Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ...…

Avoid all Uncleanness whatsoever; and particularly, beware of having light thoughts about some sorts of Uncleanness wherein many young people have been so infatuated as to excuse themselves. There are abominable self-pollutions which many that would be loath to commit other kinds of Uncleanness, look upon as little, venial, easy peccadillo's; albeit these are the Effeminacies, whereof we are assured, in I Cor. 6. 9, 10. They that live in them, shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. O study a spotless and gracious chastity; make not your hearts the Ovens that have the impure Flames of Hell constantly flaming there; if an unclean Devil would solicit you to any Filthiness, reply upon him as the young Joseph did, How shall I do this mickedness, and sin against God? and with the famous young Nicetas, even spit your very Tongues in the face of any that shall urge you to throw your selves into the deep ditch, into which they fall that are abhorred of the Lord.

Thirdly, Overcome the De`vil, when he tempts ⟨p. 74⟩you to the youthful sin of Drunkenness. 'Tis a sharp Irony in the Speech of the Wiseman to the young man, Eccl. 11. 9. Rejoice, O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth. And the Devil persuades many a foolish young man, to think or act, as if this were a liberty in good earnest allowed unto him. Alas, how common is it for young persons to be at merry Bouts, and there to disguise themselves by a sin so much worse than Beastly, that the very Bruits themselves cannot be frequently or easily compelled into it! But I beseech all young people to beware of this pernicious vice, from which I had almost said, None returns to take hold on the path of life. The careful Father that heard his young Son was given to Gaming and Whoring, and some such things, yet encouraged himself with hopes that Age would Cure him: but when he heard he was become addicted unto Drunkenness, with despair he cried out, Nay then, I have no hope concerning him. Diligent Enquires have been able to find but one or two Notorious Drunkards in an Age, made sober men; Drunkenness is Vitium maximo adheventia; it is rare that any leave it off; see deut. 21. 18, 19, 20, 21. The devil gains and keeps a strange hold of men, by this Iniquity; and hence those Barbarous Nations which have not our liquid ways of Intoxication, yet have other modes of drunkenness; by which the devil retains his possession of them. But O Remember