Part 14
7. To those that are ready to hide and cloak the scandalous sins of others, working that they may not be brought to light. How many poor souls of the younger sort, whom Satan has got led aside into the ways of sin, might have been recovered out of the snare of the devil, if it had not been the cruel kindness of some, who bestirred themselves to cover their sins? But thereby they have been hardened in their sin, and have gone from evil to worse, till at length they have been ruined for altogether. See what an awful threatening there is pronounced against such, Lev. 5:1, "If a soul sin, and hear the voice
of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity."
8. Lastly, To those who cannot see themselves under any obligation to propagate religion, and concern themselves as little about it. They think that may be the business of ministers, and possibly of fathers to their own children; but not theirs. As soon as the Spirit of God touches your hearts in earnest about your own salvation ye will change your mind; ye will find a natural concern for the advancing of the kingdom of Christ: John 4:29. "Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" The love of God, and of your neighbour, planted in the heart, will create a concern this way: and not daring to be against him, and scatter, ye will be for Christ, and gather with him. The leaven will seek.
USE 2. Of Exhortation. Make it the special business of your lives to propagate religion to the rising generation.
Motive 1. There is the strongest obligations on you for it. Ye are in that point under the title of,
1st. Divine authority. God commands you to do it, requires it of you. It is commanded to all "edify one another," 1 Thess. 5:11; yea, all things must be done for that end, 1 Cor. 14:26. And the reason is plain, that God has placed men in society, and in Christian society, for that end, Rom. 14:7. And the elder sort are made tutors and teachers to the younger for that end, Deut. 4:10, and 11:19.
2dly, Gratitude to God. Is not God your Creator, Preserver," and Sustainer? And what can ye do for him, for all the goodness bestowed on you, if ye do not propagate his name and praise, and strive to stir up the love and fear of him in the rising generation? If ye have any share in the redemption of Christ, ye cannot but find yourselves
under the strongest ties of gratitude for redeeming love, to labour that his name may be transmitted from generation to generation. Hence says the Psalmist, Psal. 72:17. "His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed."
3dly, Justice to former generations, who have propagated religion to us. What case had we been in this day if it had not been for the sufferings of confessors, and the blood of martyrs, which they underwent, that religion might be transmitted to us, and by us, to succeeding generations? Had they given up with it, it had been lost as to us. Now, they have an interest in succeeding generations; and if we propagate it not to them, we betray our trust, and are unjust to them, and denude the succeeding generation of the inheritance of their fathers. We should, like those of Psal. 78:3, 4. "Utter the things which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us; not hiding them from our children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done."
4thly, Our own interest. That maxim, Prov. 11:24. "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty, holds in this, as much as in anything. Religion is a fire, which, being smothered, goes out; but getting a vent, increaseth. It is like the widow's oil, that increased in the pouring out; and like the bread that increased in the breaking. Were men more set on propagating religion to others, they would have more to themselves.
5thly, Charity to the rising generation. Their eternal state, as to well or woe, depends on their embracing or continuing strangers to religion. They need your help; for the bias of their nature lies the
wrong way; the devil and an evil world cease not to ply them to walk according to that bias; and if their spiritual enemies gain their point, they are ruined.
Mot. 2. This is the chief part of your generation-work. The work of our own salvation must be seen to, Philip. 2:12; but that is not all we have to do. We are to do that for ourselves; but, then, for the honour of God, and the good of our fellow-creatures, we are to ply our generation-work, Acts 13:36; and that mainly lies here: Psal. 145:4. "One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts." Ye are all doing; but what are ye doing for the honour of God, for the service of your generation? Ye have a room in this generation; and God who set you in it, will call you to account how ye fill it up.
Mot. 3. As ye carry yourselves in this matter, your sin or your good works will be going on, after ye are dead and gone, in this world. The last judgment we must undergo is not without reason delayed to the end of the world; for the sins of wicked men, and the good works of the godly, will then be hugely increased beyond what they are at their death. Good Abel is useful to this day; Heb. 11:4. "He being dead, yet speaketh." Haman in his life set a mischief a-going, which continued after he was gone, Esth. 8:3; and the sin of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, continued till that kingdom was at an end, 2 Kings 17:22, 23. If ye propagate religion to the rising generation, that good work will survive you; and if ye neglect it, your criminal omission may live and destroy souls long after ye are gone, which will be laid to your charge at the great day.
Mot. 4. It is a noble and beneficial work. Hence says the Apostle James, chap. 5:19, 20. "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the
sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." To save a soul from perishing is such noble work that it is an honourable working to be aiming at it, and using means to compass it.
Mot. 5. Lastly, The doom of unprofitable servants is dreadful; Matth. 25:30. "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." No man can profit God, but every man may and ought to profit others, Job 35:7, 8, laying out their talents for the good of others; and, if they do it not, they will be cast into outer darkness, as those who would not work when they had the light.
Object. But they are froward, and will not receive instruction, nor take advice. Ans. That is a part of their natural disease, Job 11:12. Men take pains to break young beasts, till they make them tractable: and shall they not be at pains with those of their own kind? The waters wear the stones; and what has often slipped off, may at length come to stick. And a word spoken to them for their good, may lie long under the clod, but spring up at length. But our success is not the rule of our duty; we must do our part.
But more particularly, let heads of families be exhorted to propagate religion to their children and families.
Mot. 1. Consider ye have a charge of their souls, from God who has committed them to you. Hence the fourth commandment, the bond of all religion, is directed to heads of families. And in Abraham's example their duty is laid before them, Gen. 18:19. "I know him," says the Lord, "that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment."
Mot. 2. They are born like wild asses' colts, and have a natural bent to the way of sin and destruction; Psal. 58:3. "The wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies." It is too fond and blind a love to your children, that makes you take no notice of the corruption of their nature. And if they are naturally corrupt, what can ye expect but that they will run to their own ruin, if ye are not at pains with them for their souls' good? Hence says Solomon, Prov. 29:15. "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself, bringeth his mother to shame."
Mot. 3. Parents propagate that corruption of nature to them, by natural generation. The sinful nature of children is a glass wherein the parents may get a humbling view of their own: Gen. 5:3. "Adam begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth." Compared with Job 14:4. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." Have ye been instrumental in conveying the poison to them, and will ye not be thereby stirred up to minister the antidote to them?
Mot. 4. They are in the midst of many snares, entered into a world wherein offences abound, Matt. 18:7. Their youth makes them raw and unexperienced, and disposes them to be rash and heedless. They have need of a monitor, and instructor, and guide. How shall they learn, if they are not taught?
Mot. 5. Ye must die; and it is like will die before them, and leave them in this evil world. Will ye not be concerned for them, that it may be well with them when ye are away? Your concern for their temporal provision will not make it well with them, while ye are not concerned to sow the seeds of religion in their hearts. That will be but to give much sail to an empty ship without ballast, that may sink her in the deep sea, as is seen in the sad experience of many.
Mot. 6. They must die; and it may be they may die before you, and leave you; and then they will have no use for all the temporal provision ye have laboured for, for them. But religion propagated by you to them, will then appear a precious treasure. But if ye have neglected that duty to them, that will then appear a criminal neglect which ye will never more be capable to mend; and it will leave a galling sting in your conscience, if ye be not quite stupid.
Mot. 7. Lastly, What comfort can ye have in their case, while ye can have no comfortable prospect of their eternal happiness? If they were to be lords and ladies in this world, but to perish eternally in another world, what comfort can be there? The barren womb and dry breasts are preferable to the bringing forth children to the murderers; much more to the bringing forth children for hell-fire.
Let these things work upon your consciences, and on your natural affection, to bestir yourselves towards the propagating of religion to the rising generation. If ye have any conscience of duty towards God, any humanity towards your fellow-creatures, neglect it no more. For particular directions, I propose,
DOCT. III. ult. The true way of propagating religion, the standing to the rising generation, is, that the former makes God known to the latter, so as they may betake themselves unto him, his truth and faithfulness, by faith and trust. This is the sense of the words of the text, and agreeable to the matter, Hezekiah's life being prolouged in virtue of that promise, 1 Kings 8:25. "There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me." So this notification is not of the matter as a speculation, but as a practical thing, that the rising generation may be brought to God.
In discoursing this doctrine, we shall consider,
I. The end to be aimed at in our teaching the rising generation.
II. The means to be used with them for that end.
III. Give the reasons why this is the true way of propagating religion, the standing to the rising generation.
IV. Lastly, Apply.
I. We shall consider the end to aimed at in our teaching the rising generation. And that is, that they may be brought to betake themselves unto the truth of God by faith and hope. This is expressly taught, Psal. 78:6, 7. "That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born: who should arise, and declare them to their children: that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God; but keep his commandments." Now, here we are to consider,
1. What is this truth of God we are to endeavour to bring the rising generation to. 2. How one betakes himself unto God's truth, which is that we should aim to bring the rising generation to.
First, What is this truth of God we are to endeavour to bring the rising generation to? The truth of God may be considered three ways.
1. In the divine doctrine in general. And thus whatever the Lord teaches in his word is true to a title. Hence says David, Psal. 119:160. "Thy word is true." All the discoveries made to us therein are to be relied on as most firm truth. But that truth of doctrine is not here meant; for it belongs to the means, the object to be made known.
2. In the divine threatenings. They are not mere scarecrows, as the wicked world looks on them, and disregards them, Deut. 29:19; but shall have a certain accomplishment in their true meaning and
intention; for which cause believers of God's word tremble at them, Is. 66:2. But neither is this here meant; since it is not the object of hope, but of fear.
3. In the divine promises. These are of two sorts. (1.) Law promises; as, "He that doth them, shall live in them." This cannot be here meant neither; for no man can be happy that way, Rom. 8:3. (2.) The gospel-promises; such as, John 3:16. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." Heb. 8:10. "This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." The belief of those is more difficult; but it is by them a soul can only be made happy, 2 Pet. 1:4. Therefore it is the truth or faithfulness of God in the promise of the gospel that is here meant, That is it we are to endeavour to bring the rising generation to.
Now, the promise of the gospel is held forth under the notion of God's truth, on these accounts.
1. In respect of the weight of the things promised therein. They are so great and weighty, that, were not the infallible truth of God impawned for them, they could not be believed by sensible guilty creatures; 2 Pet. 1:4, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature." Compared with Luke 24:25, 26, "Then Jesus said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?" That the eternal Son of God should take on man's nature, and suffer the most ignominious death therein, for sinners, who could have believed on another than God's own testimony? That
God freely gives eternal life in him to sinners, as 1 John 5:11, who otherwise could believe?
2. The foundation of believing it is in God only. A true believer "receives the kingdom of God as a little child," Mark 10:15, on the mere testimony of his Father. There is nothing in nature's light to bring us to the belief of the gospel. So faith is called "the evidence of things not seen," Heb. 11:1. The threatening of death in the law, a natural conscience prompts men to believe, Rom. 1 ult. and 2:15. But the promise of life in the gospel, depending allenary on revelation, the belief of it rests on the truth of God only; yea, nature rises up against it. The corrupt mind looks on it as foolishness; the corrupt will rejects it; the corrupt affections muster themselves up against it; and the natural conscience, the more it is awakened, the more hard it makes the belief of it. So the truth of God has all these to drive over and pull down. Hence, says the apostle, 2 Cor. 10:4, 5, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
3. In opposition to the falsehood, vanity, and lies of the world, which sinners naturally betake themselves to.
1st, The world swarms with lies, and has always since Satan hatched the first lie in it. The things of the world are lies, 1 John 2:16; the men of the world are liars, Rom. 3:4; yea, the best of them a lie, Psal. 62:9. There is no trusting of them, Jer. 17:5, 6.
2dly, The world itself is one great lie, Eccl. 1:2. Its appearances are unfair and deceitful; it appears to vain man quite another thing than it is; its shadows appear substantial, and so catch the unwary heart, Hos. 12:1, 8. Yet it is "that which is not," Prov. 23:5. It is not what it
seems to be. Its promises are false, it never performs them; the good things of it are always greater in expectation than fruition; they disappoint, which is lying in scripture-style, Hab. 3:17.
Secondly, How one betakes himself unto God's truth, which is that we should aim to bring the rising generation to. It lies in these five things.
1. In the conviction of the vanity of the world, and its deceitful lusts. Hence says David, Psal. 119:96, "I have seen an end of all perfection; but thy commandment is exceeding broad." The false and vain world offers itself as a satisfying portion to the rising generation, as soon as reason begins to dawn in them. To the infant it makes its court by the lust of the flesh in meat and drink; to the child by that, and the pride of life in clothing; and it is longere they know there is any thing better than these. To the youth it spreads out its all, "the Iust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life;" and whatever notions of religion they may have in their heads, till grace open their eyes, they will never truly see any thing to be better. Now, we should labour to convince them of the vanity of the world, that it will never satisfy, nor afford a rest to the heart; that its lusts are deceitful, and there in a ruining hook hid under that bait.
2. In renouncing of the world for a portion, and its lusts for our way, as being a broken reed, that will not only not bear our weight, but run through the hand that leans on it. Hence it is said, Jer. 16:19, "The Gentiles shall come unto the Lord from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit." It is natural to man, and therefore to the rising generation, to stick by it, and not to give over the pursuit; but after a thousand disappointments still to hope for better from it, Is. 57:10. And the little experience youth has, makes them
the more ready to do so. But we should endeavour to bring them to part with it, as a hopeless thing they will never mend themselves of, Psal. 4:2.
3. In believing that there is an upmaking portion held forth in the promise of the gospel. This is the finding of the treasure hid in the field, Matth. 13:44. The carnal mind looks on the promise of the gospel but as idle tales; it is a treasure hid in a field, which men go over without noticing what is in it, because they see it not. But Christ is there, and in him the fulness of the Godhead, and with him all things enough to satisfy the boundless desires of a soul. And could we bring the rising generation really to believe this, we would do a great thing.
4. In trusting to the promise of the gospel allenary for life and happiness, and a rest to the heart, upon the ground of God's faithfulness. Here is the nature of faith, a betaking one's self unto God's truth, by trusting to him in his word of promise for all, Ruth 2:12. It implies these three things. The soul seeing there is in the promise what is not in all the creation, enough to answer all its needs, and to make it completely happy,
1st, Believes its own common interest in the promise, that itself, as well as others, has access to claim it with all that is in it, and to rely on it as held out to him in particular to trust upon for his upmaking in time and eternity, Heb. 4:1, 2. For no man can embrace the promise of the gospel, that does not first see himself warranted so to do. And the nature of the promise warrants all, John 3:16, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2dly, The man thereupon lays the weight of his happiness wholly on it, trusting that it shall be made out to him, and expecting all
happiness from it. Thus he buys the field, takes possession of it, and the treasure hid therein, Matth. 13:44. This is the embracing of the promise, Heb. 11:13. as one takes an honest man's word for his security, rests there, and looks no further. So what trust was before placed in a vain world, is now placed in the promise.
3dly, The ground on which he bottoms this his trust in the promise is not any thing in himself, but the truth and faithfulness of God, Tit. 1:2. The man sees the promise is not yea and nay, as the promises of fickle men are; but that it is the word of God which is surer than heaven and earth, Heb. 11:11, and "yea in Christ," 2 Cor. 1:20. And to this trust we should labour to bring the rising generation, which is to bring them unto a rest for their restless hearts, by bringing them to Christ, and by him to God. When we see hungry infants moving about with their mouths for something to suck, natural affection teaches to set them on the breast; but as they grow up, ye might observe their hungry souls moving up and down among the creatures for a fill, and still restless because they cannot get it. It would be as great charity in that case, to endeavour to bring them to the breasts of divine consolations in the promise of the gospel.
5. Lastly, In hoping and waiting for their happiness from the promise of the gospel. Hence says the apostle, Rom. 8:24, 25, "We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." There is much got out of the promise, for the present, in hand; but still there is more in hope, to be got on the other side of death. The natural cry is, "Who will show us any good?" It is hard to make children wait even for temporal good things; they would aye have all presently, whenever they take it in their head: but it is harder to get them to wait in the matter of a portion for their
hearts. So they greedily embrace the present world. But we should labour to get them off that, and wait for happiness in another world.
II. The means to be used with them for that end. That is, to make God known to them. He is to many of the aged among men an unknown God, as to any saving acquaintance with him: but to young ones, he is an unknown God, so much as by report or hearsay, till the aged do tell them of him. The saving knowledge of himself God only can give: but there is a doctrinal making of him known to the rising generation: and that is our duty, Psal. 22 ult. "They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this."
Now, ye are to make him known to the rising generation as a God in Christ, John 14:9: for as such only he is the object of a guilty creature's trust for salvation, 2 Cor. 5:19. The blind world pretend to trust in God as an absolute God, not eyeing him as in Christ: but so he is "a consuming fire," Heb. 12 ult. And he is not honoured, but dishonoured by such a trust, John 5:23. In Christ he appears,
1. As a God of majesty and glory, 2 Cor. 4:6. There is no glass in which ye can represent to the rising generation the glory and majesty of God so lively as in Christ. The creating a world of nothing, the deluge, destruction of Sodom, are but dim glasses, in comparison of the mystery of Christ. Here the glory of his infinite holiness, and infinite hatred of sin, his exact justice, his precise and unalterable truth, his unsearchable wisdom, most fully appear.
2. As the God of grace, 1 Pet. 5:10. The former view of God is apt to fill the soul with the honour, awe, and reverence of him, fit ballast for the vain heart: this view of God is apt to fill the soul with faith and love, whereby the heart may be disengaged from the vain world, and knit to him as the alone upmaking portion of the soul. In Christ ye
can let them see majesty vailed with mercy, righteousness and peace kissing mutually, a crystal wall to go between them and the consuming fire.
III. The third thing is, To give the reasons why this is the true way of propagating religion, the standing to the rising generation.
1. Because all true religion begins with the knowledge of God in Christ. Hence our Lord says, John 17:3, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." As long as ignorance of God continues in the soul, the prince of darkness rules there, the works of darkness go on there, and the party is on the way to everlasting darkness, Hos. 4:6; Isa. 27:11. Therefore cruel are they that bring up young ones, whether children or servants, in ignorance; especially considering, that it is the learning age, which season missed, the loss is seldom retrieved.
2. Because vain is that religion and knowledge that brings not the soul to betake itself to God's truth for a portion, and to renounce the world and its way, 1 Cor. 8:1. Our aim in all our teaching should be to affect the heart, to bring sinners to God, to be his only, wholly, and for ever. To satisfy ourselves with filling their heads with notions of religion, while we are careless of getting their hearts to Christ, is sorry service.
3. Because the right discerning of the glory of God in Christ, is the true way to bring a sinner to faith in him: Psal. 9:10. "They that know thy name will put their trust in thee." John. 4:10. Jesus answered and said unto her, if thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." All who are brought acquainted with him, cannot choose but take up their soul's rest in him: and whoever do not betake themselves to him, it is because they
know him not. For his glorious excellency truly discerned, cannot miss to captivate the heart.
USE. Make God known to the rising generation, so as they may be stirred up to give up with the vain and false world, and to betake themselves to the promise of the gospel, therein to take God for their portion. I have given motives already, I will now give directions how to manage the work.
1. A general direction. Aim at that particularly, and keep it always in your view, to teach them to know God in Christ. Never satisfy yourselves with letting them know, what God is in himself out of Christ; for that may strike them with terror, but it will never bring them to him in faith and love. But labour to discover to them the glory of God in the face of Jesus. Shew them Christ, and ye shew them the Father: for in him the fulness of the Godhead dwells. In his person, you may let them see God's willingness to take mankind into union and communion with himself; in his offices, how willing he is to teach them, justify them, and sanctify them; in his holy birth, what a nature is pleasing to him; in his righteous life, what a conversation he requires; in his satisfactory death, how dreadful his wrath is against sin; and in a word, how they may be made holy and happy for ever. Therefore inculcate on them the knowledge of Christ. I urge this for three reasons.
1st, Do this, and ye do all to them. Hence says the Apostle, 1 Cor. 2:2. "I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." When the darkness of the night sits down on the face of the earth, as many candles as are burning abroad, so many spots of the earth, will be enlightened: but let the sun arise, and there will be light over all; for the one sun will do more than millions of lighted candles. So whenever Christ the Sun of righteousness ariseth,
that gross darkness which covers the mind, will suddenly be dispelled. There is more of the glory of God to be seen in the face of Jesus, than throughout the whole compass of the heavens and the earth, which yet were made to declare the glory of God. Life, eternal life, is in the knowledge of him, John 17:3.
2dly, Neglect this, and ye do nothing to them to purpose. Hence says Christ," John 8:24.—If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." That light that is without him is but darkness, and the sparks of knowledge and religion that is without illumination in the knowledge of Christ, will leave those that walk in the light of them, to lie down in sorrow at length, John 1:9. Not one truth is rightly learned as it centres in Jesus, Eph. 4:20, 21.
3dly, Because the rising generation is in extreme hazard in this point at this time, beyond what they have been for many years. A religion is like to come in among them, that has no relation to Christ and his Spirit, which is in effect but refined Paganism. With some Christ is almost dropt out of their practical divinity, and morality in doctrine is justling out the gospel of the grace of God; and hence immorality in practice comes in like a flood. And principles are vented highly injurious to his glorious Godhead.
2. Particular directions are these.
1st, Acquant them with God's word. Let your children be learned to read; and your servants that cannot read, be so charitable as to teach them. And ye such servants secure that in your hiring of yourselves. And press them, and stir them up to read the scriptures ordinarily when they can do it. It is recorded of Timothy, to his honour, that "from a child he had known the holy scriptures, which are able to make men wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus," 2 Tim. 3:15.
2dly, Neglect not family-catechising. Oblige them to get the Shorter Catechism, and labour to make them understand it by examining them. For which cause ye have many good helps laid to your hand.
3dly, Often inculcate on them their sinful and miserable state by nature, and the salvation for them in Jesus Christ.
4thly, Join a practical exhortation with your catechising. It might be profitable to close the catechising on every question of the Catechism upon a particular heed, with a short admonition to them by way of use. Ex. gr. on the first, Well, mind that the great thing ye have to do in the world, is to glorify God; and that the great thing ye have to seek, is the enjoyment of him.
5thly, Inculcate upon them, and train them up in a reverence and esteem of the ministry of the gospel, as an ordinance of Christ for the salvation of sinners. And oblige your family to a conscientious attendance; none of them to sit at home that are capable of profiting by the word, without a reason that will bear weight before God, 1 Cor. 1:21. I urge this the rather that some are trained up in a neglect, or in a contempt of it, to the ensnaring of their poor souls. Mind the poor children of Bethel.
6thly, Inculcate and labour to impress them with the belief of the vanity of the world, and the impossibility of finding a rest to their heart in any creature. Tell it them from the word, your own and their experience.
7thly, Inculcate and labour to impress them with the belief of the full happiness to be found in a God in Christ, held forth to them in the promise of the gospel. Solemnly assure them, that there they may find a rest to their heart; and that God is offering himself to them as such.
8thly, Make it known to them, how good a master God is; how pleasant the way of holiness is; what an ill master Satan is; how contrary and odious sin is to God; how dear it stood Christ; how bitter it will be to the sinner here or hereafter.
9thly, Put them on praying by any means, and teach them to pray, and inculcate on them the necessity of it.
10thly, Make known to them how God is a God of exact justice, and purest truth: and from thence, as ye love their souls, endeavour often to inculcate on them, and impress them with a horror of injustice in the least things, and of lying in any case. The sad way some are brought up in those points, leave them without any conscience of common honesty or truth.
And mind that "precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little," Is. 28:10.
And be not discouraged though ye see not the fruit. The fruit may come when ye are in your grave. Mind Manasseh's conversion, when his godly father was dead and gone.
Now, ye young folk, and young ones, for whose cause so much has been said, I will leave this text, with three words to you, and a great offer.
1. Christ and the devil is striving about you. Christ is striving for you by his ministers, your parents, and masters, that show a concern for your soul, and by your own consciences. The devil is striving to hold you, by his temptations, a vain and wicked world, and your own lusts. But the devil is a murderer, the world is false and your lusts are deceitful, which ye will find if ye trust in them.
2 Ye are between the losing and the winning now. If Christ get you when ye are young, ye will serve him with life and spirit: if the devil prevail, the older ye grow, ye will go the farther from God. For youth goes with a great swing right or wrong.
3. Eternity is at stake with you; eternal well or eternal woe, according to the side ye shall choose.
I offer Christ to you, and declare that he is willing to be yours, and make you happy for ever, and be a rest to your hearts: Matth. 22:4. "Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. Prov. 8:17. "I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find mo." Remember this, and say, Amen.
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The State and Character of Believers, by Thomas Boston.Copyright © 2025
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