158 EMINENT SAINTS GENERALLY life. Elijah, who was conveyed in a fiery chariot to glory, was, most probably, the servant of God in his youth. Elisha, on whom his spirit rested, seems to have given himself to God betimes. Isaiah, the sweetest herald of the Saviour's approach, while young became the prophet of the Lord; so too did Ezekiel and Jeremiah. Daniel, who walked with God even in Babylon itself, and who found his God his protector even in the lions' den, had sought his God in his early days. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed. nego, whom God so honoured, that they passed unhurt through the burning fiery furnace, were all pious in their youth. Passing by others, we come down to the Redeemer's days. Then John the Baptist, the great forerunner of the Lord, in early life began to deliver the message of his God. The apostles of the Lord and Saviour, there is much reason to believe, were converted young. Thus was Peter; thus was James. Paul, once a persecutor, then an apostle and martyr, was a young man when brought to the knowledge of the Son of God. So, too, was John, the beloved disciple; so too most probably all that illustrious company. Timothy and Titus were young, but faithful followers of the Lord; and, as if to show that in youth God should be glorified, the Son of God himself came into the world, accomplished his great errand in it, and returned to his Father's bosom, when he had spent little more than three-and-thirty years up. on its surface. If we turn to some female characters, which the scriptures commend to our re spect and imitation, still will the same observa tion hold. Mary, whóm, as the mother of our Lord, all generations shall call blessed hag CONVERTED WHILE YOUNG. 159 doubtless given her youth to God. Mary, who sat at Jesus's feet, and heard his word, who possessed that good part which none could take from her, appears to have early chosen that one thing needful. If we come to later times, still God seems, almost invariably, to have acted by the same rule, and seldom to have conferred distinguished honour, except on early piety. Baxter and Owen, Doddridge and Watts, Wesley and Whitfield, and hundreds more, that were in their day employed to lead thousands to heaven, were all converted young. Almost, if not quite, every living or departed missionary sought God in the days of youth. Carey and Ward, Brainerd and Elliot, Schwartz and Martyn, in youth were brought into the ways of peace. Thus also have the most eminently distinguished women. Lady Jane Gray, and Queen Mary the Second, the Countess of Huntingdon, who from a comparatively small fortune is said to have employ * In proof of the youth of some of these persons, observe, Abel was dead before the birth of Seth, which took place when Adam was but 130 years old. Noah is spoken of as a just man, who walked with God before the birth of any of his children, and Shem was born 450 years before his death. Abraham, when at God's command he left Haran, was 75 years old, which bears the same proportion to his age, as 30 would bear to the age of man in the present day. See respecting Muses, Heb. xi. 24. Joshua, see Exod. xxiv. 13; xxxiii. 11. &c. &c. Samuel, see 1 Sam. chap. iii. Job, see Job. i. 1; xliii. 16. Of Elijah's age, but little is said. Elisha seems to have been a young man, 1 Kings, xix. 20. Isaiah, the least possible term for the duration of his prophetical office, is 48 years; (see Lowth's Isaiah, Note 1.) and life being then about the present length, he appears to have entered while young on that office. Jeremiah exercised his propbetical functions at least 42 years, and seems to have been called very young to it. See Blaney's Jeremiah, Note 1, and Jer. i. 6. Ezekiel, see Preface to New come's Ezekiel. Daniel, Shadrach, &c. see Daniel, chap. 1. James, Peter, &c. See Doddridge's Remarks on the time when their Epistles were written; from their age at that time, it is easily inferred, that they were young when called by Christ. Paul, see Acts, vii. 58. Mary, the mother of Christ, see Luke's Gospel, chap. 2. Mary of Bethany, from the circumstances recorded respecting her, and from what ancient history says of her brother Lazy seems most probably to have been a young woman. 160 EARLY PIETY PECULIARLY ACCEPTABLE, ed nearly a hundred thousand pounds on religious objects; the Countess of Suffolk, whose piety has often been displayed for the imitation of others, and many more; the lovely Harriet Newell, and others who like her have trod the missionary path, have all displayed the charms and obtained the honours of early piety. When God, my young friend, has thus distinguished youthful religion, while he has set such honour upon it, would you neglect it? Would you delay to seek it? Rather, I beseech you, yield yourself a living sacrifice to him who says, They that seek me early shall find me.” § 4. We may discern various reasons why the blessed Saviour should have a peculiar fondness for his young disciples; and why the Most High should take early religion as a mark of regard to himself, that he will distinguish with particular approbation at another day; that day when all the dear delusions and gay vanities of this world will appear wretched vanities indeed. One of these is the decided affection to the Lord which early piety displays. You suppose they love you most, who are ready to do the most for you; and depend upon it, the blessed Jesus judges by a similar rule. Those who are most willing to honour him, and give him most, show mostaffection. Now early piety is the best proof of this kind which you can offer. If in God's strength you resolve that the Lord shall have those blooming years, which others spend in sin and folly, this will manifest the most decided preference for him. "I love my Saviour much," may be said by one converted in old age; but "I have humbly proved I love him much," is a declaration that must be left to those converted in youth. AS DISPLAYING MOST LOVE TO CHRIST. 161 They do not give their Lord merely the even- The sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that Lev. ii. 1, 6, &o. 162 EARLY PIETY DISPLAYS soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." They that yield the most to God, shall, through his abounding grace, reap the most bountiful harvest of glory and joy; but who sow so bountifully as they who forsake the world while young, and then offer to God all they have and are? The affection of the young also is commonly the most fervent; it glows with a stronger flame than that of age: and the young followers of the Lord resign their hearts to the impressions of his love, when most capable of loving him in return. They love him soonest; and are we to wonder if he loves them best? Some, like Manasseh, after long years of rebellion, are driven by a heavy rod to penitence, and they are welcome; but where is the late penitence of Manasseh celebrated, as equally acceptable to God with the early piety of Abijah, Josiah, Timothy, or John? Abijah God took to himself; because in him only was found some good towards the Lord God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. Josiah did right in the sight of the Lord; and God heard his prayers, and promised that he should not see the evils which were about to overwhelm his wicked country. Over Timothy Paul rejoiced as his beloved son in the faith; and John leaned on the bosom of Jesus. He loves all who humbly love him, but those best, who, beginning soonest, love him most. If you would be truly pious, apply to God for grace to be so betimes. If you would have your piety peculiarly pleasing to the Lord, let it be the piety, the kindness of your youth. Would you thank any one to offer you a shell without the kernel? or a stalk, I when the flower were withered? or dross when 2 Cor. ix. 6., |