1. Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, that is, seek these things timely, before other things; seek them in the Morning of your Life, in the Spring of your years, in the flower of your Youth. Read Ecclesiastes 12. 1. 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. Remember thy Creator, that God that made thee, and who alone can new make thee; who formed thy body in the womb, and who alone can form Christ in thy heart; who created thy soul, breathing into thee the breath of life, and who alone can create the New Man in thee after his Image, by breathing into thee his quickening Spirit: Remember thy Creator, who not long since brought thee out of the loathed estate of Nothing, and numbered ⟨p. 9⟩thee amongst his Creatures; and who can bring thee out of the more loathed estate of sin, and number thee amongst his Children: Remember him, endeavour to know him, how great and good he is, how glorious and gracious; remember him, mind him who is every where present; remember him, get a holy awe and dread of him upon thee; remember him, get an interest in him, and acquaintance with him; remember him, make choice of him for thy God, and chief good; seek his favour, seek his Kingdom and Righteousness: And that Now in the days of thy Youth, in thy first years, when it is not long since thou camest out of his hands; remember him in thy Spring and bloom, before the Winter come; remember him in thy best days, before the evil days, and the years of old decrepit age draw nigh, when thy body may be full of diseases, thy bones full of the sins of thy Youth, and thy Soul full of evil habits, and thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; when God whom thou hast forgot, shall say, I have no pleasure in thee; and thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in my Life; when thou shalt have neither inward nor outward comfort; when thy heart shall say concerning riches, honours, and all sensual enjoyments, I have no pleasure in them; I hoped for good, but I have met with disappointment; I looked for sweetness and satisfaction, but I am more unsatisfied than before; that which I formerly took delight in, hath a bitter taste and reflection: My years now are irksome, and tedious, and I can find no pleasure in them.
1. Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, that is, seek these things timely, before other things; seek them in the Morning of your Life, in the Spring of your years, in the flower of your Youth. Read Ecclesiastes 12. 1. Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth, while the evil dayes come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Remember thy Creator, that God that made thee, and who alone can new make thee; who formed thy body in the womb, and who alone can form Christ in thy heart; who created thy soul, breathing into thee the breath of life, and who alone can create the New Man in thee after his Image, by breathing into thee his quickening Spirit: Remember thy Creator, who not long since brought thee out of the loathed estate of Nothing, and numbred ⟨p. 9⟩thee amongst his Creatures; and who can bring thee out of the more loathed estate of sin, and number thee amongst his Children: Remember him, endeavour to know him, how great and good he is, how glorious and gracious; remember him, minde him who is every where present; remember him, get a holy awe and dread of him upon thee; remember him, get an interest in him, and acquaintance with him; remember him, make choice of him for thy God, and chief good; seek his favour, seek his Kingdom and Righteousness: And that Now in the dayes of thy Youth, in thy first years, when it is not long since thou camest out of his hands; remember him in thy Spring and bloom, before the Winter come; remember him in thy best dayes, b•fore the evil dayes, and the years of old decrepid age draw nigh, when thy body may be full of diseases, thy bones full of the sins of thy Youth, and thy Soul full of evil habits, and thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; when God whom thou hast forgot, shall say, I have no pleasure in thee; and thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in my Life; when thou shalt have neither inward nor outward comfort; when thy heart shall say concerning riches, honours, and all sensual enjoyments, I have no pleasure in them; I hoped for good, but I have met with disappointment; I looked for sweetness and satisfaction, but I am more unsatisfied than before; that which I formerly took delight in, hath a bitter taste and reflection: My years now are irksome, and tedious, and I can finde no pleasure in them.
