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Joseph was an example of early and constant SERM. virtue: both in profperity, and adversity.

II.

1 Kings

Mofes, as foon as he came to years of difcre- Hebr. xi. tion, refused to be called the fon of Pharaoh's 23... 26. daughter: choofing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleafures of fin, which are but for a feafon. Nor did he ever repent of that choice. Samuel was early dedicated to God, and was eminent for wisdom and piety all his days to old age. Of Obadiah, chief minister to King Ahab, we are informed that he feared the Lord xviii. 3. greatly. And we know also, that he feared 12. the Lord from his youth. I might mention Daniel, the three young men his companions, who perfevered, notwithstanding great trials: and others, enrolled in the catalogue of worthies, in the epistle to the Hebrews, and elsewhere: famous not for one act of faith only, however eminent and diftinguished, but for a course of steadie virtue and obedience.

If in the New Testament we meet with some, who believed and followed Jesus for a time, and afterwards went back, and walked 66. no more with him; it appears evidently, that

John vi

they went not upon a good foundation at the

be

II.

Acts viii. 13. Ver. 21.

SERM. begining: but came to Christ with worldly views and expectations. And if it be faid of Simon Magus, that he believed: we know that he never was fincere: his heart was not right in the fight of God. At the same time, there were churches, or societies of men, the greater part of which were faithful, and persevered under many difficulties and difcouragements. The Apostles of Chrift were for the most part, from the begining, plain, honest, upright men. And when he called them, they obeyed without delay. And though they had their failings, one only was lost. The rest would not go away: and were, upon the whole, and to the end, an honour to him, and their profeffion: being perfuaded, that he had the words of eternal life.

John vi. 68.

You have no reason therefore, to be difPf. cxix. heartened. By taking heed to God's word, the young may cleanse their way, and, always keep themselves pure from the pollutions of an evil world. With the use of the appointed means, the spiritual life, once begun, will be maintained. And if you watch, and pray, as Christ has directed; you shall be preserved

ed from great temptations, or shall be victo- SERM.

rious therein.

III. Let me now propose to you fome motives and arguments, inducing to early piety, and immediate compliance with the gracious calls of God.

1. The whole of our time ought to be employed in the service of God. Nor can we in any part of life knowingly and willingly tranfgrefs any of God's commandments, without contracting guilt. We ought therefore, as foon as we are arrived at any maturity of reason and understanding, to give up ourselves to God, determining to obey all his laws, and to decline every evil thing. And if we are sensible of any acts of disobedience, already done, they should be repented of, and every fin forsaken. The reason of things teaches this.

II.

2. The word of God teaches the same. Addresses are there made to the young, as well as to others. The Jewish people Deut. vi. were commanded to teach their children di- 7 ligently the divine laws that had been delivered to them. The design of Solomon in his collection of wife maxims was to give fubtil. Prov. i. 4.

ty

II.

SERM. ty to the fimple, to the young man knowledge and understanding. And children are to be Prov. xxii. trained up in the way they should go. How just

6.
Ecc, xii. 1.

is that admonition! Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say: I have no pleasure in them. And, ..ix. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goeft.

All which shews, that we do not fatisfy the law of God, nor answer the end of our being, by fome acts of religion near the end of life: but we ought to be truly religious, and serve God all the days of our life on earth. We should not, then, content ourfelves with a design to be religious hereafter, but resolve to be so now.

3. Confider, how gracious, how affectionate and compaffionate are the calls and invitations of God to finful men. Says Wifdom: How long ye fimple ones, will ye love fimplicity? and the scorners delight in their Scorning, and fools hate knowledge! Turn ye at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words

Prov. i.

22. 23

unto

II.

Mat. xi.

unto you. And says God himself by his Pro- SERM. phets: Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways. For why will ye dye, o house of Ifrael! And Ezek. our Lord in his preaching. Come unto me all xxxiii. 11. ye that labor, and are heavie laden, and I will 28...30. give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, for I am meek and lowly of heart : and ye shall find rest for your fouls. For my yoke is eafie, and my burden is light. And in his state of exaltation: Behold, I stand at the door, and Rev. iii. knock: If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will fup with him, and be with me.

How moving, how affecting is this concern for us! And shall any of us resist, and grieve the good Spirit of God, and fin against our own fouls?

4. Consider therefore, farther, that by an early dedication of yourselves to God, and ferious piety from the begining, you will prevent a great deal of fin, which you might otherwise be guilty of, and a great deal of forrow and vexation, which that would occafion either here, or hereafter, in this world, or another,

5. If you begin to be religious in the early part of life, you will, probably, be useful in

the

20.

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