me: but I am like a leopard, that hath ten black spots to one white.

Augustus Cæsar and Tiberius Cæsar were deadly enemies to flatterers, insomuch that they would not be called Lords by their own children. A good symbol is attributed to Trebonianus Gallus, viz. Nemo amicus idem & adulator, No flatterer can be a true friend. Aristippus the philosopher, seeing Diogenes washing of herbs for dinner, said, If Diogenes knew how to make use of kings he need not live upon raw herbs as he doth; to which Diogenes replied, If Aristippus could content himself with herbs, he needed not to turn spaniel, or to flatter king Dyonisius for a meal of meat.

Ah! young men, shall God, shall good men, shall bad men detest and declare against flatterers and flattery, and will not you turn a deaf ear upon them, yea, flee from them as from a serpent, and shun them as you would shun Hell itself! If you do not, the very heathens but now cited, will rise in judgment against you.

Flatterers are the very worst of sinners. The flatterers told Cæsar, that the freckles in his face were like the stars in the firmament; they bought and sold Aurelius the emperor at pleasure. And Augustus complained when Varrus was dead, that he had none now left that would deal plainly and faithfully with him. So men may gain by flattery, they will be like Harpalus, who said, Quod regi placet mihi placet; That which pleaseth the king pleaseth me, when Astyages set his own son before him to feed upon him.

O but let every young man say, into whose hands this treatise shall fall, Quod Deo placet mihi placet, That which pleaseth God pleaseth me.

I have been longer on this, out of love to men's souls, who are so apt to be ensnared in the flatterer's net; if ever you would be good in good earnest, you must abhor flatterers, as the first-born of the devil, and as such as are most pernicious to men's happiness both here and hereafter. It is reported of one Oromazes, that he had an enchanted egg, in which, as he boasted himself, he had inclosed all the happiness of the world; but being broken, nothing was found in it but wind. Flatterers are the greatest cheaters, the greatest deceivers in the world.

They say of the crocodile, that when he hath killed a man, he will weep over him, as if he were sorry, and did repent for what he had done: the application is easy.

IV. If you would be good betimes, if you would seek and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of your days, then take heed of engaged affections to the things of the world.

The young man in the gospel took many a step toward heaven, Matth. xix. 16. "All these things have I kept from my youth up, what lack I yet?" Christ makes a very fair offer to him in the next words, "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, aud give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me." Thou shalt have heaven for earth, a sea for a drop, a treasure for a mite, a crown for a crumb. But the young man's affections were strongly engaged to the things of the world; and therefore he turns his back upon Christ, and goes away sorrowful, because he had great possessions. Oh the madness and folly of this young man, who, to

enjoy a little temporal felicity, had bid an everlasting farewell to Christ and glory. It is said that Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold: the Hebrew word that is here rendered rich, signifies heavy, it signifies a burden, to show us that riches are a heavy burden, and a hinderance many times to heaven and to happiness; and this young man in the gospel found to his eternal undoing. Though the loadstone cannot draw the iron when the diamond is in presence, yet earthly possessions did draw this young man's soul away, when Christ the pearl of great price was present; the world is like sweet poison, and this young man found it so; for he had drunk so large a draught of it that there was no room in his soul for Christ or heaven, for grace or glory. Some say that when the serpent Scitale, cannot overtake the flying passengers; she doth with her beautiful colours so astonish and amaze them, that they have no power to pass away till she hath stung them: such a serpent the world proved to the young man in the gospel, it did so affect and take him, so amaze him, and amuse him, that he could not stir till it stung him to death.

When the moon is fullest, it is farthest from the sun, so the more men have of the world, the farther commonly they are from God; and this the young man in the gospel made good. Many have ventured life and limb, and many a better thing, to gain the things of this world, and yet after all, they have got nothing at all: Achan's golden wedge proved a wedge to cleave him; and his garment a garment to shroud him.

The whole world is circular, the heart of a man is triangular, and we know a circle cannot fill a

triangle; yet if it be not filled with the three Persons in Trinity, it will be filled with the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world may be resembled to the fruit that undid us all, which was fair to the sight, smooth in handling, sweet in taste, but deadly in effect and operation. Ah, young men, have none of you found it so?

The world in all its bravery is no better than the cities which Solomon gave to Hiram, which he called Cabul, i. e. displeasing or dirty; the world will afford nothing but trivial flowers, surrounded with many briars: O the vanity, the uncertainty, the imperfection of all things below! If a man should weigh his pay and his pains together, his miseries and his pleasures together, his joys and his sorrows together, his mercies and his crosses together, his good days and his bad days together, will he not conclude, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

It was a wise and christian speech of Charles the Vth to the duke of Venice, who, when he had showed him the glory of his princely palace, and earthly paradise, instead of admiring it, or him for it, only returned him this grave and serious memento, Hæc sunt quæ faciunt invitos mori. These are the things which make us unwilling to die; it was a good saying of one to a great lord, upon his showing him his stately house, and pleasant gardens, Sir, you had need make sure of heaven, or else when you die, you will be a very great loser.

Ah, young men, it is only heaven that is above all winds, storms, and tempest; nor did God cast man out of paradise for him to think to find out another paradise in this world; the main reason

why many young men dote upon the world, is because they are not acquainted with a greater glory: Men eat acorns, till they were acquainted with the use of wheat. The woman had the moon under her feet, when she was clothed with the sun, and a crown of twelve stars upon her head.

典

Ah! young men ; were you but clothed with the Son of righteousness, and had you a crown set upon your heads, by the hand of faith, you would have all the things of this world which are as low bespotted and mutable as the moon under your feet; well, young men, as ever you would be good betimes, sit loose from the things of this world, be no longer worshippers of this golden calf, and never let the world that should be but your servant, become your lord; O let not the devil and the world have more service for an ounce of gold, than Christ shall have for the kingdom of heaven.

Ah, young men the world and you must part, or Christ and you will never meet, "You cannot serve God and mammon." The two poles shall sooner meet, than the love of Christ and the love of the world.

V. If you would be good betimes, if you would know, seek, and serve the Lord in the spring and morning of your youth, then take heed betimes of carnal reason, take heed of consulting with flesh and blood.

Many a hopeful young man hath been undone temporally, and undone eternally by hearkening to those evil counsellors.

Carnal reason is an enemy, yea, an ufter enemy; nay, it is not only an utter enemy, but it is enmity, yea, enmities, Rom. vii. 8. An enemy may be re