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ing in the grave; we had need to be up and doing, to put both hands to it, and to do all we do with all our might, knowing that the night draws on upon us wherein no man can work. A christian's dying day, is the Lord's pay-day, that it is a time to receive wages, not to do work. And thus I have given the world a true account of the reasons that moved me to print the following discourse.

There are many things in this treatise that are of use to all, and several things of moment that are not every day preached nor read. I have made it as pleasurable as time would permit, that so it might be the more profitable to the reader; and that I might the better take the young man by a holy craft, which is a high point of heavenly wisdom, there being no wisdom to that of winning of souls. I shall now follow this poor piece with my weak prayers, that it may be so blest from heaven, as that it may bring in some, and build up others, and do good to all. And so rest

Your Friend and Servant

in the Gospel of Christ,

THOMAS BROOKS.

THE

YOUNG MAN'S DUTY, &c.

1 KINGS XIV. 13.

And all Israel shall mourn for him, und bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.

I

SHALL only stand upon the latter part of this verse, because that affords me matter most suitable to my design. Because in him there is found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.

سنة

These words are a commendation of Abijah's life; In him was found some good thing towards the Lord, &c. When Abijah was a child, when he was in his young and tender years, he had the seeds of grace in him, he had the image of God upon him, he could discern between good and evil, and he did that which pleased the Lord.

The Hebrew word (Nignur) translated Child, v. 3. is very often applied to such as we call youth, or young men, Exod. xxiv. 5. Numb. vi. 11.

Of such age and prudence was Abijah, as that he could choose good and refuse evil; he was a Lot in Sodom, he was good among the bad, the bent and frame of his heart was towards that which was

good; when the heart both of his father and mother was set upon evil.

Abijah began to be good betimes, he crost that pestilent proverb, A young saint, and an old devil. It is the glory and goodness of God that he will take notice of the least good that is in any of his, 1 Pet. iii. 6. There was but one good word in Sarah's speech to Abraham, and that was this, she called him Lord, and this God mentions for her honour and commendation, She called him Lord; God looks more upon one grain of wheat, than upon a heap of chaff, upon one shining pearl, than upon an heap of rubbish, God finds a pearl in Abijah, and he puts it into his crown, to his eternal commendation. There was found in him some good thing towards the Lord, &c. For the words, There was found in him. The Hebrew word Matsa, sometimes signifies finding without seeking, Isa. liv. 1. I am found of them that sought me not: so Psal. cxvi. 3. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me, I found trouble and sorrow. I found trouble which I looked not for, I was not searching after sorrow, but I found it. There is an elegancy in the original. The pains of hell got hold upon me; so we read, but the Hebrew is; The pains of hell found me (one word signifies both) they found me, I did not find them. There was found in Abijah some good thing towards the Lord, i. e. there was found in him without searching or seeking, some good thing towards the Lord, it was plain and visible enough, men might see and observe it without inquiring or seeking, they might run and read some good thing in him towards the Lord.

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2. The word sometimes signifies finding by seeking or inquiry, Isa. lv. 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, &c. So upon search and inquiry, there was found in Abijah, though young, L some good thing towards the Lord.

3. Sometimes the word notes the obtaining of that which is sufficient, Josh. vii. 16. Numb. xi. 22. Judg. xxi. 14. In Abijah there was that good in him towards the Lord, that, was sufficient to satisfy himself and others of the goodness and happiness of his condition, though he died in the prime and flower of his days, &c.

And in him was found some good thing; the Hebrew word that is here rendered good, signifies 1. That which is right and just, 2 Sam. xv. 3. See thy matters are good and right, i. e. just and right.

2. That which is profitable, Deut. vi. 11. Houses of all good things, i. e. houses full of all profitable things.

3. That which is pleasing, 2 Sam. xix. 27. Do what is good in thine eyes, i. e. do what is pleasing in thine eyes.

4. That which is full and complete, Gen. xv. 15. Thou shalt be buried in a good old age, i. e. thou shalt be buried when thine age is full and complete.

5. That which is joyful and delightful, 1 Sam. xxv. 8. We come in a good day, i. e. we come in a joyful and delightful day. Now put altogether, and you may see, that there was found in Abijah, when he was young, that which was pleasing and profitable, and that which was matter of joy and delight.

B

In these words you have two things that are most considerable.

1. That this young man's goodness was toward the Lord God of Israel; many there are that are good, may very good towards men, who are bad, yea very bad towards God. Some there are who are very kind to the creature, and yet very unkind to their Creator; many men's goodness towards the creature, is like the rising sun; but their goodness towards the Lord is like a morning cloud, or as the early dew, which is soon dried up by the sun beams; but, Abijah's goodness was towards the Lord, his goodness faced the Lord, it looked to. wards the glory of God. Two things make a good christian, good actions, and good aims; and tho' a good aim doth not make a bad action good, (as in Uzziah) yet a bad aim makes a good action bad (as in Jehu) whose justice was approved, but his policy punished, Hos. i. 4. Doubtless Abijah's actions were good, and his aims good; and this was indeed his glory, that his goodness was towards the Lord.

It is recorded of the Catanenses, that they made a stately monument of kingly magnificence, in remembrance of two sons, who took their aged parents upon their backs and carried them through the fire, when their father's house was all in a flame; these young men were good towards their parents, but what is this to Abijah's goodness towards the Lord, &c. A man cannot be good towards the Lord, but he will be good towards others; but a man may be good towards others, that is not good towards the Lord. Oh that men's practices did not

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