of their peace, the things of eternity ; witness his continual knocking, his continual callings upon poor sinners by his word, rod, Spirit, to open, to repent, to lay hold on mercy, and to be at peace with him ; witness his continual wooing of poor sinners in the face of all neglects and put-offs, in the face of all delays and denials, in the face of all harsh entertainment and churlish answers, in the face of all gainsayings and carnal reasonings, in the face of all the scorn and contempt that wretched sinners put upon him,1 and witness that plain word, ' Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever,' Heb. xiii. 8. Christ is the same afore time, in time, and after time, he is unchangeable in his essence, in his promises, and in his affections : • I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come/ Rev. i. 8, 11, xxi. 6, xxii. 13. 2
The phrase is taken from the Greek letters, whereof Alpha is the first and Omega is the last. The first and last letter of the Greek alphabet is a description of me, saith Christ, who am before all and after all, who am above all and in all, who am unchangeable in myself, and in my thoughts and good will to poor sinners. Therefore do not, poor souls, entertain any hard thoughts concerning Jesus Christ, as if he was less mindful, less pitiful, and less merciful to poor souls now he is in heaven, than he was when his abode was in this world.
And thus I have gone over those six things that you must know con- cerning Christ betimes, if ever you be good betimes. When Pope Leo lay upon his death-bed, Cardinal Bembus citing a text of Scripture to comfort him, he replied, ' A "page has nugas de Christo, away with these baubles concerning Christ !' But I hope better things of you, and do desire that you will say of all things below this knowledge of Christ that I have opened to you, as that devout pilgrim, who, travelling to Jerusalem, and by the way visiting many brave cities, with their rare monuments, and meeting with many friendly entertainments, would often say, I must not stay here, this is not Jerusalem. Ah ! so do you, young men and women, in the midst of all your worldly delights and contents, cry out, Oh ! we must not stay here, this is not Jerusalem, this is not that knowledge of Christ that I must have, if ever I am happy here and blessed hereafter.
Duty (4). Fourthly and lastly, If you would be good betimes, then you must acquaint yourselves with those that are good betimes.
Direction (1). First, If you would be gracious in the spring and morning of your youth, then you must begin betimes to be much in with them who are much in with Christ, who lie near his heart and know much of his mind. ' He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed,' or, as the Hebrew hath it, shall be broken in pieces, as when an army is broken and routed by an enemy.* llolech from Halech, walking with the wise, he shall be wise, for so the original hath it. It is not talking with the wise, but walking with the wise, that will make you wise ; it is not your com- mending and praising of the wise, but your walking with the wise, that
1 2 Cor. v. 20 ; Rev. iii. 20 ; Isa. xxvii. 6, lvi. 4 ; Cant. v. 2 ; Prov. vi. 9 ; Matt. xxii. 4, 23, 27.
s It was a custom among the Turks, to cry out every morning from an high tower, God always was. ami always will be, and so salute their Mahomet.
8 l'rov. xiii. 20, yi"V, shall be broken, or shall be worse, from yi">, to be naught.
1 Kings XIV. 13.] apples of gold. 24-7
will make you wise ; it is not your taking a few turns with the wise that will make you wise, but your walking with the wise that will make you wise. There is no getting much good by them that are good, but by making them your ordinary and constant companions.1
Ah, friends ! you should do as Joseph in Egypt, of whom the Scrip- ture saith, Ps. cv. 22 (according to the Hebrew phrase), that he tied the princes of Pharaoh's court about his heart.
If ever you would gain by the saints, you must bind them upon your souls, you must labour to have very near, close, and intimate communion with them.
The Jews have a proverb, that two dry sticks put to a green one will kindle it. The best way to be in a flame God-ward, Christ-ward, heaven- ward, and holiness-ward, is to be among the dry sticks, the kindle-coals,2 the saints ; for as live coals kindle those that are dead, so lively Chris- tians will heat and enliven those that are dead God-wards, Christ-wards, heaven-wards, and holiness-wards. 'As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the face of a man his friend,' Prov. xxvii. 17.
Men's wits, parts, and gifts, and industry, commonly grow more strong, vigorous, and quick, by friendly conference and communion.
And as he that comes where sweet spices and ointments are stirring, carries away a sweet savour with him, so he that converseth with those that are good shall carry away that goodness and sweetness with him that shall render him sweet, desirable, and delectable to others. Pole- mon, that Augustine speaks of, who was all for wine and play, &c, be- came a brave man when he came acquainted with the philosopher's school.3 So many young men, that have been all for wine and women, for playing and toying, for vanity and folly, have become brave men, precious men, by the company, counsel, and example of those who were gracious. Doctor Taylor, the martyr, rejoiced that ever he came into prison, because he came thither to have acquaintance with that angel of God John Bradford, as he calls him : so, doubtless, many young per- sons there be that have much cause to rejoice, and for ever to bless the Lord, that ever they came acquainted with such and such who fear the Lord, and who walk in his ways, for the good that they have received by them.
Algerius, an Italian martyr, said he had rather be in prison with Cato, than with Caesar in the senate house.*5
Ah ! young men, young men, you were better be with the people of God, when they are in the lowest and most contemptible condition, than with the great wicked ones of the world, when they are in all their royalty and glory. In the day of account you will find that they have made the best market, who have rather chosen to keep company with Lazarus, though in his rags, than they would with others keep com- pany with Dives, though in his purple robes.
Well ! young men, remember this, clothes and company do oftentimes tell tales, in a mute but significant language.
1 It was the saying of one, As oft as I have been among wicked men, I return home less a man than I was before. [Bernard. — G.]
s ' Kindling-coal,' or piece left over night in the fire-place. — G.
3 Augustine, Ep. 130.
* See interesting account of Algerius in Clarke's 'Martyrologie,' as before, p. 187. — G.
5 Moses was of the same mind and metal, Heb. xi. 24-27.
248 APPLES OF GOLD. [1 KlNGS XIV. 13.