USE 1. is for Lamentation, That so few youths take to the ways of God. No age doth despise the word so much as this, which hath most need of it. It is a rare thing to find a Joseph, or a Samuel, or a Josiah, that seek God betimes. Go to the Universities, and you will find that those that should be as Nazarites consecrated to God, live as those that have vowed and consecrated themselves to Satan, Amos 2. 11. And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites, &c. The sons of the prophets in their youth were bred for a more strict discipline in their holy calling, separated from worldly delights, to be a stock of a succeeding Ministry. But alas! they spend their time in vanity, bringing nothing thence but the sins of the place, and vainly following the sinful customs of the Country. How few regard the education of their youth in knowledge or religious practice? Families are Societies to be sanctified to God, as well as Churches. The Governors of them have as truly a charge of souls, as the Pastors of Churches. They offer their children to God in baptism, but educate and bring them up for the world and the flesh. They bewail any natural defect in them; if their children have a stammering tongue, a deaf ear, or a withered leg; but not want of grace. We have a prejudice, and think they are too young to be wrought upon, but Gods word can break in with weight and power on young ones. Luke 11. 1. One of his disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples. And Mat. 21. 15. When the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David, they were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus said unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise. They learned it of their Parents, Mat. 21. 9. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David. We should often be infusing good principles in youth. Corruption of youth is one of the saddest symptoms of approaching Judgment.
USE 1. is for Lamentation, That so few youths take to the ways of God. No age doth despise the word so much as this, which hath most need of it. It is a rare thing to find a Ioseph, or a Samuel, or a Iosiah, that seek God betimes. Go to the Universities, and you will find that those that should be as Nazarites consecrated to God, live as those that have vowed and consecrated themselves to Satan, Amos 2. 11. And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites, &c. The sons of the prophets in their youth were bred for a more strict discipline in their holy calling, separated from worldly delights, to be a stock of a succeeding Ministry. But alas! they spend their time in vanity, bringing nothing thence but the sins of the place, and vainly following the sinful customs of the Countrey. How few regard the education of their youth in knowledg or religious practice? Families are Societies to be sanctified to God, as well as Churches. The Governours of them have as truly a charge of souls, as the Pastors of Churches. They offer their children to God in baptism, but educate and bring them up for the world and the flesh. They bewail any natural defect in them; if their children have a stammering tongue, a deaf ear, or a withered leg; but not want of grace. We have a prejudice, and think they are too young to be wrought upon, but Gods word can break in with weight and power on young ones. Luke 11. 1. One of his disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray as Iohn also taught his disciples. And Mat. 21. 15. When the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David, they were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Iesus said unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise. They learned it of their Parents, Mat. 21. 9. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cryed, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David. We should often be infusing good principles in youth. Corruption of youth is one of the saddest symptoms of approaching Judgment.
