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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.
Young man, what art thou for? Art thou for profit? Wilt thou study thy own commodity? Wilt thou count that thy profit, which will make thee the honester man, and the happier man? Wouldst thou get something to comfort thee when thou art old? Wouldst thou be really happy? Then go to God, join thy self to him, give thy self to him to be his servant for ever: Get the Lord to be thy portion, and then thou mayest say, Return ⟨p. 45⟩to thy rest, O my Soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with me, Psal. 116. 7. Wilt thou now Young man, take these arguments and urge them home upon thy heart? stand in the presence of God, and in his fear reason thus with thy self, Why should I not now become a sincere convert to God?
Young man, what art thou for? Art thou for profit? Wilt thou study thy own commodity? Wilt thou count that thy p•ofit, which will make thee the honester man, and the happier man? Wouldst thou get something to comfort thee when thou art old? Wouldst thou be really happy? Then go to God, joyn thy self to him, give thy self to him to be his servant for ever: Get the Lord to be thy portion, and then thou maist say, Return ⟨p. 45⟩to thy rest, O my Soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with me, Psal. 116. 7. Wilt thou now Young man, take these arguments and urge them home upon thy heart? stand in the presence of God, and in his fear reason thus with thy self, Why should I not now become a sincere convert to God?
1. Is there not a necessity laid upon me? Must I not either turn or burn? Is it not necessary for me to look to the salvation of my soul? and is there any way for that, but turning from my sin? My flesh pretends necessity for my serving of it; I must have bread, I must have clothes, I must have money; I am sure these things are necessary for me, for I must not starve. I, but is there not an higher necessity here? whether I have bread or no, whether I starve or no, I must look to it, that I be be not damned for ever. Skin for skin, and all that a man hath will a man give for his life,