A41668:18
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
Dedication: The Epistle Dedicatory to the Youth of England; especially to those who are in or about…
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.
You that are the Children of godly Parents, Oh if you should not be good, what can you have to plead for your selves? I take it for granted, that you have had the advantages of your Parents gracious instructions, holy examples, and fervent prayers. Have you forgotten what charge they laid upon you to fear the Lord? much like to that of David to Solomon, 1 Chron. 28. 9. And thou Solomon, my Son, know thou the God of thy Father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind; for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee: but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Why will you let the Pains, the Prayers, the Tears, the Desires, the Hopes of your Fathers that begot you, and your Mothers that bare you, to be lost and frustrated? If your Parents be yet alive, would it not be the Joy of their hearts, to see that God had Circumcised yours? And if they be dead, will you not be afraid to meet them at the Tribunal of Jesus Christ, in an Unregenerate condition? It was no small mercy to you, that God should make you to be the Seed of the Righteous: and it will be no small aggravation of your sin, if you ⟨image 3⟩should not be a Righteous Seed. Perhaps besides your immediate Parents, your Forefathers and Ancestors were such as walked with God in their several Generations; and so godliness hath (through Free Grace) been, as it were, entailed upon your House, from one Age to another. Now what a dreadful thing would it be, if any of you should cut off the entail of Godliness! or that you should go to Hell, whose Parents are going, or gone to Heaven!
Why will you let the Pains, the Prayers, the Tears, the Desires, the Hopes of your Fathers that begot you, and your Mothers that bare you, to be lost and frustrated? If your Parents be yet alive, would it not be the Joy of their hearts, to see that God had Circumcised yours? And if they be dead, will you not be afraid to meet them at the Tribunal of Jesus Christ, in an Unregenerate condition? It was no small mercy to you, that God should make you to be the Seed of the Righteous: and it will be no small aggravation of your sin, if you