THE Youngman's Duty: OR Good Council for Youngmen.  
Showing the Happiness of being good betimes.  
●ith an Alarm from the Eternal God, to Drowsy Saints and secure Sinners.  
〈◊〉 also the Youngman's Objections answered, and the Old-man's doubts resolved.  
By Roger Hough.  King 18.12. 
But I thy Servant fear the Lord from my youth.  proverbs 16.31. 
The Hoary Head is a crown of Glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.  
LONDON, ●●●nted by W. L. and T. J. for Philip Brooksby, next door to the Ball, in West-smithfield, near the Hos-pital-Gate, 1677.   

THE Young Man's Duty.  Eccles. 11 Chap. 9 Verse. 
Rejoice, O Youngman in thy Youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee to Judgement.  
SOlomon in the Conclusion of this Chapter is Exhorting the Sons of Men to true Religion; and the better to, and in order to the same, he mindeth them of Death and judgement, without which there cannot be planted in us a right Care and Fear of God. From the Seventh Verse to the latter end, he hath to do with Two Sorts of Men.  
First, With those that were glued to this life, and to the delights and pleasures thereof; of: And thus he brings them in, speaking thus, Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing to behold the Sun, verse 7. By light there we are to understand the light of the Sun, shining on us, while we enjoy this Mortal Life: This many men suppose to be a very pleasant thing; and they overmuch content themselves in the same. These Solomon verse 8. refuteth by three Arguments.  
The First is this, that though a Man live many years, yet let him remember the days of darkness. That is, That a time of death will come; a time when our Sun will set and our light will turn to darkness, though we live never so long, never so sweetly, never so pleasantly, though we enjoy the light of the Sun, yet we should carefully remember that darkness abideth in us,  
Secondly, saith Solomon, These days are.  
His Argument is thus much, Let a man consider with himself, though he live many years, yet notwithstanding the days and years of his life, cannot be compared with the days and years of his death.  
Now in the Word we have read, we have to deal with Youngmen; and he is altogether given to jollity, and Merriment: He forgetteth God, and the days of darkness, and his later end. Rejoice, O Young man in thy Youth, and let thy Heart cheer thee in the day of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes: but know this (there is a cooling Card) that for all these things God will bring thee to judgement.  
In the Word we will consider two parts.  
First. What Youngmen do.  
Secondly, The Medicine of God, to heal youngmen of their default: that youngmen do, is this, They give themselves over to an inordinate Carnal joy: This joy is set out from the time of it; the days of thy youth: from the cause of it, their hearts cheer them; from the kinds of it, they walk in the ways of their hearts, and in the sight of their eyes.  
Thirdly, The Medicine with which Solomon would heal youngmen of this inordinate carnal joy, is this: Know (saith he) that for all these things God will bring thee to judgement: that is, It is a most Divine and infallible truth, that every one should know and acknowledge, that whatsoever sins they commit in their Youth, without repentance they must undergo the dreadful judgement of God, because of them.  

Doct. That it is a Sin of Youngmen, to Rejoice inordinately, and carnally, in the days of their youth, to walk after their hearts, and in the sight of their eyes.  
We Read concerning the Old World, that were Eating and Drinking and Marrying and giving in Marriage altogether sottish and sensual, till the Wrath of God came in the Flood, and swept them away, Isa. 22.14. Let us eat and drink for too morrow we shall die. It is thought, this was not so much the Language of Age, as of the Youth in Israel Hence Solomon giveth a Caveat to Youngmen, Eccles. 12.1. To Bridle, and restrain from this jollity, and carnal Mirth: Remember now the Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. And the Apostle St. Paul, 1 Tim. 2.22. Instructeth Timothy to sly youthful lusts, Tit. 2.6. Exhort youngmen that they be sober minded. Let us a little consider the reasons of the Doctrine, whence it is that Youngmen should be so much misguided in their youth.  
The first cause is, Natural Corruption that they have drawn by Propagation from their Parents; a Spiritual Leprosy, and Malady; and a Disease, which as it prevaileth for the most part upon age by covetousness, so it getteth ground of youth, by sensuality and voluptuousness: this dams up the ear against reproof; this hardens the heart against instruction, and makes many young men the Soldiers of Satan in sin.  
Again, in the second place, Men in their youth forget the day of their Reckoning and judgement, they are not mindful of their later end, Deut. 32.22. Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end: this precept is neglected both by youth and age, but especially by those of younger years, for they think it is time enough to repent, and turn to God, when they are old; and so they put off God from time to time, till at last justice cuts them down, and throws them into everlasting burning, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.  
Again, in the third place, Youngmen are not broken down by afflictions, the Fallow ground is not Ploughed up by afflictions; which through the grace of God, are great means to fame Nature, and to subdue Pride, and to bring the Soul to a right frame and temper. Before I was afflicted (saith David) I went astray. And Ephraim, saith. J●r 31. I was as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yo●k. hou● chastised me and I was chastisedst, I w●s ash med● because boar the reproach of my youth. But youngmen are free from aches, and pains and sickness, and sorrow, much more than old age, and this is the reason why they are more Licentious.  
Lastly, Youngmen want true joy in God, therefore they betake themselves to Carnal joy, for sure it is, a man cannot live without joy and contentment, if he hath it not from the Wells of Salvation. Now because men in their Youth cannot take in the Spiritual joy of that clear Fountain, therefore they drink in the muddy waters of carnal joy.  
The use of this point, is▪ in the first place an admonition to all Youngmen to take notice of those Maladies, and spiritual Diseases in themselves.  
The first degree of our healing is, to see that we are sick: and till than Christ jesus the Physician of our soul, hath no Commission to do us good. Let Youngmen observe in themselves, First, Their Carnal joy. Solomon here showeth that they rejoice inordinately. This may appear to themselves.  
First, Because they rejoice not where they ought; they solace not themselves in God, in whom is the Fountain of all true joy, nor in Christ jesus, in whom is the Spring of joy, nor in the Word, where there is the Cistern of joy; even as a bone when it is out of joint, it must needs be a disordered bone. So the Affeictions when they are misplaced, are disordered and then our joy and any other affections are misplaced, when they are not set upon God and Christ. Now if Youngmen would deal uprightly with themselves, they should perceive that for the most part, in their jollity and merriment they never think of God, or dream of the World to come. Nay the serious apprehension of God Almighty, would quench their joy.  
Secondly, The Carnalness of the joy of youngmen, appeareth because they rejoice where they ought not, in Riot, in Drunkenness, in whoring in all manner of Voluptuousness, many time in Obscenity of Word and Phrase, in making jest of the Holy Word of God: so we may say of this merriment, it is a mad merriment; he is a mad man that rejoiceth in that, for which, except ●e betake himself to serious and bitter mourning he cannot be saved.  
Thirdly, The Carnalness of the joy of Youngmen may appear in this: Because they terminate and conclude not their joy in God: this followeth on the former: for it is impossible that what beginneth not in God, should end in God: When joy beginneth in sin, it cannot end in God, but in the Devil.  
Secondly, Let youngmen take notice of themselves, how they walk after their own hearts: the heart that says, come, put away pensive thoughts, trouble not yourself about the day of reckoning and judgement: Come let us enjoy the present time, now let us sing and be merry, for we have time enough to repent. Thus they are resolved to take their fill of pleasure, like the fool in the Gospel, which saith, Soul, take thine ease, for thou hast goods laid up for many years. Thus they judge: and thus they walk after their carnal hearts.  
Again in the third place, youngmen walk after the sight of their eyes: that is, they stand gazing at things temporal, and neglect things eternal, they see a beauty and lustre in those outward things, and perceive no glory and brightness in Christ jesus.  
Beloved, If we follow our own hearts, and our own eyes, it will be thus with us as you have heard: but we should rather labour with J●b, to make a covenant with our ●yes. Oh! how few Youngmen are there that make a bargain and agreement with their eyes that they shall not be as an open Casement to let sin into the soul? Oh! how ●ew young men are there, that like Jeremiah, have their eyes as fountains of water, to weep day and night for the afflictions of the people of God? Oh! how few youngmen are there, that like Moses, have an eye to the recompense of reward, that they may suffer afflictions with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Now I beseech you take a Survey of yourselves in these things: these are vices and sins, and deformities of youngmen, to be seen, and lamented by all those that hope to dwell in God's holy hill.  
Use ●. It is for exhortation to youngmen. They should labour to be reform in their affections, and hearts, away with this carnal ●oy we ought to cast it out of us.  
1. Carnal joy: would you know what the event of it will be; it will end in carnal sorrow, and without repentance in hell itself. Woe unto you (saith our Savour Christ) that laugh now, you shall weep and mourn: the triumphing of the wicked (saith Zophar in Job) is short, and the joy of the Hypocrite is but for a moment; though his excellency mount up to the Heavens, and his Head reach unto the Clouds, yet he shall perish, as his own dung; they that have seen him, shall say, where is he? He shall fall away as a dream, and sha●l not be found: yea, He shall be chased away as a vision of the night. But not to give you this in precept, but to show you how to reform yourselves in these Vices, that Solomon specifieth to bear sway in Youngmen, let me lay you down these following Directions.  
First, You must betake yourselves to mourning for your Sins, as St. James saith, Be afflicted, and weep and mourn, let your laughter be turned into heaviness. If we be not reconciled to God, if we have not assurance that we are interested in Christ, there is no time for us to rejoice, we should rather betake ourselves to bitter mourning, for the wrath of God is due to us, and we know not how soon it may fall upon us.  
In the second place, Consider how vain all things are, in which Youthful Persons rejoice. If Youngmen rejoice in Humane Wisdom and Understanding, this is a vain thing, it is gotten with a great deal of trouble, and vexation of Spirit, Eccles, 1.13. gave my Heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under Heaven. ●his sore travel hath God given to the Sons ●f Men, to be exercised therewith. And in ●er. 18. In much wisdom is much grief, and he ●hat increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. God doth so punish the pride and boldness of ●he Wit of Men, even from the fall of our ●irst Parents,  
In the second place, If Youngmen rejoice ●●n Honour and Credit amongst Men, this also ●s vain, Solomon hath showed it, Eccles. 2.6. ●here is (saith he) no remembrance of the Wise, more than the Fool, for ever, for which now is, ●hall in the days to come, be forgotten. Again, 〈◊〉 a man rejoice in Honour and Glory, he cannot Believe. So saith Christ, John 5.44. How can you believe since you seek Honour one ●f another, and not the Honour that cometh of God only? Joh. 40.43. Nay, farther the Apostle showeth us that this is the cause of ●nvy, Mal. 5.26. Be not desirous of vain ●lory, envying one another. Farther, Youngmen commonly delight in pleasures; these also are vain things. I said in my Heart, (saith Solomon, Eccles. 2.2.) Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasures: and behold this also is vanity. All these pleasures of youth shall cease: there will shortly be an end of your Wisdom, Honour and Pleasures, 1 Cor. 7.29. The time is short; It remaineth that those that have Wives, be as those that have none, and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; they that buy, as though th●y possessed not; they that use the World, as not abusing of i●; for the fashion of this World passeth away.  
Lastly, Our Saviour Christ, in Luke 8.14. showeth that the pleasures of this life choke the Word of God, that it cannot bring forth grateful fruit to God.  
Fourthly, If Youngmen delight in Riches, and rejoice in the Estates that God hath given them: this lightness is a vain thing.  
For, First, Many times wealth is gotten by deceit, and then God bloweth on it, Jer. 5.27. As a Cage full of Birds▪ so are their Houses full of deceit, therefore they are become great and waxed rich; shall not I visit for these things (saith the Lord) and shall not my soul be revenged on such a People as this? saith the Lord. Again, Wealth is kept with sorrow and vexation, Eccel. 5.12. The sleep of the labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much, but the abundance of the Rich, will not suffer them to sleep.  
Thirdly, Wealth is left with a great deal of sorrow and vexation, Rev. 18.18. When ●he smoke of Babylon ascended up to Heaven, Oh, what Lamentation there was! they cried out What City is like this great City? and they cast ●he dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great City, wherein were made rich all that had ships on the Sea, by reason of her constliness: for in one hour 〈◊〉 she made desolate. But suppose farther, ●hat a man should get and keep his wealth in ●he fear of God, yet these these things are most uncertain riches.  
Lastly, these riches cannot preserve your life, so saith Christ himself, Luke. 12.25. Psal. 62.9. and 49.78.  
Thus I have showed the several things that Youngmen rejoice in, and shown ●ou likewise, that their joy is founded upon vanity, and this is the second means to heal youngmen of their inordinateness of their joy, to meditate with themselves how vain and frivolous all things are, they delight in.  
The third means, is to betake themselves to seek spiritual joy: the wellhead of this joy is in God: the grounds of this joy are 2 fold.  
First, The good things Exhibited.  
Secondly. The good things Promised.  
The good things Exhibited, That God hath written our names in the Book of Life. Here is a Fountain of Spiritual I●n to a true Christian. To rejoice (saith Christ) not that the Devils are fallen before you, but that your names are written in the Book of Life.  
Secondly, The other ground of Spiritual joy, is, The good things promised us; and those may be reduced to two Heads.  
God hath promised: 1. That our afflictions shall be for our Edification.  
And, God hath promised deliverance from affliction, all in the best season.  
Again, For the defects of Grace in us, (which indeed is a thing grievous to a true Christian;) here we may rejoice.  
First, In the promise of preserving of Grace.  
S●condly, In the promise of augmentation an● growth in Grace.  
Thirdly, In the promise of bringing the weakest grace to perfection.  
Here you have the Wellhead of joy, O● that young men would know God, and jesus Christ and the Word of God, and the Promises, that they may leave this sinful sottish joy, whereunto they are solicited, this is the means to be rid of it by getting into their Souls the sense and feeling of the true joy of the Children of God.  
Again, In the second place; Young men should be exhorted, not to walk after their own hearts: which is the next thing that Solomon noteth as a fault in them. The heart (saith Jeremiah) is deceitful, above measure, and desperately wicked, who would follow a false guide? and a desperate Wicked guide: so is the heart of man.  
Lastly, They should not walk after the fight of their Eyes. David Prayed, Turn away mine eyes that I regard not vanity, and quicken me in thy Law. And again, Open mine eyes, that I may see the Wondrous things of thy Law. There is much danger in following our eyes. Eve was misled by her eye; She looked upon the forbidden-fruit and saw it beautiful, and lusted after it. And when I saw (saith Achan) among the spoils, a goodly Babilonish Garment, and a wedge of gold, than I coveted them, and took them, Josh. 7.21. David was defiled with the glance of his eye: he saw Bathsheba from the roof of his house washing herself, and then he lusted, 2 Samuel. 11.1. Holy Men have prayed to God, that he would keep their eyes in a right frame and temper. These are the particulars that Solomon giveth to young men in direction, to take heed of Carnal joy: to take heed of walking after their Hearts: these things (Brethren) I have committed in direction to you.  
The last part of this Doctrine I have reserved for Old-men: for if youngmen may not rejoice carnally, much less may Old-men: youth may plead for itself, in want of Wisdom and Gravity, and Experience, better than those of Age. If youngmen may not have evil hearts and eyes, much less old men. Look to it, you that hear me this day, that are stricken in age, (as the Scriptures saith) that are smitten in your limbs with age, that you cannot walk with activity, and nimbleness, and are smitten in your senses with age, that you cannot well see, and hear, and fast: Oh that your hearts would smite you for your sins: Oh, would to God you did bethink yourselves before it be too late: May not young men rejoice in Pleasures, in Friends, in Honour, in Wealth? much less may old age: must young men be careful to chase away all Carnal joy, and get Spiritual joy, that beginneth in godly Sorrow? much more must old men: It is no time for those that are Old, to rejoice in carnal things: a few days will make an end of them, and lay them in the Grave: Oh the● you that are of years, break off your Sins by Repentance: and your iniquities by Mercy: Rejoice ye, in being good: and in doing good, this joy will continue with you. But know thou, that for all this, God will bring thee to judgement.   

Doct. 2. That the Lord God will certainly bring men to Judgement for all the Sins they have committed.  
But know, thou must know it: you should always remember it: and whatsoever thou takest in hand, consider with thyself whether it will stand with thee at that great day of judgement, Mal. 3.18. A Book of Remembrance was written before God, for those that fear the Lord, and thought upon his Name. So the Lord hath a Book of Remembrance, wherein he writeth down the sins of the Sons of men and this shall be opened, Eccles. 12.14. God will bring every Work unto Judgement, with every secret thing; whether it be good, or whether it be evil, 2 Cor. 5.10. We must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad, 1 Thes. 4.16. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the Archangel, and with the Trump of God, Judas 14. For the opening of this Point, I will briefly show you these two things.  
First, What is the reason that God will bring all these things to judgement.  
Secondly, What manner of judgement this will be.  
For the First, What is the reason that God will bring all these things to judgement.  
The First reason is, Decree, Heb. 9.27. It is appointed for all men once to die, and after Death to Judgement. Even as it must needs be, that men must die, because God hath appointed it, so it must needs be that men must come to judgement, in regard of the purpose and decree of God.  
Secondly, God will do this, in regard of his righteousness: He is a holy God, a hater of iniquity: But many times in this World it is well with the Wicked, and ill with the Godly: Lazarus he is in woeful misery, and Dives is in abundance of prosperity. Now God will show his love to the Righteous, and his hatred to the Wicked, in this judgement.  
Lastly, the consciences of men may prove that there shall be a judgement: For let a Man commit secret sins, that none knoweth of but God and he, yet many times he feeleth hellish horror, which is a manifest proof, That Conscience seethe, and apprehendeth God, as the Supreme judge, That will call all men to account for their sins.  
Thus you hear the reasons why there must be a judgement.  
1. It will be the last judgement, which declareth the terribleness of it. In this there is hope: Let the wicked forsake his ways and turn to the Lord, and he will be gracious to him.  
Again, It shall be a general judgement: which is the second thing, 2 Cor. 10. We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.  
3. It shall be a Manifest judgement: Sometimes the Lord judgeth men secretly, by raising up in them fears and horrors in their hearts, causing his Curse in them, as Water in their Bowels, and Oil in their Bones: but then God shall open his wrath against the Children of wrath, before all the world of men, and no eye shall pity them.  
4. It shall be a sudden judgement, even as the flood came upon the old world, when they were sporting themselves, and deriding Noah, that preached to them of the flood: this day shall come as a Snare, upon all that dwell upon the earth, it shall come as a thief in the night.  
5. It shall be a Righteous judgement, Rom. 2. God will tender to every man according to his deeds.  
Lastly, It shall be an eternal judgement So saith the Apostle, Heb. 6.2. It is not meant that God will fit for ever, but it is so called from the effects: for the conclusion shall be this: the eternal weal and happiness of the Godly, and the eternal woe and misery of the wicked, that shall be plunged by the justice of God into the severest torments.  

The Use of this Doctrine.  
Will God bring both Old and Young great and small, to judgement? then let this be for instruction to all, to haste to repentance. Beloved, this is one of the last things that God will do, and this is the greatest thing that the Minister can say: God will judge you for your sins, Acts 17 31. God hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the World in Righteousness. Surely if this doth not awaken us, nothing will, nothing can. Art thou able to stand before God when he is angry with us? oh, the hardness of Man's heart! that will not be awakened though he hears that the judge is at the door, but still goes on, treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath.  
In the third place: this Doctrine that God will judge the world, should make us Preserve in ourselves a good conscience. Act. 24.16. The Apostle had hope that there should be a Resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust, therefore he did exercise himself to have always a good conscience, void of offence, towards God, and towards man.  
Lastly, This Doctrine should teach us to fear God, and give Glory to him: As St. John speaks in his Revelation: The Day of his Judgement is a coming, therefore fear him, and give glory to him: and the Lord give you understanding in all things.    
FINIS.