And the first benefit resulting from thence is, that it will bring most honour and glory to GOD. This, I suppose, every serious person will grant, ought to be the point in which our actions should centre; for to this end were we born, and to this end were we redeemed by the precious blood of JESUS CHRIST, that we should promote GOD’s eternal glory. And as the glory of GOD is most advanced by paying obedience to his precepts, they that begin soonest to walk in his ways, act most to his glory. The common objection against the divine laws in general, and the doctrines of the gospel in particular, is, that they are not practicable; that they are contrary to flesh and blood; and that all those precepts concerning self-denial, renunciation of and deadness to the world, are but so many arbitrary restraints imposed upon human nature: but when we see mere striplings not only practising, but delighting in such religious duties, and in the days of their youth, when, if ever, they have a relish for sensual pleasures, subduing and despising the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; this, this is pleasing to GOD; this vindicates his injured honour; this shews that his service is perfect freedom, “that his yoke is easy, and his burden light.”
But, _Secondly_, as an early piety redounds most to the honour of GOD, so it will bring most honour to ourselves: for those that honour GOD, GOD will honour. We find it, therefore, remarked to the praise of _Obadiah_, that he served the LORD from his youth: of _Samuel_, that he stood, when young, before GOD in a linen ephod: of _Timothy_, that from a child he had known the holy scriptures: of St. _John_, that he was the youngest and most beloved disciple: and of our blessed LORD himself, that at twelve years old he went up to the temple, and sat among the doctors, both hearing and asking them questions.
Nor, _Thirdly_, will an early piety afford us less comfort than honour, not only because it renders religion habitual to us, but also because it gives us a well-grounded assurance of the sincerity of our profession. Was there no other argument against a death-bed repentance, but the unsatisfactoriness and anxiety of such a state, that should be sufficient to deter all thinking persons from deferring the most important business of their life to such a dreadful period of it. For supposing a man to be sincere in his profession of repentance on a death-bed (which, in most cases, is very much to be doubted) yet, he is often afraid lest his convictions and remorse proceed not from a true sorrow for sin, but a servile fear of punishment. But one, who is a young saint, need fear no such perplexity; he knows that he loves GOD for his own sake, and is not driven to him by a dread of impending evil; he does not decline the gratifications of sense, because he can no longer “hear the voice of singing men and singing women;” but willingly takes up his cross, and follows his blessed Master in his youth, and therefore has reason to expect greater confidence of his sincerity towards GOD. But farther, as an early piety assures the heart of its sincerity, so, likewise, it brings its present reward with it, as it renders religion and all its duties habitual and easy. A young saint, was you to ask him, would joyfully tell you the unspeakable comfort of beginning to be religious betimes: as for his part, he knows not what men mean by talking of mortification, self-denial, and retirement, as hard and rigorous duties; for he has so accustomed himself to them, that, by the grace of GOD, they are now become even natural, and he takes infinitely more pleasure in practising the severest precepts of the gospel, than a luxurious _Dives_ in a bed of state, or an ambitious _Haman_ at a royal banquet. And O how happy must that youth be, whose duty is become a second nature, and to whom those things, which seem terrible to others, are grown both easy and delightful!
But the greatest advantage of an early piety is still behind, _Fourthly_, It lays in the best provision of comfort and support against such times as we shall stand most in need thereof, viz. all times of our tribulation, and in particular, against the time of old age, the hour of death, and the day of judgment.