gods eiim in bisCorreEions. 353 means, and opportunities, and religious education, and that godly care that waS exercifed inorder tohis fpiritual welfare and buildingofhim up in the knowledgeof God andof Chrift. If, I fay, thelamenting of the negleâofopportunities ofthis kind : Iffo be the delireof the prayers ofothers for him ,and that out of a fenfe of his own dilabiliry to plead his owncaufe:If fo be a gracious communication ofGod unto him in waycsof comfort in the timeofhis fickaefs,fuppoéting himunder divers preffures, and many fore and grievous temptations that lay upon him.: If fo behis felled refolution concerning his fpiritual eftate; and the fatisfyingofothers in many doubtsand difduiets offpirit that role within him. If fo be the due refpecf to the Lords day, the defire of promoting the fanaifying of it both byhimfelfand others, withacontinual griefproceeding froma fenfe of his own difability toanfw er to the occafionand duties ofthe day. If there be any thing to be concludedof concerning Religion, from fuch paffages as there ; then (brethren) I have all their as fo many Materials put into my hand to build withal,and fo to rearup a teftimony before you concerning this difceafed. And thus in briefhave I teftified of him ; and to you all he (thoughdead) now. fpeaks,but in amore fpecial manner toyou that are young men : his death, and that example we have in himofmorrality, is as a loud Sermon preached unto you, con- cerning the care you ought to have , to bethink your felves in your younger years ofthe things that concern your fpiritual and eternal welfare, and howmuch it con- cerns you now to give aß diligence to makeyour calling and eleltion Are. Your thoughts (it maybe) are too much upon your patrimony and inheritances, your honks and poffeffions, your reat eftates and your matches, that thereby you may (as you isle to fay) raife yourfortunes : too too apt youare to be taken upwith their confideratioas, and to purfue thoughts of this nature : but you fee by this example how God may comeand prevent the accomplifhment of allthefe, and in thatday,in thatvery day all there thoughts willperiJh,death may come and marry you to the duff, and callyou, not to your fathers maniions, but to the commonhoule appointed fot all living, where youmuff fay to corruption, thou art myfather, and to the worm, Job7:4; thou art mymother andmyflier : thiswas his condition, and fo may yoursbetoo : Therefore you young men, rememberyouyour Creator in thedayes ofyouryouth ; and know you that God bath provided infrultions and counfels in hisWord that are direlfted to youngmen, that they mayknow how to cleanfe their way, and to fly the 41 ofyouth, and betimes to begin with God, that fo whetherthey live to old age, or be cut off in youth, theymay begathered to theirFathers in agoodandafull age, likea ShockofCorn, and fo receive the bidingofthe promife: Zz THE
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