean suffering graces against suffering times. Get strength for suf­ferings, labour to be strengthened with all might according to Gods glorious power unto all patienc [...] and long-suffering with joyfulness: Get strength to endure much, and to endure long, and to endur [...] not only with patience but also with chearfulness looking upon it not only as your duty when called to suffer for Christ, but as the greatest honour tha [...] can be conferred upon you in this life, and as tha [...] which will work for you an exceeding and etern [...] weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17.

[Page 49] 3. Young men, labour for Strength to fight, not with men, not with one another; you must take heed of a quarrelsome and contentious spirit; but get strength to fight with your spiritual enemies, which of all enemies are the strongest and most dan­gerous: Young ones, you are called to be Souldiers in your most tender years, when you engage your selves to be Christs disciples, you list your selves un­der his Banner, you wear his Livery, and carry his Colours; you have need then of strength, that you get Victory over your enemies, the Devil, the Flesh and the World, which warr against Christ, and warr against your own souls: Those that warr with men have need be strong in body, and you that are to warr with sin and Sathan, and the allurements of this present evil world, had need be strong in Spi­rit. You have need of strength to resist strong tem­ptations, to subdue strong corruptions, and to get the victory over such strong enemies.

4. Young men, labour for Strength to Dye. It is a great thing to dye, and hard thing to dye as a Christian; it requireth strength to resign up the Soul, when sickness and death come, which none can escape; but you may be called to lay down your Lives for the restimony of Jesus Christ; you may be deprived not only of Liberty and Estate, and all the comforts of this life, but also of Life it self too, if you will cleave to Christ, and hold fast his Truths; this you must prepare for, and resolve upon, other­wise you do not reckon what it may cost you to be a [Page 50] Christian, and you do not accept of Christ upon the terms of the Gospel: you have need of great strength to be enabled to dye for the sake of Christ. Th [...]nk, that you may be called to dye for Christ, and if you should, that this would be the most ho­nourable death, that you cannot keep your life long, and cannot lose it upon a better account; that if at such a time you should seek to save it, you would within a while lose not only your natural life some o [...]her way, but lose eternal life, and be eternally miserable. Thus To what you should be strong.

[Page 52] 1. Let the essential Word of God, let Christ abide in you. Let Christ abide in your hearts. And here are two things I would exhort you unto.

• 1. To get Christ into your hearts.
• 2. To keep Christ in your hearts.

1. Labour to get Christ into your hearts; young men, be perswaded now to receive J [...]sus Christ into your hearts: The time of your youth is the best time to receive Jesus Christ; if you do not receive Christ now, it is a great question whether you will ever receive him; very few that refuse Christ when they are young, ever are perswaded to accept of him afterwards; Christ stands now at the door and knocks, if any will open to him, he will come in, Rev. 3. 20. Christ knocks by Judgements, by Mer­cies, by Word, by Ministers, by his Spirit; when you feel some secret movings and stirrings upon your spi­rit to thrust out sin, and let in Christ: when you have inclinations and perswasions to receive Jesus Christ, then Christ is knocking by his Spirit; open then the door, comply with those motions, and give Christ entertainment; he is the best inhabitant that ever you received: untill Christ be received, some base lusts will inhabit your hearts; and which is the best Inhabitant, judge ye. Christ where he inhabiteth doth ennoble, Lust doth debase; Christ doth beautifie, Lust doth deform; Christ doth en­rich, Lust doth impoverish; Christ doth purifie, Lust doth desile; Christ doth cure, Lust doth di­stemper; Christ giveth peace and comfort, Lust doth bring trouble, and is the parent of eternal sorrow and woe. O then, give entertainment forthwith unto Jesus Christ; now you may have him, and all in him, all with him; if you refuse him now, you [Page 53] may never have another proffer of him made unto you so long as you live. And if you would receive Christ, you must part with sin; if you would receive him, you must lay hold on him by Faith, Joh. 1. 12. To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believed on his Name.

2. Labour to keep Christ in your hearts. Seek him, seek him diligently, till you finde him, and having found him, hold him, keep him carefully; when he knocks let him in, when he is in keep him there; embrace him close in the arms of your Faith and Love; bring not in any Inhabitants which may justle him out of his Lodging: let Christ abide in you without disturbance.

2. Let the Written Word of God, the Scriptures abide in you. The Book of the Holy Scriptures is the most excellent Book that ever was written: It is the Book of God. If an Angel should write a book, I believe you would get and study such a book, were you capable of understanding it; much more should you study the Scripture, which is of Divine Inspiration. This is Gods Book, and his only written Book: there are not many Books of God to burden your memory; you may read it over many times in your Life; it is translated into your Mother-tongue, that you may read it; and it is written for the most part in a plain easie style, that you may understand it: and it is full of most excellent matter:

[Page 54]

In all the Word of God is most excellent.

1. The Doctrine of the Word of God is most ex­cellent. In the Word you have the highest Doctrines, concerning God, his one Nature in thr [...]e Persons; concerning Christ, his two Natures in one Person; concerning the Church, the mystical union of Christ the head, and all Believers his members; concerning mans Redemption by Christs death; concerning the way of mans salvation by the Covenant of Grace, and the like. Look into all the writings of Philo­sophers and the wisest Heath [...]ns that ever wrote, who have had the greatest learning, and largest un­derstanding of things, and you shall finde no Do­ctrine they have taught to be in the least comparable with the Doctrine of the Scriptures. What are all the Arts and Sciences in the World? what are the most subtle speculations, the most accurate and ra­tional discourses concerning the secrets and myste­ries of Nature, in which the most knowing have been puzzled, and fallen short of a full understand­ing, in comparison with the Doctrine of the Word, and the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, which are revealed in the Scriptures?

2. The History of the Word is most excellent: In the Word you have the History of the Creation; the history of the Old World; the history of the Flood; the history of the burning of Sodom and Go­morrha [Page 55] with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven, the history of Gods calling Abraham and the Patriarchs, the history of Gods bringing the Children of Israel out of Egypt with many signs and wonders, through the Red Sea and Wilderness, into the Land of Pro­mise; the history of the Jewish Paedagogy, and Gods various dealings with his Church before Christ came; but especially you have the history of Christ; his birth, his life, his works, his death, his resur­rection, his ascension, his session, and intercession at the right hand of God; the history of the first plan­tation of the Gentile Church by the Apostles, their preaching and success, and the like: Look into all the Historians which have written, and where shall you finde such an history as is in the Scriptures? Surely there is no history like to the history of the Bible for antiquity, for certainty; no history in which you have such concernment as in this history; you may read of the memorable acts of some great Princes and famous Captains, which may yield some pleasure to your fancy, but you are never the better or the worse for what hath been done by these men so many years ago; but you are concerned in the history of the Church, in the history of Christ the Saviour of the World, your salvation and happiness doth depend upon his birth, and death, and resur­rection, and appearance in Heaven to intercede for you.

3. The Prophesie of the Word is most excel­lent; not to say any thing of Prophesies already ful­filled concerning the children of Israel in the Old Testament, concerning the First appearance of Jesus Christ foretold long before: In the Word you have Prophesie concerning the calling of the Jewes, the [Page 56] destruction of Antichrist, the bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles; which yet we are in expectation of. Especially you have prophecy of the end of the World, of the conclusion of Time, and of what God will do with the children of men when Time, and all the by-us-visible-place shall be no more. You have prophecy of the second most glorious appear­ance of Jesus Christ to Judgement, of the Punish­ment which shall be inflicted upon all the ungodly in Hell; of the Reward which shall be given unto the righteous in Heaven: This is a great and most sure, and most excellent Prophecy. Some men have taken upon them to foretell future things, and have been foully mistaken; and what they have foretold have been but of small moment in comparison: This Prophecy of the Word is most sure, because the Pro­phecy of God, who knoweth all future things, inso­much as he is omniscient, and all things depend upon his decree. And these things he hath foretold are of the greatest weight of any other things which he hath made known before-hand to us, that we might prepare for that which is asar off.

4. The Precepts of the Word are most excellent. It would be too large to discourse of the Precepts in the Moral Law, and the sweet commands of the Gospel, where you have such admirable rules for the government of the thoughts, heart, affections, speech, behaviour, and whole conversation, as are not to be found in the Books of the most exact Moralist that ever wrote.

5. The Promises of the Word are most excellent. Promises of all temporal things needfull; Promises of spiritual favours; promises of eternal happiness; promises suitable to all our wants; promises precious, [Page 57] of things of the greatest value; Promises free, without condition of merit; Promises sure, of a God who is most powerful and most faithful. The matter then of this Word of God is most excellent; therefore young ones be perswaded to study this Word; let this Word of God abide in you.

• 1. Labour to get this Word of God.
• 2. Labour to keep this Word of God.

1. The wicked one doth endeavour to raise pre­judices against the Professours of the Gospel in young and tender minds, to keep them from Gospel-obe­dience, by representing Professours unto them.

• [Page 62] 1. As rude and illiterate.
• 2. As foolish and unwise.
• 3. As proud and singular.
• 4. As factious and rebellious.
• 5. As hypocritical and wicked.

1. The wicked one doth represent the Professours of the Gospel to young ones, as rude and illiterate that it was first preached by ignorant and unlearned Fisher-men, and since entertained by none but such; that the greatest Scholars, and most learned Doctors in the world, reject and slight it: If the Gospel were so elegible, would it not be more entertained by the learned? Who can judge so well of the worth thereof as they? That you may overcome this prejudice, know,

1. That the Gospel began to be preached by the Lord Jesus Christ, the wisdom of the Father, who had more knowledge, than all the Doctors and learn­ed men in the world, who came down from Heaven to reveal the Gospel unto men, and was the greatest Prophet that ever lived upon the face of the earth.

2. That the Apostles, though Fisher-men at the first, and illiterate in regard of humane learning, yet that they received from Jesus Christ extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, whereby they attained more knowledge than all the writings of men could teach them; and that the Doctrine both of Christ, and which they preached was confirmed by many miracles, whereby it is manifest that it came from God.

3. That there have been, and at this day are ma­ny learned men, which have, and do receive the Gospel; I might give instance in many learned Fa­thers, who had knowledge in all sort of learning, and by their writings have given evidence to the world, that they were zealous defenders of the faith [Page 63] of the Gospel; and all along unto this day, there are as learned men as any in the world, who are Mini­sters of the Gospel.

4. That if many learned men do slight the Go [...]pel, it is through Gods just judgement upon them, who lean to their own understanding, whom he giveth up to a reprobate mind, as not needing their learning to defend his Truths.

5. That if the greatest number of Professours are ignorant and unlearned in regard of humane learn­ing, yet they have divine learning; they are not skill'd in the writings of men, but they have skill in the Scriptures; they are not taught by men, but they are taught by the Spirit of God; they do not under­stand the mysteries of nature, but they understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven: Unto which I might add, that it is for Gods glory to make choice of such persons who will give him the whole praise of their instruction and salvation.

2. The wicked one doth represent the Professours of the Gospel, as foolish and unwise; that it is for want of cunning that they do not take any course to thrive in the world; that it is for want of wit they deny themselves the profits, and pleasures, and dignities which they might have in a sinful way.

That you may overcome this prejudice, know,

1. That the wicked of the world are the veryest fools, and above all others the most unwise: Are they not fools that wound themselves by sin, that wound their consciences? which is worse than wounding their fl [...]sh; that run headlong to their own ruines, and are the cause of their own eternal destruction? Are not they foolish and unwise that endeavour to please their flesh, more than to please [Page 64] God? that chuse gold before grace, Earth before Heaven? that when they are capable of salvation and eternal happiness, do neglect and refuse it, preferring the good things of this life before it, which they will certainly, and they know not how soon they may be deprived of.

2. That sincere Professours of Religion have above all others the greatest wisdom: None are so wise as those that make their peace with God; that get their feet out of Satans snare; that flee from the wrath to come; that chuse God for their portion; that deny themselves some sensual satisfactions, that they may obtain eternal pleasures: Those are the most wise, that are wise unto salvation; that have the wit to thrive in grace, that make provision for eternity.

3. The wicked one doth represent Professours as proud and singular; that they are a company of self­conceited persons, that think themselves wiser than the whole world besides; that they affect singularity, and are needlesly precise, and make the way to Hea­ven narrower than it is.

That you may overcome this prejudice, know,

1. That sincere Professours, of all others, are the most humble persons; they have the highest esteem of God, but they have the lowest esteem of them­selves. Indeed they have high designs, they are very ambitious, they cannot be content with earthly riches, and honours, but they must be Kings and Princes; they are ambitious of being made Sons and Daugh­ters of God, and Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven; this is a lawful ambition, but yet withall they retain the lowest thoughts of themselves, and look upon themselves as unworthy of the least mercy.

2. That sincere Professours are indeed singular and [Page 65] precise, but they do not affect more than what God doth command, and more than what is necessary un­to salvation; they do not make the way narrower than God hath made it. Our Saviour telleth us, that strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth to life, and few there be that finde it, Mat. 7. 14. They dare not blot that verse out of the Bible, lest God should blot their names out of his Book; they dare not do as the most do, lest they go to the same place of endless misery, whither the most are hastening; they know they must be singular, otherwise they cannot be sincere; they must walk in the narrow way, and strive to enter in at the strait gate, or else they shall never be admitted into the New Jeru­salem.

4. The wicked one doth represent Professors as factious and rebellious: That they are a company of seditious and lawless persons, that they are disobe­dient to the Civil Magistrate whom God hath set over them.

That you may overcome this prejudice, know,

1. That none are more obedient unto the Civil Magistrate in lawful commands, than sincere Pro­fessors, because they know if in such things they dis­obey man, they do more displease God; and there­fore that this calumny of the Devil, which was the false accusation of our Saviour, that he [...]orbad to pay tribute to Caesar.

2. That indeed when the Civil Magistrate doth command any thing unlawful and repugnant to the Law of God, that then they think they are bound to obey God their supream King, rather than any man living on the earth; then they chuse rather to dis­please the greatest man, than to wound their own con­sciences.

[Page 66] 3. That if when unlawful things are commande [...] by the Civil Magistrate, though they cannot, they dare not obey actively, yet they will obey passively by submitting m [...]ekly and patiently unto the penalties of their Laws for their supposed crimes.

5. The wicked one doth represent Professors as hypocritical and wicked; that they make a fair shew, but they have rotten hearts; that they are all a com­pany of hypocrites, and secretly wicked, and would not stick at any sin upon occasion more than others who make no profession, which he would induce them to believe, because some here proved hypocrites, and fallen quite away, who have made as high a pro­fession as any, and therefore that they are all alike: Moreover that some whom all account to have been sincere, have committed as great sins as the most wicked on occasion, as Davids murder and adultery; and then Satan doth employ his instruments, some to invent and raise slanders on many sincere persons, especially the most faithful Ministers of the Gospel; and others to divulge them, and endeavoureth what he can that all might believe them, that young on [...]s especially may hereby be prejudiced against all Pro­fessors, and by consequence be kept from obedience unto the Gospel.

That you may overcome this prejudice, know,

1. That i [...] is very irrational to conclude, that all Professors of the Gospel are hypocrites, because some are so. I believe you will not be kept from taking money, because some have proved to be brass, silvered over: Though all be not gold that glistereth, yet all gold glistereth: The counterfeit of sincerity i [...] an ar­gument that there is sincerity; and if the falling away of some doth evidence hypocrisie, the standing [Page 67] and perseverance of others in the waies of God to their lives end, doth evidence that they are sincere.

2. If some that are sincere have fallen grosly, yet let me tell you, that there are but few sincere ones, whom God doth suffer all their daies to fall into such sins. Young Joseph had opportunity, inticements, secrecy to commit adultery wi [...]h his Mistress, and yet he stood; he did not dare to do that great wicked­ness and sin against God: And I believe there are thousands of sincere and humble Christians; that would chuse rather to be torn to a thousand pieces, than to commit that, or any other gross sin: It was a noble Christian spirit in that young man, who when inticed by a Harlot to commit adult [...]ry, and he could not defend himself with his hands, they being tyed, bit off his tongue, that the pain thereof might quench all natural desires aften the pleasure which she most obscenoly provoked him unto.

3. That such of Gods children that have fallen into sin, have not fallen often [...] have not layn long; have not lived in a course of sin, have bitterly bewail­ed it, been deeply humbled for it [...]; and as God hath permitted this, that backsliders might not d [...]spair of mercys that all might see where their strength lyeth, not in themselves, but in God; and that they all might stand upon their watch, and take heed of dallying with temptations; so those persons have risen again by repentance, and been more careful in their walk­ing afterwards.

4. Since the report of some sins which are fastened upon some Professors and Ministers through the cun­ning of the Devil to prejudice people against the waies of God, are meer lyes, and slanders, and abominable falshoods; therefore you should take [Page 68] heed of hearkning to such reports, and believing them without sufficient proof. It is the rule of the Apostle, not to receive an accusation against an Elder, but be­fore two or three witnesses, 1 Tim. 5. 19.

2. The wicked one doth endeavour to raise pre­judice in the minds of young ones, to keep them from obedience to the Gospel, against the way that Pro­fessors walk in.

[Page 78] 1. Concerning the Temptations whereby the wic­ked one doth endeavour to draw Young men un­to sin. And here I shall speak of the Five most or­dinary Temptations whereby young ones are drawn unto sin.

• 1. By the delight and pleasure of sin.
• 2. By the glory and repute of sin.
• 3. By the utility and advantage of sin.
• 4. By the pretended smallness of sin.
• 5. By the hopes of future repentance.