Doct. That it is a Sin of Young-men, to Re­joyce inordinately, and carnally, in the days of their youth, to walk after their hearts, and in the sight of their eys.

We Read concerning the Old World, that were Eating and Drinking and Marry­ing and giving in Marriage altogether sottish and sensual, till the Wrath of God came in the Flood, and swept them away, Isa. 22.14. Let us eat and drink for too mor­row we shall die. It is thought, this was not so much the Language of Age, as of the Youth in Israel Hence Solomon giveth a Caveat to Young-men, Eccles. 12.1. To Bridle, and restrain from this jollity, and carnal Mirth: Remember now the Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. And the Apostle St. Paul, 1 Tim. 2.22. Instructeth Timothy to slye youthful lusts, Tit. 2.6. Exhort young-men that they be so­ber minded. Let us a little consider the rea­sons of the Doctrine, whence it is that Young-men should be so much misguided in their youth.

The first cause is, Natural Corruption that they have drawn by Propagation from [Page 5]their Parents; a Spiritual Leprosie, and Malady; and a Disease, which as it prevail­eth for the most part upon age by covetous­ness, so it geteth ground of youth, by sensu­allity and voluptuousness: this dams up the ear against reproof; this hardens the heart against instruction, and makes many young men the Souldiers of Satan in sin.

Again, in the second place, Men in their youth forget the day of their Reckoning and Iudgement, they are not mindful of their later end, Deut. 32.22. Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end: this precept is neglected both by youth and age, but especially by those of younger years, for they think it is time enough to repent, and turn to God, when they are old; and so they put off God from time to time, till at last justice cuts them down, and throws them into everlasting burning, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

Again, in the third place, Young-men are not broken down by afflictions, the Fallow ground is not Plowed up by afflictions; which through the grace of God, are great means to fame Nature, and to subdue Pride, and to bring the Soul to a right frame and [Page 6]temper. Before I was afflicted (saith David) I went astray. And Ephraim, saith. J [...]r 31. I was as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yo [...]k. hou [...] chastised me and I was chastisedst, I w [...]s ash med [...] because bore the reproach of my youth. But young-men are free from aches, and pains and sickness, and sorrow, much more then old age, and this is the reason why they are more Licentious.

Lastly, Young-men want true Ioy in God, therefore they betake themselves to Carnal joy, for sure it is, a man cannot live without joy and contentment, if he hath it not from the Wells of Salvation. Now because men in their Youth cannot take in the Spiritual Ioy of that clear Fountain, therefore they drink in the muddy waters of carnal joy.

The use of this point, is▪ in the first place an admonition to all Young-men to take no­tice of those Maladies, and spiritual Diseases in themselves.

The first degree of our healing is, to see that we are sick: and till then Christ Iesus the Physician of our soul, hath no Com­mission to do us good. Let Young-men ob­serve in themselves, First, Their Carnal joy. Solomon here sheweth that they rejoyce inordinately. This may appear to them­selves.

First, Because they rejoyce not where they ought; they solace not themselves in God, in whom is the Fountain of all true joy, nor in Christ Iesus, in whom is the Spring of Ioy, nor in the Word, where there is the Cistern of Ioy; even as a bone when it is out of joynt, it must needs be a dis­ordered bone. So the Affeictions when they are misplaced, are disordered and then our joy and any other affections are misplaced, when they are not set upon God and Christ. Now if Young-men would deal uprightly with themselves, they should perceive that for the most part, in their jollity and merri­ment they never think of God, or dream of the World to come. Nay the serious ap­prehension of God Almighty, would quench their joy.

Secondly, The Carnalness of the joy of young-men, appeareth because they rejoyce where they ought not, in Riot, in Drunken­ness, in Whoreing in all manner of Volup­tuousness, many time in Obscenity of Word and Phraise, in making jest of the Holy Word of God: so we may say of this merri­ment, it is a mad merriment; he is a mad man that rejoyceth in that, for which, except [...]e betake himself to serious and bitter mourning he cannot be saved.

Thirdly, The Carnalness of the joy of Young-men may appear in this: Because they terminate and conclude not their joy in God: this followeth on the former: for it is impossible that what beginneth not in God, should end in God: When joy be­gineth in sin, it cannot end in God, but in the Devil.

Secondly, Let young-men take notice of themselves, how they walk after their own hearts: the heart that says, come, put away pensive thoughts, trouble not your self about the day of reckoning and judge­ment: Come let us enjoy the present time, now let us sing and be merry, for we have time enough to repent. Thus they are re­solved to take their sill of pleasure, like the fool in the Gospel, which saith, Soul, take thine ease, for thou hast goods laid up for many years. Thus they judge: and thus they walk after their carnal hearts.

Again in the third place, young-men walk after the sight of their eyes: that is, they stand gazing at things temporal, and neglect things e [...]e [...]nal, they see a beauty and lustre in those outward things, and perceive no glory and brightness in Christ Iesus.

Beloved, If we follow our own hearts, and our own eyes, it will be thus with us [Page 9]as you have heard: but we should rather la­bour with J [...]b, to make a covenant with our [...]yes. Oh! how few Young-men are there that make a bargain and agreement with their eyes that they shall not be as an open Casement to let sin into the soul? Oh! how [...]ew young men are there, that like Jeremiah, have their eyes as fountains of water, to weep day and night for the afflictions of the people of God? Oh! how few young-men are there, that like Moses, have an eye to the re­compence of reward, that they may suffer af­flictions with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Now I beseech you take a Survey of your selves in these things: these are vices and sins, and deformities of young-men, to be seen, and [...]amented by all those that hope to dwell in Gods holy hill.

Use [...]. It is for exhortation to young-men. They should labour to be reformed in their af­fections, and hearts, away with this carnal [...]oy we ought to cast it out of us.

1. Carnal joy: would you know what the event of it will be; it will end in carnal sor­row, and without repentance in hell it self. Woe unto you (saith our Savour Christ) that laugh now, you shall weep and mourn: the triumphing of the wicked (saith Zophar [Page 10]in Job) is short, and the joy of the Hypocrite is but for a moment; though his excellency mount up to the Heavens, and his Head reach unto the Clouds, yet he shall perish, as his own dung; they that have seen him, shall say, where is he? He shall fall away as a dream, and sha [...]l not be found: yea, He shall be chased away as a vision of the night. But not to give you this in precept, but to shew you how to reform your selves in these Vices, that Solomon specifieth to bear sway in Young-men, let me lay you down these following Directi­ons.

First, You must betake your selves to mourning for your Sins, as St. James saith, Be afflicted, and weep and mourn, let your laugh­ter be turned into heaviness. If we be not reconciled to God, if we have not assurance that we are interested in Christ, there is no time for us to rejoyce, we should rather be­take our selves to bitter mourning, for the wrath of God is due to us, and we know not how soon it may fall upon us.

In the second place, Consider how vain all things are, in which Youthful Persons rejoyce. If Young-men rejoyce in Humane Wisdom and Vnderstanding, this is a vain thing, it is gotten with a great deal of trouble, and vexation of Spirit, Eccles, 1.13. [Page 11]gave my Heart to seek and search out by wisdom [...]oncerning all things that are done under Heaven. [...]his sore travel hath God given to the Sons [...]f Men, to be exercised therewith. And in [...]er. 18. In much wisdom is much grief, and he [...]hat increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. God doth so punish the pride and boldness of [...]he Wit of Men, even from the fall of our [...]irst Parents,

In the second place, If Young-Men rejoyce [...]n Honour and Credit amongst Men, this also [...]s vain, Solomon hath shewed it, Eccles. 2.6. [...]here is (saith he) no remembrance of the Wise, more than the Fool, for ever, for which now is, [...]hall in the days to come, be forgotten. Again, [...] a man rejoyce in Honour and Glory, he [...]annot Believe. So saith Christ, John 5.44. How can you believe since you seek Honour one [...]f another, and not the Honour that cometh of God onely? Joh. 40.43. Nay, farther the Apostle sheweth us that this is the cause of [...]nvy, Mal. 5.26. Be not desirous of vain [...]lory, envying one another. Farther, Young-men commonly delight in pleasures; these also are vain things. I said in my Heart, (saith Solomon, Eccles. 2.2.) Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy plea­ [...]ures: and behold this also is vanity. All [Page 12]these pleasures of youth shall cease: there will shortly be an end of your Wisdom, Honour and Pleasures, 1 Cor. 7.29. The time is short; It remaineth that those that have Wives, be as those that have none, and they that rejoyce, as though they rejoyced not; they that buy, as though th [...]y possessed not; they that use the World, as not abusing of i [...]; for the fashion of this World passeth away.

Lastly, Our Saviour Christ, in Luke 8.14. sheweth that the pleasures of this life choak the Word of God, that it cannot bring forth grateful fruit to God.

Fourthly, If Young-men delight in Riches, and rejoyce in the Estates that God hath given them: this lightness is a vain thing.

For, First, Many times wealth is gotten by deceit, and then God bloweth on it, Jer. 5.27. As a Cage full of Birds▪ so are their Houses full of deceit, therefore they are become great and waxen rich; shall not I visit for these things (saith the Lord) and shall not my soul be revenged on such a People as this? saith the Lord. Again, Wealth is kept with sorrow and vexation, Eccel. 5.12. The sleep of the labouring man is sweet, whether he eat li [...]tle or much, but [Page 13]the abundance of the Rich, will not suffer them to sleep.

Thirdly, Wealth is left with a great deal of sorrow and vexation, Rev. 18.18. When [...]he smoak of Babylon ascended up to Heaven, Oh, what Lamentation there was! they cryed out What City is like this great City? and they cast [...]he dust on their heads, and cryed, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great City, wherein were made rich all that had ships on the Sea, by reason of her constliness: for in one hour [...] she made desolate. But suppose farther, [...]hat a man should get and keep his wealth in [...]he fear of God, yet these these things are most un­certain riches.

Lastly, these riches cannot preserve your life, so saith Christ himself, Luke. 12.25. Psal. 62.9. and 49.78.

Thus I have shewed the several things that Young-men rejoyce in, and shewed [...]ou like­wise, that their joy is founded upon vanity, and this is the second means to heal young-men of their inordinateness of their joy, to meditate with themselves how vain and frivo­ [...]ous all things are, they delight in.

The third means, is to betake themselves to seek spiritual joy: the well-head of this joy is in God: the grounds of this joy are 2 fold.

First, The good things Exhibited.

Secondly. The good things Promised.

The good things Exhibited, That God hath written our names in the Book of Life. Here is a Fountain of Spiritual I [...]n to a true Christian. To rejoyce (saith Christ) not that the Devils are fallen before you, but that your names are written in the Book of Life.

Secondly, The other ground of Spiritu­al joy, is, The good things promised us; and those may be reduced to two Heads.

God hath promised: 1. That our afflicti­ons shall be for our Edification.

And, God hath promised deliverance from affliction, all in the best season.

Again, For the defects of Grace in us, (which indeed is a thing grievous to a true Christian;) here we may rejoyce.

First, In the promise of preserving of Grace.

S [...]condly, In the promise of augmentation an [...] growth in Grace.

Thirdly, In the promise of bringing the weakest grace to perfection.

Here you haue the Well-head of joy, O [...] that young men would know God, and Iesus Christ and the Word of God, and the Promises, that they may leave this sinful [Page 15]sottish joy, whereunto they are solicited, this is the means to be rid of it by getting into their Souls the sense and feeling of the true joy of the Children of God.

Again, In the second place; Young men should be exhorted, not to walk after their own hearts: which is the next thing that Solomon noteth as a fault in them. The heart (saith Jeremiah) is deceitful, above measure, and desperately wicked, who would follow a false guide? and a desperate Wicked guide: so is the heart of man.

Lastly, They should not walk after the fight of their Eyes. David Prayed, Turn away mine eyes that I regard not vanity, and quicken me in thy Law. And again, Open mine eyes, that I may see the Wondrous things of thy Law. There is much danger in following our eyes. Eve was mis-led by her eye; She looked upon the forbidden-fruit and saw it beautiful, and lusted after it. And when I saw (saith Achan) among the spoils, a goodly Babilonish Garment, and a wedge of gold, then I coveted them, and took them, Josh. 7.21. David was defiled with the glance of his eye: he saw Bathsheba from the roof of his house washing her self, and then he lusted, 2 Samuel. 11.1. Holy Men have prayed to God, that he would kéep their eyes in a [Page 16]right frame and temper. These are the par­ticulars that Solomon giveth to young men in direction, to take heed of Carnal joy: to take heed of walking after their Hearts: these things (Brethren) I have committed in direction to you.

The last part of this Doctrine I have re­served for Old-men: for if young-men may not rejoyce carnally, much less may Old-men: youth may plead for it self, in want of Wisdome and Gravity, and Experience, better then those of Age. If young-men may not have evil hearts and eyes, much less old men. Look to it, you that hear me this day, that are stricken in age, (as the Scriptures saith) that are smitten in your limbs with age, that you cannot walk with activity, and nimbleness, and are smitten in your senses with age, that you cannot well see, and hear, and faste: Oh that your hearts would smite you for your sins: Oh, would to God you did bethink your selves before it be too late: May not young men rejoyce in Pleasures, in Friends, in Honour, in Wealth? much less may old age: must young men be care­ful to chase away all Carnal joy, and get Spiritual joy, that beginneth in godly Sor­row? much more must old men: It is no time [Page 17]for those that are Old, to rejoyce in car­nal things: a few days will make an end of them, and lay them in the Grave: Oh the [...] you that are of years, break off your Sins by Repentance: and your iniquities by Mercy: Rejoyce ye, in being good: and in doing good, this joy will continue with you. But know thou, that for all this, God will bring thee to judgement.

Doct. 2. That the Lord God will certainly bring men to Judgment for all the Sins they have committed.

But know, thou must know it: you should always remember it: and whatsoever thou takest in hand, consider with thy self whe­ther it will stand with thee at that great day of judgement, Mal. 3.18. A Book of Remem­brance was written before God, for those that fear the Lord, and thought upon his Name. So the Lord hath a Book of Remem­brance, wherein he writeth down the sins of the Sons of men and this shall be opened, Eccles. 12.14. God will bring every Work unto Judgement, with every secret thing; whether it be good, or whether it be evil, 2 Cor. 5.10. We must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ, that every one may [Page 18]receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad, 1 Thes. 4.16. The Lord himself shall de­scend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the Arch-Angel, and with the Trump of God, Jude 14. For the opening of this Point, I will briefly shew you these two things.

First, What is the reason that God will bring all these things to judgement.

Secondly, What manner of judgement this will be.

For the First, What is the reason that God will bring all these things to judge­ment.

The First reason is, Decrée, Heb. 9.27. It is appointed for all men once to dye, and af­ter Death to Judgement. Even as it must needs be, that men must dye, because God hath appointed it, so it must needs be that men must come to iudgement, in regard of the purpose and decree of God.

Secondly, God will do this, in regard of his righteousness: He is a holy God, a hater of iniquity: But many times in this World it is well with the Wicked, and ill with the Godly: Lazarus he is in woful misery, and Dives is in abundance of prospe­rity. Now God will shew his love to the [Page 19]Righteous, and his hatred to the Wicked, in this judgement.

Lastly, the consciences of men may prove that there shall be a judgement: For let a Man commit secret sins, that none know­eth of but God and he, yet many times he feeleth hellish horror, which is a manifest proof, That Conscience seeth, and appre­hendeth God, as the Supream judge, That will call all men to account for their sins.

Thus you hear the reasons why there must be a judgement.

1. It will be the last judgement, which declareth the terribleness of it. In this there is hope: Let the wicked forsake his ways and turn to the Lord, and he will be gracious to him.

Again, It shall be a general judgement: which is the second thing, 2 Cor. 10. We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.

3. It shall be a Manifest Iudgement: Sometimes the Lord judgeth men secretly, by raising up in them fears and horrors in their hearts, causing his Curse in them, as Water in their Bowels, and Oyl in their Bones: but then God shall open his wrath against the Children of wrath, before all the world of men, and no eye shall pitty them.

4. It shall be a sudden judgement, even as the flood came upon the old world, when they were sporting themselves, and deriding No­ah, that preached to them of the flood: this day shall come as a Snare, upon all that dwell upon the earth, it shall come as a thief in the night.

5. It shall be a Righteous Iudgement, Rom. 2. God will tender to every man accor­ding to his deeds.

Lastly, It shall be an eternal judgement So saith the Apostle, Heb. 6.2. It is not meant that God will fit for ever, but it is so called from the effects: for the conclusion shall be this: the eternal weal and happyness of the Godly, and the eternal woe and misery of the wicked, that shall be plunged by the Iustice of God into the severest torments.