Words of advice to young men delivered in two sermons at two conventions of…

Dear young men, labour to overcome this temptation of the wicked one, by the delight and pleasure of sin, by taking into your most serious thoughts these few Considerations.

1. Consider, that all the pleasures of sin are low, mean, empty, thin, unsatisfying pleasures; they are sensual and br•itish: A beast can find […] pleasure in the most of them than you can do, who are capable of higher pleasures; these delights may please your sensual appest, but they cannot satisfy your rational souls, they may satiate and glut the senses, but they cannot content the heart: The Devil and lust may promise full satisfaction and contentment, if you will commit such and such sins, but they always fall short in the performance. I would ask these three questions of the most luxurious persons. 1. Whether ⟨p. 80⟩ever they found so much pleasure in any sin as they expected and desired? 2. Whether the choicest of their pleasures have not in a short time brought a weariness and trouble upon their spirits? 3. Whether this weariness and trouble hath not been more irksome and grievous to them, than their sensual pleasures have been pleasing and delightful? yea let me add a fourth: If amongst the choicest and chiefest of their delights in which they find most sweetness, they had but one delight without change and variety, whether that delight would not quickly lose its nature, and prove a torment to them? If they were bound always to eat, or continually to drink. or without intermission to be always in the act of adultery, would not this be more bitter than sweet? These pleasures are unsatisfying; the soul can be satisfied with nothing beneath the enjoyment of God, by whom, and for whom it was made.

1. Consider, that all the pleasures of sin are low, mean, empty, thin, unsatisfying pleasures; they are sensual and br•itish: A beast can finde 〈…〉 pleasure in the most of them than you can do, who are capable of higher pleasures; these delights may please your sensual appete, but they cannot satisfie your rational souls, they may satiate and glut the senses, but they cannot content the heart: The Devil and lust may promise full satisfaction and contentment, if you will commit such and such sins, but they alwaies fall short in the performance. I would ask these three questions of the most luxurious persons. 1. Whether