ADDRESSES To OLD MEN, and YOƲNG MEN, and LITTLE CHILDREN.

In Three DISCOURSES

I. The OLD MANS Honour; or, The Hoary Head found in the way of Righteousness.

A Discourse Recommending unto OLD MEN, A Saving Acquaintance with the Lord JESUS CHRIST.

II. The YOƲNG MAN'S Glory; or, A Wreath of Graces for the Head of Youth.

A Discourse Recommending unto YOƲNG MEN, A blessed Victory over the Devil.

III. The LITTLE CHILDS Lesson; Or, A Child wise unto Salvation.

A Discourse instructing and inviting LITTLE CHILDREN to the Exercises of Early Piety.

To which may be added, A short Scriptural Cate­chism, accommodated unto their Capacities.

By COTTON MATHER.

Boston: Printed by R. Pierce, for Nicholas But­tolph, at the Corner Shop, next to Gut­teridge's Coffee-House. 1690.

SEnum est Prophetare. Etiamsi videas aliquan­do Juvenem Prophet antem, non dubites de eo dicere, si secundum Interiorem Hominem Senu­it, Propterea est Propheta. Orig. Hom. in Ps. 36.
De Verbo Divino,
Lac Capit hic Infans, Panem Robustior Aetas,
Nec caret Optato curva Senecta cibo.
The Dedication of Th …

The Dedication of The Old Mans Honour. To my Honoured, and Worthy Friend, Major JOHN RICHARDS.

Sir,

VVEre there nothing else to command my Regards for you, besides the Old Age, which your Out-living of Threescore Winters has brought you to the Borders of, That were enough to give you a room in my Esteem and Reverence, and Veneration. I cannot but approve the care of the Greek Language, to make no more than one Letters Difference between the words for Old age, and Honour; and I cannot but applaud that conditi­on of the World, whereto refers that famous Distich. Magna fuit quondam Capitis Reverentia Cani, ‘In{que} suo pretio Ruga Senilis erat.’

The Marks of Respect put upon Old age among the Antient Lacedemonians have been the matter of many pleasant and famous Histories; and the modern Ve­netians owe not a little of their Prosperity as well as Reputation unto the Figure which is allowed unto Old age among them. That people is not like to be long-liv'd, among whom, Fathers and Mothers, and those that have lived long, are not acknowledged; and that plant whose Younger Branches put a sleight upon the Elder, is for that cause by the Ingenious Botanist, called, Herba Impia, or a Wicked Cudweed When Old such an one, is used as a Term of Disgrace, & when Juvenis vetulo non assurrexerit, I sti [...]l think that I see none of the small [...]st among the Verbal and Real Solaecisms of the World. But somethi [...]g beside [Page] and beyond your meer Approaches to that Age, which will place a Silver Crown of Gray-hairs upon your Head, it is that causes me now to Dedicate unto you, the little Treatise of, The Old Mans Honour, now laid before you. 'Tis because you have, The Old Mans Honour, adorning of you; not only by having Served your People, both as a Ruler to them at home, and as an Agent for them abroad, when God gave you Opportunity; and we know the Name of that people with whom it was a Law, that none but Good Old Men should have the Honour, either Magistratum Gerere, or Legationem Obire; but chiefly by your Acquaintance with Him that is from the Beginning. Many years are now rolled away since you began that blessed Acquaintance; and I am well satisfy'd, that like the most fruitful old Polycarp, you will profess your self not yet weary of your Glorious Master. As 'tis my Duty to Desire, so I have Reason to Expect, that the nearer you come to be an Old Man, the more you will put off the Old Man, which is Corrupt according to Deceitful Lusts; that white you are an Old Man you will be found in the Old Way, wherein you will find Rest for your Soul; and that you will be One of those in my Dear Flock, whom if after I have Preached unto others, I do not my self prove a Cast away [which let Free Grace pre­vent!] I shall meet at the Right-hand of the Lord Jesus Christ with unspeakable joy, and whom I shall spend an Happy Eternity in the praises of a merciful Creator and Redeemer with; All which is humbly pray'd for, by

Sir,
Your most Affectionate Friend and Servant, C. Mather.

THE OLD MANS HONOUR. OR, The HOARY HEAD found in the way of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

1 John II.XIII.

I Write unto you FATHERS, because ye have known Him that is from the Beginning.

HISTORY tells us that the Ancient La­cedaemonians in their Publick and Solemn Festivals, did use to have Three Shows made among them; the first, of Old Men, who made a Song to the Spectators, of this Import:

We have been Young and Strong all heretofore,
Till Age forbad our doing any more;

The Second, of Young Men, who had this for their Song,

[Page 2]
We still are Young and Strong, and will maintain
Our Cause against all that on Earth remain.

The Third, of Children, who sang,

And We that on the Stage look now so small,
As we succeed, hope to surpass you all.

It were a Spectacle very much more Desirable and Considerable, if Christians of all Ages might this Day stand forth among us; and in the Capa­city not only of Men, but also of Saints, give such a good account of themselves. Behold, in this Text represented unto us, What should be the Experience, and what the Resolution of all Ages, if they would march off with the praise of God as well as of Men! If Old Men would Expire joyful­ly, they should be able to say, We have been well Acquainted with our Saviour. If Young M [...]n would Advance Happily, they should be able to say, We have been truly Victorious over our Destroyer. If Children would Grow up Hopefully, they should be able to say, We have already acknowledged God for our Father. For me to recommend these At­tainments unto the several Ages here, will be a part of my Endeavour to give the Food in due Season unto that Houshold of the Lord Jesus, which I am an unworthy Servant in; and, Ʋnto thee, O most Glorious Lord, I now bow my knee, that in this Ʋndertaking, thy Grace may be sufficient for me.

We have before us, an Inspired Epistle, which not only as Austin observes, has been Ʋnquestiona­bly and Ʋniversally received as Caenonical; but also Jerom testifies, has as Ʋnqu [...]stionably and Ʋni­versally been ascribed unto the Holy Apostle John. There is indeed running thro' the whole Epistle, the plain Character of the Spirit brea [...]hing in that Apostle, of whom one of the Antients does report, That when thro' extream Age, he was unable to Walk or Speak to the Church, he would be carried by the Disciples thither, and with his Aged, Fee­ble, Broken Voice, only say unto them, My Dear Children, Love one another.

Our Apostle in our Context, is pressing the Ge­neral Duty of Conformity to the Lord Jesus Christ, and under that Head, the particul [...]r Duty of Cha­rity towards all our Brethren; and hereupon he addresses all Christians of several Ages, there­withal very pertinently and elegantly declaring to them the Reasons of his thus Addressing them.

All Christians are first addressed under the name of New-born Babes; for indeed we all should be like Babes for our Humility, for our Innocency, for our Placability; or else, our Lord has told us, Ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. But these Babes are then ranked under three Denomi­nations, Fathers, Young Men, Little Children; to each of these does the Apostle say, I write unto you; for truly, our God hath His Children in all Ages, and all Ages ought very much to be con­versant with the written Word of God.

Let us begin at the first, and of them: note,

First, The Persons apply d unto. Fathers. By these are meant, not meerly Fathers in Grace, but likewise, Fathers in Age; the Expression intimates Old Men, that are in the School of the Lord Je­sus Christ, And mark, the old Apostle calls them, Fathers; which was not from any Relation of theirs to him, but from his Reverence to them. 'Tis to teach us, That Old Men should have much Respect and Honour from us; we ought still to treat them as our Fathers, & use no Terms unto them, which discover not our sense of something Venerable in them, but remember that Charge of God, in Lev. 22.19. Thou shalt Honour the Face of the Old Man, and Fear thy God; there is no Fear of the Great God where the Face of an Old Man is not beheld with Regards of Honour.

Secondly, The Character and Priviledge of these persons. 'Tis, Ye have known Him that is from the Beginning. By that is meant, our Lord Jesus Christ; of whom this very Apostle elsewhere speaks, in John 1.1, 2. In the Beginning was the Word, which Name he (and none but he) in e­very one of his Books, put upon the Lord Jesus Christ; and he adds, The same was in the Begin­ning with God. But if you ask, why the Lord Je­sus Christ is here called, He that is from the Beginning? I answer,

'Tis first, to assert the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, against those Carpocratians, and Ge­rinthians and Ebionites, who were the Antichrists [Page 5] appearing in the Days of John. Those Hereticks affirmed our Blessed Lord Jesus to be a Meer man; but in opposition to them, 'tis here said, That our Lord had a Being from, and at, and indeed infinitely before the beginning of the World.

'Tis also to commend the Lord Jesus Christ upon the score of His Antiquity; old men love to pretend unto the Knowledge of old Things; and it is here intimated, That as they knew Him, so there was nothing older than He for them to be conversant withal.

Let this then be the Doctrine which our Thoughts may at this Time a little dwell upon.

DOCTRINE. That a peculiar Acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God as well as Man, is the special Attainment of old men walking in the Ways of GOD.

We have three Propositions here to be regarded.

Proposition I.

All men, and particularly Old Men should study a peculiar Acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ. All men should be of the same Resolve with That Man in 1 Cor. 2.2. I determined not to know any thing, but Jesus Christ, and Him Crucify'd. This [Page 6] was the Determination of one whom the Antients do not unfi [...]ly call, An unsatiable Admirer of the Lord Jesus Christ! and there was no Occasion for that Famous and Learned Philosopher among the Antient Heathens to pity the Apostle Paul upon this account, that such Rare Parts as Pauls were, should be thrown away upon the Knowledge of Je­sus Christ. A Needless, Bootless pity! For No man can any where find a fitter Subject for his Acquaintance, than the Lord Jesus is; nor have any of those Doctors who have worn the pompous Titles of subtil, and profound, and Angelical, bin worthy of the Titles, unless this Acquaintance have made them so.

Si Christum discis nihil est si caetera nescis.
Si Christum nescis nihil est si caetera discis.

But Old Men should have a very particular Dis­position hereunto. For having try'd an Acquain­tance with all other Things, they can upon a long Experience, resent the Vanity and Vexation that is in them all, and cry out, I have seen an end of all perfection in the world. It is therefore time for them to Resolve, I have determined to know nothing but Him that is from the Beginning!

If you Enquire, WHAT is a peculiar Acquain­tance with the Lord Jesus Christ?

It imports, First, A Speculative or Notional Knowledge of the Christian Religion, and especi­ally of, That Great Mystery of Godliness, God ma­nifest in the flesh. Old Men should become well [Page 7] informed about the Natures of Him, who is God and Man in One Person; about the Offices of Him, who is the Prophet, the Priest, and the King of our Souls; about the Endowments of Him, who is both Able and Willing to save us unto the uttermost; a­bout the Benefits of Him, who bestows upon us Justification, and Sanctification and Redemption, and all the Inheritance of Adoption; in fine, about the Conditions of Him, who Humbled himself, and be­came obedient unto Death, Wherefore God hath highly Exalted Him. These are the points of our Cate­chism, and the first Principles of the Doctrine of Christ; it is a shame for any, but above all, for Old Men, to be Ignorant of these principles.

But here is not all; a Devil once could say to our Lord Jesus, as in Luc. 4.34. I know thee, who thou art. Wherefore it imports, Also, a Fiducial and an Experimental Knowledge of the Lord Je­sus Christ. Knowledge is put for Faith, in Isa. 53.11. By his Knowledge, my righteous Servant, shall justifie many. We ought so to know the Lord Jesus Christ, as to prize Him, and Love Him, and Apply our selves unto Him, and appropiate Him unto our selves, and say unto Him, like the Disci­ple, My Lord and my God; or with the Believer, My Beloved is mine, and I am His! And Knowledge must be with Tast, as in 1 Pet. 2.3. Ye have tasted that the Lord is Gracious. We ought so to know the Lord Jesus Christ, as to be very Really sensi­ble of the Beauty and Sweetness that is in Him, & like that woman once, we should feel Vertue going [Page 8] forth from Him unto our Souls; or like Paul, find upon our selves the power of what is in our Lord. Old Men are miserable Non-proficients, if they do not arrive to such a knowledge of our Lord Redeemer. In a word, All men, and especially Old Men should so know the Lord Jesus, as to lead a life of Communion with Him.

But if you Enquire, WHY we should be studi­ous of such an Acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ? Briefly,

First, We have nothing so Noble to be acquaint­ed withal, as the Lord Jesus Christ. It was once asked in Cant. 5.9. What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved? and the Answer was, O He is altogether Lovely. Thus if any demand, What is the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, more than a­ny other Knowledge! the Answer may he, 'Tis the Knowledge of him that is altogether Lovely. Gram­mar and Rhet'rick is the Knowledge of Speech; Lo­gic is the Knowledge of Respect and Reason; Phy­sicks are the Knowledge of Qualities, and Mathe­matics are the Knowledge of Quantities. But sure, None of these Things are comparable to our dearest, glorious Lord Jesus Christ; of whom 'tis said, in Col. 1.19. In him does all Fulness dwell. To be acquainted with Him, 'tis to know the brightest Thing in the Third Heaven it self; 'tis to Know those Mysteries, which the very Angels do bend themselves to pry into; 'tis to Know that, which with Paul we should count our selves Losers by every thing that would obstruct us in the Excellent Knowledge of.

Secondly, We have nothing so Ʋseful to be ac­quainted withal, as the Lord Jesus Christ. For,

The Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ will fill us with a blessed variety of other Knowledge. As now, Would we know God? we are told in 2 Cor. 4.6. The glory of God is to be seen in the Face of Jesus Christ. Right Notions about the Wisdom, and Power, and Justice, and Goodness of God, are shaped in our Minds, by the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus; when we know Him, we are like Moses, put into the Clefts of a Ro [...]k, where the glory of the great God now passes b [...]fore us. Or, would we know our selves? The Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, will help us to know what our sins are. Well sings th [...] Christian Poet,

Who would know Sin, Let him repair
Ʋnto Mount Olivet.

The Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ will help us to know what our plagues are. We may pass a judgment upon our own Wounds by the plaister in Him provided for us; and by what was Exacted from our S [...]ery, we may guess what our own Debts have been. And we may come likewise to know our Duties by the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has been a com­pleat Copy and a perfect Pattern for us; and His Call unto us is, Lo [...]k on me and do likewise. In short, Jesus Christ is the Key that unlocks all the Scriptures. We have searcht the Scriptures, and known them to good purpose, when we have Dug so far into them, as to find them all testifying of [Page 10] [...] [Page 11] [...] [Page 10] the Lord Jesus Christ. The Knowledge of Him exposes to us the Pearl of great Price in that Sa­cred Field. All men should know these things but for old men to be un-instructed in them, is re­markably disgraceful and pernicious.

Again, The Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, will afford an unspeakable satisfaction to our Souls. An Artist, that has met with some New, tho' but small, Discovery, with a strange Satisfaction crys out, I have found, I have found! But above all, the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, is a River of honey to them that are made partakers of it; hence could the Psalmist say, in Psal. 17.5. I will behold thy Face, I shall be satisfied. This Manna will fully answer the vast craving raging Appetites of an Immortal Soul; whatever fiery thirst was once in such a Soul, yet now, It shall never thirst. We read in Phil. 2.1. about, Consolation in Christ; the Knowledge of Christ places us amidst the Springs and Veins of an interminable consolation. All men should seek for such a Satisfaction; but it is particularly incumbent upon old men, who may complain with Bartillai, that they are past the relish of those worldly pleasures in which others labour to delight themselves. Once more,

The Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, will convey an Eternal Salvation to our Souls. A man may go to Hell, with all other Sciences about him; and sink into that horrible devouring Pit, with such a shriek as that, Qualis Artifex pereo! Be­hold an Artist, going to be Damned! The Floor, [Page 11] the hideous Floor of Hell, is paved with the skulls of admirable Scholars. You know who said, Nos cum nostris Doctrinis mergimur in Infernum. Who better Scholars than the Devils themselves? All the Learning that many have, serves only as a bag of Gold about a Drowning Man; it sinks them the deeper into the scalding Floods of the Lake that burns with fiery Brimstone: But the Know­ledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is a saving thing. He that calls in Isa, 45.22. Look unto me, and be saved, also says, O know me, and you shall be saved. A Look to Him, will bring an Healing to our Dy­ing Souls; as a Look to the Coper Serpent, once did unto the Israelites.

This Knowledge will cause us to escape the pollu­tions of the World; this Knowledge will cause us to grow in Grace; and in fine, thi [...] Knowledge has no less a thing spoken of it, tha [...] [...] Joh. 17.3. It is Life Eternal. The same [...] [...]akes it thus Necessary for All men, makes it for Old men more eminently so. Old men have a Night coming up­on them; and they above all, had need get their Lamps lighted with such a Knowledge, as may light them into the Chambers of Everlasting Glo­ry.

Proposition II.

'Tis the special Attainment of Old Men walking in the ways of God, that they have this Acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ. For,

First, The Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, is a special Attainment in whomsoever 'tis. It can't be said of all people, They have known him that is from the Beginning. 'Tis the distinguishing favour of God, that has made some Acquainted with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; and hence 'twas the Rapturous Doxology of our Lord, in Mat. 11 25. I thank thee, O Father, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and Revealed them unto Babes. Those few, that have the true Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, are those to whom, the most high God may say, You only have I known, among all the Families of the Earth. And as there is a singular Difference or Dignity in this Attainment, which renders them that have it, the happy Servants that may see the Glory and hear the Wisdom of Him that is, A Greater than Solomon; so there is a sm [...] Excellency in it, upon this Account; t [...] [...]ds a singular Acceptance with God; we [...] in Joh. 6.29. This is THE work of God, that ye believe on Him, whom He hath sent; God is pleased with no work that we can do, so much as this, that we so know his Son, as to put our trust in Him; and it brings a singular Advan­tage to men; 'tis wished in 2 Pet 1.2. Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you, thro' the Knowledge of Jesus our Lord; may we but well Know our Lord. Jesus, that's the way for all manner of grace and peace to be multiply'd unto us.

Secondly, Old Men walking in the ways of God, are usually those that have most of this Attainment. [Page 13] The God of Heaven does gradually give unto Christians, a more large and clear insight into the Covenant of Grace, and so they have a growing Ac­quaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Medi [...] ­tor of that Covenant. At our first Conversion we have indeed so much knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, as Draws us to Run after Him; but we find that Knowledge increasing as long as we live. 'Tis with us, as it was with Apollos, in Act. 18.25, 26. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; but after this, there was Expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. The old Christian comes to know more perfectly the Alsufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to know more perfectly his own infinite Need of such a Redeemer. The old Chris­tian has had more Teaching then we that are younger men; he has been taught by Ordinances, and been taught by Providences, and been taught by the Spirit of God accompanying of both; and he hath over and above been taught by an old Experience; Experience has taught him that he has no Righteousness and no Strength of his own; Ex­perience has taught him that the Lord Jesus Christ is one mighty to save; he goes to the Lord Jesus Christ as one whom he has had an old Acquain­tance with, he has been inured unto the Trade of Believing on that Almighty Lord.

Proposition III.

The God-head of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be [Page 14] acknowledged by all that would pretend unto any true Knowledge of Him. We do not know Him that is from the Beginning; unless we own that He is without all Beginning, unless we think him to be as the Philosopher expressed it, [Presbytaton Toon Ontoon] The most Ancient of all Beings; and unless we are sensible of the Challenge made by Wisdom for Him, in Prov. 8.23. I have been declared Prin­cess, from the Beginning. No Arian, or Socinian has a Knowledge of our blessed Jesus, enough to Entitle him to the Denomination of a Christian in the Churches of God. Our Lord is indeed a real and a proper man; but it is the Marble Rock up­on which our whole Christianity is founded, that He is more than so; for 'tis his Title, in Rom. 9.5. God over all blessed for ever. Thus the Name of the most High, (or Gneljon, which the Poet means I suppose by Anchialus) the peculiar Name of God among his ancient people, is given to our Lord Jesus. Let it be observed, first, That the Names of GOD are put upon our Lord. The Lord Je­sus Christ is the Redeemer, of whom Job says, In my Flesh I shall see God. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Angel, of whom Jacob says, He is the God that Redeemed me from all Adversity. 'Tis the Lord Je­sus Christ, whom John, in 1. Joh. 5.20. calls, The True God, whom Paul calls, in Tit. 2.13. the Great God; & whom Isaiah in Cap 9.6. calls, the Mighty God. What tho' He once were smitten with many Sorrows in an evil world? still in his deepest Obscurity, He was, as we may read that [Page 15] clause in Isa. 53.4. A smitten God. Yea, 'tis Je­hovah, who says in Zech. 12.10. They have pierced me; Behold, the Incommunicable Name of Jeho­vah given to a crucify'd Jesus; unto which Name answers that in the New Testament, the Lord which is, and which was, and is to come. Hence al­so our Lord exhibits Himself by that Name, in Joh. 8.58. I AM. And elsewhere He is called, the Lord of Glory; that is, the most gracious Lord.

And as the Incommunicable Names, thus also the Incommunicable Attributes of the Almighty God, belong to our Blessed Saviour. Shall we speak of Eternity? Says our Lord in Joh. 17.5. I had glo­ry before the world was. Shall we speak of Omnipo­tence? 'Twas said by our Lord, in Mat. 18.20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them; or shall we speak of Omniscience? 'Twas said by our Lord, in Rev. 2.23. I am He that searches the Hearts and Reins. None but a God may speak at such a rate as this!

What shall I say more? let it be observed,

Secondly, That the Works of God ere perform­ed by our Lord Jesus Christ. The Creation of the World, is the Work of God; but of our Lord Jesus Christ, is it said, in Joh. 1 3. All things were made by Him. The Government of the World, is the work of God; but of our Lord Jesus Christ, is it again said, in Heb 1.3 He upholds all things by the word of his power. 'Tis undoubted, That none can forgive sins but God; nevertheless 'tis said in Mat. 9.6. The Son of Man has power to forgive [Page 16] Sins. Who but God can send the Holy Spirit? yet said our Lord Jesus in Joh. 16.7. I will send the Comforter.

In a word how many Miracles has our Lord Jesus wrought, & this in his own Name How often were the Sick Healed, the Dead raised, the Possessed Res­cued, by the Hand of this Blessed Redeemer, co­ming in his own Name unto us! And hence also, let it be observed, Thirdly, That the Reghts of God are pertaining to our Lord Jesus Christ. None but God may be the Object of our Worship. Yet we are commanded in Joh. 5.23. To honour the Son, as we honour the Father. And Joshua adored Him as Captain to the Hosts of the Lord. Our Prayer should be to none but God; yet the Dying Stephen, in Act. 7.59. They stoned Stephen calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus. Our Faith should be in none but God; yet we read in Rom. 15.12. There shall be a Root of Jesse, in Him shall the Gentiles trust. We may Swear by none but God; yet the Apostolical Oath ran in such Terms as those in Rom. 9 1. I say the truth in Christ. Hence also, 'tis into the name of Christ, that we are Baptised, when we receive the first of our Sa­craments; which implies his being a God unto us.

The Lord Jesus Christ is no less than God; and oh how much is our Love to Him obliged, our Hope in him strengthened by that Consideration!

In our Improvement of these things,

IMPROVEMENT I.

We may Infer from hence, as we go along, how foolish, how absurd, how wicked are the Despisers of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the Lord Jesus be God as well as Man, and if an Acquaintance with Him be an Attainment in us, then 'twere very reasona­ble to Admire Him. Adore Him and Magn [...]fie Him for ever; to D [...]spise him, is of all Follies the most abominable.

But are any so absurd and wicked? I would to God, there were None. But I am to tell you, All that Negl [...]ct a Christ so far Despise a Chris [...]. Say sincerely, Have you made sure of a Christ or no? Have you Accepted him, Embraced him, tho­roughly Closed with him? Can you certainly and joyfully say, Christ is mine? It is to be doubted, that many must confess this thing to have been left undone all this while. But what is the rea­son of this horrible Neglect? Why, men are so taken up with secular and sensual matters, that they have no leisure to acquaint themselves with a precious Jesus? A filthy Lust, and a wretched World, are the things for the sake of which, a Matchless Christ is Neglected by Impenitent Un­believers; it may be said of them, as in Mat. 2.5. they made light of him, and went their ways; One to his Farm, another to his Merchandise. Did not the Jews Despise a Jesus, when they preferred a Barabbas before Him? every Unbeliever does [Page 18] as bad as this c [...]mes unto; and there are two ter­rible considerations to be therefore laid before all such woful Cr [...]atu [...]es.

Consider f [...]st, The time will come when there shall None of you all Despise an Inestimable Jesus. As 'twas said in Isa. 1 [...].12. I will make a man more precious than fine g [...]ld, even a man than the gol­den wedg [...] of Ophir: So there will a time come, when whole Wedges, yea, and whole Mountains of the fine [...]t g [...]ld, will not be so precious to your poor Souls, as that man who is from the Beginning. When you shortly see a God angry with you, a Soul going from you, and an Hell gaping for you, how much do you think, a Christ will then be worth? The Day is at the door, when the most obstinate Sinner among us all, will pierce the very Heavens, with such a lamentable cry as that, O for a Christ, a Christ! a thousand worlds for a saving Acquaintance with Him!

Consider Secondly, The holy Jesus will then despise, all such as have not seasonably Repented their slighting of him. It is said in Psal. 73.20. O Lord thou shalt despise th [...]ir Image. Thus, the sha­dow, (the ghost) of such a sinner, appearing before Christ, the Judge of departed Spirits, with im­portunate Petitions for pity, and pardon, and mercy, will be answered with nothing but an infi­nite Contempt. The Lord Jesus will then con­temn the Souls of such miscreants, and when they shriek, what will become of me? He will say, Let the Devils take them, if they will, I will make no [Page 19] provision for them. He will then also contemn their prayers, and when they Supplicate unto him with never such raging Ardors, Lord, Lord, open to us! He will only Reply, I know you not. Where­fore, Hear, ye Despisers, and wonder, that ye may not perish.

But of these things, there must be a further Improvement made.

IMPROVEMENT II.

It remains, that Old men be now call [...]d up­on, to do several good things wh [...]ch the Lord their God requireth of them. As the Prophet Joel, chap. 1.2. began a Sermon so; H [...]ar this ye old men; this is the preface that I am to give unto the rest of my Discourse, Hear this ye old men; O hear that your Souls may live. I have not forgotten, that I am to Entreat old men as Fathers, and therefore, my Fathers, I do with a most filial Affection entreat you, to attend unto a few Directions; which have this to challenge your earnest heed, that they are not Mine, but Gods.

The first Counsel.

I entreat you Fathers, that you be not content with a common measure in the more common know­ledge of him that is from the Beginning. He is cal­led, the Antient of Days; O that all ancient men would study to know much of a Subject so agree­able! You best know, what you have all this while been contriving and labouring for the getting of; [Page 20] but an old man once under the inspirations of the Almighty, gave that advice to Solomon, in Prov. 4.7. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get Wisdom. And surely, an old man himself is not unconcerned in that Advice! A common knowledge o [...] the Lord Jesus Christ, indeed is not enough to make you happy; but I am sure the want of such knowledge will render you both wretched here and undone for ever. He was a wise man that said, in Prov. 19.2. That the Soul be without knowledge, it is not good; but it is not so bad being without a­ny Knowledge, as being without the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This ignorance will prove the woful mother of two things. It will render your Ʋnbelief incurable. As it was said, in 1 cor. 2.8. Had they known, they would not have Crucify'd the Lord of glory; so may it be said, those that re­main in their Distance from the Lord Jesus Christ They refuse the Lord of glory, because they have not the Knowledge of Him. And it will also render your Destruction unavoidable. It was of old com­plained, in Hos, 4.6. my people are destroy'd for the lack of knowledge; but the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus is that, the lack whereof is most of all destructive; the world will one day with hot Thunderbolts be set on a light Fire for it. Well then, look to it, Fathers, that you been't unac­quainted with the Great Mystery of Godliness. If you have never yet studied that Mystery, I pray begin, and count not your selves too old to learn; that man is too old to live, that is too old to learn. [Page 21] The Ancient Heathen had an higher opinion than so, of their meaner Learning. Socrates would go to School when an old man, pleading that it was better to be Opsimathes than Amathes, better to be Late-learned, than to be Ʋnlearned. How much ought old men, to think thus of that Learning with­out which All men must find, That He that made them, will not have mercy on them, and He that for­med them will shew them no Favour? 'Tis to be fea­red, that there is a lamentable ignorance about the Lord Jesus Christ, in many that have lived unto old Age under the Gospel of that blessed Lord. A famous Divine tells us, of an old man, who had enjoyed the constant Preaching of the Word, and yet when he lay on his Death-bed, he still thought, Jesus Christ was an amiable Youth, and other things too ridiculous to be recited. And it has been a scandal to me to see, how little many old men among our selves do understand about, The Covenant of Redemption, and some other im­portant Articles. But, O get a little more know­ledge of Jesus Christ, before you go; lest that most forlorn and fearful case be yours, in Job 36.12. They shall dy without Knowledge. To be corporal­ly blind with Age, is not unusual; but for men to be Spiritually blind in Age is very dreadful. The Gray Hairs on the outside of your Heads, are not more Honourable, than the wrong Thoughts in the inside of them are pernicious, while you have not a good knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Old Luther did not reckon it a shame to profess [Page] himself, Discipulum Catechismi, one that still was every day learning his Catechism. Whether it be a shame or no, for you that are old men, to be Students in your Catechisms, I am certain, 'tis a more burning shame for you to be ignorant of the points which your Catechisms are to teach you. You have not so much as the beginning of true knowledge, till you know Him that is from the Be­ginning. The Apostle rebuked it, as a shameful Deficiency in those, Heb. 5.12. For the time, ye ought to be Teachers, yet ye need that one Teach you, which be the fi [...]st principles of the Oracles of God. They say, old men are twice Children; but O for shame, do not want the instruction which when you were first Children, you ought to have had a­bout the Lord Jesus Christ. Nay, albeit, you knew never so much about the Lord Jesus Christ, [...]et there is a vast deal more behind still to learn. Old men, study a blessed Jesus, till you fathom yet more of his matchless Excellencies! If one of the Roman Emperours, had such a value for Know­ledge, as in his old Age to be a sort of pupil still, and say, 'Tis good for old men to be learning still; surely, it becomes you to have as much value for the peerless Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In a word, since you are so near to your Eternal Sabbath, you should gather a double portion of this Manna for your Souls; and follow these Di­rections in it.

First, Pray much for the knowledge of the [Page 23] Lord Jesus Christ. Would we have this Know­ledge? we are counselled in Prov. 2.5. cry after it; he that writ that Counsel did himself obtain knowledge by asking for it. It is said, in Jam. 1.5. If any man lack wisdom, let him ask it. A sincere Prayer will do more, towards the Ʋnve [...]ling of Christs FACE, and the Ʋnsealing ou [...] EYe, than the prayerless Enquiries of many years. Now that the Eyes of your Bodies are almost out, O follow the Lord Jesus with such a cry for your Souls, as once that poor Son of sorrow made, Lord, that we may receive our sight! Those Mini­sters that study much on their Knees, will Preach best, and those christians that wrestle much on their Knees, will know most, of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be continually praying like Moses, Lord, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory; and let not your Declining Sun set with you, till by ardent prayer, you have got the Day-star to arise in your Hearts.

Secondly, Think much for the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The custome of Isaac will very much befriend the Knowledge of Jesus; that young man has left a pattern for old men to follow. Old men, you have now time to think; O spend as much as you can of that little time in Meditations upon the Lord Jesus Christ. 'Tis said of Moses in Exod. 19.3. That he went up to God, and then the Lord called unto him, come up? The Jewish Expositors have this gloss upon it; That Moses first made a spiritual Ascent by Meditation, & then he was favoured with a bodily Ascent unto very [Page 24] heavenly Communions. Meditation, 'twill carry you up into the Mount of God, when you are so old, that you cannot Ascend a Chamber in your Houses without help or pain; yea, 'twill carry you within the Vail of God, and bring you to the view of, Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant. Every day then discourse unto your selves on some Divine Subject, until you feel some lively Impres­sion of it, on your Souls; and have special Eye to the Lord Jesus Christ in your Assiduous Medi­tations: said the Psalmist, Psal. 119.100. I have more understanding than all my Teachers, for thy Te­stimonies are my meditation; I understand more than the Ancients. Behold the way, for you that are Ancients, to get much Ʋnderstanding of the Lord Jesus Christ; let your daily meditation be on those Oracles of God, whereof he says, They testifie of me.

Thirdly and lastly, Frequent the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Knowledge of him; these are the glasses, of which we are told, 2 cor. 3.18. Therein we behold the glory of the Lord; and so, we attain the knowledge of the Lord. Old men, as long as ever your legs can carry you, O be getting into those Galleries where you may find the Lord Jesus Christ. Yea, attend upon His Worship, tho you do it as good old Jacob, leaning on the top of a staff. Be glad of every Appoint­ment, wherein you have that Invitation, behold, the Lamb of God; be glad of every Opportunity where­in you may have that priviledge, to see the goings of the great King in the Sanctuary. Repair to all the [Page 25] Ordinances, of the Lord, saying like those honest Greeks of old, we would see Jesus! we would see Jesus! But for this end, especially repair to the Supper of the Lord. It is an horrible thing to see an old man turn his back on the Holy Table, and it is a sorrowful thing for such an one to dy out of Church-fellowship. The Psalmist could say, in Psal. 92.13, 14. they that are planted in the House of the Lord, shall bring forth fruit in old Age; 'tis a barren old man that is not found in the house of the Lord. I beseech you, that before you go out of the world, you get into the Church; and when you are at the Sacrament in the Temple, you may like old Simeon, take up the Lord Jesus in your Arms, and sing, Lord, now lettest thou thy Ser­vant depart in peace; for mine Eyes have seen thy Jesus here.

I remember an Apparition of our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, wherein he seems to have something of an old man upon him; 'tis said in Rev. 1.14. His Head and his hairs were white like Wool, as white as the Snow. O that old men, that all of you, whose heads are white with Age, would be restless till you have a sight of Him.

The second Counsel.

With a common Knowledge of, I entreat you, Fa­thers, endeavour to get a saving Interest in, him, that is from the Beginning. O make sure of that, before the end of your days come upon you.

Consider, first, You cannot be far from the end of your days in this evil world. You may sadly look backward on the few days that have already passed, and as it were, stolen, from you; and you may then look forward, assuring of your selves, I have not near so many years to Live, as those that have already gone from me like a tale that is told; it was but yesterday that I came into the world, and now before to morrow, I shall be gone out again. It was the Emphatical Expession of the Apostle, in 1 Cor. 7.29. this I say, Brethren, the time is short, or as the Greek word carries it, the time is Fur­ling; q. d. you are like Mariners, just ready to put a shore. Even so, this I say, Fathers, the Sail of time is just furling with you; you are just putting into the harbour, where you shall step a shore on the Banks of a long E [...]ernity. An old Grecian walking once very slowly, said unto a Stander-by, After this fashion I am stepping into the Grave; and another old Grecian that felt his Ancles failing him, com­plain'd, that death had bitten him by the Legs. You cannot stir many steps, without many such admo­nitions of the Mortality, which you are near un­to. It can't be long, before you pass into your Eternal State; the vital Ty between your Spirits and your Bodies, will not much longer hold toge­ther; there are but a few Sands now left in the bottom of your Glass, and your Light is within one Inch of going out. You may say like Father Isaac, in Gen. 27.1. Behold, now I am old, and I know not the day of my death; but you may also [Page 27] say, since I am old, I do know that my Death cannot be many days off. It was the Speech of as good an old man, as ever lived, in Josh. 23 2, 4. I am old and stricken in Age; behold this day I am going the way of all the Earth. If you are old, I am sure you are going. Young men may Dy, but old men must; and I am to tell you about the day of your Death, as the Prophet speaks about the Day of the Lord, It is near, it is near, and it hasteneth greatly.

Consider Secondly, The End of your Days, will be but the beginning of your never-ending Miseries, if you dy without a saving Interest in Him that is from the Beginning. 'Tis none but he that is from the Beginning, who can deliver you from the woes and plagues that will never have an end. We are told in 1 Thes. 1.10 it is Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come; without an Ʋ­nion to Him, that wrath will come upon you, and after it is already come, it will be still to come, there will be more of it still to come throughout Eternal Ages. You that are near to your Death, are as near unto the Worm that never dyes, and unto the Fire that never shall be quenched, if a speedy Con­version prevent it not. It is a dreadful word in Joh. 8.24. Ye shall dy in your sins. Be not so thick of Hearing in this your old Age, as to be deaf unto this Warning of God; If you do not quickly get out of your sins by a closure with the Lord Jesus Christ, you'l dy in them; but so to Dy is to dy under the formidable Curse of the Om­nipotent [Page 28] God, and it is to Dy exposed unto the Vengeance of Eternal Fire. Poor old man, Thou hast already seen many bitter dismal doleful days, and had thy Heart often broken with those Evil Days; but be assured, all the past black Hours of thy life are but the beginning of sorrows, if thou dost not immediately get an Interest in Him that is from the Beginning. If an old man don't get out of old Adam before he die, he will find an o [...]d Hell prepared for him; and this also circumstanced with very dreadful Aggravations. How many sins does a man commit in one Fifty or Threescore Years! But old men, if you are still out of Christ, the God of Heaven remembers all your old sins, as fresh as if they had been done but this very morning. Our Lord said of some that were Dead and Damn'd many years before, in Joh. 10 8. they ARE Theives. Even so, the old man out of Christ IS in the account of God, the same sinner that once he was; it may be said of him, as once it was of some, He is not purged from his old sins. But what a prodigious load of sins then lies upon such an old man, to sink him into the Sulphureous Abyss of Hell! Hence 'twas said in Isa. 65.20. the Sinner an hundred years old, shall be Accursed. It is promised as a great blessing, to live near an hundred years; but if a man be a Sinner at that Age, his Age will be but a Curse unto him, he shall have cause to wish that he had never seen such an Age as that. Such a wretched old man must not only perish, but also go down to the Pit with [Page 29] heavier Loads of Confusion and Vexation than those that had not lived so long; that as 'twas said of one, It had been good for that man, he had never been born; so it may be said of this man, It had been good for him, he had never lived half so ma­ny years in the world. When he is Roaring in the Fiery Vaults below, I am tormen [...]ed in this Flame! he will add this Lamentation & Execration there­unto, Why dyed I not from the Womb? why did I not give up the Ghost when I came out of the Belly? It was of old given, as a Resolve to the problem, Quis miserrimus Senex egenus. What is the most miserable sight in the world? Answer, an old man in want; an old man without bread. But I'le tell you a far more miserable sight; and that is, An Old man in sin; an Old man without Christ, an Old man without Grace; an Old man tumbling down into the pits of Eternal Desolation.

Consider, Thirdly; It is not as yet altogether too late for you to Begin the work of getting a saving Interest in Him that is from the Beginning. 'Tis indeed a thousand pitties that you have thus long delay'd this work; which is, the One thing Need­ful. If you should now be brought home unto Lord Jesus Christ, you must bewayl your selves, like Paul, in 1 Cor. 15.8. Alas, I am as one born out of due time. But it is not altogether too late! 'Tis true, that the Regeneration of an old man, is a thing very improbable; as it was said in Joh. 34. How can a man be born, when he is old? So may we fear, How can a man be New-born, when he is [Page 30] old? When the Devil has had an old poss [...]ssion of, and prescription for an Immortal Soul, it is not easy to cast him out; Sin and Lust has a st [...]onger Hold of an Old man, than of another. But yet it is not altogether impossible; it may be said un­to the Christless old men in the Congregation, There is yet Hope in Israel concerning you. There is a Door of Hope yet kept open for you; and after all your multiply'd Iniquities and Abominations, Yet return unto me, saith the Lord, and I will not cause my Anger to fall upon you. As 'tis said, in Heb. [...].7 To day, after so long a time, harden not your Hearts. Even so, altho' you have slighted the Lord Jesus Christ, so long a time; altho' you have been Disobedient unto the Calls of God, and un­fruitful under all the means of good, so long a time; yet if now, after so long a time, you will come in unto the Saviour of your Souls, he will have mercy on you. The blessed Lord Jesus Christ is this Day making an Offer of Righteousness and Strength and Life unto us all, and the old men a­mong us, as well as the rest are concerned in it. Our Lord once came unto one that seems to have been a pretty old man, and said unto him, as in Joh. 5.6. Jesus knew he had been a long time ill, and said unto him, wilt thou be made whole? Thus does our gracious Lord come unto those old men among us, that have been a long time in the Calamities of their Natural Estate, and he says unto them, Old man, shall I have thee, and heal thee and help thee? Old man, shall I be the Lord and Saviour of thy Soul? [Page 31] I am willing to make thee happy, if thou wilt yet con­sent, before I shut the Door of mercy on thee. O by no means Despair, but Accept, of this Glorious Grace. Once the Devil told you, 'tis too soon! perhaps he now tells you, 'tis too late! but believe not that old Lyar, whether he speak fair or hard unto you. In the Primitive Times, there was one Victorius, a very old man, converted unto Christia­nity; and the Church would not receive him for some time, for thought they, old sinners do not use thus to retu [...]n unto God. But he made his Conver­sion so apparent, that they sang Hymns about it in the Christian Assemblies, & it was every where proclaimed, Old Victorius is become a Christian! old Victorius [...]s become a Christian! Even so, that shout may yet come to be made over the oldest Unbeliev­er here, That old Sinner is brought home to the Lord Jesus after all. We had in this Country, an In­stance of one, that was made a New-creature, af­ter he had spent an hundred years in the Tents of wickedness. But methinks, the Tender of a full Pardon to an old Rebel, should break the very hear of him; O how can you now forbear making th [...] Reply unto that merciful King, the Lord Jes [...] Behold, we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord o [...] God.

Well then, let every old man immediately R [...] tire to think upon the rueful Necessities of a r [...] ver dying Soul, just ready to fly away into the R [...] gions of Eternity. Think on them, till you your selves horribly perishing, in an incura [...] [Page 32] guilt, and blindness, and slavery, unless the Lord Jesus Christ become your Surety for good. Here­upon, with much Humility and Sincerity, and with a most unutterable Agony, resign your Souls into his blessed Hands, begging of him, and hoping in him, to do for you, all that which He does for any of his Chosen Ones for evermore; yea, for the more safety and sureness, renew this work, & keep doing so, till at your last Breath, you receive the end of your Faith, even the Salvation of your Souls.

If you had been converted unto the Lord Jesus many years ago, yet would you now see cause to complain with old Austin, Lord, it was too late, when I first began to love thee! O what haste ought you then to make, in returning now to the Bishop of your Souls, from whom you have been misera­bly wandring for so long a time?

It is a great over-sight in an old man, if he have not made his Will, and so disposed his Affairs that when he comes to Dy, he may have nothing to do but Dy.

But O see to it in the first place, that the first Article of your Will be well dispatched, & assured, by your giving of your Souls unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

The third Counsel.

Govern the little that remains of your Lives, [Page 33] by the Rules of Him that is from the Beginning. The Apostle tells Old men, in 1 Joh. 2.7. I write unto you an old Commandment, which ye had from the Beginning. It becomes you to follow the wholesome Rules, which He that is from the Begin­ning has given you; inasmuch as they are Old Commandments, which you have had from the Begin­ning. Let me a little insist upon one of those old Commandments which you find in Tit. 2.2. That the Aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound, in Faith, in Charity, in patience.

Behold six vertues, which all Old men should be studious of.

The first Vertue that well becomes an old man, is that of Sobriety. The Greek word for this may bear an Allusion to those Ancient Sacrifices, which had no Wine used in them. An Old man should be no lover of Wine; or any Strong, inebriating, in­toxicating Liquors. If old Noah will he Drunk, he shamefully exposes his Nakedness to all Specta­tors. 'Tis very deplorable, to see how many Old men, degenerate into the worse-than-beastly Vice of Drunkenness, and this oftentimes after a long and a strict Profession of Religion. They often imagine (and often 'tis but an Imagination) that their Stomachs call for Cordials; and hereupon, first they sip now and then at a Cup, which quick­ly so far bewitches them, that they can swal­low down very scandalous quantities. They come to be never well, but when Rhum or Sack or some such poison is upon their palates, and they soon [Page 34] lose all that savour of Religion which would be their Glory. But what is the Word of the great God? It is, Wo to the Drunkard! It is, The Drunkard shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. O shun this destroying vice, knowing the Terrour of the Lord. For them that Stagger with Age, at the same time to stagger with Drink; to see an old man Reeling, Spewing, Stinking with the excesses of the Ta [...]ern; 'tis too loathsom a thing to be mentioned without a very zealous Detestati­on. What Heart would not have bled at the sight of old Lot overtaken with Drink, and that after so many mercies as had been bestowed upon him? Be sober. But the word may also be ren­dred, Be watchful. Old men are prone to he sl [...]epy; whatever your Eyes may be, yet let not your Minds be so. Be watchful against all the Assaults that a busy Tempter may make upon you. Be watchful unto all the Duties that the Most High God obligeth you unto. And be so watchful, that the Last Enemy may not surprize you at un­awares.

The second Vertue, that much adorns an Old man, is that of Gravity. The Greek word im­plies both Majesty and Modesty. An old man should keep up some Authority among his Juni­ors; and be able to say with him of old, Men have hearkened and waited, and kept silence at my Counsel, if I laughed on them, they believed it not. A trifling & childish, & frolicksome sort of carri­age, all Buffoonry in an old man, is very disagree­able; [Page 35] it was old Chrysostoms Expression, That an old man of a Juvenile Conversation is extreamly ri­diculous. We cannot Reverence you, unless your grave Looks, as well as your gray Hairs, demand it of us. But nothing is more Nauseous and Odious in an old man, than the Levity of Lasciviousness. For old men to talk bawdily and filthily, and for old men to discover that the cursed Fires of their Youth are not yet extinguish'd in them, Out upon it! For those Eyes that are sunk into their Sock­ets, to be yet full of Adal [...]e [...]y for those Mouths that are going to be fin'd with earth, to be yet full of Rotten Communication; 'tis, how incongru­ous! An old man should (as one says) be glad that Age has delivered him from a Mad-man that once had power over him. Ʋnchastity in any man renders him the Abhorred of the Lord; but in an old man it is more peculiarly fulsome, nasty, and that which also renders him the Abhorred of the Neighbourhood. As the old Eleazar chose rather to Dy, than to eat forbidden Swines Flesh, a bruitish Lust should be more abominable unto every old Professor.

The third Vertue that should set off an old man, is that of Temperance. The Greek word also sig­nifies Discretion. An old man should be a wise man; for, no fool so bad as the old fool. An old man should as the phrase imports, Keep his mind un­der Government; and restrain and repel inordi­nate Affections. Mortification is but proper for them that are just ready to Dy. Be prudent, be [Page 36] wary in your whole Behaviour, and be moderate in all your inclinations towards the pleasures, or the profits, or the honours of this deceitful world. You know who said, Among the Ancient is Wisdom, and in the length of days is Ʋnderstanding.

A fourth Vertue, necessary to an old man is O [...] ­thodoxy. You must be found in Faith. You are to be our Teachers, our Tutors; our Eyes are upon you for a Tradition of the Faith once deliver­ed unto the Saints. If you be wavering in any point of our Faith, it will cause us much more to stumble and stagger at it. You that have had the Word of God so long, should now at least be well fixed, and well settled in the principles of Chris­tianity; and not be tainted with any Scepticism or Heresy. When we see an old man that leans up­on a Reed, we should not see, A Reed shaken with the Wind. May you that are just upon Dying, not only be careful to Dy in the Truth, but be as ready to Dy for it, as that blessed old Babylas, who at Ninety Years of Age, going to his Martyrdome cry'd out, Return to thy Rest, O my Soul, for the Lord has now dealt bountifully with thee.

A fifth Vertue r [...]quisite in an old man is Chari­ty. You must be sound in Chari [...]y; that is, you must labour to do all the go [...]d you can. An old man should like old Bradford, [...]e always doing of some Good, with Tongue, or Pur [...]e, or some other way. Per­haps you have a long while been Serving your Ge­neration; yet you are to do a little more Service; and be Serviceable until you are by your Great [Page 37] Master called away. Husband well every minute of the Little Time that is left, by being alwayes employed for the good of them that shall come after you. Albeit your age may excuse you from Serving in civil or military Offices among your Neighbours, yet should you be charitably pursuing of their Good, as far as ever you can. There are especially two ways of Doing good, in which you may be very Serviceable. One is, by charging of us. Call us often before you, and lay the Charge of God upon us, That we know and serve the God of our Fathers. Another is, by praying for us. Be much in prayer for the Rising Generation; and since you are past the doing of any thing in the Field, get into the Mount, that you may there procure for us the Salvations of the Lord. It was the Expression of our Venerable old Eliot, when he grew towards Ninety Years of Age; E­very thing now fails me, I have nothing left; but I thank God, my Charity holds out still, that rather grows than fails. That every old man were of such a Spirit!

A sixth Vertue required of an old man is Pati­ence. Old men, are often froward, & peevish, hard to please; you should lay aside that Morosity. One that calls his Book, The old mans Physician, has largely, luculently, pathetically represented the mischiefs which old men endure, by perturbations in their Minds. Bear patiently the Infirmities of that Old Age which you are now arriv'd unto. Tully mentions an old man, who being Aged seven [Page 38] years above an Hundred, used still to say, Nihil habeo quod Accusem Senectutem; I see nothing in old age to be complained of. Be not then full of complaints; and grow not weary of Living. Do not impatiently long for Death, nor say with old Elijah, It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life. Grow continually in your submission to the will of God, and under all your Trials call upon your selves as once the Martyr did, Hold out, faith and patience, a little more, Heaven will quickly make amends for all. These things does the Apostle speak to Old Men: But, I hope, the old women will take the pains to Read what follows: Likewise that the aged women be of a Behaviour that becometh Holiness, not false Accusers, not given to much Wine, teaching that which is good; that they may teach the young women. The good God make you all such Mothers in Israel.

The Fourth Counsel.

Endeavour now to live as those that are just now going to Him that is from the Beginning.

Wherefore,

First, Be sensible of, be affected with, the change that will immediately be made upon you. What is a Senex, but a Seminex: An old man, is half a dead man. It was the petition in Psal. 90.12. Teach us to Number our Dayes. Let that Sacred Arithmetic be your Exercise; compute, How few days of your Appointed Number can be still behind. [Page 39] Be willing to hear of Dying; and not like that English Queen, who cast a Minister out of her Favour, for telling her in a Sermon, That old time had sprinkled his Meal upon her Aged Head. Pro­mise not your selves always, to rub out still one Lustre of years more in the world; altho', one of the Ancients has told us, Nemo tam Decrepitae Se­nectutis est, ut non se putet unum adhuc Annum esse victurum. Ever mark it, when you hear an Old Man brag how strong and hale he still is, and how likely to live at least one dozen more of years, 'tis a thousand to one but that Old Man is within a few months of his unsuspected end. I pray, look often into your Coffins; and if you have no other Monitors of your Mortality, let your own Children, and your own Bodies, perform that Of­fice for you. Perhaps you see your own Children becoming Parents, and the third and fourth Gene­ration is arising from you. The sight of them gives no little pleasure unto the yet living Ance­stor, who commonly proves, the Older the Fonder; but methinks it should give you a solemn Warn­ing too, and cause you to Remember, That you are now marching off apace. You must needs also feel your crazy Bodies under daily and speedy Appro­ches to a Dissolution.

Non habitus, non ipse color, non gressus euntis,
Non species eadem que fuit ante manet.

Will you take a short view of your picture, as [Page 40] 'tis drawn by a Pencil of the Sanctuary, in the [...]ast lines of an aged and an able Preacher.

The Sun, the Light, the Moon & the Stars begin to be Darkned with you; that is, your parts are under a Decay, your Fancy, your Judgment, your Memory are now failing of you. Again, The Clouds come one upon another after the Rain; that is, you are troubled not only with con­continual Defluxions, but also with a vicisitude of returning and various Infirmities. Once more, The Keepers of the House tremble; that is, your Hands now shake and shrink, and must lean upon a staff. Wherewithal, The strong men bow them­selves; that is, your Thighs and Legs now buckle under you. And then, The grinders cease, because they are diminished; that is, your Teeth grow weak and few, and are almost all rotted out. Furthermore, Those that look out of the Windows be Darkned; that is, your eyes become Dim, and Clouds disturb the visive powers in them; but give then your thanks to God, that has of late years bestow'd the Invention of Glasses upon the world. Furthermore, The two Leaves of the Door shall be shut towards the Street, with a falling of the sound of the Milstone; that is, your mouths now have but little to do, and your Meals become tender sel­dom. Besides, there is Rising at the sound of the Bird; that is, you can't lie long asleep; nor sleep late in a Morning. Moreover, The little musical Instruments are brought low; that is, you become Deaf, and thick of Hearing. Likewise, there is [Page 41] a tearing of that which is High, and a trembling in walking; that is, you can't without some Diffi­culty go up a pair of Stairs, and are in danger of stumbling at every stone in the street. Herewith the Almond-tree flourisheth; that is, you have your Heads as full of gray hairs, as the Almond-tree is of white Flowers. Also, the Grashopper is a burden; or, as the word may be rendred, the back­bone; that is, your Backs are so feeble that in­stead of carrying any thing else, they can scarce bear themselves. In fine, Desire fails; that is, to Meats or Drinks, or the other Delights of hu­mane Life; all this is, because you are going to the House where you are to dwell for ever. All these things intimate that it can't be long before the Silver Cord of your spinal marrow will be snap't, or before the Golden Bowl of the Membrane that covers your Brain, will be broken; that it can't be long before the pitcher of your Arterious Vein be crackt at the right ventricle of your heart, which is the Fountain from whence it fetches your blood into your Lungs; that it can't be long before the Wheel of your great Artery, be split at the left ventricle of your Heart, which is the Cistern whereby 'tis carried into and thorough that noble Bowel; in a word, that it can't be long, before the circulation of your Blood be fatally and for­ever stop'd, and that Liquor of Life corrupt in a total stagnation of it. Old men, behold what symptoms are upon you, and seriously perswade your selves, that your Dust will quickly return to [Page 42] the Earth, as it has been there, and your Spirit shall Return unto God that gave it.

Secondly, Believe that till your Change comes, you shall be sufficiently provided for, by Him that is from the Beginning. 'Tis a meer paradox of O­riginal Sin, 'tis a Mystery of Iniquity, that the Ol­der men grow, they often grow the more Earthly, & the more careful. As 'tis hard to say whether the Greek Name for an old man, intimates one Looking to, or one Loving of the Earth; So, Old Men too much lay their Hearts where their Heads are going to be laid; Solum unum hoc vitium adfert senectus hominibus; Attentiores sumus ad rem omnes, quam sat est; the fear of want comes upon them; and they are then most anxious about living in the world, when they are just going out of the world. Hence they become infinitely sparing and sordid, and they scrape to lay up, without any Bounds. It is needless to bring Augustin for a Voucher, That cum cuncta vitia in sene senescat sola Avaeritia Juvenescit. But, Fathers, your dishonour your selves. You are at this pains to hoard up Legacies and Portions, for those that perhaps will nor thank you for them; and you fearfully dis­oblige the kind Providence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Said the Psalmist in Psal. 71.17, 18. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; now also, when I am Old and Gray-headed, O God forsake me not. Why, good Sir, you need not fear it. Who is it that has fed you from your Youth? & cloath'd you, from your Youth? and kept you, from your [Page 43] Youth? Why, the same Lord will still provide for you. He that is from the Beginning, has look't after you hither to from the Beginning; and will he leave you now! No, He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. The Philosopher said, Before Old Age, my care was to live well; but now under Old Age, all my care is to Dy well. And in­deed you have nothing else to take any care a­bout; let the promise encourage you to confine your Cares unto Dying in the Lord. 'Tis hor­rible to see with what a possession the Devil holds the Soul of many a poor Old man, when he has made them lay aside their dependance upon that unsailing promise of God. The very design of the Apostle in our Context here, is to correct the sin of worldiness, particularly in Aged Men. Let them that may have done with Hopes, have also done with Cares about the world.

Thirdly, Rejoice that when your Change comes, you shall go to the Enjoyments and Embraces of Him that is from the Beginning. Say with Aged Paul, in Phil. 1.23. I desire to Dislodge, and be with Christ, which is by far the best of all. Death is a sort of a Cloud now before your Eyes; but there is a Bright as well as a Dark side of that Cloud. Look on it, not as a Destroyer of your life, but as a Messenger of your Lord; it is but a Waggon that our Joseph, our Jesus, will shortly send for you, to fetch you thither, where you shall behold his Glo­ry: O be Ravished at the Thought of this, and Rejoice in the Hope of the glory of God. If it in a­ny [Page 44] measure afflict you to think, what you are go­ing from; then think joyfully, what you are go­ing to. Think, that you are going from a World wherein your Dayes have been few and ill, and wherein you never can expect them to be other­wise; but think that you are going to a world of undisturbed Happiness, where there is Fulness of Joy in the presence of your Lord, and there are Plea­sures at his Right-hand for evermore. Methinks life should become a matter of patience, while death should be rather a matter of Desire with you, un­der the apprehension of the Joy that you are now so near unto. Methinks the Terrors of Death should be no more to you than they were to old Mr. Dod, who under a threatning Sickness being told, there was hope of his Life, reply'd, A­lass, this is just as if a weather-beaten Marriner ar­riv'd unto his Haven, should be told he must put out to Sea again. My Fathers, how can you forbear lon­ging to be in the Fruition of Him that has loved you, and washed you from your Sins, in his own Blood!

Fourthly, Let all the little spot of time between this and your Change, be wholly spent in a Com­munion with Him that is from the Beginning. An impartial Reflection will give you to see that you have lost a world of time, since you first came in­to the world; and how much ought this to fill you with an unalterable Resolution that you will well Husband the little inch of time which yet re­mains. As 'twas said in Eph. 5.16. Redeem the time because the days are evil; to you I say, Redeem [Page 45] the time because your days are ending. O spend it all in a most close and sweet Communion with your blessed Saviour; and as Israel made more way to­ward Canaan in a year or two at last than they did in forty years before; so do you towards Hea­ven in this reduced Age; and procure that Com­mendation, Thy last works are more than the first. It is required of an old woman, in 1 Tim. 5.5. she continues in Supplications and Prayers night and day. So should an old man abound in Supplications to God night and day, in Meditations on Christ night and day, in preparations for Death night and day. 'Tis convenient that you should now Retreat and Retire from the business of the world, and that the best part of your time should be taken up in serious Devotions. You should now more than ever engage in such a walk, as you may expect like Elias to be snatched up into eternal Glory from Let not a day now pass you without many salleys of your Souls towards a sublime Acting of many Graces in it; and let not a night come upon you, without renewing your peace with God, and your close with Christ. Get near to him, keep near to him, dwell always in him. You have one foot in the Grave; where should the other be, but in Hea­ven? Let your whole talk, and your whole walk be full of Heaven, and Initiate your selves as much as you can, at the Employments of that Hea­ven, where I now commit you into the Blessed Arms of Him that is from the Beginning.

The Dedication of Th …

The Dedication of The YOUNG MANS Glory. To the Praying and Private Meeetings of YOUNG PEOPLE in BOSTON. More especially to two or three such Assemblies, in lhe North-part of the TOWN.

IT was an Observation long since made by a Re­nowned Ancient, That our Lord Jesus Christ gave the most sensible and pathetick manifestati­ons of his Love to the Youngest of his Disciples; and it is a common temper in the Owner of eve­ry Orchard, more particularly to take notice of a few Fruits appearing on a young Tree, than of much larger Quantities on a Tree of longer stan­ding: It becomes me therefore to acknowledge it wi [...]h a singular Affection, that there are in this poor Town so many scores of young persons, who having taken upon them a more serious profession of Religion do endeavour to quicken & strength­en one another in it, by meeting together for the Exercises of Devotion every week; especially in [Page 47] the Evening after the Sabbath, which is a spot of time too meanly and vainly and impertinently, not to say perniciously, spent by multitudes in the midst of us. I count it not the smallest Happiness of my life that I have been for perhaps more than a dozen years acquainted with some of those use­ful Meetings; as having in them had more than a little of my Education, and my Preparation, for my public Ministry. The sense of my Obligations to them, has caused me some while ago to ask their Acceptance of a little Book, Entituled, Early Piety Exemplify'd, and intended in a particular manner for their Edification; and for the same cause it is, that I now put into their hands another little Dis­course, recommending unto them, A victory over the Wicked One; 'tis because I am desirous that in their Journey Heaven-wards, they may not prove like young Travellers, that at first gallop furiously, but soon tire, and come late or lame home at last; and that while they are upon the Road, they may not be thrown backwards by the Se [...]pent in the way, the Adder in the path waiting for them.

Brethren, I can from a troublesome Experience tell you, that when once you come to Renounce the Service and (as then you must) oppose the Interest of the Devil, he will quickly persecute you with his unwearied Molestations; and you are yet in too good terms with him, if you do not already find him, Your Adversary going about like a Roaring Lion. When Sampson was entring upon the work of God, it was not long before the Lion Roar'd on him. [Page 48] For my own part, I mourn bitterly to think, that I have done so little towards Destroying and Con­founding the Kingdom of the Devil; for which, the writing and spreading of Books is none of the least Expedients; but something I have done; and the Wicked One, has like a Dragon, been spitting Fire at me for it. While I was preparing for the Press, one of those little Books which I have sent abroad, the Devil from the mouth of a possessed person, in the Audience of several standers-by, threatned me with much Disgrace for what I was about. Whereupon presently and ever-since, those great Agents of the Devil, the modern leaders of the poor deluded Quakers, have in one Pamphlet after another been loading of me with most viru­lent and malicious Reproaches, in hopes, That some will stick; but the dirt they cast happily proves like that of Oysters; it more cleanses than defiles. The same disturbance, that was given to the De­vil by that little Book, I am willing should arise unto him from all the rest of my poor composures; and I suppose he will have it from This, which particularly treats him as our Enemy, and professedly pursues a victory over him. This (which was once a) Land of Ʋprightness, now is not without some people in it, than which I believe, the Devil has not more devoted and resolved Vassals in all his Territories; people that have sinned against, until they have sinned away, all the strivings of Gods Holy Spirit, and that are now full of all frau­dulence and craftiness, and the Enemies of all Righ­teousness. [Page 49] I do expect that if their father can have his will, these will quickly be inspired with a rage that will vent it self a thousand ways against all my poor Endeavours to annoy that Wicked One. And since, 'tis especially by Printing of Sermons that I labour to give most provocation to the De­vil, 'twill be no more surprise to me, if I find the Devil assaying by the Printing of Slanders to take his Revenges on me; than it was to a man so much better and greater than my self, as Athana­sius, to read the Libels of a wicked Generation a­gainst him, wherein as the Historian tells it, Caedes, Adulteria, Furta, quicquid Atrox confingi poterat sancto Viro objiciebantur; all manner of Devilism, was by the Devil forged of that good man; but as 'twill be my Honour herein to endure no other Buffetings than what have been bestow'd upon the best of men, so I have already published, in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth pages of the Discourse which God helped me to make at our last Anniversary Election, all the Answer that I count it worth while to give unto whatever Ca­lumnies a buisy Devil may go to afflict me with.

I mention this rather to alarm you, than to comfort my self, and I advise you that if the Devil now assault you with various Temptations, to divert you and seduce you from the good ways which you are now walking in, you would not think strange of the trial, as though some strange thing happened unto you. My Dear Brethren, go on, [Page 50] hold out, persevere; I would say to you as Austin said unto his, when the Roman Empire became Christian, I pray don't think the Devil is turned Christian yet. And let me never be so unhappy as to see the Lion fetching away out of my Flocks, any of the Lambs which I am to be feeding of. Part of your Food is now laid before you;

by your unworthy Pastor, Cotton Mather.

THE YOUNG MAN'S Glory. OR, A Wreath of Graces for the Head of YOUTH.

1 John II.XIII.

I write unto you, YOUNG MEN, because ye have overcome the Wicked One.

THat we have the Word of God written, is a thing to be with many Thanksgivings ascribed unto the Grace of God; ever­lasting Praises are due from us to Him, that has written the great things of his Law. And one Ex­pression of our gratitude unto Him for it, would be for us to count our selves therein written un­to; to judge our selves as much concerned in the Scripture, as if it were a Letter with our Names [Page 52] in the superscription of it. But that we may not give the least way to a contrary, and a culpable inadvertency, the Holy Spirit of God has particu­larized in his Addresses, and apply'd himself unto the several Ages of men. 'Tis unto young men, that we now see an inspired Apostle writing; and unto pious, gracious, Christian young men; such young men as all men may behold a pattern in. A very glorious Attainment is here acknowledged in such young men as believe in and belong to, the Lord Jesus Christ; and the Expression is adapted unto that condition which young men are naturally ambitious of. We read in Prov. 20.29. the glory of young men is their strength: 'tis that which they value themselves upon. The age of young men is accomodated unto wrestling, and fighting, and such Athletic Exercises, and their Humour is more than a little delighted in their victories over their Antagonists. Well, there is a cursed Enemy which all young men are to contend withal; which Ene­my is the Devil, called here by the name of, the Wicked One; and godly young men are so happy as to have the upper-hand of this wicked Enemy, they prevail and prosper in their Encounters with him. Behold then this Doctrine for our present Meditations.

DOCTRINE. The Wicked One is an Enemy, which 'tis the singu­lar and special Honour of Religious Young Men to be victorious over.

Proposition I.

We are to look upon the Devils as a Wicked One. That there are Devils in the world, is un­questionable to all but those absurd Sadduces, that say, seeing is believing, and will believe nothing but what they see. And yet if even seeing would con­vince them, after their contemning of the Scrip­tural Evidence which may be read in Jude 6. and Mat. 18.16. and Luc. 4.33. and many other pla­ces, we have in a manner seen such Beings as De­vils are. That is, we have seen such preternatu­ral operations in some Enchantments and Possessions among us, as could never have been without the Existence of certain spiritual and rational Substan­ces, as are full of all Wickedness against God, and enmity against man. Would you know what a De­vil is? The Apostle gives a description of him, in Eph. 6.12. a spiritual wickedness, that is, a wicked Spirit. Hideous Droves of those wicked Spirits, being fallen Angels, are made prisoners within the Atmosphere of that Earth which we walk upon; the High-places of our Air, are, as the Apostle in­timates, the Receptacles of those wicked Spirits, But now,

First, we may look upon all the Devils as ONE. On what account? Briefly, altho' as to their Indua­tion they are several, yet they are One for their Ʋnanimity. It is their agreement and union in mis­chief, on the score of which they are to be called One.

The Devils are many for Number; their Troops amount unto many Legions. We read in Luc. 8.30. about a Legion of them, that kept a Garrison in one single person; though a Legion contained perhaps twelve thousand and five hundred in it. Very probably there are f [...]r more Devils than men in the world; and they swarm like the Frogs of Egypt in every one of our Chambers. Yet are they one in their design, one in their Interest; they make as it were one grand Enemy of Mankind, & one mystical body of Wickedness. They have their Devilish Confoederacies, and are not divided a­mong themselves: there are no Mutinies in the Ar­mies of Hell, for want of pay: nor do they com­plain of hard Marches, tho' they are always com­passing of the Earth. They have one Commander over them; for there is a Government, a Monar­chy in the infernal Regions, the Commander where­of is called in Mat. 12.24. Belzebub, the Prince of Devils. They have a grand Segniour among them, one of peculiar Dignity and Influence; this chief Devil we may call the Devil; but in the same term we likewise comprehend all the Slaves, and Officers, and Emissaries of that Hellish Tyrant.

Secondly, We may also look upon the Devils as a Wicked One. The Greek word here notes one who takes pains to do amiss. [ponesos from po­nos] That is properly a Wickedness, to do an ill thing, with counsel and study, and labour in the do­ing of it; this is just like the Devil indeed! it is said, in 1. Pet 5.8. He walks about, seeking whom he [Page 55] may devour. The Devil is called, a wicked one, part­ly as an object for our hatred; it is to provoke our detestation of him, our indignation at him. As the H [...]ly One, is a Name of honour, so, the wicked one is f [...] a name of hatred set before us. He is also call­ed a wicked one, partly, as an object for our contempt. Tho he be like a Lion, yet he has not Righteousness to make him as bold as a Lion. Wickedness is ac­companied with Weakness; as one says, it would put a mettle into a Coward to fight with such a wic [...]ed one as the Devil is.

Proposition II.

The Devil, who is an Enemy to all men, is to yo [...]ng men a peculiar Enemy.

That the Devil is the Enemy of us all, is a thing very sensible unto us; and his power is called in the sacred Oracles, the power of the Enemy. If you ask, how the Devil is our Enemy, the Answer is obvious; he is our Accuser, and he is our Destroy­er. The Devil does every day accuse us; 'tis his character, Rev. 12.10. the Accuser of our Brethren which accuses them before God, day & night. There is a Court some-where kept in the invisible world, at which the Devils prefer as many complaints as they can against us; it is in this Court that they represent us as do [...]ng the things for which the wrath of God should come upon the Children of Disobedience. The Devil would also very fain destroy us; as he urged against a good man, in Job 1.11. put forth [Page 56] thine Hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh. The Devils pray and plead, like so many Attornies, that a Judgment may be granted against us all; & they are not satisfy'd unless they themselves be made the Executioners thereof.

If you ask, why, the Devil is our Enemy, the Reply is likewise easy; 'tis from his malignant spite at God, and spleen at man. The Devils can­not endure that the Name of God should be own­ed in the world; now 'tis our priviledge that we both do the Service of God, and bear the Image of God; but because the Devil would be in the Throne of God, therefore he is unwilling that God should have any Children or Subjects upon the face of the Earth. Moreover, the Devils cannot brook it, that any should be above them; as 'tis intima­ted, that pride was the condemnation of the Devil. Because he sees man Saved, and himself Damned; man Advanced, and himself Degraded; hence he will do us all the Hurt he can.

But he that is thus an Enemy to all men, is to young men, more eminently so. As the Apostle speaks to Christians, thus I may to young men, in 1 Pet. 5.8. The Devil is your Adversary; young men, the Devil is remarkably ambitious to make a prey of your precious and immortal Souls. The Devil is an Abaddon and Apollyon; for to give him his due, to him does appertain the Name, which the Apocalypse justly puts upon a great Son of his. But young men do most of all find him such an one; that as our Lord said unto young Peter, in Luc 22. [Page 57] 31. Behold, Satan hath desired to have you. So may it be said unto young persons, Behold, Satan is pecu­liarly desirous to have you in his ravenous, devouring Jaws. The Devil goes ranging, raging, roaring about the world; and young men are those whom he is most concerned for the catching and spoiling of. Some have observed, That most of the Temp­tations recorded in the Scripture, still fell upon younger men. Be sure the Tempter falls soul upon them with a particular eagerness, and energy. And this for two causes.

'Tis first, because the Devil sees a great likelihood of prevailing on young men. Young men have much matter in them, for the Devil to work upon; there is much folly in young men, 'tis said in Prov. 7.7. I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of Ʋnderstanding: there is much vanity in young men, 'tis said in Ecl. 11.10. Youth is vanity. Now the Devil beholds the natural folly and vanity of young men, as a ve­ry agreeable Tynder, for the sparks of his insinu­ations to fall upon. He thinks with himself, This rash young man will suspect none of my hooks and snares; nor will he consider his latter End. He thinks, This wild young man will take me at my word, and never consider the Chambers of death, which I am bringing him unto. For this cause he sets upon young men with greater expectation; and hence u­sually with greater frequency and industry than he does assault other Ages. The Lusts of young men after those three baits of the Devil, pleasures, pro­fits, [Page 56] [...] [Page 57] [...] [Page 58] grandeur, are more lively and stirring; and hence a particular activity of Hell shall be bestow­ed upon them.

Secondly, 'Tis because the Devil sees a great advantage in prevailing on young men. The gain­ing of young men thereunto, is a thing m [...] sig­nally useful to the Kingdom of the Devil. I [...] se­cures the Kingdom of the Devil in their own Souls. If men are converted unto God, it is usually in the morning of their days, if they do not then ga­ther the Manna of Christ and Grace, 'tis a thou­sand to one but they miss of it for ever. God says in Eccl. 12.1. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy Youth; and the devil knows, that if the Creator be not then Remembred, it is likely that he'l be forgotten for ever. The strong armed one is very studious to get and keep a strong hold in the Soul of a young man; as being sensible, that in Age, it will be harder to cast him out. We read in the Gospel about a very painful Dispossession; but this was the reason of it, Marc. 9.21. This evil spi­rit came unto him of a child. If the devil make sure of a wretched sinner, till his youth be over, 'twill not be easy to ej [...]ct him; every new Act of sin, has given him a new hold of the Soul. The Devil haunts the soul of a young man, giving interrupti­on to all the motions of the blessed Jesus, & how­ling, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before our time? But Alas, if the Devil been't shaken off, before the time that age grows upon us, he will [Page 59] ordinarily defie the holy Spirit upon him; and he will have a confidence that any blind and lame De­vils will be strong enough to maintain the Castle, against our glorious David. It also promotes the Kingdom of the Devil among their neighbours. Young men have a special fi [...]ness for the Devils business; they lay themselves out with more fer­vour, and more success; they keep more compa­ny, and so they diffuse their poison further, than can be said of other people. When that Nebu­chadnezzar had work to be done, we find in Dan. 1.4. he will have young men brought before him, skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge. Thus the furious Nebuchadnezzar of Hell, singles out young men, that their skill and their wit, and their vigour help to carry on his Affairs, the more effec­tually. Good old Austin therefore said unto a young Gentleman, Diabolus cupit abs te ornari; the devil would be glad if such Accomplishments as yours might be employed for him

From this 'tis, that all young men may have their hearts aking to think, how much they are exposed unto the devil; as 'twas cry'd unto that Champion. The Philistines be upon thee Sampson; so may it be alarm'd into the ears of young men, The Philistines of Hell are your peculiar Enemies, O young men, and those Enemies are upon you every day.

Proposition III.

Religious young men have the honour to be victo­rious [Page 60] over the Devil; some and such young men have the honour that unto them it may be said, Ye have overcome the Wicked One.

First, That Religious young men are victorious over the devil, is evident from the instanees of the victory. To instance a little,

First, Religious young men there are who over­come the devil, in respect of the general and na­tural Estates which they are escaped from. What is the condition of them that continue in their un­regenerate Estate? Alas, 'tis that of Bond-slaves, and Captives to the devil. It may be said of un­renewed Sinners, as in 2 Pet. 2.19. They are o­verrcome and brought into Bondage; and it may be said of them, as in 2 Tim. 2.26. They are taken Captive, (and as it were carried away alive) by the Devil at his will. The devil has conquered all unrenewed Sinners, and he does horribly lead them, act them, rule over them; he is a sort of a Prince and a God unto them. But when a Sinner is Converted, he is brought out of this miserable state; he is, according to that in Acts 26.18. Turned from the power of Satan unto God. The devil does not any longer domineer over a Sinner, that is born again; he gets rid of his former Task-masters, like Israel escaped from Pharaoh and his Armies. Now 'tis the priviledge of some young men, that they are thus brought home to God. We read of one that could say in 1 King. 18.11. I fear the Lord from my youth; now to fear the Lord is to fight the devil, with a blessed victory indeed. [Page 61] There have been young Josiahs, that have sought the Lord while they were yet young; there have bin young Davids, that have had God for their Hope, their Trust, their Teacher from their youth; and there have been young Samuels, that have been waiting on God, and hearing from him, in their early days. As one says, Wisdom, gravity, pru­dence, temperance, are not always confined unto them that have wrinkled faces, furrowed Brows, dim eyes, palsey hands, leaning on a Staff. So may we say of this divine victory.

Secondly, Religious young men there are, who overcome the devil, in respect of the particular Trials that are made upon them. The devil makes these and those particular Batteries upon young men; he says, I'le now trip up the heels of this young man, and immediately applies all his Engines to draw the poor young man into some abominable thing. The devil is conquered in such Encounters, when he can't proceed and prevail in them; 'tis said in Jam. 4.7. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. The Devil is meerly over­come, when a tempted Soul, silences his Banters, with saying like our Lord, Get thee behind me Satan, or as Job answered a Fool, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. As on the other side, when David sends for a Mistriss, when Peter denies his Master, when Confessors come to Recant the Cause of God, then the Devil gets the day, and goes with flying colours out of the Field. But it is the priviledge of some young men, that they [Page 62] come off well in their spiritual Combates. We read of such a young man in Gen 39.9. who be­ing sollicited unto sin, vanquish'd and extinguish'd the sollicitation, by ans [...]ering, How shall I do this wickedness, and sin against God? There are young men that won't be gull [...]d by the proposals of the Devil; but know how to slight them and scorn them all, and with an holy bravery, make him weary of tendring them. Some young men are before all the Devils of H [...]ll, as young Jeremiah was before those of Earth; Defenced Cities, Iron Pillars, Brazen Walls; the devils fight against them, but cannot prevail against them.

Secondly, That it is a singular and special Ho­nour unto young men to be thus victorious, is evi­dent from the qualities of the Enemy. It is said in Prov. 16.32, He that rules his own spirit, is better than he that taketh a City; and indeed there have been those great Plunderers and Murderers, whom we call Conquerors, in the world, that have taken Cities, when they could not subdue the passions & phrensies of their own Spirits.

Fortior est qui se, quam qui fortissima vincit Maenia —

But what is it then to be Conquerors over those vast throngs of Spirits which assail us from the world which is not seen, and is Eternal? Indeed the victory is not purely our own, it is said in Rom. 8.37. We are more than Conquerors, through him that [Page 63] has loved us. Nevertheless, the victo [...]y becomes ours, because he that hath loved us, makes us active in it; the Lo [...]d of Hosts emplo [...]'s the hands of the young David when 'tis He Himself that [...]ays the Goliah of Hell sprawling on the ground before us; and the victory makes for our Honour.

Young men, have you overcome the Wicked One? Then,

F [...]rst, you have overcome a potent Enemy. 'Twas said in Judg. 14 18. Wh [...]t stronger than a Lion? But you have been too hard for a stronger Lion, than that which Roared upon Sampson of old. Tho' they say, The Lion is not so fierce as he is pain­ted, I am sure, 'tis imp [...]ssible to paint or speak what a Lion the D [...]vil is.

The Devils have us at a mighty disadvantage, upon this account; it is said in Eph. 6.12. We fight not against fl [...]sh and b [...]ood, but against principa­lities & powers, and spiritual wickednesses; the De­vils are spiritual, and that renders them very pow­erful; they can smite us when we can't see them; they can attack us & surprise us, by undiscoverable stratagems. Add unto th [...]s, That the devils which fall upon us, may say, as they said in that poor man of old, We are many; and these many devils have our hearts on their par [...]s; there is in us a party for them. 'Tis a piece of most Heavenly Gallantry to overcome such an Enemy.

Secondly, Y [...]u have overcome a subtle Enemy. He has those things that are called in 2 Cor. 2.11. His Devices.

There are above twenty names put upon the Devil in the Scripture; and not a few of them are fetch'd from his Decei [...]fulness. Hence particu­larly, this Father of Lies, is called in Rev. 12.9. The old Serpent; he has not only the paw of the Lion, but also the head of the Serpent, and he has wiles as well as darts to molest us with. The de­vils have the experience of more than five thousand years to furnish them with skill; and you know who says, Multitude of years teaches Wisdom. How easily might these old Souldiers out-wit us, a com­pany of raw, new, unexperienced little Folks, that are but of yesterday, and know nothing! how many Tricks, and Arts have they to manage their mali­cious Intreagues withal? For such a cunning Ene­my to be overcome is wonderful!

Thirdly, you have overcome a restless Enemy. 'Tis said of him in 1 Pet 5.8. He goes about. Like his eldest Son, Cain, he is A Vagabond: he gave that account of himself, in Job 1.7. I came from going to and fro in the Earth. But it is to trepan and ruine us, that he goes about. This Prince goes in progress, rides a Circuit through his whole Dominions, to see how his business is carried on; and all his Vassals are also travelling in the prose­cution of this devilish business. No Beasts of prey do toil with such a painful, watchful, inde­fatigable Industry, as the Devils do for the ruine of Souls; they lull others asl [...]ep what they can, but they never can take any sleep themselves; I may say of them, They wander up and down for [Page 65] Souls, and grudge if th [...]y be not satisfy'd. For such a busy Enemy to be overcome, how great a thing is it!

It remains that I entreat the younger men as Bre­thren, upon such Articles as these.

Application.

I. Brethren, do not by any means continue the Slaves of the Wicked One. You do not, you can­not conquer the Devil, as long as the Devil shall command you

Young men; There are too many of you, that are to this day in the Devils Vassalage; and that have the curse of Cham upon you, to be the Ser­vants of servants. Let me tell you plainly, fairly, faithfully, who among you, are yet the Slaves of the Wicked One.

I am to tell you, That all worldly young men, are among those miserable slaves. The Devil is called in Joh. 12 31. The Prince of this world. Whe [...]fore you young men, that are meerly set up­on this world; [...]ou that for the sake of this world, neglect God and Christ, and your own Souls; you that follow after no Riches, no Delights, no Ho­nours but what this world affords; alas, the De­vil, altho' he be but a chained Prisoner, is yet the Prince whom you yield the most Absolute Obedi­ence to.

I am, again, to tell you, That all Ignorant young men, are under this wretched Slavery. The [Page 66] Apostle expresses it in Col 1.13. God has deliver­ed us from the power of d [...]rknes [...], and hath transpl [...]n­ted us into the Kingdom of his d [...]ar Son. Therefore you young men that are yet in dark [...]es [...]; you that are ignorant of God and Christ, whom to know as Life eternal: you that are ignorant of the evil that is in si [...], which is an evil [...] and a bi [...]ter thing; be assured, that the Prince of darkness is the Ruler of your undone Souls.

I am once more, to tell you, that all unconverted young men are under this woful Slavery. To all that are not born from above, belongs the Descrip­tion in Eph. 2.2: They walk according to the prince of the power of the Air. Young men, don't you walk as the Devil would have you to walk? If the devil say, Live without prayer, and without Christ and without God; an unconverted young man lives accordingly. If the devil say, Go and be wild and lewd and mad with vain companions; an unconverted young man does accordingly. If the de [...]il bid such a young man to scoff and puff at a [...]l the means of his good, there will be no witholding of him. Ah! poor young man; it may be said of you, as in Joh. 8.44 Ye are of your father [& Ma­ster] the devil, and the Lusts of your father you do. The Tyrannical Ceremonies which he has enjo [...]ned upon his wretched woful Vassals discover what a Tyger your Master is; horrible pilgrimages, whip­pings, cutting [...], f [...]stings, and miserable Tortur [...]s we know to be the de [...]otions of the poor Pagans whom the devil is yet a Leader to; read Purchas's [Page 67] pilgrims, and be astonished. Yea, this Tyrant will be not content unless the very lif [...] and bl [...]od of men be sacr [...]ficed un [...]o h [...]m. 'Tis well known what was done this way among the cursed Athe [...] ­ans of old; and among the Romans afterwards. The poor Heathen could fall into no calamity, but presently there must be f [...]und men among [...]h [...]m to be made Katharmata f [...]r a publ [...]ck Expiation. The King of Mo [...]b must a [...]ter the [...]haenician manner make a sacr [...]fice of his own Son, and so must K [...]ng Ah [...]z do no less than burn the C [...]l­dren of his Bowels; the Devil [...]as been a devou­ring Mol [...]ch to the world. Behold what y [...]ur Ma­ster is! But, ye inconsidera [...]e [...]ouths, what will become of you, if you continue thus [...]nsl [...]v [...]? Briefly, all the blows, and al [...] th [...] plagues [...]hat fall upon the Devils must [...]ls [...] fall upon your unhappy Sou [...]s. Your doom at last will be that in Matth. 25.41. Depart ye cu [...]sed, in [...] everl [...]s [...]ng fi, pre­pared for the Devil and his A [...]g [...]ls. As, the Devil and his Angels, thus the Dev l [...]nd his V [...]ss [...]s, must be together punished in E [...]e [...]l [...]sting Fire. In the Day of the Lord tha [...] shall burn as an Oven, the Lord Jesus Christ will say to the impenit [...]nt young man, since you like so well to be with [...]he Devil, you shall now go and be with him for ever.

O consider of it, and follow this one Counsel, Change your Service. Young men, are [...]ou not old enough to be bound unto some Servic [...] that may be for your future and endless benefit? Behold, such a Service I shall now set before you. I pray, [Page 68] [...] [Page 69] [...] [Page 68] leave the Service of the Devil; he is an hard ma­ster, and you shall have no wages from him, un­less eternal vexation and confusion. 'Tis a bad counsel sometimes given unto young men, that they should Run away from their masters; but as to this master, 'tis a good counsel, O Run away from him. You beat him, if you leave him. Wherefore Tear and Break your Covenant with Satan, for he has made you his own, by Covenant as well as Conquest. Had you written and signed such a Covenant in your Blood, as the monstrous Witches use to do, there were yet room for the annulling of it; how much then may that which is less Explicit, be La­mented, Repented, Nullify'd? Well then, repair to that Rightful and Righteous Lord, unto whom you ow all manner of Service; Repair to God in Christ, and say as in Isa. 26.13. O Lord our God, other Lords besides thee, have had dominion over us, but by thee only will we make mention of thy Name. Even so, say unto him, Lord, I have hitherto been a Slave of the Devil and I mourn to think that so much of my youth has been lost in this unhappy Slavery; but behold I now return to my glorious Creator and Redemer; Lord, I desire that I may, I resolve that I will, for the time to come, approve my self thy Servant, wholly devoted unto thy Fear for ever.

O that such blessed Indentures were now made between the God of Heaven and the young peo­ple here.

II. Having so shaken off the Tyranny of the [Page 69] Wicked One, then, young men, endea [...]our to overcome him, in all your particular Encounters wi [...]h him; endeavour, that the Devil may fi [...]d [...]ou too str [...]g for him, when-ever he shall make his bloody As­s [...]ults upon your Souls.

There are two things that I am now to set be­fore you: the first is, In what you sh [...]uld be; the second is, By what you may be, victorious over the Wicked One.

First, IN WHAT? There are many things, wherein you should overcome the Devil. In gene­ral, I would only say,

Let not the Devil overcome you, when he tempt [...] you to any sin whatever; and especially to the sins which your age is more peculiarly dispos d unto. Whenever the Devil urges you to an evil thing, rebuke and repel his Temptations, with such an Answer as our Sa [...]iour once ga [...]e unto him, in Mat. 16.23. Get thee beh [...]nd [...] Satan. Courageously reply, Satan, have done, and, Satan, be go [...]e! and make him turn his back upon you, by turning of yours upon him. But there are some sins, to which your age is more emin [...]ntly inclined, and by which 'tis most of all endangered. I pray, let These be the Objects of your more undoubted victory, and therefore of your more solicitous watchfulness. It was the Advice of the Apostle to that young man, whom old Chrysostom I remember, very justly styl'd, a wonderful youth, in 2 Tim. 2.22. Flee youthful lusts. As there are the Lusts of every place; the Prophet notes it about the Chaldeans, they were a [Page 70] bitter and hasty and furious people; and the A­postle notes it about the Cretians, they were a peo­ple grievously given to Lying: the Levity of France, the Haughtiness of Spain, the Revengful­ness of Italy, and the Drunkenness of Germany, has been the Remark of us Engl [...]sh-men, who per­haps give too great Instances o [...] [...]ll those vices. Thus there are likewise the Lusts of every Age; and youth has its particular blemishes, which are called in Job 13.26. The Reproach of our youth. Young men, 'tis in and by those Lusts, that the De­vil will have the most likely Locks for the throw­ing of you; O that you may be victorious here! Indeed, the best Fight with these, is a Flight from them; here, cedendo vincimus; these are the Ene­mies whereof the Captain of our Salvation has gi­ven us that word of Command, Flee! But what are they? what be the Names of them?

First, Overcome the Devil, when he Tempts you to the youthful sin of Evil-company-keeping. Where may you look to see a carnal young man? The wise man ha [...] told us, in Prov. 7.7. I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man. The Devil would fain de [...]oy young men, into the Knots, and Bouts of what they call, Good Fellowship; he would perswade them to Mer­ry-Meetings, and link them with such Associates as will Drink and Drab and Game, and be infinitely wicked, and help to drown one another in perditi­on▪ But when you are thus tempted, by the De­vil, forget not the caution of your Saviour, My [Page 71] Son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If you have been seduced into a Society and Intimacy with ungodly persons, imagine that you hear that Counsel from on High un [...]o you, Depart from the Tents of those wick [...]d ones, lest you perish in all their sins! and that you hear that Thunder of Heaven over you, A Companion of Fools shall be destroy [...]d! Think wi [...]h your selves, whether you would be willing to spend your Eternity with such Compa­nions; and whether it be not convenient for you now to say, Depart from me, ye evil-doers, for I will k [...]ep the Commandments of my God! unto those wild Creatures, unto whom the Lord Jesus will one day say, Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting Fire? O let not the Devil cause [...]ou now to be Familiar with the Robbers and the Cut-throa [...]s of your Souls; and wi [...]h [...]hose of whom your Death-bed Groans will be, Lord, gather not my soul with such unhappy sinners.

Secondly, Overcome the Devil when he tempts you to the youthful sin of Ʋncleanness. It is a pas­sage relating probably to the young men of Sodom, in Job 36.14. They dy in youth, their life is among the unclean. The Ʋncleannesses into the Quagmires whereof young men too often plunge themselves, to use the Apostles cleanly Language, 'tis a shame to speak of them. 'Tis a monstrous and a cursed wantonness, wherein young people too often indulge themselves; and some things that are counted the parts of a gentile breeding do but cast oyl into the Hellish Flames of that wantonness: I mean parti­cularly [Page 72] promiscuous Dancings, against which the faith­ful Servants of God in all Ages have born their ve­ry zealous Testimonies. The Apostles in Rom. 13 13. and in 1 Pet. 4.3. condemn, that which we translate Rioting and Revelling, and they joyn it with Ʋncleanness; now the most accurate and re­nowned Criticks in the Greek Tongue, affirm Dan­cings to be intended by the word that is used there. Hence Chrysostom calls a Dance, a Diabolical pra­ctice; and says, The Devil is one of the Company where 'tis made. Austin made no stick to say, The miserable D [...]ncer knoweth not, that as many paces as he makes in Dancing, so many steps he takes to Hell. And the Ancients with one mouth call a Dance, a work of Satan, which all Baptised persons are bound unto the Renunciation of. Yea, whole Councils and Synods in the primitive Times have bitterly stigmatized promiscuous D [...]ncing [...]; and in later Ages the Wal­denses declaimed against them as, The processions of the Devil.

The Reformed Churches in France made this an Article of their Discipline, Dancing is to be suppres­s [...]d, and those who take the liberty to dance, after they have been several times admonished, shall be Excommu­nicated. The Reformed Churches of Holland have made it an Article of theirs, They that go to dances shall be Reproved; and if after divers Admonitions they persist, they are to be Excluded from Communion. And whole Armies of Protestant and Judicious Divines have spent their Arrows upon this Debauching Le­vity. Yea, a sober Papist, having the devotion of [Page 73] a Drexelius has not stuck to say, A dance is a Ring, whereof the Devil is the Center, and all his Angels the Circumference. Yea, a civil Pagan, having the dis­cretion of a Cicero has plainly said, It is only for a Drunkard, or a Madman to be a Dancer. I desire young people to come away from all promiscuous dancings, lest the same Devils which usually fetch away alive one of the Crew in the Dances of our Indians, do as terrible a thing to your Immortal Souls. But herewithal,

Avoid all Ʋncleanness whatsoever; and particu­larly, beware of having light thoughts about some sorts of Ʋncleanness wherein many young people have been so infatuated as to excuse themselves. There are abominable self-pollutions which many that would be loath to commit other kinds of Ʋn­cleanness, look upon as little, venial, easy peccadil­lo's; albeit these are the Effeminacies, whereof we are assured, in 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. They that live in them, shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. O stu­dy a spotless and gracious chastity; make not your hearts the Ovens that have the impure Flames of Hell constantly flaming there; if an unclean Devil would solicit you to any Filthiness, reply upon him as the young Joseph did, How shall I do this wicked­ness, and sin against God? and with the famous young Nicetas, even spit your very Tongues in the face of any that shall urge you to throw your selves into the deep ditch, into which they fail that are abhorred of the Lord.

Thirdly, Overcome the Devil, when he tempts [Page 74] you to the youthful sin of Drunkenness. 'Tis a sharp Irony in the Speech of the Wiseman to the young man, Eccl. 11.9. Rejoice, O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy youth. And the Devil perswades many a foolish young man, to think or act, as if this were a liberty in good earnest allow'd unto him. Alas, how common is it for young persons to be at merry Bouts, and there to disguise themselves by a sin so much worse than Beastly, that the very Bruits themselves cannot be frequently or easily compelled into it! But I beseech all y [...]ung people to beware of thi [...] pernicious vice, from which I had almost said, None returns to take hold on the path of life. The careful Father that heard his young Son was given to Gaming and Whoring, and some such things, yet encouraged himself with hopes that Age would Cur [...] him: but when he heard he was become addicted un­to Drunkenness, with despair he cry'd out, Nay then, I have no hope concerning him. Dili­gent Enquirers have been able to find but one or two Notorious Drunkards in an Age, made so­ber men; Drunkenness is Vitium maximae adhe­rentiae; it is rare that any leave it off; see deut. 21.18, 19, 20, 21. The devil gains and keeps a strange hold of men, by this Iniquity; and hence those Barbarous Nations which have not our liquid ways of Intoxication, yet have o­ther modes of drunkenness; by which the devil retains his possession of them. But O Remem­ber [Page 75] the Reckoning that is to come at the last! Of Drunkenness we are told in Prov. 23.32. At the last, it bites, it stings; and indeed how should it o­therwise? for it breaks not one, but all of the Commandments; Ebrietas in se culpas complectitur omnes. Hence, how many Drunkards have at the last roared out, Ale-houses are Hell-houses! Know it, that at the last, you shall for every cup of pleasure here (as one expresses it) receive a gallon of Wo. Let all young people take up a just prejudice against this youthful, but woful vice; and bear in mind that word of God in Isa 28.1. Wo to Drunkards. Young men, 'twill bring a wo upon your Names; your Credi [...] irreparably falls and breaks every time you Reel with Drink. 'Twill bring a wo upon your E­states; they'l be quickly melted at the Tavern, and you must be left without both Friends to as­sist you and Cloaths to cover you. 'Twill bring a wo upon your Bodies; Crudities and Obstructions that are the parents of all Diseases, are the hasty off­spring of this Excess. But above all, 'twill bring a wo upon your Spirits; 'twill besot the Reason with a foaming madness; 'twill enflame the Con­science more than if you had swallow'd flaming Sulphur; 'twill plunge the Soul into intollerable and interminable Miseries. 'Tis a thousand to one, but you may dy Drunk like Ammon and Elah at last, if you live so, and yet I can hardly say you live, inasmuch as you are dead while you live. 'Tis a profane and lying Speech sometimes used, That a drunken man gets no Harm; we often see such wo­ful [Page 76] creatures drowned, which is indeed but a pro­per vengeance on them, for a Dr [...]ken is an old English word for a [...]owned man. Yea, sometimes we see them also horribly [...]n [...]d unto Death; scarce two weeks are past since we saw two [...]uch Tragical Accidents. However, the irrec [...]mable Drunkard cannot escape the v [...]ngeance of ete [...]l F [...]r [...], he must be Tormented f [...]r-ever in those Fires, from whence his vain and sad cries w [...]ll be c [...]ntinually going up, O f [...]r a d [...]p of w [...]er to [...] [...]ng [...]e! We pity that King who of old [...]t a K [...]ngd [...]m for a cup of drink; bu [...] the drunkard will do a more la­mentable thing; he loses a Soul for a cup of d [...]ink, a loss which the gain of the whole wo [...]ld would not compensate; and he procures himself a banishment and an exclusion from the Kingdom of Heaven for ever.

Fourthly, Overcome the devil when he tempts you to the youthful sin of Haughtiness. We read concerning a Novice, in 1 Tim. 3.6. there is dan­ger least being lifted up with P [...]ide, he fall into the condemnation of the Devil. Truly, young people are but Novices; whatever good they have or do, they are but newly come to it; it will be a wonder if the devil do not hock them, as he did Rehoboam into Ruine, by their Pride, unto which they are too naturally disposed by their self-igno­rance and their small experience. In many Obses­sions we see the devil hideously Tympanizing the Bodies, which he has got into; he swells them most unreasonably. But O let not the devil cause [Page 77] you to swell with any proud Apprehensions of your selves; be not proud of your own Abilities, your own Excellencies, your own performances; but let a most humble modesty accompany your whole Behaviour. The Devil will [...]p [...]ou into some grievous fall, when once he has got you lifted [...]p with pride. But, there is also a more childish kind of pride, which the airy minds of young people, are too prone unto; and that is, A pride in Appa­rel. There is a certain flant of Gayety and Vanity in Attire, wherein young people do too often ma­nifest their inward inclinations to Extravagancies; and sometimes they go so far as to transgress the seventh Commandment in it. We that are Protest­ants may blush to read what rebukes the graver sort of Roman Catholicks themselves have bestow'd upon such Exorbitancies. One of them has writ­ten a whole Book of Reprehensions to Naked Breasts and Shoulders; and others of them have published whole Discourses, Contre les vains Ornemens des femmes, against the vain Ornaments of the Femal [...] Sex. Young People, would you have O [...]naments? The Apostle says in 1 Pet. 5 5. Be Adorned with Humility; Humility it self is represented there as the most comely knot of Ribons in the world. Let your Garments not want any Decency, but let your vertues be your chiefest Ornaments [study 1 pet. 3.3, 4, 5.] To use the Expressions of an Ancient; I pray, ponder, whence you came; th [...]t will make you blush; ponder, what you are; tha [...] will make you sigh; ponder, what you go; that [Page 78] will make you shake. Mortify your Pride with all humbling Thoughts; and be able to say with young David, in Psal. 131.1. Lord, my Heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty.

Fifthly, Overcome the Devil, when he tempts you to the youthful sin of Inconside [...]ateness. It is mentioned as the rashness of many a young man, in Prov. 7.23. He is as a Bird hastning to the snare, and he knows not that it is for his life. How few young persons are there, that ever trouble them­selves about, wherefore's? and what if's? and the greatest consequences? For the most part they put none of their concerns into Ballances, and they come under that reproof, My people do not consider.

But let young people now consider, that the God of Heaven is uttering over them such a wish as that in Deut. 32.29. O that they we [...]e wise, that they would consider their latter end? We read about a young Isaac, that it was his manner, to walk in the Fields for Meditation. O that young persons were so wise, as to Retire and Consider upon the circumstances of their Souls! Retire and look upward; consider who made you, and what he has prepared for you, if you seek Him. Retire, and look downward; con­sider the Everlasting Fire and the Never-dying worm, which is reserved for the Torture of all im­penitent Unbelievers. Retire, and look backward; consider the sin in which you were born, and the many Follies and Errors which you have lived in. Retire, and look forward; consider the death, and the Judgment, and the Eternity, into which you are [Page 79] hastening apace every day. Retire, and look in­ward; consider, whether you have yet made your peace with God, and whether you are yet arriv'd unto a blessed Ʋnion and Communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let every young person become like that Ephraim, and that Prodigal, whom in the Bi­ble we find considerately bemoaning of themselves. If the Devil offer you at any time a Bait, present­ly consider whether some cruel Hook be not covered with it; and be able to say like that young Saint, in Psal. 119.59. O Lord, I thought on my ways, and I turned my feet unto thy Testimonies.

Sixthly, Overcome the Devil, when he tempts you to the you [...]hful sin of Apostasy. Of many young persons may that complaint be made, in Hos. 6.4. your Goodness is as the morning cloud, and as the early Dew it goeth away. 'Tis not unusual for persons in their youth to have many Convictions on their minds; they have some troubles, O what shall I do to be Saved? and they have some wishes, O that I may dy the death of the Righteous: But what comes of all? They frequently vanish l [...]ke the mor­ning cloud, and the early Dew; tho these people never could be really young Saints, yet from being seemingly such, they become old devils, as a wretch­ed Proverb has expressed it; and this is from the Seduction of that old Devil, who is himself the first and worst Apostate that ever was. But, young men, if you have left off any of your old sinful ways, tremble to return like a Dog to that vomit, like a Swine to that quagmire, any more. Let not [Page 80] the foul Spirit which will cause you to leave off the thing that is good, Renew his Interest in you; it will q [...]ickly render you seven times worse than you were be [...]ore. Tremble at forsaking of those Devo­tions and Societies whereat you have sometimes had your Hearts burning within you; Tremble at Em­bracing any more those Abominable things, which you have pretendedly given a bill of Divorce unto; such Backslidings will endanger your hearing that voice from Heaven, which thunderstruck the mise­rable Spira upon his Apostasy, Hence! Hence! thou vile Apostate! and carry away the Sentence of thy E­ternal Damnation in thy Soul! Forget not that word of the Lord Jesus, in Luc. 9.62. No man having put his hand to the Plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of H [...]aven. And forget not that word of the Lord Jesus, in Heb. 10.38. If a­ny man draw back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Lastly, Overcome the Devil, when he tempts you to the youthful sin of Mispending precious time. We are told of some young men, in Job 30.2. In whom old age is perished, or, as it may be rendred, In whom time is perished. Little do the most of young people know or weigh the worth of Time; it lies like a dead Commodity on their hands, and be­cause they have so much of it they contrive that monstrous thing which they call, pastime, to get it off. But God forbid, that you should any more allow your selves in such a transcendent madness, as the ill husbandry of Time. O this invaluable [Page 81] Jewel! Time! this Treasure, the Enjoyment where­of is of all things the most uncertain, this Trea­sure, the Improvement whereof is of all things the most important; be no more spend thrifts of it; but be always either doing or getting of some good while you have [...]ime b [...] the Forelock. Young peo­ple, you reckon upon a long time; but you must reckon again. It has been said, The old man has death before his Face, but the young man has death be­hind his back; Death may be as near to you, as to your Grand father. Besides, were you to live unto Gray-hairs, how fast will one year after another sl [...]p away! no Post, no Ship, no Eagle, moves with such velocity. Be assured, let the Devil tell you what he will, it wont be long before your time will all be flown away; I may say as in 1 Cor. 7.29. The time is short. But when this time is gone, there will be two dismal issues of your mispending it. First, you must be accountable; it is a warning of Heaven to every young man, Know thou, that God will for this bring thee into Judgment. The great God will make that solemn demand, What have you done with the time that I lent you? And then also, it will not be recoverable; what the Wiseman says of Love, may be said of this, when once 'tis gone from us, If a man would give all the substance of his House for it, it would utterly be contemned. Then tho' we cry never so bitterly, Lord, Lord, for a lit­tle of the time that we have l [...]st, no tears of blood will fetch back one hour of it. Wherefore, make much of your little Time, say of every day as one [Page 82] used of a fair day, 'Tis pity such a day should be lost; squander none of your life away in Diversions whol­ly impertinent: prize your Time now, as you will when 'tis just expiring; and follow the Divine Counsel in Eph. 5.15. Walk not as Fools, but as Wise, Redeeming of the Time.

These are some of the things In what you are to overcome the Wicked One. But,

Secondly, BY WHAT? And in general, the direction for us, is that of the Apostle, in Eph. 6.11. Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the De­vil. For a Belt, let the truths of God, be un­to you as the girdle of your Loins; and unto the knowledge of divine Truths, add Sincerity of Heart and Integrity of Life before the Lord. For a Breast-plate, put on Righteousness; preserve the vitals of your inner-man harmless by a thorough work of Sanctification, and a Conscience void of of­fence towards God and Man. For a pair of Shoes, go to the Gospel, which declares and settles a peace between God and us; that the Counsels and Comforts thereof, may prepare us for all our Trials. For a shield, hold up your Faith against the venemous darts of Hell that may be hurled at you; let that put you under the conduct of the Lord Jesus and be to you the Evidence of things not seen. For an Helmet, get a lively Hope that you shall be saved for-ever; and hereby let your Heads be guarded a­gainst all hard thoughts of God, and of his Grace: [Page 83] This is a defensive Armour against the Devil, which better befits every young person, than that of Saul did the young David of old. But there is one offensive weapon, with which we are to manage our Combate against the Devil; and there are two Stratagems to be annexed there­unto.

In short, there are two particular Directions, for our Encounters with the Wicked One; and the quoting of two Texts may lay them suffi­ciently before us.

The first proper Direction for us, is that in Eph. 6.17. Take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Compare our Context, 1 Joh. 2.14. If young men would overcome the wicked one, they must have the word of God abi­ding in them.

The Bible is a spiritual sword shaped and formed by the Inspirations of the Eternal Spirit; and for a Conflict with the Infernal Spirit, it is a sword where­of I may say as David of Goliah's, There is none like it. When the blackest and fiercest of all the de­vils made an Onset upon our blessed Saviour, and this with all the three Batteries which he once fa­tally overthrew the first Adam withal, how did our Lord overcome the wicked one? It was by reply­ing upon him, It is written, and by holding up a­gainst him the Scripture of God. It is remarkable, that all the swords or words used by our Lord for the overcoming of the devil were fetched from that one Book of Deuteronomy; but how rich a Maga­zine, [Page 84] may the whole Bible then be unto us?

Let all young people then study the Word of God; we read in Psal 119 9. Of a young man thus cleansing of his way. There was once a young Gentlewoman, that before he was Nine years old could say, all the New Testament by Heart. O that all young persons would every day seriously and pensively Read the Bible, till their Hearts were become, as Jerome call'd his Friends, The Libraries of the Lord Jesus Ch [...]ist. Young people, see that you become ready at Scrip­ture; and learn to Fence with a sentence of Scrip­ture against all the passes that the devil is making at you. All the Commandments, all the Promises, all the Threatnings of the Bible, will be like so many swords all-edge, for your service against the wicked one. Let the devil see, that you bear in mind what is written in Eccl. 11.9. in Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. and other such awful places. These Writ­tens will be more terrible to the Devil, than the Hand-writing on the wall, was to the Babylonian Emperour; such is his Antipathy to them, that if you thus Resist the Devil, he will flee from you.

The second proper Direction for us, is in Mat. 26.41. Watch and Pray, that ye enter not into temptation.

When the Devil is busy with us, 'tis by these two Duties that we may overcome him and his Temptations.

First, Be watchful. Or, in Solomons Dialect, Be fearful. Here, quite contrary to what is in other Warfares, The best Souldier is he that feareth al­ways. [Page 85] Be always on your guard; and continually suspect that the wicked one has an ill design upon you. Be so watchful, as to keep an Eye upon the Season which the devil may be most likely to make an Hour of temptation. Is it with you a time of Security? Are you grown formal, slighty, weary in Religion? Are your Graces in a slumber? Then wake presently; if you ben't now very watchful, the Devil will serve you, as the Watchmen did the sleepy Soul, in Cant. 5.7. Smite you, wound you. Or, are you very confident of [...]our selves? are you ready to say, I shall never be moved? Then also wake pre­sently; for if you be not now watchful, the de­vil will break your bones, as much as he did pre­sumptuous Peters, when our Lord said unto him, in Luc. 22.31. Satan has desired to have you. Or, Is it with you a time of prosperity? Are you Out­wardly under the smiles of God? Do Riches and Honours come in upon you? Be sure the Devil will now have a blow at you, if you be not very watchful: this was wise Agu's apprehension. For this cause 'tis said in Prov. 1.32. The prosperity of Fools shall destroy them; it furnisheth the Devil with opportunities. When we have an high Sail, he will try to overset us. Or, are you Inwardly hap­py in the Light of Gods Countenance? Have you newly been sealed with Assurances of his Favour? Be sure you shall now also find that the Devil will not let you alone. When Paul had been in Rap­tures, we find in 2 Cor. 12.7. he is not long free from the Buffetings of the Devil. If we have been [Page 86] in the Mount with God, it is well if you been't quickly pushed upon breaking both Tables of the Law. And yet also perswade your selves that in a time of Adversity too, you shan't be free from Temptation. He that fell upon our Lord, when he was hungry, will fall upon us when we are troubled. You had now need beware lest you either despise the chastening of the Lo [...]d, or faint, when rebuked of H [...]m; for you will be shrowdly tempted unto both of these.

Be so watchful as likewise to mind the Subject which the devil visits with his Temptations. 'Tis the Heart, that the devil falls upon; wherefore, as the wise man says in Prov. 4.25. Keep thy heart with all diligence. Be vigilant about the tempers & postures of your own hearts, take notice of the Bi­ass which is upon them. Know what part you are most vulnerable in; and be not like those to whom our Saviour said, Ye know not what spirit you are of. That part of your disposition, which like a Dlilah, is most likely to betray you into the hands of the hellish Philistines, be most exact in your observations of; and let not the devil therein circumvent you, and entangle you.

Finally, Be wa [...]chful as to keep always alive within you, a sense of the Love of God in Christ. That is the peace of which we are told in Phil. 4.7. It shall keep our hearts; 'tis a military word, To keep as in Garrison. O get a rellish of the divine Love in the Mission and Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in our admission to the saving be­nefits [Page 87] thereof; this will be a sort of a garrison for our Souls, and free us very much from the distur­bance of our Temptations: it will not be easy for the devil now to disturb the serenity and satisfac­tion, and holy inclinations of our minds. If we begin at any time [...]herefore to lose the lively sense of this Love, be so watchful as immediately to recover it; and so, tho' the Archers of Hell may sorely grieve us, yet like young Jo [...]eph, we may have our Bow abide in strength.

Secondly, Be prayerful; and like Paul, beseech the Lord thrice. He that would be little in Temptation, let him be much in Supplication. When the devil is galling of you, do like those Warriours in 1 Chron. 5.20. Cry to God in the Battel. Keep con­tinually praying unto God, that he would gird you with st [...]eng [...]h unto your Battels, and subdue under you the Devils that rise up against you. The Trumpets of Gideon did not more fright the Midianites, than your prayers will the Devils that are vexing you. The woful day wherein the Devil gave poor Ori­gen such a bloody overthrow was a day wherein his prayers had not been carefully enough attend­ed. The best posture to fight the Devil in, is upon our knees. There was a woman once in this Land, very strangely possessed with divers devils who would audibly speak within her; while her self knew no­thing of it; these Devils very audibly spo [...]e of di­vers mischiefs they would inflict upon her, but still they made this answer to one another. Ah! the runs to the Rock, she runs to the Rock! and they [Page 88] could not hurt her there. Why, see to it, that by your daily prayers you Run to the Rock; a Dove in the clefts of that Rock, will be defended against all the Vultures of Hell that would seize upon it. But unto Prayer, joyn a true Faith in the Blood of Christ; look upon that as the meritorious and also as the exemplary cause of all your Successes against the Devil. A silly Papist, will sign himself with a Cross, that the devil may have no power over him. Behold, the right way of signing our selves with the Cross. Encourage our selves from the view of the Lord Jesus hanging there.

And let this be accompanied with a strong Faith in the Grace of Christ. Let that be the Fountain from whence we derive all our strength against the devil. A good woman troubled by a devil, said unto him, Satan, don't meddle with a poor silly woman, but if thou hast any thing to say, speak it unto my Ad­vocate, the blessed Jesus, and see whether he cannot answer thee. O let us beg the Lord Jesus to give us a little of that Grace, by which he did himself once beat the devil here; and let us hope in Him as in that Redeemer, Who knows how to succour the Tempted,

The Dedication of, T …

The Dedication of, The little Childs Lesson. To the CHILDREN Dwelling in the North-part of BOSTON.

VEry terrible and sorrowful are the Pre­sages which many Learned, Holy, Thinking Men have had about the State which they have suspected New-England as running apace into. One of our Seers hath long since in publick writings told us, The Gospel, I fear, is going, the Lord Jesus is departing from these Coasts. Ano [...]her of our Watchmen foretold it a great while ago unto us, That God would punish the wantonness of this people, with a sad loss, and want, of Able Men. And a third of our Shep­herds, did not stick to tell us many years ago, I am verily afraid such a dismal night is towards us [Page 90] and such sore Afflictions, that the Lord will fill the hearts of all that shall be saved in those days with such A [...]guish of Spirit, as never more in the worst days of our Fo [...]e-fathers. These and many more such as these, have been the dark thoughts which our F [...]ther [...] have had concerning our condition; and our Hearts are wonderfully hard, if we tremble not at the late and large steps of Providence towards the fulfilment of such Pre­dictions upon us. But among all the deadly Symptoms which threaten us with a speedy Ru­ine, there is none more ghastly, than the ig­norance, the wildness, the lewdness found in so great a part of the Rising Generation. Multi­tudes of our C [...]ildren are very much Ʋn-Cate­chised, as to the principles, and sadly Ʋnnur­tured and Ʋngove [...]ned as to the practices of Christianity. Our Children are miserably both neglected and indulged; tho' too much be made of them, in gratifying of their unruly will's, nevertheless too little is made of them in pro­viding for their immortal souls; and some of you have not the Knowledge of God; I speak this to the shame of your ungodly Tutors. It was the last a [...]d worst of all the Egyptian plagues, That a Child was dead in every house. But may it not now be reckoned among [...] the New-English Ones, that in so many Houses all the Children are dead in trespasses and sins, & have their Eyes closed and muffled by a most unhappy Ignorance. 'Tis This that of all our [Page] dismal Omens looks blackest upon us; and it should awaken the vigorous endea [...]our of every sensible Christian to prevent that w [...]ful Degene­racy in which There will arise another Generation that know not the Lord; and by which the God of our Fathers will be so provoked at us as to say with the expence of all his Arrows upon us, What shall I do unto thee? What shall I do unto thee?

Here was the consideration that produced the little Discourse, which I now put into the hands of Children, and especially of those Children which are the Lambs, that I have received a spe­cial charge from the Lord Jesus Christ about the Feeding of. Our Saviour, in a certain place, hath intimated. That His little Children have the Angels of Heaven marvelously concerned about them; be sure those Ministers forget the deno­mination of Angels put upon us in the Oracles of God, that have not their very hearts within them working and yerning towards the Little Children that are under the watch of their Mi­nistry. For my own part, I must be impatient until I see the ltitle children here so well instruct­ed, that a Papist, or which is much what one, a Quaker, shall be as unable to seduce them, as the Jesuits were to corrupt the well-educated Chil­dren of the Waldenses when they were sent a­mong them; and until I see also the Little Chil­dren here as forward in all Piety, as the Well-informed Children of the Ancient Jews were in [Page] the Law of Moses, the six hundred and thir­teen Precepts whereof they had by heart be­fore they were thirteen years of Age.

My dear Children, when Pharaoh could not hinder the people of God from going to serve the Lord in the Wilderness, he still objected a­gainst their therein having the company of, their little Ones; this is the desire, this the design which the Devil, is here with great fury managing; that so he may have his long en­joyed America, all return into his bloody hands. But you have now before you, some of our cares to engage our Little Ones with us, in the Service of our God; O that the Little Ones among us, might become greatly solicitous, to know the God of our Fathers, and serve Him with a perfect heart, and a willing mind. It raised surely some Agony in the mind of David, when there befell him the dis­aster, whereof he afterwards gave that Report, Thy Servant kept his Fathers Sheep, and there came a Lion and took a Lamb out of the Flock. In like manner, when I understand that any of you are ignorant, or naughty and vicious Children, me­thinks I see the horrid Lions of Hell, fetching some of my poor Lambs away, and how shall I answer it, if I do not go out after them! The following pages are some of my Essays to pluck you out of your Eternal Perdition; and I hope you will read them seriously, frequently, very profitably. I have personally with more pri­vate [Page 93] Addresses, notwithstanding the toyl of my public Employments, treated with many scores of you; I have seen the tears, and heard the vows, with which many of you have declared, That you would be the Servants of God as long as you live; and I shall be a witness against you, if af­ter this you be of them who draw back. But I do now before all the world, renew my Appli­cations to you for your early Repentance and O­bedience. Hence as I have studied in a Sermon to touch your Affection [...], I have laboured also to help your Ʋnderstandings, by a Scriptural Cate­chism, annexed thereunto; and tho' I am far from not encouraging any of you to prize and learn those excellent Catechisms which are now commonly used among us, yet I was willing to offer you one more, because it pretends to these few little Singularities.

First, The Answers are all of them, the express words of sacred Scripture; which have in them a force beyond the purest words of any Writing else. And now also, you are at once taught with ease not only to Assert, but also to Confirm all the Do­ctrines of the Christian Religion. Besides, the Answers are for the most part short, and not sel­dom explained in the Questions, to which they do belong; and as for the younger of you, I have distinguished a few of them by little Stars, that you may single out them, to begin the charg­ing of your infant-Memories therewithal. More [...]ver, there is in so brief a sheet as this, perhaps [Page 94] a fuller Collection of Divine Subjects for you to be acquainted withal, than I have yet seen in so small a Room; and whoever lives to Preach up­on each of the Texts quoted here, may therein go over, An entire body of Theology. I now leave you in the Arms of the Lord Jesus, The great Shepherd of the Sheep, that he may feed you, and lead you to the Fountains of Living Water for-ever­more. Amen; My dearest Children; and I pray, do you also say, Amen! Amen!

Cotton Mather.

THE LITTLE CHILDS LESSON.

1 John II.XIII.

I write unto you, Little Children, because ye have known the Father.

BEhold the Aged, Beloved, Inspired Apostle John, applying himself to Christians of all Ages; wherein, as it has been observed long since, Dat cui{que} ordini quae ipsi con­veniunt, he speaks things marvellously conveni­ent and agreeable to them all. The last Subjects of the Apostolical Address, are the least that can be written unto; namely, Little Children; for even among such, there may sometimes be found the true knowledge of God. Our holy John thought himself concerned in the Charge, which he had over-heard the Lord giving unto Peter, a little before he left the world, Feed my Lambs; [Page 96] and accordingly he does here take a most pater­nal and pathetick notice of the Lambs, in the Flock of the Lord Jesus; indeed the Greek word in our Text, rendred Li [...]tle Children, car­ries F [...]eding In the Notation of it. We have before us the Attainment of devout and pious Children, in the School of the Lord Jesus Christ; it is, They have known the Father; by which Fa­ther, is meant the God of Heaven. Little Chil­dren scarce know any man or thing so soon as they know their Father; nor are they so fond of any man or thing as they are of their Fathe [...]. Now 'tis the prerogative of some little Chil­dren to know the great God, as their Fa­ther; yea, to love Him, and serve Him as their Father too, which is implied in the know­ing of Him. This therefore is the Doctrine to be remembred by you little Children, that are now before the Lord.

DOCTRINE. It is the particular priviledge of gracious Little CHILDREN, to Know the Almighty God, as an Heavenly Father to them.

Let the Ensuing Propositions give Right Thoughts about this matter to us.

Propositin I.

The God of Heaven is a Father to grati­ous [Page 97] little Children. Religious Children when they are sitting perhaps upon the knee of an Ear [...]hly Father, may remember that there is a­nother Father, whom they belong unto; namely, A Father which is in Heaven.

But in what Respects may gracious little Chil­dren call God, Their Father.

First, Gracious little Children may look upon God as their Father, in respect of Creation; for indeed asl Creatures thus have Him, for their Fa­ther. 'Tis intimated in Job 38.28. He is the Father of the Rain, and of the Dew. But he is es­pecially thus a Father unto all Spirits; it is said, in Heb. 12.9. He is the Father of Spirits; and thus the Angels, are styled, The Sons of God. Hence man also, every man may say unto God, our Father; we all owe unto God, our Production and Original; and, as the Apostle Paul speaks in the words of the Greek Poet, Aratus, in Acts 17.18. We are his Offspring. Thus, little Chil­dren should betimes be sensible of this, I am newly come out of the hands of the great God; it is God tbat made me, and shap'd me, and bestow'd my life and my Being on me.

Secondly, Gracious little Children may loo [...] upon God as their Father, in respect of Suscepti­on; He undertaketh for them. God owns a Pa­ternity unto gracious little Children, by underta­king of their Patronage. Indeed, there is a con­tract and a consent of them concerning it; they desire of God, that he would Undertake the Of­fice [Page 98] of a Father for them; and they say to him, as in Isa. 63.17. Doubtless, thou art our Father. They see that their natural Fathers cannot Re­lieve all their wants, and Remove all their woes, and prevent all their fears; and hence the glo­rious God, upon an humble Request of theirs, becomes concerned as a Father for them. 'Tis thus especially, when they have no other fathers to look after them; 'tis said of God, in Psal. 69.5. He is a father of the fatherless. When gracious little Children are left as Orphans in a wide and a wild world, they may assure them­selves. My best father is yet alive; tho my father do forsake me, yet the Lord will take me up.

Thirdly, Gracious little Children may look up­on God as their Father, in respect of Adoption. God in his free grace, accounts them his Children, through the Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ; & thus, as 'tis said in Joh. 1.11. They have power to be called the Sons of God. Gracious little Chil­dren are united unto Him that is the Saviour of the World. As young as they are, the Almighty Lord of Lords, and King of Kings counts them old enough to be married unto Himself. In the Ancient, Eternal, Well-ordered Covenant of Re­demption, the Lord Jesus Christ was made a pub­lick person, representing of all his chosen Ones; he was thus constituted by an Eternal Agreement between God and Him; and gracious little Chil­dren say their Amen, to that Agreement; those little Chickens put themselves under the wing of [Page 99] the Lord Jesus Christ, and cry unto him, O be our Surety for good. Now Christ and they are one; the Reck'ning of God from all Eternity, and the Spirit of God in fulness of Time, hath made them so; and thus these little Children become the Children of the great God. For the Name of God is, The Father of our Lord Jesu [...] Christ; the Word of God is, He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father. It now follows that all gracious little Children arrive unto that Advancement, in Rom 8.16, 17, Children of God, and joint Heirs with Christ. Now they have a New Name upon them, and the Lord Jesus now speaks unto them in such Heart-breaking terms as those, My Father is your Father, and my God is your God.

Fourthly, Gracious little Children may look up­on God as their Father, in respect of Regeneration. 'Tis the preheminence of all Converted persons; that they are Born again by the Word of God. But who is their Father? We are told in John 1.13. They that believe, are born of God; and there are some little Children to be found among true Be­lievers. These are not by generation the Children of God; for thus God is a Father only to the Lord Jesus Christ. But they are by Regeneration so. The Almighty God says to the Lord Jesus Christ as Jacob to Joseph of old, Thy Sons shall be mine. But as for little Children that are brought home to God, by the Renewing of the Holy Ghost, these are the Children of the Lord Jesus Christ; they are call'd in Isa. 53.10. The Seed of that Lord; [Page 100] they are born of him, and born twice perhaps within one seven years.

Proposition II.

Gracious little Children endeavour to Know God, as thus an Heavenly Father to them.

But what is implied in this Knowledge?

First, Gracious little Children would not be without the saving and sincere Knowledge of God. They know the truth of that in Joh. 17 3. This is Life Eternal, to know the only true God; they know the truth of that in Prov. 19.2. For the Soul to be without knowledge, it is not good. And this awakens them to seek the Knowledge of God, wiih such cares and cries as the Wise man in the Proverbs advised his Children unto. Gracious little Children complain of themselves, as he did of old, in Prov. 30.3. I have not the knowledge of the Holy; and so they become willing to learn; they are willing to learn what God is, what His Three Persons and what His Infinite Perfections are; they are willing to learn what He does in the World, as Creating and Preserving of all things, and as Redeeming his Elect; they are willing to learn what He says in the Word, what Mysteries, what Histories, what Commandments, what Promises, and Threatnings He has therein set before us. They think that without some Knowledge of these things they must grind like Sampson with his Eyes put out by Hellish Phi­listines; [Page 101] and they tr [...]mble at such a Doom as that, in Isa. 27.11. It is a people of no Ʋnder­standing; whe [...]efore he that made them, will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no Favour. There is no need of whipping them to their Catech [...]sms; to be learning of them, is as Pleasant and welcome an Exercise unto these Children, as any that they can be put upon.

Secondly, Gracious little Children would not be without an assured Knowledge, that in the fur­thest and the sweetest sense, God is indeed a Fa­ther to them; they would have an Assurance of their being Adopted and Regenerated by the Lord: They look upon God, as the best Father in the World; and as the son of Jesse sometimes could say, in 1 Sam. 18.23. Seemeth it unto you a light thing to be a Kings Son-in-law? So 'tis not a light thing in the Opinion of these, to become the Chil­dren of that God, who is a great King, and whose Name is Dreadful. Gracious little Children are sensible, that they have been the children of wrath, and the Children of Hell, and that while they were in their sins they have had the Devil for their father; but when they read the eighth Chap­ter to the Romans, they count it a thing of inex­pressible importance for them, to get into the li­berty of the Sons of God. It affects them to see how the children of men are divided, in 1 Joh. 3.10. Either the children of God, or the children of the Devil; and they can by no means bear to con­tinue the children of so black a father as the De­vil [Page 102] is. Hence they do most heartily, readily, cheerfully close with the motions which the Son of God makes unto them; and as it is said in Gal. 3.26. Ye are all the children of God, by faith in Jesus Christ; so, these Children do by faith accept of the Lord Jesus Christ as offered unto them in the Gospel; 'tis the language of their Souls, Blessed Lord Jesus, be thou mine, and let me be Thine; do thou bestow Righteousness, and grace, and life upon me; and let me be for Thee and not for another.

Thirdly, Gracious little Children study to pay unto God the Acknowledgements which are due unto a Father, yea, unto an Heavenly Father. The Carriage of Children to a father is imitated in their Deportment before the Lord. And,

First, They place on God, the Affection which is due unto a father. A father, is a Name all made up of love. As the fatherly love of God unto gra­cious little Children is very marvellous; for thus 'tis said in 1 Joh 3.1. Behold, what manner of love, the Father has bestow'd upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God! So the Filial Love of these Children unto God, is likewise, Behold, what man­ner of love! They love none so much as God, but tho' they love their fathers more than all Creatures, yet they love their God with greater out-goings of their little Souls.

Secondly, They pay to God, the Reverence which is due unto a father. They dare not therefore be rude, sawcy, impudent, in the special presence [Page 103] of the Lord; nor Talk, nor Sport, nor Sleep, when they should be worshipping of Him. 'Tis the voice of God in Mal. 1.6. A son honoureth his father; if then I be a Father, where is my Honour? Gracious little Children give unto their God the Honour of a father; if they speak of God, it is in a most humble serious, awful strain; they will not say, O God, or, O Lord, or say, God bless me, and, Lord bless me, with a frothy, carnal, heedless interjection; if they speak to God, it is with an exceeding veneration: while they are at pra [...]er, they compose themselves unto a very di­ligent Attention and Intention of Soul; once more, if they hear from God, they set themselves as in the s [...]ght of him, who is greatly to be feared and had in Peverence; while they are in the As­semblies where the Word of God is Preach'd un­to them, they would not use the least wildeness for a thousand worlds.

Thirdly, They yield to God the submission which is due unto a father. They will by no means dis­pute the will of God, but render a most full, pro­found, absolute Obedience thereunto. Our Lord Jesus could say unto God, as in Luc. 22.42. Fa­ther, not my will, but thine be done; and gracious little Children will herein say after that Holy Child Jesus. As for the will of God in his Pre­cept, they are very ready to do it; they say, Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do; and they do what­soever they understand he does bid; they would fain do, The thing that good is, and what the Lord [Page 104] has required of them. As for the will of God in his Providence, they are very ready to bear it; they say The will of the Lord be done! and they bear what strokes, what pains, what sorrows, his Rod may lash them with; so they are subject unto the father of Spirits, and live.

Fourthly, They have a Dependance on God as Children on a Father. Gracious Children are pray­ing Children, they won't easily let a day pass them without praying to God, and they go unto God as unto a father in their prayers. There was a very little Child whose prayers were so freq [...]ent and so fervent, that a Neighbour which discovered them cryed out, The prayers of that Child will sink me to the bottom of Hell. Gracious little Children will pray at such a rate as to condemn the prayerless lives of all the Neighbourhood.

But how is that? briefly,

Gracious little Children, will use to pray with Boldness. As a Child will go boldly to his Father upon all occasions; thus will these Children be e [...]er now and then coming to God, and as the A­postle speaks in Heb. 4.16. Come boldly to the Throne of Grace. When they see the infinite Ma­jesty and Purity of God, they do with much fear approach unto Him; but when they see, that God is their father, this does again encourage them. They been't loth to go tell this father of theirs, what they all, in all of their Distresses; no, they go to God, and cry, Abba, father! and in all things make known Requests unto God.

Again, gracious little Children, will use to pray with Comfort. These Children are comfortably perswaded of success in their Cryes to God, as Children in theirs unto a Father; and they ar­gue at that rate, in Mat. 7.11. If ye, be [...]ng E­vil, know how to give good gifts unto your Chil­dren, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven! As Luther would say, That word, my Father, used by a praying Saint, all the Rhe­torick and Eloquence in the world could never e­qual it. Thus, these, when they say unto God, my father, they promise themselves that no good thing shall be deny'd unto them. Since God is their Father, they expect that their Fa­ther will Pity them, that their Father will coun­sel them, that their Father will supply them, and make them happy for-ever.

Fifthly, They have a Resemblance of God, as Children of a Father: gracious Children are like their father, and are as the Apostolical ex­pression has it, in Eph. 5.1. followers of God as dear Children. Yea, they are not meer Pictures, which may have something of the fi­gure and feature in them, but they are Chil­dren that will talk and walk just like their fa­ther. Thus our Lord says in Luc. 6.35. Be and do like to God, and you shall be the children of the Highest. In short, what is grievous to God is grievous also to gracious little Children, that have his Image on them. These Children are grieved at their own sins, because God is grieved at them. When Caesar saw an intimate Acquain­tance [Page 106] of his, amo [...]g the Murderers, that were as­saulting of him, he most bitterly cry'd out, What, my child among them! Thus a Child who [...]e heart God has touched, thinks with himself, If such an one as I sin, it will be as if a Child should go to stab his Father; and so it stabs him at the heart in­deed, when he sees how many sins he has Offend­ed the great God withal. These Children are al­so grieved at the sins of others, because God is grieved at them. It is related of Croesus, that he had a dumb Son; which Son seeing a Souldier about killing of his Father, he was in such an A­gony, that tho' he never spoke before, yet now he spoke, and shriek'd, O don't you kill my father! Thus, if a Child belonging to God, see any body profane and wicked, it is as if he saw one stri­king at his Father; he is in a just passion at it, and pleads, O don't serve my Eternal father so! If any perhaps, of his play-mates or school-mates, go to do any naughty thing, he will zealousl [...] re­buke them for it. In a word, These gracious Children, are loth to do any thing that may be displeasing to such a Father as the blessed God. If such a Child be tempted unto Sab­bath-breaking he thinks, What shall I dishonour my father so as to take the Devil for my play-fellow! If he be tempted unto Cursing, Swear­ing, Lying, or the calling of wicked Names, he thinks, No, my Heavenly Father does cast Chil­dren into those flames where they shall not have a drop of water to cool their Tongues, for such crimes [Page 107] as these! He abhors all that is contrary to the thrice-Holy-God.

Proposition III.

It is the peculiar priviledge of gracious little Children thus to know the Almighty God.

These three things a [...]e to be affirmed.

First, There are some little Children, that have and own God, for their Father. Such a Child might Samuel be; of whom we find in 1 Sam. 3.1. that while he was a Child, he Ministred unto the Lord; he kept waiting on God, and serving of God, in his House continually; and had a most intimate Communion with him there. Such a Child might also David be; who was able to say in Psal. 22.9. Thou didst make me Hope when I was upon my Mothers Breasts; thou art my God from my Mothers Belly; he speaks, as if before he had bin weaned, there had been some hope and some faith on God, beginning to dawn in his little Soul. And such a Child seems Timothy to have been; unto whom 'twas said in 2 Tim. 3.15. From a Child thou hast known the Scriptures; he was in his very Infancy acquainted with the mind of the great God. The father of Orig [...] took him to be such a Child, when he would kiss the breast of the lovely youth while he lay asl [...]ep, as a young Temple to the Eternal Spirit of God. Some little Children have been so devoted unto God, as to prove the most Eminent Witnesses and Confessors [Page 108] for him; the bloody Papists butchered four hun­dred such precious Infants at once, among the Waldenses long ago. When the N [...]ble Romanus was Martyr'd, in one of the Primitive Persenti­ons, a little Child but seven years old, bravely suffered with him▪ for asserting the Christian Re­ligion, which (said the child, unto his furious Persecutors) I learnt of my christian Mother, with whose Milk I suck'd it in. Yea, many children then accompanied their courageous Parents, in re­ceiving the Crown of M [...]rtyrdom. And certain­ly, those were very well disposed little children, who in the horrible Marian Dayes, came about the Martyr Lawrence; as he was dying in the flames, & cry'd out, Lord, strengthen thy servant & keep thy pro­mise! Lord, strengthen thy servant, and keep thy Promise!

M [...]reover, some worthy men, have made Col­lections, of Histories, concerning little children, that ha [...]e given wonderful Instances of an Early Piety befo [...]e they left the world. The Excellent Janewa [...], has done excellently well this way, in his T [...]kens for Ch [...]ld [...]n which little Books, I most af­fe [...]tionately Recommend unto the perusal of you all. He tells of one child admirably wrought upon by the grace of God, when between two and three years old. He writes of a Boy remar­kable for Devotions, which dy'd at the age of twel [...]e years, and being, in his lingring sickness, told of a fair Estate which he might live to enjoy, bravely answered, I had rather have the Kingdom [Page 109] of Heaven, than a thousand such Inheritances! I desire to dy, that I may go to that. He writes of ano­ther, which having walked with God from the fourth to the twelfth year of his Age, then dy'd, professing, This is a most wicked world, it is indeed good to live with my Parents, but it is better to live in Heaven. He writes of a Girl also remarkable for Devotions, which being converted unto God, when eight or nine years old, not long after dy'd in the midst of incredible Raptures, wherein she cry'd out, Oh! If you knew what Christ were! Oh! If you had but one tast of his infinite sweetness, you would a thousand times rather go to Him, than stay in this wicked world. I would not for ten thousand and ten thousand worlds part with my Interest in him, or go back from the everlasting Joys which I am now near unto. He writes of another brought home to God, when between four or five years old, which would sometimes be thinking, O what are they doing, that are already in Heaven! and being at last smitten with the marks of the Plague break­ing out upon her, she cryed out, Behold, God has marked me, for one of his own; the Lord has already told me, that I am one of his dear Children! And several other such Examples, have been Record­ed; not only by that man of God, but also by Mr. White, Mr. Ness, Mr. Bidbank, and sundry o­ther such holy Men.

Yea, and the place where our selves do live, hath not been without such Examples; and those, of both Sexes. Unto such as have been already [Page 110] Published, it were easy to add many more.

To Male-children, I might particularly mention one who at the age of twelve years, among other expressions of an unusual seriousness and gravity, wrote from his Lodging at Camb [...]i [...]ge to his Fa­ther in Dorchester.—These very syllables. Tho I am thus well in my Body, yet I question whe­ther my Soul do prosper as my Body doth; for I perceive yet to this very day, little growth in grace; and this makes me question, whether grace be in mine heart, or no. I feel also daily great unwillingness to good Duties, and the great ruling of Sin in my heart; and that God is angry with me, and gives me no Answer to my prayers, but many times he even throws them down as dust in my face; and he does not grant my continual Requests, for the spiritual blessing of the f [...]s [...]ning of my hard heart. And in all this, I could yet take some Comfort; but that it makes me to wonder, what God's secret Decree concerning me, may be. For I doubt whether God is ever wont to deny grace and me [...]cy to his chosen, (tho' uncal [...]ed) when they seek un­to him by prayer for it; and therefore seeing he does thus deny it to me, I think that the reason of it is most like to be, b [...]cause I belong not to the Election of Grace. I desire you, that you would let me have your prayers, as I doubt not but I have them; and rest

your Son, Samuel Mather.

This was he, whom twenty years afterwards, all Ireland had a Blessing in; contradicting that Needless Proverb, soon ripe, soon rotten.

To Female Children, I might mention, Ann Greenough, the Daughter of Mr. William Greenough Deceased; who left the world, when she was but about five years old, and yet gave astonishing Discoveries of a Regard unto God and Christ & her own Soul, before she went away. When she heard any thing about the Lord Jesus Christ, she would be strangely transported and ravished in her Spirit at it; and had an unspeakable Delight in Catechising. She would put strange Questions about eternal things, and make Answers her self that were extreamly pertinent. Once particular­larly she asked, A [...]e not we dead in Sin? and pre­sently added, But I will tak [...] this way, the Lord Je­sus Ch [...]ist shall make me alive. She was very fre­quent and constant in secret prayer, and could not with any patience be interrupted in it. She told her gracious Mother, That she there prayed for her! and was covetous of being with her Mother, when she imagined such Duties to be going for­ward. When she fell sick at last of a Consump­tion, she would not by any sports be diverted from the Thoughts of Death, wherein she took such pleasure that she did not care to hear of any thing else. And if she were asked, whether she were willing to dy? she would still cheerfully Reply, Ay, by all means, that I may go to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Indeed sundry such little Children, have there been among us; but now, as he that heard a sto­ry of two faithful Friends, presently said, I would I were a third with them! So, I hope every one of the little Children that have seen these Examples, will say, O that I may be a third! O that I might be like one of these happy Children! But,

Secondly, There are few little Children, that have and own God for their Father. Indeed, those few little Children, that are descended of Believing Parents, have the same God that their Paren [...]s have chosen bo [...]h for themselves & theirs, until they are old enough to revoke or to renew the choice; the Children are included in what their Parents do, and have, until they can stand upon their own Legs; and at what age that is, our God has not, that I remember, expresly spoken; which ought therefore to hasten the cares of little Children, about their own Salvation. Hence we read concerning the children of Believers in 1. Cor. 7.14. They are holy; God accepts them, & regards them, as consecrated unto himself. But of those little Children that are come to a Capa­city of acting deliberately and rationally about E­ternal Matters, how few are there that carefully say, Let God be a father to me! We may with a special Reference to little Children speak in such terms as those, in Psal. 14.2, 3. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God; t [...]y are all gone aside, they are all-together become [Page 113] filthy; there is none that doth good, no, not one. E­ven so, 'tis a rare thing, an hard thing, among little Children, to find so much as one that has an awful Resp [...]ct unto all the Comm [...]ndments of God. About the generality of little Children, it may be complained as in Jer. 4.22. they are sottish Children, and they have no understanding, they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge; or it may be complained as in Isa. 1.4. A seed of evil Doers, children that are corrupters, they have forsaken the Lord. I confess, there is now and then a Child which has the Seeds of grace lodged in its Infant Soul, and less or more sprouting forth, according to various Temptations; but, how few do ever throughly turn to God until their Childhood be all expired!

Thirdly, Very glorious is the priviledge of those Little Children, that have and own God, for their Father. 'Tis a glorious priviledge to be Interested in the fatherly Regards of the great God; but so these gracious little Chil­dren are.

'Tis their priviledge, that God has the Love of a Father for them. As 'twas said of a du­tiful and a towardly Child, in Gen. 44 20. His father loved him; unspeakably and infinite­ly more loving is the love of God unto all gracious little Children. A father loves his Children more than all his Riches in the world; and so does God love these Children move than the whole world besides; unto such a [Page 114] Child, the great God says with a peculiar Em­phasis as in Isa. 43.4. I have loved thee!

'Tis their priviledge, that God has likewise the pity of a Father for them. When a Child is in sickness, or distress, the heart of a father even yearns towards it. But the heart of God moves with a more compassionate pity towards gracious little Children in all their Troubles; thus 'tis said in Psal. 103.12. As a Father pities his Chil­dren, so the Lord pities them that fear him. He feels their sorrows with a most parental Sympathy; a [...]d if at any time he Chastise them with necessa­ry Afflictions, he says upon it, My Bowels are troubled for them, I will surely have mercy upon them.

'Tis moreover their priviledge that God has the pardon of a Father for them. A Father will bear with many Infirmities in his Children; but God passes by more far away in gracious little Chil­dren. Tho' they desire to do and he better, yet they are attended with many daily childish weak­nesses; but then our God says, in Mal. 3.17. I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son, that serveth him. Yea, if thro' Temptation they fall into grosser Scandals, nevertheless when they come to loath and judge themselves for their mis­carriages, the Lord will be as ready to forgive them, as David was to forgive his Rebellious, but Relenting Absalom.

Once more, 'tis their priviledge, that God makes the provision of a Father for them. Chil­dren [Page 115] shall not want, so long as they have a Lo­ving and a Tender Father, able to look after them. But God will provide for gracious little Children, after a manner which Eye has not seen, Ear has not heard, and heart has not conceived. We are told in Psal. 34.10. They that fear the Lord, shall not want any good thing. These belong to the Family of the Almighty God; and, Their Heavenly Father knows what things they have need of. He will furnish them with all suitable mer­cies both Temporal and Eternal.

Finally, 'Tis their priviledge, that when they make any-allowable prayers, God like a Father will hear them all. If Children go to a Father for any convenient thing 'tis but, Ask and Have; much more is the blessed Access and Success which gracious little children have in their Supplications to the Lord. Of their prayer, we may say as in Prov. 15.8. 'Tis his Delight. God propounds to them, Children, what do you want? What would you have? Children, what shall I do for you? And he delights to see them, spreading their Ails before him. Tho' their prayers are but like the Chat­terings and Laspings of Children, yet the Lord says concerning them, Let me hear thy voice, for it is sweet; their prayers make a most Heavenly Me­lody in the Ears of the Eternal God.

Behold, ye pious little Children, what a Father you are priviledged with! And yet know for your Everlasting Comfort, that it is an Everlasting Father, who will do for you such things as these. [Page 116] The best Father else may leave you Fatherless, and then you will sit wishing in your solitary hours, O that it were with me, as in months past, when my Father was alive! But you are now priviledged with a Father worth infinitely more than ten thousand of any that can be taken from you. It was the encouragement of the Psalmist, in Psal. 27.10. When my Father, and Mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. 'Tis an allusion to the Journeys of Israel thro' the Wilderness; when the three first Squadrons were pass [...]d on before, the fourth and last Squadron were to gather up the sick, and the weak, and the lame, that had been left behind. Thus, tho' thy Father be mar­ched away, and has left thee a shir [...]less little crea­ture here, yet the Lord, he is thy Father still, and he will take thee up.

But for the brief Improvement of these things.

Application.

I. Let all Parents endeavour that their Chil­dren may be those gracious Ones which may know God for their Father. Methinks, you that are the Fathers of these poor little Creatures, if you had any bowels in you, should be concerned that they may have an Heavenly Father, to do that which you desire, but cannot perform for them. Let me in the Name of God, lay before you two or three solemn questions to be thought upon.

First, have you no Kindness for your poor chil­dren? [Page 117] 'Tis by your means, that they are now born defiled, depraved, horribly polluted, with Original Sin, and fearfully perishing under the wrath and curse of God; and what amends will you make 'em, for this infinite wrong? It was the law for a man that had wounded another, in Exod. 21.19. He shall cause him to be throughly healed. And will you do nothing towards healing those prodigious wounds, which your Falls have caused your Children to lie bleeding under? Your poor Children, can you endure to see them star­ving, burning, dying before your Eyes? but thus they are till by Conversion they are become gra­cious little Children. We read in Lam. 4.3. Even the Sea-monsters draw out the Breasts, they give suck to their young ones. If you will do nothing for the Souls of your poor Children, you are wors [...] than the cruellest Sea-monsters in the world.

Secondly, Have you no Regard for Gods Com­mand and Glory? Why, the Immortal God, who made your children has committed them into your Hands, and said, as the Princess of Egypt unto the Mother of Moses, Here, take this Child, Nurse it for me, and I'le give thee thy wages. 'Tis tho charge which God has given you, about your Children, in Eph. 6.4. Bring them up in th [...] Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. And this is the way to propagate and continue the Service of God, unto after-generations; you that make it not your study, to see your Offspring become gracious little Children, are willing that God [Page 118] should never have any honour in the world, afte [...] this Generation shall be expired.

Thirdly, Have you no Regard for your own Credit and Comfort? It is said in Prov. 23.24. The father of the Righteous shall greatly Rejoyce: Truly, if you had gracious little Children, you might, you would Rejoyce exceedingly. Which of you had not rather have a Joseph than an E­sau, for his Age to lean upon? And when you leave your Children, or your Children leave you, how much would you give to have just Hopes, of having their Company in the sweet Joyes, of the Third Heaven for-ever? Besides, it will be a blessed mark upon your Souls, it will be a sign tha [...] you are among the Children of Abraham, if you Command your Children to keep the way of the Lord.

Would you be informed then, what you may do for your poor Children? Do you ask, as Manoah of old, How shall we order the child, and what shall we do unto him? There are four things by which you may save the Souls of your little Children; yea, there are five things to be obser­ved, that God may be a Father to them.

The first thing necessary for your poor Chil­dren, is, your Authority. 'Twas said in Lev. 19.3. Ye shall fear every man, his Mother and his Fa­ther; the Mother is first mentioned, because that she commonly first loses her Authority. Look to it, that you keep up a Fear of you, in the hearts of your Children, and make them Tremble to [Page 119] Refuse any fit thing that you shall Enjoyn upon them.

Another thing necessary, is, your Instruction. 'Twas the Report of the Wise-man, in Prov. 4.3, 4. I was my Fathers Son, he taught me also; and without this he had never prov'd so wise a man. Let your Children be most frequently, se­riously, exactly Catechised; and let your Admo­nitions teach them, how they should think, how pray, and how live, before the Lord.

A Third thing necessary, is, your Inspection. As our Lord asked His Houshold, in Joh. 16.31. Do ye now Believe? So, do you ask your Children, what their Experience, and what their Behaviour is; penetrate as far into their Circumstances, as that you may assist them against their Difficulties.

A Fourth necessary thing, is your Example. Re­solve like him, in Psal. 101.2. I will walk within my House with a perfect heart. It is no rare thing to find it of the Son, He did according to all, that his Father did. Let your Children see by your Piety and Charity and Zeal, how they may please God; and never expose, like disguised Noah, your Nakedness unto them. And unto all these things add your Prayer; your fervent and constant prayer, to God. Pray with your Children; and let not your Houses be liable to that hideous Thunder-clap, in Jer. 10.25. Pour out thy Fury on the Families that call not on thy Name. A dole­ful Meeting must you have with your Children in another world, if you there have them article [Page 120] at this rate against you, Lord, if this bloody Fa­ther of mine had learnt me to acknowledge thee, I had never come to this place of Torment. But pray for your Children too; and be like those who, in Mat. 19.13. brought little children unto Jesus. O carry them to God in Christ, with your im­portunate Cries, That He would heal their spi­ritual Diseases; That He would cast every evil Spirit out of them; and that according to His promise, He would circumcise their Hearts to fear His Name for ever.

II. But then, My little children, of whom I tra­vel in Birth again, until Christ be formed in you; I pray, let it be your endeavour to be those gra­cious Ones, which God may be an Heavenly Fa­ther unto. 'Tis impossible to express, how wil­ling, how ready, the Lord is to be the Father of you all. He has already been a Father to ma­ny thousands of such as you; and there are doubtless more little Children in Heaven, even in the Fathers House, than there are persons of any other Age. How much may this encourage you; but in the mean time, consider, my dear Children, consider what your condition is. A little Child once became a very holy Child, and being asked the reason of it, he said, Why, I was t'other day in the burying-place, and there I saw a Crave shorter than my self. Truly, if you'll repair to the Graves among us, you'll see many an one of your own Dimensions there. As [Page 121] young as you are, you are old enough to Dy; the Lambs-skin is in the Market as well as the Sheep's. But O consider what will then become of your never-dying Souls, if you have not be­fore then made sure of an Interest in God as a Father for you. What a terrible thing will it be for you to be then clap'd up in chains of Darkness among black Devils against the Judgment of the Great Day! When the Last Judgment comes upon the world, who shall then appear before the dreadful Tribunal of the Lord Jesus Christ? It is said in Rev. 20.12. I saw the Dead, small and great stand be­fore God; the smallest of you all must then have a Sentence of Weal or Wo passed upon you; a Sentence that will fix you in your state, for infinitely more than as many milli­ons of Ages as the Ocean has drops of wa­ter in it.

But, I again say, consider what will become of you, if God be not as a Father concerned for you. You cannot then escape the Venge­ance of eternal Fire, which Fire hath millions of small Chips, as well as of great Logs, hor­ribly burning in it.

My Children, consider what has been set be­fore you, and immediately turn it all into most importunate Supplications. We read, That when little Children were carried unto the Lord Jesus Christ, He Blessed them; how much [Page 122] more will He bless those little Children that shall themselves go unto Him! Go then unto the Lord; go daily, go seriously, go heartily unto him, and beg of him, Lord, be thou a Father to me, and help me to be as one of thy Children for-ever.

You may remember that when little children mocked the Prophet, there came two Bears which devoured some scores of them. To slight the Counsels, is in a manner to mock the Prophets of the Lord Jesus; and you will become a prey to Devils that are worse than Bears, if you are guilty of that Impiety. 'Tis my wish for you, that you may so hearken to the Messages of Hea­ven, as to be the Joy and Care of Holy Angels all your Dayes. Come, ye Children, hearken to me, for I have Taught you the Fear of the Lord.

FINIS.

PAge 10. l. 23. r. Barzillai. p. 15. l. 9. f. gra­cious r. glorious, ibid. l. 14. f. Omnipotence r. Omnipresence. P. 40. l. 26. r. and seldom. P. 42. l. 20 r. Senescant. P. 53. l. 26. r. Individua­tion. P. 59. l. 16. r. might help. P. 85. l. 18. r. outwardly happy. ibid. l. ult. f. we r. you. p. 59. l. 1. r the Attempts of the Holy Spirit.

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