APPLICATION.

APPLICATION.

I. May Aged Christians Challenge a special Honour from other Christians? Let all Aged Christians be careful to deserve the Honour that they Challenge. May you that are the First Christian be First-rate Christians. Fathers, You must go before Others in Exemplary Christianity, if you would be set Above other Christians. An Old Christian is a very Venerable Thing. The Heraldry of Christianity, would look upon that, as a special mark of Honour in a Scutcheon; Act. 21. 16. An Old Disciple. But by gross failings, he may too much make himself a Contemptible Thing. You that have been longer in the school of the Lord JESUS CHRIST than others have been, Oh! YOU should be more Holy, more Devout, more Watchful, more Fruitful, and more Heavenly, than others are. 'Twill be your Disgrace, and what can be said for your Excuse? If you that came the First into the School of Christianity, should yet continue in the Lowest Form of the School. A Vain a Trifling, a Foolish Carriage in an Old Christian, tis, How ⟨p. 22⟩disagreeable? Even when you come to be Twice Children as we say, yet it is pity that you should be of a Childish Behaviour.

I am to Entreat Old Men at Fathers. Wherefore, My Fathers, and all you that were in the Lord Jesus Christ before me; I Entreat you, To Examine your selves, what Progress you have made in Christianity: Examine, whether you have now any more clear Knowledge of Him that is from the Beginning, than you had at the Beginning: Examine, whether you are any Readier for Death, than you were when your Death was further off? I Entreat you, to procure unto your selves; that Praise, Thy Last works are more than the First; and grow more full of Christ, and Heaven, than you were at the First. You have one Foot in the Grave,: I beseech you, Sirs, where should the other be? And I Entreat you, to take the Apostolical Admonition, Tit. 2. 2. That the Aged Men be Sober, Grave, Temperate, Sound in Faith, in Charity, in Patience. I Entreat you, Do not Exemplify an Observation of […] That while the Spirit of God, working in Young Ones, many times does give out early Discoveries of His Grace, ⟨p. 23⟩there are Elder persons, who only carry their Grey Hairs as a badge of their Ingratitude unto God.

I am to Entreat Old Men at Fathers. Wherefore, My Fathers, and all you that were in the Lord Jesus Christ before me; I Entreat you, To Examine your selves, what Progress you have made in Christianity: Examine, whether you have now any more clear Knowledge of Him that is from the Beginning, than you had at the Beginning: Examine, whether you are any Readier for Death, than you were when your Death was further off? I Entreat you, to procure unto your selves; that Praise, Thy Last works are more than the First; and grow more full of Christ, and Heaven, than you were at the First. You have one Foot in the Grave,: I beseech you, Sirs, where should the other be? And I Entreat you, to take the Apostolical Admonition, Tit. 2. 2. That the Aged Men be Sober, Grave, Temperate, Sound in Faith, in Charity, in Patience. I Entreat you, Do not Exemplify an Observation of 〈…〉 That while the Spirit of God, working in Young Ones, many times does give out early Discoveries of His Grace, ⟨p. 23⟩there are Elder persons, who only carry their Gray Hairs as a badge of their Ingratitude unto God.

II. Are the First Christians in a Society to be reckoned in the First Rank of Christians? Let this animate some in very Ungodly Families to become Godly Christians. It may be, some of you, My Hearers, belong to Families that have not one Regenerate Christian in them. Will You then be the First? Oh, what a Consolation would you find it in the issue, if you might be they, that shall First bring the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, into the Families whereto you belong? It is probable, that when that Heavenly Leaven is once gotten in, it will spread further, and seize upon more; but you will be the Morning Stars among those Children of Light. We read of Abraham; Rom. 4. 16. He is the Father of us all. Why because he was in some respects one of the First, that led the way in leaving all at the Call of God, in the Faith of His. Messiah. Thus, all that God will Effectually Call unto Himself out of thy Family, will […] thee, their Father, if thou art the ⟨p. 24⟩First of the Family, that answers His Heavenly Call.

II. Are the First Christians in a Society to be reckon'd in the First Rank of Christians? Let this animate some in very Ungodly Families to become Godly Christians. It may be, some of you, My Hearers, belong to Families that have not one Regenerate Christian in them. Will You then be the First? Oh, what a Consolation would you find it in the issue, if you might be they, that shall First bring the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, into the Families whereto you belong? It is probable, that when that Heavenly Leaven is once gotten in, it will spread further, and sieze upon more; but you will be the MorningStars among those Children of Light. We read of Abraham; Rom. 4. 16. He is the Father of us all. Why because he was in some respects one of the First, that led the way in leaving all at the Call of God, in the Faith of His. Messiah. Thus, all that God will Effectually Call unto Himself out of thy Family, will 〈…〉 thee, their Father, if thou art the ⟨p. 24⟩First of the Family, that answers His Heavenly Call.

III. Is it an Advantage for us, to Repent in our most Early Years? Those of us have sad cause to Mourn, that have Delayed Repentance until our Later Years. My Neighbours; If the Love of God, had inflamed your Hearts never so soon, yet you would have cause to Confess and Complain with old Austin, Lord, it was too Late, when l first began to love thee! How much more may you now complain of your selves, That you made it so very Late, before your doing any thing to purpose, about the Great Errand which you came into the world upon! It was mentioned by one that was New-born, as a matter of Humiliation, 1 Cor. 15. 8. I was one Born out of due Time. Here the Abortives are they that come Too late! Oh, Let your Humiliation appear, in your shaking off all further Delays, and your doing Immediately the Good Things that God requires of you. Immediately abandon all the Paths of the Destroyer; Immediately submit unto the Regenerating Influences of the Holy Spirit, that are offered you; Immediately become ⟨p. 25⟩seriously Religious. Though it be Late, Blessed be God, it is not yet altogether Too Late. It may be, the Devil, who once told you, Tis too soon, does now tell you, Tis too late. Though you did once Presume, do not now Despair. Indeed, it will shortly, very shortly be Too Late. This I say, The Time is but short, ere you will hear the Oath of Heaven, That Time will be no more. But Yet it is not so; As Yet, even, After […] long a Time, God saith, To Day if you will hear His Voice. 'Twas a Remarkable Occurrence, whereof we read, Joh. 5. 6. Jesus knew that he had now been a long Time Ill, and saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? Even so, Though you have been a long Time very miserably out of Order, yet the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to be your Healer, and your Saviour. Oh! But since you have let your Disorders go on such a long Time without seeking to Him, let it be Enough, [Alas, it is Too much!] And say now, Lord, I am at last willing to be made whole, and I am astonished, that after such a long Time, thou art willing to make me so!

III. Is it an Advantage for us, to Repent in our most Early Years? Those of us have sad cause to Mourn, that have Delay'd Repentance until our Later Years. My Neighbours; If the Love of God, had inflamed your Hearts never so soon, yet you would have cause to Confess and Complain with old Austin, Lord, it was too Late, when l first began to love thee! How much more may you now complain of your selves, That you made it so very Late, before your doing any thing to purpose, about the Great Errand which you came into the world upon! It was mentioned by one that was New-born, as a matter of Humiliation,

IV. Is Early Repentance the most Acceptable, Honourable, Comfortable Repentance? ⟨p. 26⟩Be persuaded, Be overcome unto it, O you that are yet capable of that […]. Dear part of our Flock Will you be among the First, that Return unto their Allegiance and Obedience unto the Eternal King of Heaven? That which is with all possible Fervency to be pressed upon you, is; That you may be the Davids, able to say, Lord, Thou art me Trust from my Youth! That you may be the Obadiahs, able to say, I fear the Lord from my Youth! That you may be the Josiah; who while yet Young, do seek the Lord; and the Timothies, even from Childhood, by the Holy Scripture made wise unto Salvation. Briefly, an Early Application to Piety & Repentance is demanded of you; And it is demanded, that you Betimes make the wise Choice, that Solomon wisely made in his Youth: Oh, Choose the Wisdom of Religion, and leave the Folly of Wickedness. Young People, may there be a Lovely Emulation among you, who shall be First, in appearing to own the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and His Holy Truths and Ways! It was an Expostulation Repeated upon the Elders of Judah, 2 Sam. 19. 11, 12. Why are ye the last, for […] bring back the King? Let me thus Expostulate ⟨p. 27⟩with you, O Young People; Will you be the Last, that will submit unto the Eternal King? Oh Be not so! Be not so! Lest you Perish among the First, whom the Wrath of that Eternal King shall fall upon. Methinks, you should be displeased at your selves, if you be not the First, in the Congregation, that shall submit unto the Heavenly Sceptre of the Lord Jesus Christ.

IV. Is Early Repentance the most Acceptable, Honourable, Comfortable Repentance? ⟨p. 26⟩Be perswaded, Be overcome unto it, O you that are yet capable of that 〈…〉. Dear part of our Flock Will you be among the First, that Return unto their Allegiance and Obedience unto the Eternal King of Heaven? That which is with all possible Fervency to be pressed upon you, is; That you may be the Davids, able to say, Lord, Thou art me Trust from my Youth! That you may be the Obadiahs, able to say, I fear the Lord from my Youth! That you may be the Josiah; who while yet Young, do seek the Lord; and the Timothies, even from Childhood, by the Holy Scripture made wise unto Salvation. Briefly, an Early Application to Piety & Repentance is demanded of you; And it is demanded, that you Betimes make the wise Choice, that Solomon wisely made in his Youth: Oh, Choose the Wisdome of Religion, and leave the Folly of Wickedness. Young People, may there be a Lovely Emulation among you, who shall be First, in appearing to own the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and His Holy Truths and Wayes! It was an Expostulation Repeated upon the Elders of Judah,

Surely, It cannot be too Soon for an• of you, as Young as you are, to become Serious Christians, and with a Renewal of your Baptismal Covenant, give your selves up unto the Lord, saying, O my God, Thou shalt be my Father, my Saviour, my Leader! What? Can it be too soon for you to be Delivered from the Anger of God, and the Danger of Hell, and the Oppressions, of the Devil? Can it be Too soon for you to be Absolved from the Guilt of all your Sins, and be Clothed with the spotless Righteousness of Jesus Christ, and be Filled with the gracious Influences of the Holy Spirit? Or, Can it be Too soon for you, to be made Hens of Life, and meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light? Inconsiderate Youth! How canst thou dare, how canst thou bear, to say so? Be ⟨p. 28⟩astonished at this Advice! The King of Heaven is wooing of thy Young Soul, to become United, and Married, unto Himself: He propounds, Wilt thou be mine, and shall I make thee Happy? Oh, It cannot be Too soon for thee to Consent unto the proposals of that Glorious Lord; or, to Reply, Lord, Make me Thine, and I am Happy!

Surely, It cannot be too Soon for an• of you, as Young as you are, to become Serious Christians, and with a Renewal of your Baptismal Covenant, give your selves up unto the Lord, saying, O my God, Thou shalt be my Father, my Saviour, my Leader! What? Can it be too soon for you to be Deliverd from the Anger of God, and the Danger of Hell, and the Oppressions, of the Devil? Can it be Too soon for you to be Absolved from the Guilt of all your Sins, and be Cloathed with the spotless Righteousness of Jesus Christ, and be Filled with the gracious Influences of the Holy Spirit? Or, Can it be Too soon for you, to be made Hens of Life, and meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light? Inconsiderate Youth! How canst thou dare, how canst thou bear, to say so? Be ⟨p. 28⟩astonished at this Advice! The King of Heaven is wooing of thy Young Soul, to become United, and Married, unto Himself: He propounds, Wilt thou be mine, and shall I make thee Happy? Oh, It cannot be Too soon for thee to Consent unto the proposals of that Glorious Lord; or, to Reply, Lord, Make me Thine, and I am Happy!

Or, Can it be Too soon for thee to Prize the Lord Jesus Christ? He is always Precious. Can it be Too soon for thee to Love God? God is always Lovely. Can it be too soon for thee to Hate Sin? Sin is always Hateful. Can it be Too soon for thee to look after the welfare of thy own Soul? Thy Soul is always in Peril, always upon the Brink of an horrible Perdition.

Or, Can it be Too soon for thee to Prize the Lord Jesus Christ? He is alwayes Precious. Can it be Too soon for thee to Love God? God is always Lovely. Can it be too soon for thee to Hate Sin? Sin is always Hateful. Can it be Too soon for thee to look after the welfare of thy own Soul? Thy Soul is alwayes in Peril, alwayes upon the Brink of an horrible Perdition.

If none of all these Thoughts are Lively Enough, or if none of them will Enliven thy Early Religion, Think, Think on thy own Mortality. It is not too Soon for you to Die: Oh, why should it be too Soon for you to begin a New Life, and Preparation for Death. If you Die before this be done, it had been Good for you, that you had never been Born. If this be seasonably done, the sooner you Die, the sooner you enter into Joy. How many Young People have already Died before you? Some of them have ⟨p. 29⟩been able from their Death-beds to say, or to write unto their Friends, That they had been so seasonably brought unto Repentance and Conversion; they now found themselves prepared for Death, and were able to Die willingly, and cheerfully. Oh! Happy Youths! Oh! Happiness to be admired and envied! But O Young People, how woeful, how dreadful must your Condition be, if a Dying Hour should quickly surprise any of you, in your Unregeneracy? And, O ye Unregenerates, Who of you can be sure, that you shall not before the next week be out, fall under such a dismal surprise? Then, to have your Eyes with a Dim Cloud, and your Hands with a Damp Sweat, upon them, your Breath failing, your Throat rattling, your Friends in a bitter Agony weeping about you; and now to feel your Immortal Souls irresistibly dragged away, before God the Judge of all, to receive an Eternal Judgment from Him. What, Oh! What! Will you then think of all that Lewdness and Madness, that you have used in Wicked Company, and all the courses of Wickedness, wherein you have departed from God, and forgotten the Admonitions & […] that have been laid upon you to serve Him. What will you think of your ⟨p. 30⟩walking in your Ungodly ways, O Vain Youths, when God shall for these things bring you into Judgment? Oh! These things will be found Bitterness at the latter End! They that have so Profanely and Foolishly scoffed at Religion, will then wish, Oh that I bad more practised the Religion which I derided! And they that have Railed at the Faithful Ministers of God will find that they want the Prayers and the Counsels of those Ministers.

If none of all these Thoughts are Lively Enough, or if none of them will Enliven thy Early Religion, Think, Think on thy own Mortality. It is not too Soon for you to Dy: Oh, why should it be too Soon for you to begin a New Life, and Preparation for Death. If you Dy before this be done, it had been Good for you, that you had never been Born. If this be seasonably done, the sooner you Dy, the sooner you enter into Joy. How many Young People have already Dy'd before you? Some of them have

Consider this, O all you Young People that Forget God, last ye be torn to pieces by the Deadly strokes of His Indignation, and there be none to deliver you!

But, that I may not be as one who beats the A••, I must pitch upon two or three points of Early Christianity, unto which my dear Young People, must suffer an Exhortation. And, behold, I find them, even very Comprehensive ones, provided in the very Verse that has afforded our Text unto us.

But, that I may not be as one who beats the A••, I must pitch upon two or three points of Early Christianity, unto which my dear Young People, must suffer an Exhortation. And, behold, I find them, even very Comprehensive ones, provided in the very Verse that has affored our Text unto us.

That me should be to the Praise of His Glory who first Hoped in Christ.

Accordingly;

First; An Early Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ; Oh, My Young People, Endeavour ⟨p. 31⟩it, Endeavour it. There is a Great Salvation set before you; a noble, a worthy Object for your Hope. And let the Lord Jesus Christ, that Saviour who is a Great One, be the bottom of your Hope to come at it. Might such an Hope as this be raised in the Souls of my Young People, even the Hope of coming to Life by the Lord Jesus Christ, what an Enlivening, what a Purifying, what a Comfortable effect would it have upon them! Oh! That you would by Faith repair to the Lord Jesus Christ, with Satisfaction, that He is both Able and Willing to bring you, to all the Blessedness contained in the Promises of God; and then by Hope, Entertain an Heart-satisfying Expectation of that Blessedness. Rejoice, O my Young People, Rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God; but place all your Hope on the Lord Jesus Christ; among whose Charming Titles this is one; [1. Tim, 1. 1.] JESUS CHRIST, our Hope. While you are without Christ, I tell you as Paul told his Ephesians, you have no Hope. All your Hope of Good, must be built on the Lord Jesus Christ; You are Foolish Builders on the Sand, if it be not so. But coming to the Lord Jesus Christ, Hope then, Oh! Hope in Him, for all ⟨p. 32⟩manner of Good. We read, Col 1. 27. of, Christian us the Hope of Glory. There is no mercy of God, but the Lord Jesus Christ must be in you, the Hope of that mercy; and without the Lord Jesus Christ, you can have no Hope, that He who made you will have mercy on you.

First; An Early Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ; Oh, My Young People, Endeavour ⟨p. 31⟩it, Endeavour it. There is a Great Salvation set before you; a noble, a worthy Object for your Hope. And let the Lord Jesus Christ, that Saviour who is a Great One, be the bottom of your Hope to come at it. Might such an Hope as this be raised in the Souls of my Young People, even the Hope of coming to Life by the Lord Jesus Christ, what an Enlivening, what a Purifying, what a Comfortable effect would it have upon them! Oh! That you would by Faith repair to the Lord Jesus Christ, with Satisfaction, that He is both Able and Willing to bring you, to all the Blessedness contained in the Promises of God; and then by Hope, Entertain an Heart-satisfying Expectation of that Blessedness. Rejoyce, O my Young People, Rejoyce in the Hope of the Glory of God; but place all your Hope on the Lord Jesus Christ; among whose Charming Titles this is one; [1. Tim, 1. 1.] JESUS CHRIST, our Hope. While you are without Christ, I tell you as Paul told his Ephesians, you have no Hope. All your Hope of Good, must be built on the Lord Jesus Christ; You are Foolish Builders on the Sand, if it be not so. But coming to the Lord Jesus Christ, Hope then, Oh! Hope in Him, for all

May you be revived first, with an Hope, that you May come unto the Lord Jesus Christ. By no means Despair of it! This I am sure of; The Gracious Lord Jesus Christ Inviteth you; to Come to Him, and Hope in Him. The Invitation is Indefinite, unto; whosoever will. And we have it in our Commission to assure the Young People, who are willing to come under the Yoke of the Lord Jesus Christ in their Youth, They may Hope for the Salvation of God. O Sinner, Dost thou Question, whether the Lord Jesus Christ will receive thee, if thou come unto Him? Oh! There is no Question of it. It is a most […] word of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the worst Sinner among us all may lay hold on that word; Joh. 6. 17. […] that cometh unto me, I will in […]. Let the Light of so much Hope as this, break in through' some Crevice, into thy Returning Soul; If I do ⟨p. 33⟩Return, & I may hope that it may be, Sovereign Grace will help me to Return, unto God in my Lord Jesus Christ, He that came to seek and save, that which is lost, will take pity on me.

May you be revived first, with an Hope, that you May come unto the Lord Jesus Christ. By no means Despair of it! This I am sure of; The Gracious Lord Jesus Christ Inviteth you; to Come to Him, and Hope in Him. The Invitation is Indefinite, unto; whosoever will. And we have it in our Commission to assure the Young People, who are willing to come under the Yoke of the Lord Jesus Christ in their Youth, They may Hope for the Salvation of God. O Sinner, Dost thou Question, whether the Lord Jesus Christ will receive thee, if thou come unto Him? Oh! There is no Question of it. It is a most 〈…〉 word of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the worst Sinner among us all may lay hold on that word; Joh. 6. 17. 〈…〉 that comith unto me, I will in 〈…〉. Let the Light of so much Hope as this, break in thro' some Crevis, into thy Returning Soul; If I do ⟨p. 33⟩Return, & I may hope that it may be, Sovereign Grace will help me to Return, unto God in my Lord Jesus Christ, He that came to seek and save, that which is lost, will take pity on me.

But then, if you do come unto the Lord Jesus Christ, let your Hope then proceed unto a Confidence, That He will do for you most wonderful Things, and Save you unto the uttermost. Oh! Hope in the Lord Redeemer, for with Him, there is Mercy and Plenteous Redemption! Shall I a little state your Hope for you?

Let the God-head of the Lord Jesus Christ, be the main Basis of your Hope. And now, Let Heaven hear our Young People, Saying, and hoping.

Since my Lord Jesus Christ is God, the Merit of His Obedience is Infinite. I may Hope, that the Obedience of my Lord Jesus Christ, will be a sufficient Righteousness for me therein to appear before God, because it is the Righteousness of God: And since His Blood, is the Blood of the Son of God, I Hope to be Cleansed from all Sin by that Blood. Since my Lord Jesus Christ is God, His Power is Infinite, Uncontrollable, Irresistible. Oh! I know He can do every ⟨p. 34⟩thing. I Hope that He will Enlighten me, because He is the Only Wise God. I Hope, that He will Sanctify me, because He is the Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Hosts. I hope that He will bestow Everlasting Life upon me, & prevent all that would obstruct it, because He is the Everlasting Jab, the God that Lives for ever and ever.

Since my Lord Jesus Christ is God, the Merit of His Obedience is Infinite. I may Hope, that the Obedience of my Lord Jesus Christ, will be a sufficient Righteousness for me therein to appear before God, because it is the Righteousness of God: And since His Blood, is the Blood of the Son of God, I Hope to be Cleansed from all Sin by that Blood. Since my Lord Jesus Christ is God, His Power is Infinite, Uncontroulable, Irresistable. Oh! I know He can do every ⟨p. 34⟩thing. I Hope that He will Enlighten me, because He is the Only Wise God. I Hope, that He will Sarctify me, because He is the Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Hosts. I hope that He will bestow Everlasting Life upon me, & prevent all that would obstruct it, because He is the Everlasting Jab, the God that Lives for ever and ever.

But then, Let not the Man-hood of the Lord Jesus Christ, assumed into a Personal Union with His God-head, be Excluded from a share in the Basis of your hope. Tis the Anchor of your Souls. May your Hope thus argue upon it.

I hope that He who humbles Himself to behold the things in Heaven, will have regard unto me, a poor Worm upon Earth; because the Son of God is become the Son of Man. I hope that I shall one day be Lodged in Heaven with God; because there is a Man who lies in the Bosom of God forever. I hope I shall come to Endless Glory in the End; because there is a Man, who sets on the Throne of Glory, and will have His Kindred, for to be at last, with Him, where He is, to Behold His Glory.

I hope that He who humbles Himself to behold the things in Heaven, will have regard unto me, a poor Worm upon Earth; because the Son of God is become the Son of Man. I hope that I shall one day be Lodged in Heaven with God; because there is a Man who lies in the Bosome of God forever. I hope I shall come to Endless Glory in the End; because there is a Man, who sets on the Throne of Glory, and will have His Kindred, for to be at last, with Him, where He is, to Behold His Glory.

Pass on then, O Young People, to fix your hope, on the Offices, which the Lord Jesus Christ Executes on the behalf of His Chosen People. 'T will be Melody in the Ears of Heaven, to hear you saying, and singing, and hoping;

I hope, that my Sins are forever Expiated; because I have such a […], as my Lord Jesus Christ. Because I have such a Prophet, as my Lord Jesus Christ, I hope, that I shall not be turned aside by a Deceived heart; but be kept from every false way, and be led in the way Everlasting. Because I have such a King as my Lord Jesus Christ, I hope, that being delivered from the hands of my Enemies, I shall serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness; and that the Good Work begun in me, shall be finished unto the Day of the Lord.

I hope, that my Sins are forever Expiated; because I have such a 〈…〉, as my Lord Jesus Christ. Because I have such a Prophet, as my Lord Jesus Christ, I hope, that I shall not be turned aside by a Deceived heart; but be kept from every false way, and be led in the way Everlasting. Because I have such a King as my Lord Jesus Christ, I hope, that being delivered from the hands of my Enemies, I shall serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness; and that the Good Work begun in me, shall be finished unto the Day of the Lord.

And, finally, Let the Conditions through' which the Lord Jesus Christ has passed for us, furnish my Young People, with ravishing matter for their hope.

And, finally, Let the Conditions thro' which the Lord Jesus Christ has passed for us, furnish my Young People, with ravishing matter for their hope.

Shall we hear your Hope uttering these Triumphant Songs!

My Lord Jesus Christ has been my Surety, to God; I hope He has paid all my Debts to the Justice of God. My ⟨p. 36⟩Lord Jesus Christ has undergone Pain for me; I hope for Pleasures at the Right and of God for ever more. My Lord Jesus Christ has undergone Shame for me; I hope for a Crown that fadeth not away. My Lord Jesus Christ was Condemned at the Bar of Mortal Man; I hope to be Acquitted at the Bar of the Immortal God. My Lord Jesus Christ, was Buffeted by Devils; I hope to be Rescued from the devouring Jaws of Devils. My Lord Jesus Christ Encountered with Death it self; I hope, that my Death will be my Gain. My Lord Jesus Christ Rose from His Grave; I hope for a joyful Resurrection from the Grave. My Lord Jesus Christ, went up to Heaven; I hope, I shall get up to Heaven after my Lord. My Lord Jesus Christ Ever lives to make Intercession for me; I hope, to be Saved by Him, and brought unto Everlasting Life.

My Lord Jesus Christ has been my Surety, to God; I hope He has paid all my Debts to the Justice of God. My ⟨p. 36⟩Lord Jesus Christ has undergone Pain for me; I hope for Pleasures at the Right and of God for ever more. My Lord Jesus Christ has undergone Shame for me; I hope for a Crown that fadeth not away. My Lord Jesus Christ was Condemned at the Bar of Mortal Man; I hope to be Acquitted at the Bar of the Immortal God. My Lord Jesus Christ, was Buffeted by Devils; I hope to be Rescued from the devouring Jaws of Devils. My Lord Jesus Christ Encountred with Death it self; I hope, that my Death will be my Gain. My Lord Jesus Christ Rose from His Grave; I hope for a joyful Resurrection from the Grave. My Lord Jesus Christ, went up to Heaven; I hope, I shall get up to Heaven after my Lord. My Lord Jesus Christ Ever lives to make Intercession for me; I hope, to be Saved by Him, and brought unto Everlasting Life.

O Young People; God will take pleasure in you, if you thus Fear Him, and Hope in His Mercy.

Secondly; An Early Dedication to the Praise of the Infinite Glory of God; Oh, My Young People, Resolve upon it. I have read, Rev. 14. 6. of, An Angel having ⟨p. 37⟩the Everlasting Gospel to Preach, and saying with a loud Voice, Fear God, and give Glory to Him. Tis that Angelical Demand, with which I now come unto you, O Darling part of my Flock; Let the Glorious God, and the Glory of God, from this Time, have Eternal Praises from you.

Let there be a little set before you, some Idea, of the Noblest, and the Sweetest Point, that ever you were treated upon; A Point, which were indeed a Boundless Ocean, if it were, as it might be prosecuted!

Let there be a little set before you, some Idoea, of the Noblest, and the Sweetest Point, that ever you were treated upon; A Point, which were indeed a Boundless Ocean, if it were, as it might be prosecuted!

The Great GOD, is a most Glorious God. He is, The God of Glory; the King of Glory. God the Father, is the Father of Glory. God the Son, is the Lord of Glory. God the Spirit, is the Spirit of Glory. His Excellencies are infinite. It is His Glory, to be JEHOVAH, of Himself, and for Himself alone; Eternally and Necessarily Self-existent, Independent, All-sufficient, Unchangeable; the First Cause and the Last End of all things. He is Glorious in Holiness, in Faithfulness, in Power, in Wisdom, in Goodness. There can be no Addition ⟨p. 38⟩to His Glory; Who can Add unto that which is Infinite? God was in Himself as Glorious, before He made the world, as after His making of it. And if the world were filled with Blasphemies against God, He would not yet be less Glorious than He is.

The Great GOD, is a most Glorious God. He is, The God of Glory; the King of Glory. God the Father, is the Father of Glory. God the Son, is the Lord of Glory. God the Spirit, is the Spirit of Glory. His Excellencies are infinite. It is His Glory, to be JEHOVAH, of Himself, and for Himself alone; Eternally and Necessarily Self-existent, Independent, All-sufficient, Unchangeable; the First Cause and the Last End of all things. He is Glorious in Holiness, in Faithfulness, in Power, in Wisdome, in Goodness. There can be no Addition ⟨p. 38⟩to His Glory; Who can Add unto that which is Infinite? God was in Himself as Glorious, before He made the world, as after His making of it. And if the world were filled with Blasphemies against God, He would not yet be less Glorious than He is.

But the Glorious God is infinitely satisfied, in the Manifestations, the Operations, and the Exhibitions of His Glory. The First Being is admirably, Energetic. God from all Eternity, Beholding of Himself, there was Begotten an Image of Himself. This is the Son of God, the Brightness of His Glory, the Express Image of His Person. Infinite is the Satisfaction of God, from all Eternity, in beholding of His Glory, as it is Expressed in His Only Begotten Son; whose Triumph it is, I was set up from Everlasting, I was brought forth before the Mountains were settled; Then was I daily His Delight! And why did God, so satisfied from all ETERNITY, proceed unto the Works of Creation, and Providence, even unto all the Works of Time? This is, that He may take the satisfaction of Beholding His own Glory, ⟨p. 39⟩as it is Expressed in all His Works. If the Works of God had no other Spectator, but the God who has wrought them all; This, This were enough; This were infinitely more, than for all the Works to take Notice of themselves, or of one another.

But the Glorious God is infinitely satisfied, in the Manifestations, the Operations, and the Exhibitions of His Glory. The First Being is admirably, Energetick. God from all Eternity, Beholding of Himself, there was Begotten an Image of Himself. This is the Son of God, the Brightness of His Glory, the Express Image of His Person. Infinite is the Satisfaction of God, from all Eternity, in beholding of His Glory, as it is Expressed in His Only Begotten Son; whose Triumph it is, I was set up from Everlasting, I was brought forth before the Mountains were settled; Then was I daily His Delight! And why did God, so satisfied from all ETERNITY, proceed unto the Works of Creation, and Providence, even unto all the Works of Time? This is, that He may take the satisfaction of Beholding His own Glory, ⟨p. 39⟩as it is Expressed in all His Works. If the Works of God had no other Spectator, but the God who has wrought them all; This, This were enough; This were infinitely more, than for all the Works to take Notice of themselves, or of one another.

Nevertheless, 'Tis a particular Satisfaction, unto the Glorious God, that Rational Beings do particularly observe the Manifestations of His Glory. There are Intellectual Beings, formed by the Great God, that formeth All Things. There is a World of Spirits; Angels and Men, Things that have Reasonable Spirits in them, are made by that God, who is the Father of Spirits. That Spiritual World is a Million of Times more Considerable, than the Corporeal World. These Intellectual Beings are capable of Observing and Regarding and Admiring the Glory of God. God says, I formed them for my self, to show forth my Praise. Thus Good is our God!

Nevertheless, 'Tis a particular Satisfaction, unto the Glorious God, that Rational Beings do particularly observe the Manifestations of His Glory. There are Intellectual Beings, formed by the Great God, that formeth All Things. There is a World of Spirits; Angels and Men, Things that have Reasonable Spirits in them, are made by that God, who is the Father of Spirits. That Spiritual World is a Million of Times more Considerable, than the Corporeal World. These Intellectual Beings are capable of Observing and Regarding and Admiring the Glory of God. God sayes, I formed them for my self, to shew forth my Praise. Thus Good is our God!

Now God will have us to Glorify Him, in Declaring the Praises of His Glory, falling under our Observation. And in these two ways, are we to Declare the ⟨p. 40⟩Praise of the Glorious God. First, We must our selves Acknowledge the Glory of God; and be sensible of those Glorious Things in God, that shall draw us, to Fear Him, and Love Him, and Seek Him, and Serve Him; and make His Will the only Rule of our Life, and count His Good Will to be better than Life. And then, We must Invite and Engage Others, to join with us, in those Acknowledgements of God; So that from what we are, or have, or do, Honourable Thoughts of God shall be Raised in the minds of Others, and Others shall devote themselves unto the Lord.

Now God will have us to Glorify Him, in Declaring the Praises of His Glory, falling under our Observation. And in these two wayes, are we to Declare the ⟨p. 40⟩Praise of the Glorious God. First, We must our selves Acknowledge the Glory of God; and be sensible of those Glorious Things in God, that shall draw us, to Fear Him, and Love Him, and Seek Him, and Serve Him; and make His Will the only Rule of our Life, and count His Good Will to be better than Life. And then, We must Invite and Engage Others, to joyn with us, in those Acknowledgments of God; So that from what we are, or have, or do, Honourable Thoughts of God shall be Raised in the minds of Others, and Others shall devote themselves unto the Lord.

This tis, To Glorify God. This is all the Revenue, that God Expects, of all that He does for us. Yea, Tis that for which He brings us to all the Glory of Heaven at the Last! And all those whom He brings to Heaven, He does first inspire with a Disposition, to make Choice of this above all things, That they may be thus unto the Praise of His Glory.

Well then, My Young People; When will you become thus Disposed. Oh! ⟨p. 41⟩When shall […] be? All Heaven is writing to Hear this Language from you. [And, O my God! My God! That it might be NOW obtained from them!] Utter it, O Solicited Souls. Utter it before the Lord, from the very bottom of your Souls.

Well then, My Young People; When will you become thus Disposed. Oh! ⟨p. 41⟩When shall 〈…〉 be? All Heaven is writing to Hear this Language from you. [And, O my God! My God! That it might be NOW obtained from them!] Utter it, O Sollicited Souls. Utter it before the Lord, from the very bottom of your Souls.

O Glorious God, I am not able to bear the Thoughts of Living, or of Being, upon any lower Design than This; That the Glorious God may have the Praises of His Glory from me. What is my Errand into the world, but that I may Glorify the God, who made me, and all the world! I was not Born only to Eat, and Drink, and Play, & Sleep, and by some Labour, to purchase Conveniences for all of these No; Nothing will please me, O my God, but This; That thy Glory may have Praises from me; and that I may Glorify God, and my Lord Jesus Christ, in Conforming to the Rules and Hopes of His Holy Religion Lord, I would not only Speak any Praises, but I would also Live thy Praises. To bear Testimonies unto thy Glory, shall be the very Business of my Life. I will make it my main Business, to Testify any Believe, I have ⟨p. 42⟩That God is a Good Portion; and, That nothing is too hard for the Lord; And, That the Lord is of purer Eyes than to look upon Iniquity; And, That the Lord is Good unto the Soul that seeks Him; And, That my Lord Jesus Christ is Precious, and Lovely, and Worthy of all my Services. I will abhor all Sin, because 'tis not for the Praise of the Glorious God. I Consecrate, all my Powers, all my Members, all my Interest: unto thee, O my God! Oh! That thou mayest have Glory from them all. Oh! Spirit of Grace, Now do thou take Possession of me, Fill me, Act me, Use me, and Fetch out of me, the Praises of the Glory of my God throughout Eternal Ages.

O Glorious God, I am not able to bear the Thoughts of Living, or of Being, upon any lower Design than This; That the Glorious God may have the Praises of His Glory from me. What is my Errand into the world, but that I may Glorify the God, who made me, and all the world! I was not Born only to Eat, and Drink, and Play, & Sleep, and by some Labour, to purchase Conveniencies for all of these No; Nothing will please me, O my God, but This; That thy Glory may have Praises from me; and that I may Glorify God, and my Lord Jesus Christ, in Conforming to the Rules and Hopes of His Holy Religion Lord, I would not only Speak any Praises, but I would also Live thy Praises. To bear Testimonies unto thy Glory, shall be the very Business of my Life. I will make it my main Business, to Testify any Believe, I have ⟨p. 42⟩That God is a Good Portion; and, That nothing is too hard for the Lord; And, That the Lord is of purer Eyes than to look upon Iniquity; And, That the Lord is Good unto the Soul that seeks Him; And, That my Lord Jesus Christ is Precious, and Lovely, and Worthy of all my Services. I will abhor all Sin, because 'tis not for the Praise of the Glorious God. I Consecrate, all my Powers, all my Members, all my Interest: unto thee, O my God! Oh! That thou mayest have Glory from them all. Oh! Spirit of Grace, Now do thou take Possession of me, Fill me, Act me, Use me, and Fetch out of me, the Praises of the Glory of my God throughout Eternal Ages.

Are my Young People come to this Language? Blessed Youths! They have upon them the infallible Marks of their growing meet for the Ever lasting Blessedness of that World, where the Glorious God shall be All in All unto them. Children; I shall shortly meet you there,—