The Benefits of an Early Piety.
Preached at _Bow_ Church, _London_, before the Religious Societies.
ECCLESIASTES xii. I.
_Remember now thy Creator in the Days of thy Youth._
THE amiableness of religion in itself, and the innumerable advantages that flow from it to society in general, as well as to each sincere professor in particular, cannot but recommend it to the choice of every considerate person, and make, even wicked men, as they wish to die the death, so in their more sober intervals, to envy the life of the righteous. And, indeed, we must do the world so much justice, as to confess, that the question about religion does not usually arise from a dispute whether it be necessary or not (for most men see the necessity of doing something for the salvation of their souls;) but when is the best time to set about it. Persons are convinced by universal experience, that the first essays or endeavours towards the attainment of religion, are attended with some difficulty and trouble, and therefore they would willingly defer the beginning of such a seemingly ungrateful work, as long as they can. The wanton prodigal, who is spending his substance in riotous living, cries, a little more pleasure, a little more sensuality, and then I will be sober in earnest. The covetous worldling, that employs all his care and pains in “heaping up riches, though he cannot tell who shall gather them,” does not flatter himself that this will do always; but hopes with the rich fool in the gospel, to lay up goods for a few more years on earth, and then he will begin to lay up treasures in heaven. And, in short, thus it is that most people are convinced of the necessity of being religious some time or another; but then, like _Felix_, they put off the acting suitably to their convictions, ’till, what they imagine, a more convenient season: whereas, would we be so humble as to be guided by the experience and counsel of the wisest men, we should learn that youth is the fittest season for religion; “Remember now thy creator, (says _Solomon_) in the days of thy youth.” By the word _remember_, we are not to understand a bare speculative remembrance, or calling to mind, (for that, like a dead faith, will profit us nothing,) but such a remembrance as will constrain us to obedience, and oblige us out of gratitude, to perform all that the LORD our GOD shall require of us. For as the forgetting GOD in scripture language, implies a total neglect of our duty, in like manner remembring him signifies a perfect performance of it: so that, when _Solomon_ says, “Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth,” it is the same as if he had said, keep GOD’s commandments; or, in other words, be religious in the days of thy youth, thereby implying, that youth is the most proper season for it.
I shall in the following discourse,
_First_, Endeavour to make good the wise man’s proposition, implied in the words of the text, and to shew that youth is the fittest season for religion.
_Secondly_, By way of motive, I shall consider the many unspeakable advantages that will arise from, “Remembering our Creator in the days of our youth.” And,
_Thirdly_, I shall conclude with a word or two of exhortation to the younger part of this audience.
_First_, I am to make good the wise man’s proposition, implied in the words of the text, and to shew that youth is the fittest season for religion: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” But to proceed more clearly in this argument, it may not be improper, first, to explain what I mean by the word _religion_. By this term, then, I would not be understood to mean a bare outward profession or naming the name of CHRIST; for we are told, that many who have even prophesied in his name, and in his name cast out devils, shall notwithstanding be rejected by him at the last day: nor would I understand by it, barely being admitted into CHRIST’s church by baptism; for then _Simon Magus_, _Arius_, and the heresiarchs of old, might pass for religious persons; for these were baptized: nor yet the receiving the other seal of the covenant, for then _Judas_ himself might be canonized for a saint; nor indeed do I mean any or all of these together, considered by themselves; but a thorough, real, inward change of nature, wrought in us by the powerful operations of the Holy Ghost, conveyed to and nourished in our hearts, by a constant use of all the means of grace, evidenced by a good life, and bringing forth the fruits of the spirit.