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The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan…
The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan showing him how to carry himself Christian-like in the whole course of his life / by Tho. Gouge ...The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan shewing him how to carry himself Christian-like in the whole course of his life / by Tho. Gouge ...
London: printed by S. and B.G. for Nevil Simmons, 1676
THE Young Man's Guide. › Chapter 7: Containing two main Arguments to Conversion.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. VII. Containing two main Arguments to Conversion.
I Shall make use of two great Arguments in this matter.
1. Thy Necessity. 2. Thy Commodity.
1. Thy necessity methinks should prevail with thee. A necessity is laid upon thee to turn to the Lord, and woe to thee if thou turn not; thou must turn, or die, Matth. 18. 9, Except ye be converted, ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Necessity is a mighty Argument to persuade to any thing. What is there but necessity will persuade men to? Sinners will make use of this argument to persuade themselves to, and to excuse and justify themselves in, any wickedness. We shall hear them sometimes saying, If I have stolen it was for my necessity. If I have lied or sworn falsely, it was upon necessity, I was forced upon it. And when they have said this ('twas my necessity that brought me to it) they think they have said enough to justify themselves.
1. Thy necessity methinks should prevail with thee. A necessity is laid upon thee to turn to the Lord, and wo to thee if thou turn not; thou must turn, or die,