[2.] Consider how necessary it is, because the lusts of youth being boiling hot, need the correction of a more severe discipline. Young men are inclined to liberty and carnal pleasures, and are more apt to be led aside from the right way by the motions of the flesh, and are self-willed and headstrong in their passions, therefore they need look after the world to come, and to exercise themselves in holiness more Ihan others do. As the boiling pot sendeth up most scum, so in the fervours of youth there are the strongest inclinations to intemperance and uncleanness. Who so eager in desires, so bold in enterprises, so confident and presumptuous as they ? Therefore they ought to be most heedful, watchful, and seriously religious, lest they be caught in the devil's snares. We read of ' youthful lusts ; ' 2 Tim, ii, 22, ' Flee also youthful lusts.' Therefore youth had need to be seasoned with the doctrine of the scriptures : 2 Tim. iii. 15, ' And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, whicli are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus,' The heat and violence of their lusts is broken with a care of the world to come.
[3.] Consider the profit of it.
(1.) The work is more easy the sooner it is taken in hand ; whereas tiie longer it is delayed, the more difficult. Sin groweth stronger by custom, and more rooted : Jer xiii. 27, ' I have seen thy adulteries and thy neigliings, the lewdness of thy whoredoms, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, 0 Jerusalem ! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?' There is not such another tyrant in the world as sin ; by every act it gathereth strength. A twig is easily bowed, but when it groweth into a tree, it is not moved. The man that was possessed of a devil from his childhood, how hardly was he cured ! Mark ix. 21. When the disease groweth inveterate, medicines do little good. If you would know what you should do to inherit eternal life, learn it young, and then ' the wa}^ of the Lord will be strength to you ; ' Lam. iii. 27, ' It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.'
(2.) You hereby provide for the comfort of old age. If you serve
414 SERMONS UPON MARK X. 17-27. [SeR. L
God ia your good days, he will help you the better over those evil days wherein there is no pleasure : Isa. xlvi. 3, 4, ' Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all that remain of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb ; and even to your old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs I will carry you.' It will be then no grief of heart to you when old, that you were acquainted with God young ; whereas, on the other side, the vanities of youth will be the burden of age. Inania juventutis gaudia sunt acerha senectutis gravamina — Ambrose.
(3.) Our great work, that must be once done, is put out of hazard when we think of heaven seriously while we are young. Most defer this main care out of hope of long life. The young as well as old may die ; the far smaller part of mankind arrive to old age. Life is most uncertain, and such a weighty business as this should not be left at peradventures. Nadab and Abihu were taken away young, and in their sins ; the bears out of the forest devoured the children that mocked the prophet. Therefore, the danger being so great, you should make sure of escape from hell, and of a title to heaven betimes. When children come to the full use of their reason, they stand on their own bottom, whereas before they are reckoned to their parents ; and then woe to them if God crop them off in their flower, and they die in their sins when they are upon their own personal account. All this is spoken to show that younger as well as elder persons should inquire after eternal life.
2. This man was TrXouo-to?, a rich man, one who had great pos- sessions. Rich men usually quench their reason in sensuality, and wallow in all manner of carnal delights, but cast off all thoughts of eternity. But this man, though he had enough to live happily in the present world, yet he thinks of the world to come. Oh ! that all you that are rich in this world would go and do likewise ! Usually men, when they are well at ease, look no further. This is a question rarely moved by men of that sort, 'What shall they do to be saved?' They think heaven is a fit notion to entertain the fancies of the poor and afflicted withal, a pleasant thought wherewith to comfort and relieve their sorrows ; but this rich man, though he had great possessions, yet he hath his trouble upon him about his salvation. It is true in general, of all men there will be but few saved, and among the rich but few of those few : 1 Cor. i. 26, 'Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.' Usually where is religion more bitterly scoffed at and vilified than among the rich and full-fed world- lings ? They throng their hearts with pleasures, and make it their business to run from one carnal contentment to another, as if they would verify that fool's saying, Luke xii. 19, ' Soul, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.' All their time is spent in sporting, eating, drinking, dressing, and undressing ; this is the business and entertain- ment of their lives. Oh ! when shall we hear one savoury word from these concerning eternity and the life to come ? But surely it is their duty, as well as of poorer men, to seek an interest in heaven and in the world to come, if indeed there be such a thing, as scripture and reason and conscience will tell us that there is. Certainly we shall not always tarry here, and there will a time come when it will be of no profit to