than to enjoy it upon any sinful and unworthy accounts. You were
Augustus Caesar would not suddenly entertain a league of friendship
with any—but was a constant friend to those he loved, late before I
love, as long before I leave. Where Christ begins to love, he always
loves, Jer. 31:3, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Now who
would not venture the loss of all friends in the world to gain such a
friend as this is?
Ah! young men and women, let me say to you what Seneca said to his
friend Polibius, never complain of your hard fortune as long as
Caesar is your friend. So say I; never complain of your loss of friends
so long as by losing of them you gain Christ to be your friend.
2. Secondly, You were better be without their friendship and favor,
than to enjoy it upon any sinful and unworthy accounts. You were
better run the hazard of losing your friends and their favor by
seeking and serving the Lord in the primrose of your days, than to
run the hazard of losing God, Christ, heaven, eternity, and your soul
forever by neglecting the things of your peace, Matt. 16:26, Mark
8:36.
Well! young men, remember this, the torments of a thousand hells,
were there so many, comes far short of this one voice, to be turned
out of God's presence with "'I never knew you. Away from me, you
evildoers!" Matt. 7:23.
Ah, young man, young man! you were better ten thousand thousand
times to be cast out of the thoughts and hearts of your carnal friends
and relations, than to be cast out of God's presence with cursed Cain,