them.

church and people, even the weakest of He then foretels that this apoftle fhould die a violent death, and follow his Master to the crofs: and he makes a comparifon between the ftrength, agility and liberty he poffeffed and exercifed when he was young, and what he fhould feel and fuffer when he was an old man. Though the words principally refer to the manner in which Peter fhould fuffer, and (as the evangelift in the next verfe interprets it) by what death he fhould glorify God; yet, the comparison being founded on the dif ference there is between youth and age, they may naturally be applied to the circumstances of all in the advance of life: Verily, verily, I fay unto thee, when thou waft young, thou girdedft thyself, and walked whither thou wouldeft: but when thou shalt be old, thou fhalt ftretch forth thy hands, and another fhalt gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldeft not.

Let me confider,

I. The view here given us of the ftrength and activity of youth.

II. Of the weakness and infirmities of age-and direct you to the proper improvement of each. As I am at this time particularly to addrefs the aged, I fhall but touch upon the former; though whatever contributes to the wifdom and piety of youth, contributes to the comfort of age. -Let me confider,

I. The view here given of the ftrength and activity of youth.

"When thou waft young," faith Chrift to Peter, "thou girdedst thyself, and walkedft whither thou wouldeft." "The glo

ry of young men," faith Solomon, " is their Arength." They are ftrong and fit for action; perform any business they undertake, with ease. They are feldom afraid of dangers, or difcouraged by difficulties. They gird themfelves, to prepare for labouring and travelling: they need little help, and will foon difpatch what is within the compafs of their ability. They walk whither they will, with eafe and agility; without any pain or ftiffness in their limbs. Their joints are ftrong and pliable; their finews

and

and muscles firm, and their nerves braced. When they are tired, they fleep found, and foon recover their ftrength. They are fo capable of motion and action, and have fuch a natural inclination to it, that inactivity is generally a penance to them, and there is scarce any thing they diflike more than confinement.I cannot difmifs this head without making two reflections from it.

1. How abfurd is it for youth to be indolent and inactive !

Providence hath given them ftrength, and intends that they fhould ufe it. By a moderate exertion of it in bufinefs or motion, it increaseth. Yet there are too ma

ny inftances of young perfons who are unnaturally indolent. They love fleep and inactivity, and thereby weaken their ftrength, and ftupify their faculties. If they go from home, they faunter along, as if their limbs would not carry them. When they are engaged in bufinefs, they doze over it, and feem to go on heavily in every thing. This is a very unhappy difpofition. Inactivity

Inactivity is bad for their health: it is a hindrance to their progrefs in bufinefs, and their profit by it. They feldom overcome this evil habit in future life, and thereby often come to poverty. Befides, this indolent temper layeth them open to many temptations; particularly to bad company, to neglect the means of grace, and all those branches of religion which require labour and felf-denial. This unhappy difpofition in youth is often owing to the foolish indulgence of their parents, efpecially if their conftitutions are not vigorous. It appears therefore a matter of great importance, that parents should teach, and even oblige, their children to be diligent and active; to go about their business, and even their play, with refolution, courage and dispatch; in a word, to do as much for themselves, and have as little help from others, as poffible. Let us reflect,

2 How reasonable and defirable is it for young perfons to employ their ftrength and activity in God's fervice!

Though you are young, yet you are rational creatures, and the fubjects and fer

vants of God; and therefore should devote your strength to the fervice and honour of him, who gave it. It is pity it fhould all. be employed in purfuing the world, or ferving divers lufts and pleasures; that you fhoud give your ftrength to fin, and your ways to that which deftroyeth souls. How fad is it that you should purfue your pleasures with vigour and spirit, and yet have no life in religion! that you should readily walk to every affembly but the folemn affembly; and dance or fport till midnight or after it, and yet fay of God's fervice, What a weariness is it! and, When will the fabbath be gone ??? that you should fpend hour after hour at a card-table, and yet be tired in hearing or reading a fermon! whereas, according to St. John's words," because you are strong, the word of God ought to abide in you, and ye ought to overcome the wicked one." Let God, then, my young friends, have the prime of your days, the vigour of your ftrength, and the warmth of your affections. He claims and he deferves these: and if you are not as active in his fervice

as