This is the argument the wise man makes use of in the words immediately following the text: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, wherein thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” Observe, the time of old age, is an evil time, years wherein there is no pleasure: and ask those that are grown old, and they will inform you so. Cordials surely, then, must be exceeding proper to support our drooping spirits: and O what cordial comparable to the recollection of early piety, depending wholly on the righteousness of CHRIST? When the eyes, like _Isaac_’s, are grown dim with age; when “the keepers of the house, the hands, shall tremble,” as the wise man goes on to describe the infirmities of old age; when “the strong men bow themselves,” or the legs grow feeble; and the “grinders,” the teeth, shall cease to do their proper office, because they are few; for a person then to hear the precepts of the gospel read over to him, and to be able to lay his hand on his heart, and to say sincerely, notwithstanding a consciousness of numberless short-comings, “All these have I endeavoured, through grace, to keep from my youth:” this must give him, through CHRIST who worketh all, comfort that I want words to express and thoughts to conceive. But, supposing it was possible for us to escape the inconveniences of old age, yet still death is a debt, since the fall, we all must pay; and, what is worse, it generally comes attended with such dreadful circumstances, that it will make even a _Felix_ to tremble. But as for the godly, that have been enabled to serve the LORD from their youth, it is not usually so with them; no, they have faith given them to look upon death, not as a king of terrors, but as a welcome messenger, that is come to conduct them to their wished-for home. All the days of their appointed time have they waited, and it has been the business of their whole lives to study to prepare themselves for the coming of their great change; and, therefore, they rejoice to hear that they are called to meet the heavenly Bridegroom. Thus dies the early pious, whose “path has been as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” But follow him beyond the grave, and see with what an holy triumph he enters into his Master’s joy; with what an humble boldness he stands at the dreadful tribunal of JESUS CHRIST; and can you then forbear to cry out, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my latter end, and future state, be like his?”
Need I then, after having shewn so many advantages to arise from an early piety, use any more arguments to persuade the younger part of this audience, to whom, in the _Third_ and last place, I address myself, to “remember their Creator in the days of their youth?”
What! will not all the arguments I have mentioned, prevail with them to leave their husks, and return home to eat of the fatted calf? What! will they thus requite our Saviour’s love? That be far from them! Did he come down and shed his precious blood to deliver them from the power of sin; and will they spend their youthful strength and vigour in the service of it, and then think to serve CHRIST, when they can follow their lusts no longer? Is it fit, that many, who are endowed with excellent gifts, and are thereby qualified to be supports and ornaments of our sinking church, should, notwithstanding, forget the GOD who gave them, and employ them in things that will not profit? O why will they not arise, and, like so many _Phineas’s_, be zealous for the Lord of Hosts? Doubtless, when death overtakes them, they will wish they had: and what hinders them, but that they begin now? Think you that any one yet ever repented that he began to be religious too soon? But how many, on the contrary, have repented that they began when almost too late? May we not well imagine, that young _Samuel_ now rejoices that he waited so soon at the tabernacle of the LORD? Or young _Timothy_, that from a child he knew the holy scriptures? And if you wish to be partakers of their joy, let me persuade you to be partakers of their piety.
I could still go on to fill my mouth with arguments; but the circumstances and piety of those amongst whom I am now preaching “the kingdom of GOD,” remind me to change my style; and, instead of urging any more dissuasives from sin, to fill up what is behind of this discourse, with encouragements to persevere in holiness.
Blessed, for ever blessed be the GOD and the Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, I am not speaking to persons inflamed with youthful lusts, but to a multitude of young professors, who by frequently assembling together, and forming themselves into religious societies, are, I hope on good ground, in a ready way to be of the number of those “young men, who have overcome the wicked-one.”