THE Amiableness of Religion in itself, the innumerable Advantages that flow from it to Society in general, as well as each sincere Professor of it in parti­cular▪ cannot but recommend it to the Choice of every considerate Person, and make even wicked Men, as they wish to die the Death, so, in their more sober Intervals, envy the Life of the Righteous. And indeed we must do the World so much Justice as to con­fess, that the Question about Religion does not usual­ly ar [...]se from a Dispute whether it be necessary or not (for most Men see the Necessity of doing something for [...] Salvation of their Souls;) but when is the [...] Time to set about it Persons are convinc'd by [...] Experience, that the first Essays or Endeavours [Page] towards the Attainment of Religion are attend­ed with some Difficulty and Trouble, and therefore they would willingly defer the beginning such a seemingly ungrateful Work as long as they can. The wanton Prodigal, that is spending his Substance in rio­tous Living, cries, A little more Pleasure, a little more Sensuality, and then I'll be sober in earnest. The covetous Worldling▪ that employs all his Care and Pains in heaping up Riches, tho' he cannot tell who shall gather them, does not fl [...]tter himself that this will do always; but hopes, with the rich Fool in the Gospel, to lay up Goods for a few more Years on Earth, and then he'll begin to lay up Treasures in Heaven And, in short, thus it is that most People are convinced of the Necessi [...]y of being religious some Time or another; but then, like Felix, they put off the acting suitably to their Convictions, till (what they imagine) a more conv [...]nient Season: Whereas, would we be so humble as to be guided by the Expe­rience and Counsel of the wisest of Men, we should learn that Youth is the fittest Season for Religion; Remember now thy Creator, (says Solomon,) in the Days of thy Y [...]uth By which Word Remember, we are not to understand a bare speculative Remembrance, or calling to Mind, (for that, l [...]ke a d [...]ad Faith, will pro­fit us nothing) but such a Rem [...]mbrance as will con­strain us to Obedience, and oblige us out of G [...]ati­tude to perform all that the LORD our GOD shall require of us For as forgeting GOD, in Scripture Language, impl [...] a total Neglect of our Duty, in like Manner r [...]embring him, signifies a perfect Per­formance of it: So that, when S [...]lomon says, Remem­ber thy Creator in the Days of thy Y [...]uth, it is the s [...]me as if he had said, Keep GOD's Commandments; or in other Words, B [...] religious in the Days of thy Youth, thereby implying that Youth is the most [...] Season for it.

[Page] I SHALL in the following Discourse, First, endea­vour to make good the Wise Man's Proposition imply'd in the Words of the Text, and to shew that Youth is the fittest Season for Religion

Secondly, By Way of Motive. I shall consider the many unspeakable Advantages that will arise from remembring our Creator in the Days of our Youth.

Thirdly and Lastly, I shall conclude with a Word or two of Exhortation to the younger Part of this Audience.

AND First then, I am to make good the Wise Man's Proposition implied in the Words of the Text, and to shew that Youth is the fittest Season for Religion: Remember now thy Creator in the Days of thy Youth. — But in order to proceed more clearly in this Ar­gument, it may not be improper, first, to explain what I mean by the Word Religion. By this Term, then. I would not be understood to mean a bare outward Profession or naming the Name of CHRIST; for we are told, that many that have even prophesied in his Name, and in his Name cast out Devils, shall not­withstanding be rejected by him at the last Day: Nor would I understand by it barely being admitted into CHRIST's Church by Baptism▪ for then Simon Magus, Arius, and the Heresiarchs of old might pass for re­ligious Persons, for these were baptized; nor yet the receiving the other Seal of the Covenant, for then Iudas himself might be canoniz'd for a Saint; nor in­deed do I mean any or all of these together, consider'd by themselves: but a thorough, real, inward Change of Nature, wrought in us by the powerful Operations of the Holy Gh [...]st, convey'd to and nourish'd in our Hearts, by a constant Use of [...]ll the Means of Grace, evidenc'd by a good Life, and bringing forth the Fruits of the Spirit.

[Page]THE attaining this real, inward Religion, is a Work of so great Difficulty, that Nicodemus, a learned Doc­tor and Teacher in Israel, thought it altogether im­possible, and therefore ignorantly asked our blessed LORD, how this Thing could be? And truly to rectify a disord [...]r'd Nature, to mortify our corrupt Pas­sions, to turn Darkness to Light, to put off the old Man, and put on the new, and thereby to have the Image of GOD reinstamp'd upon the Soul, or in one Word, to be born again, however light some may make of it, must, after all our Endeavours, be own'd by Man impossible. 'Tis true, indeed, CHRIST's Yoke is said to be an easy or a gracious Yoke, and his Bur­then light; but then it is to those only who have been accustomed to bear and draw in it. For, as the wise Son of Syra [...]h observes, ‘At first Wisdom walketh with her Children in crooked Ways, and brings them into Fear; and torments them with her Discipline, and does not turn to comfort and rejoyce them, till the has try'd them and proved their Judgment.’ — No; we must not flatter ourselves, that our depraved Na­tures can be renewed, unless we submit to a great many Difficulties The spiritual Birth is attended with its Pangs, as well as the natural: For they that have experienc'd it, (and they only are the proper Judges) can acquaint you, that frequent Acts of Self-denial must be exercised, a constant regular Discipline kept up, lest, after all, when we come to the Birth, we should want Strength to bring forth.

BUT if 'these Things are so,' if there are Difficul­ties and Pangs attending our being born again, and Discipline must be called in, what Season more proper than that of Youth; when, if ever, our Bodies are robust and vigorous, and our Minds active and coura­geous, and consequently we are then the best qualifi­ed to endure Hardness as good Soldiers of JESUS CHRIST·

[Page]WE find in secular Matters People commonly ob­serve this Method, and send their Children abroad among the Toils and F [...]tigues of Business, in their younger Years, as well knowing they are then fittest to undergo them And why do they not act with the same Consistency in the grand Affair of Re­ligion? Because, as our Saviour has told us, the Children of thi [...] W [...]rld are w [...]s [...]r in their Generation, than the Children of L [...]ght.

But, secondly, if pure Religion and undefiled con­sists in the total R [...]newal of our corrupted Natures, then 'tis not only a Work of D [...]fficulty, but of Time: For, as the [...]ld w [...]s not, so neither is the new Creation compleated in a Day. No, good Men know, by certain Experi [...]nce, that it is a long while e're old Things can pass away, and all Things become new in them. The strong M [...]n arm'd has gotten too great Possession of their Hearts to be quickly driven out, and they are obliged to combat many a weary Hour, e'e [...] their Corruptions, which is the Armour in which the strong Man trusted, be wholly taken from him. Nay, they find their whole Lives short enough to perfect the Work of Regeneration, which they were sent into the World to do, and never expect to say, 'tis finish'd, till with their blessed Master they bow down their Heads and give up the Ghost.

AND, if this be the Case▪ if the Renovation of our Nature be not only d [...]fficult, but requires so long a Space to compleat it in; then, it highly concerns every one to set about it betimes, and to work their Work while it is Day, before the Night cometh, when no Man can work.

COULD we, indeed, live to the Age of Methuselah, and had but little Business to employ ourselves in, we might then be more excusable, if we made no other Use of this World, than, what too many do, take our Pastime therein; but since our Lives are so [Page] very short, and the working out our Salvation requires so much Tim [...], we have no Room lest for Trifling, lest we should be snatched [...]way while our Lamps are unttimed, and we are entirely unprepared to meet the [...]idegroom.

DID we know a Friend or Neighbour, who had a long Journey of the utmost Importance to m [...]ke and yet should stand all the Day idle, neg [...]ecting to set out till the Sun was about to go down, we could not but pity and condemn his [...]gregious F [...]lly: And yet it is to be feared most Men are j [...]st such Fo [...]ls: they have a long Journey to t [...]k [...], nay, a J [...]urney to Eternity, a Journey of infi [...]te importance, and which they are obliged to dispatch be [...]r [...] the S [...]n of their natural Life be gone down; a [...]d yet t [...]y lo [...]t [...]r away their Time allotted them to p [...]form their Journey in, till Sickness or Death su [...]p [...]z [...] them; and th [...]n they cry out. What shall we d [...] to inherit eternal Life? But▪ alass! Is this a proper Season to ask such a Question? Is this a Time [...]o [...]g [...]n their Journey, when they sh [...]uld be at the End o [...] it; or to enquire what they must do, when perhaps they have have hardly any Strength or Ability l [...]st to do any Thing to the Purpose, and when they should be waiting with humble Patience, in [...] of speed [...]ly receiving their Wages for Work alre [...]dy d [...]ne? O fo [...]lish Peo­ple and unwise! If you [...]ffer the Blind for Sacrifi [...]e is it not evil▪ and if ye off [...]r the La [...]e and Si [...]k▪ [...] it not evil? Offer it now unto thy G [...]vernour, will he be pleased with the [...], or accept thy Person? saith the Lord of H [...]sts. But leaving such to the Mercies of GOD, I pass on to

THE Second general Thing propos [...]d, viz. To shew the Advantages that will [...] from rem [...]mbring our Creator in the D [...]ys of our Y [...]uth ▪ which may serve as so many Motiv [...]s to excite and quicken all Persons immediately to set about it.

[Page]AND the first Benefit resulting from thence is, that it will bring most Honour and Glory to GOD This, I suppose, every serious Person will gra [...]t, ought to be th [...] Point in which all our Actions should centre; for to this E [...]d were we born, to this End w [...]re we redeem [...]d by the precious Blood of JESUS CHRIST, that we should promote GOD's eternal Glory. And as the Glory of GOD is most advanc [...]d by paying Obedience to h [...]s Precepts, they that begin soonest to walk in his Ways, act most to his Glory: For the common Obj [...]ction against the divine Laws in general, and the D [...]ctrines of the Gospel in particular is, that th [...]y are not practicable, that they are contrary to Fl [...]sh and Blo [...]d, and that all those Precepts con­cerni [...]g Self Denial, Renunciation of and Deadness to the Worl [...], are but so many arbi [...]ary Restraints im­posed upon humane Nature But when we see mee [...] Striplings not only practising▪ [...]ut delighting in such religious Duties▪ and in the Days of their Youth, when if ev [...]r, they have a R [...]lish for Sensual Plea­sures, subduing and despising the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eye, and the Pride of Life — This is acceptable with GOD; this vindicates his [...]njur'd Honour▪ this sh [...]ws that his Service is perfect Free­dom, that [...]is Yoke is easy, and his Burden light.

BUT, S [...]condly, as an early Piety redounds most to the Honour of GOD, so it will bring m [...]st H [...]nour to ours [...]lves: For th [...]se that honour GOD, GOD will honour. We find it therefore remark'd to the Praise of Obadiah, that he served the LORD from his Youth: Of Samuel, that he stood, when young, be­fore GOD in a Linnen Ephod: Of Timothy, that from a Child he had known the holy Scriptures: Of St I [...]n, that he was the youngest and most be­loved D [...]sciple; and of our blessed LORD himself, that at twelve Years old he went up to the Temple, and s [...]t among the Doctors, both hearing and asking them [...]

[Page]NOR, Thirdly, will an early Piety afford us less Comfort than Honour, not only because it [...]enders Religion habitual to us, but also because it gives us a well-grounded Assurance of the Sincerity of our Profes­sions Was there no other Argument against a D [...]ath-Bed Repentance but the Unsatisfacto [...]in [...]s and A [...]xie­ty of such a State, that would be sufficient to de [...]er all thinking Persons from deferring the m [...]st impor­tant Business of their Life to such a dreadful Period of it. For supposing a Man be sincere in his Professi­ons of Repentance on a Death B [...]d (which is very much to be doub [...]ed) yet he can take no great Com­fort in them, because he is u [...]certain whether his Convictions and R [...]mo [...]s [...] proceed from a [...] Sorrow for Sin, or a servile [...]ar of Punishment. — [...]ut a young Saint need f [...]r no such [...] ▪ he knows that he loves GOD for his own Sake, and is not driven to him by a Dread of impend [...]ng Evil: He does not decline the Gratifica [...]ns of S [...]nse, bec [...]use he can no long [...]r hear the Voice of Singing Men and Singing Wom [...]n; but wil [...]ingly takes up his Cross, and follows his bless [...]d Master in his Y [...]u [...]h; and th [...]refore must have great Confidence of his Si [...]c [...]rity towards GOD. But farther, as an early Piety shews the H [...]art of its Sincerity, so likewise it [...] [...]s present Reward with i [...], as it renders R [...]ligion, and all its Duties, habitual and easy A young Saint, was you to ask him, would joyfully tell you the u [...]sp [...]kable Comfort of beginning to be good betimes: As for his Pa [...]t, he knows not what Men mean by talking of Mortification S [...]lf Denial, and Retirement, a [...] h [...]d and ri [...]orous Duties; for he [...] so accust [...]m [...]d [...] to them, that they are n [...]w b [...]c [...]me even [...], and he takes infinitely more [...] in practisi [...]g the severest Precepts of the Gosp [...]l, than a l [...]xu [...]i [...]us Dives in a Bed of State, or an [...] H [...]rian at [...] Royal Banquet. And, Oh! how h [...]ppy must that [Page] Youth be, whose Duty is become a second Nature, and to whom those Things, which seem terrible to o­thers, are grown both easy and delightful!

BUT the greatest Advantage of an early Piety is still behind, viz That it l [...]ys in the best Provision of Comfort and Support against such Times as we shall stand most in N [...]ed thereof, viz. all Times of our T [...]bulation, and in particular against the Time of old Age, the Hour of Death, and the Day of Judgment.

THIS is the Argument the wise Man makes Use of in the Words immediately following the Text: Remember now ▪ says he, thy Creator in the Days of thy Y [...]uth, while the evil Days [...] not, nor the Years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no Pleasure in them. Observe, the Time of old Age is an evil Time, Years wherein there is no Pleasure; and ask thos [...] tha [...] are grown old, and they will inform you so. Cordials surely th [...]n must be exceeding proper to support our drooping Spirits: A [...]d, Oh! What Cordial comparable to the grateful R [...]view of a well-spe [...] Life? When the [...] ▪ lik [...] [...], are grown dim with Age; when the Keepers of the House, i▪ e. the Hands, shall tremble; as the wise Man goes on to describe the Infirmities of old Age; when the strong Men bow themselves, i e when the Legs grow [...]ee­ble; and th [...] Grin [...]ers, i e. the Teeth shall cease to do their proper Office, because they are few, for a Person then to hear the Precepts of the Gospel read over to him, and to be able to lay his Hand on his Heart, and to say sincerely, All these have I kept from my Y [...]uth: This must fill him with such unsp [...]kable Comfort, that I want Words to express, and Tho' [...]s to conceive it. But, supposing it was p [...]ssible for us to escape the Inconveniencies of old Age, yet still Death is a Debt we all must pay; and what is worse, it generally comes attended with such dreadful Cir­cumstances, that it will make even a F [...]lix tremble. [Page] But as for the Godly, that have served the LORD from their Youth, it is not so with them; no, they look upon Death not as the King of Terrors, but as a welcome Messenger, that is come to conduct them to their wish'd for Home. All the Days of their ap­pointed Time have they waited, and it has been the Business of their whole Liv [...]s to prepare themselves for the Coming of their great Change, and therefore they rejoyce to hear, that they are called to meet the heaven­ly Bridegroom. Thus [...]ies the early (I mean the early, if persevering) pious: whose Path has been as the shining Light, that shineth more and more, unto the perfect Day. But follow him beyond the Grave, and see with what an holy Triumph he enters into his Master's Joy; with what an humble Boldness he stands at the dreadful Tribunal of JESUS CHRIST; and can you then forbear to cry out. Let me die the Death of the Righteous, and let my latter End, and fu [...]ure State, be like his?

NEED I then, after having shewn so many Advan­tages to arise from an early Piety, use any more Argu­ments to persuade the younger Part of this Audience, to whom in the third and last Place I shall add [...]ss my self, to remember their Creator i [...] the Days of their Youth?

WHAT! will not a Desire of bringing Glory to GOD▪ Honour and Comfort to themselves; will not the Pleasure of an habitual Piety, and the comfortable Assurance of being sincere▪ above all, will not the H [...]pes of an honourable old Age, a p [...]ac [...]ful Death, and a glorious Appearance at the tremendous Day of Judgment, will not these, I say, prevail with them to leave their Husk [...], and return home to eat of the fatted Calf [...] Wha [...], will they thus requite their Sa­viou [...]'s Love? That be far from them! Did he come down and shed his precious Blood to de [...]iver [Page 11] them from the Power of Sin; and will they spend their youthful Strength and Vigour in the Service of it, and then think to serve CHRIST, when they can follow their Lusts no longer? Is it fit, that many who are endowed with exc [...]llent Gifts, and are there­by qualifi [...]d to be Supports and Ornaments of our sinking Church, should notwithstanding forget the GOD that gave them, and employ them in Things that will not profit? O why will they not arise, and, like so many Phin [...]a's, be z [...]alous for the Lord of H [...]sts? Doubtless, when D [...]ath overtakes them, they will with they had: And what hinders them, but that they may live as well now, as they will wish they had when they leave the World? Think you that any one yet ever repented that he began to be good too soon? But how many, on the contrary, have repent­ed that they began to be good too late? May we not well imagine, that young Samuel now rej [...]yces that he wa [...]ted so soon at the Tabernacle of the LORD? Or young Timothy, that from a Child he knew the holy Scriptu [...]es? And if you wish to be Partakers of their Joy, let me persuade you to be Partakers of their Piety

I could still go on to fill my Mouth with Argu­ments; but the Circumstances and Piety of those a­mongst whom I am now preaching the Kingdom of GOD, remind me to change my Style; and instead of urg­ing any more D [...]ssuasives from Sin, to fill up what is behind of this Discourse, with Encouragements to per­severe in Hol [...]ness.

Bl [...]ss [...]d, for ever bless [...]d be GOD and the Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST! I am not speaking to Per­sons i [...]flamed with youthful [...]usts, but to a Multitude of you [...]g Profess [...]rs, who, by frequently assembling together, and forming th [...]mselves into religious Socie­ties, are in a ready Way to be of the Number of those young Men who have ove [...]me the wicked one

[Page]BELIEVE me, it gladdens my very Soul, to see so many of your Faces set Heaven-wards; and the visible happy Effects of your uniting together, cannot but rejoyce the Hearts of [...]ll sincere Christians, and oblige them to wish you go [...] Success in the Name of the LORD The many Souls that are nourished weekly by the spiritual Body and Blood of JESUS CHRIST by your Means; the weekly and monthly Lectures that are preached by your Contributions; the daily Incense of Thanksgiving and Prayer which is publ [...]ckly sent up to the Throne of Grace by your Subscriptions; the many Children which are trained up in the Nur­ture and Admonition of the LORD by your Cha [...]es; and lastly, the commendable and pious Zeal you exert in promoting and encouraging divine Psalmody, are such plain and apparent Proofs of the Benefit of y [...]ur religious Societies, that they call for a publick Ac­knowledgement of Praise and Thanksgiving to our blessed Master, who has not only put into your Hearts such good Designs, but enabled you also to bring the same to good Eff [...]ct

IT is true, it has been obj [...]cted, "That young Mens forming themselves into religious Societies has a Tendency to make them spiritual [...]y proud▪ [...]nd thi [...]k more highly of themselves than they ought to think" And perhaps the imprudent impe [...]ious Behaviour of some Novices in Religion, who, tho' they went out from you, were not of you, may have given too much Occasion for such an Aspersi [...]n.

BUT you, Brethren, have not so learned CHRIST. Far, be it from you to look upon yourselves as righte­ous▪ and dispise other [...], because you often assemble yourselves together. No, this, instead of creating Pride, ought to beget an holy Fear in your Hearts, l [...]st your Practise should not correspond with your Prof [...]ssi [...]n, and that, after you ha [...]e benefited and edi­fied others, you yourselves should become Cast aways.

[Page]WORLDLY-MINDEDNESS, my Brethren, is anothe [...] Rock against which we are in Danger of splitting. For, if other Sins have slain their Thousands of pro­fessing Christians, this has slain its ten Thousands. I need not appeal to past Ages; your own Experience, no doubt, has furnish'd you with many unhappy In­stances of young Men, who, after (as one would have imagin'd) they had escaped the Pollutions which are in the World thro' Lust, and had tasted the good Word of Life, and endured for a Season, whilst under the Tuition and Inspection of others; yet when they have come to be their own Masters, thro' a Want of Faith, and thro' too great an Earnestness in labouring for the Meat which perisheth, have cast off their first Love, been again entangled with the World, and returned like the Dog to his Vomit, and like the S [...]w that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire. You would therefore do well, my Brethren, frequently t [...] [...]mind each other of this dangerous Snare, and to exhort one another to begin, pursue, and end your Christian Warfare, in a thorough Renunciation of the World, and worldly Tempers; so that, when you are obliged by Provi­dence to provide for your selves, and those of your respective Housholds, you may continue to walk by Faith, and still seek first the Kingdom of GOD, and his Righteousness; not doubting but all other Things, upon your honest Industry and Endeavours, shall be added unto you.

AND now what shall I say more? To speak unto you, Fathers, who have been in CHRIST so many Years before me, and know the Malignity of World­ly-mindedne [...]s, and Pride in the Spiritual Life, would be altogether needless. To you, therefore, O young Men (for whom I am distressed, for whom I fear as well as for my self,) do I once more address my sel [...] in the Words of the beloved Disc [...]ple, Look to [...] [Page 14] selves, that we lose not those Things which we have wrought, but receive a full Reward. Be ever mindful, then of the Words that have been spoken to us by the A­postles of the Lord and Saviour. Give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure. Beware, lest ye also bein [...] led away by the Error of the Wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. Let him that thinketh he standeth, take Heed lest he fall. Be not high-minded, but fear. But we are perswaded better Things of you, and Things that accompany Salvation, tho' we thus sp [...]k For God is not unrighteous, to forget your Works and Lab [...]urs of Love And we d [...]si [...]e that every one of you do shew the same Diligence, to the full Assurance of H [...]pe unto the End: That ye be not slothful, but Fol­lowers of them, who thro' Faith and Patience inherit the Promises. 'Tis true, we have many D [...]fficulties to encounter, many powerful Enemies to overcome, e'er we can g [...]t Poss [...]ssio [...] of the promised Land. We have an artful Devil, an ensnaring World, and above all, the Tre [...]chery of our own Hearts, to withstand and strive against. For strait is the Gate, and narrow is the Way [...] eternal Life But wherefore should we fear? since he that is with us is far more powerful, then all who are against us. Have we not already experienced h [...]s Almighty Power, in enabling us to conquer some D [...]f [...]i [...]ulties which seemed as in­surmountable then, as those we struggle with now? And cannot he who deliver'd us out of the Paws of th [...]se Bears and [...]ions▪ preserve us also from being hu [...]t by the strongest G [...]liah's?

BE [...] therefore, my Brethren, be imm [...]veable. Consider the [...] future Reward [...] as well as present [...] that a [...]tend [...]n early [...]. Be not ashamed of [...] ▪ Gospel of CHRIST: For it is the Power of [...]OD unto Salvation Fear [...] M [...]n▪ fear not the [...] and Revilings which you [...] meet with in [Page 15] the Way of Duty: For one of you shall chase a Thou­sand; and two of you put ten Thousand of your Enemies to Flight. And if you will be content to be abus'd for a short Time here, I speak the Truth in CHRIST, I lye not; then shall ye be exalted to sit down with the Son of Man, when he shall come in the Glory of his Father with his holy Angels to Judgment here­after. May Almighty GOD give every one of us such a Measure of his Grace, that we may not be of the Number of those that draw back unto Perdition, but of them that believe and endure unto the End, to the Saving of our Souls.