Solemn advice to young men, not to walk in the ways of their heart,…Solemn advice to young men, not to walk in the wayes of their heart,…

Propos. II That Young Men whose natures are not changed by the Regenerating Grace of God, Walk in the ways of their Heart and in the sight of their Eyes. It is true that amongst Unconverted young men there is a great difference: All are not alike as to Viciousness. There are young men that have been kept from Scandalous sins all their days, who are nevertheless in their natural estate, strangers to a work of Regeneration. Such a young man do we read of in the Gospel, who came to Christ desiring to know what good thing he should do that he might have Eternal Life: when the Lord said to him, keep the Commandments, thou shalt do no Murthen thou shalt not Commit Adultery, thou shalt not Steal, thou shalt not bear false ⟨p. 17⟩Witness, Honour thy Father and thy Mother, the young man said unto him, all these things have I kept from my youth up, Math. 19. 20. And yet that Young man had not saving Grace in his soul: he wanted that one thing necessary unto Salvation: he loved the world more then he loved Christ: he had not Faith, and therefore could not overcome the World: he would rather part with Christ; and loose eternal life, than part with his estate when the Lord called for it. And such a Young man was Paul whilst he was yet in his natural estate: No man could accuse him with any Scandalous sin; nor could he accuse himself: he had lived honestly according to the Religion in the which he had been Educated: he could say to the Council, I have lived in all good Conscience before God until this day, Acts 23. 1. And he tells the Philippians that touching the Righteousness which is in the Law he was blameless: This notwithstanding, had he dyed in that estate he must have perished Eternally. But although an Unconverted Person may be free from Scandalous Immoralities in the sight of men, yet he does indulge himself in some lust or other, some way of his own heart; some sin or other does not only at Times prevail over him (as it may be with a true ⟨p. 18⟩believer) but has a standing power and dominion over him. And there are evils which Youth is in a peculiar manner subject unto. Hence is that caution, 2 Tim. 2. 22. Flee youthful Lusts. h. e. those Lusts which Young men more than others are generally addicted unto. We see this also in that expression of the Psalmist, Wherewith shall a Young man cleanse his way.