5. Young men, labour for strong Joy; if your hopes be strong, and well grounded, you may thence have strong consolation, Heb. 6. 18, That which discourageth many young men and women from putting their feet into the ways of God, is the apprehensions ⟨p. 45⟩which they have, that should they engage in this way, they must bid farewell to all mirth and cheerfulness, to all delights and pleasures, and make tears and sorrows their companions, which they are loth to do at least too soon, whatever necessity they see there is of being religious: Whereas, although grief and sorrow be needful to sinners at their first engagement in the ways of God, to embitter sin, and prepare them for the more ready closure with Jesus Christ; and a mixture of sorrow is needful after, because of the mixture of sin in their lives, and the better to balance and temper the spirit; yet the Lord doth call his people to higher delights and pleasures in his ways, than can be found in the ways of sin. God doth not require that his people should lay aside all delights, but change their sinful delights for those that are spiritual and heavenly: God giveth them leave to rejoice, and he commandeth them to rejoice; not in ways of sin, he forbiddeth the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season; not excessively in the creature (though moderately and subordinately they may) but they may and ought to rejoice in himself. Read what Solomon saith to young men, Eccles. 11. 9. Rejoice O young man in thy youth, and let thine heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart; and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement. Young men, you may rejoice and be cheerful in your youthful days, but if your joys be in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; if your joys be in the ways of sin, in the lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, if it be in satisfying the desires of your flesh, and pleasing your senses unto the dishonour and displeasing of ⟨p. 46⟩God; know, that God will bring you into judgement, and then all your sinful, sensual delights will be turned into bitterness and terror; but you may be cheerful in the ways of God; and if you are reconciled unto God through his Son, and have an interest in his favour; if you are renewed after his Image, and have a Title to his Kingdom;
5. Young men, labour for strong Joy; if your hopes be strong, and well grounded, you may thence have strong consolation, Heb. 6. 18, That which discourageth many young men and women from putting their feet into the waies of God, is the apprehensions ⟨p. 45⟩which they have, that should they engage in this way, they must bid farewell to all mirth and chearfulness, to all delights and pleasures, and make tears and sorrows their companions, which they are loth to do at least too soon, whatever necessity they see there is of being religious: Whereas, although grief and sorrow be needful to sinners at their first engagement in the waies of God, to imbitter sin, and prepare them for the more ready closure with Jesus Christ; and a mixture of sorrow is needful after, because of the mixture of sin in their lives, and the better to ballance and temper the spirit; yet the Lord doth call his people to higher delights and pleasures in his waies, than can be found in the waies of sin. God doth not require that his people should lay aside all delights, but change their sinful delights for those that are spiritual and heavenly: God giveth them leave to rejoyce, and he commandeth them to rejoyce; not in waies of sin, he forbiddeth the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season; not excessively in the creature (though moderately and subordinately they may) but they may and ought to rejoyce in himself. Read what Solomon saith to young men, Eccles. 11. 9. Rej•yce O young man in thy youth, and let thine heart cheer thee in the daies of thy youth, and walk in the waies of thine heart; and in the sight of thine eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement. Young men, you may rejoyce and be cheerful in your youthful daies, but if your joyes be in the waies of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; if your joyes be in the waies of sin, in the lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, if it be in satisfying the desires of your flesh, and pleasing your senses unto the dishonour and displeasing of ⟨p. 46⟩God; know, that God will bring you into judgement, and then all your sinful, sensual delights wil be turned into bitterness and terrour; but you may be cheerful in the waies of God; and if you are reconciled unto God through his Son, and have an interest in his favour; if you are renewed after his Image, and have a Title to his Kingdom;
