A41668:26
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.
1. In the abusing of your Liberty; or, 2. In the using of your Trades.
As for your Liberty: Remember, that though the Yoke of your Masters be off, yet you must keep the Yoke of Christ on: or you must take it upon you, if yet you have not. As you had a Master on earth, whose Servants you were to be for a certain time, so you ⟨image 4⟩have a Master in Heaven, whose servants you must b• for ever, And this will be no unwelcome news to you, if you do but understand what a good Master the Lord is to all that serve him in sincerity, and with all their heart. Though therefore you have obtained freedom from man, yet you must not take any freedom to sin against God; and though you are, in that respect, at your own dispose, yet you must not live as if you were your own. I think that Young Men, at the coming out of their time, had need count it one of the special times of their life, wherein they should be most watchful. For it may be easily observed in too many, that there is such profaneness then manifested, as if Hell were broken loose.
As for your Liberty: Remember, that though the Yoke of your Masters be off, yet you must keep the Yoke of Christ on: or you must take it upon you, if yet you have not. As you had a Master on earth, whose Servants you were to be for a certain time, so you ⟨image 4⟩have a Master in Heaven, whose servants you must b• for ever, And this will be no unwelcom news to you, if you do but understand what a good Master the Lord is to all that serve him in sincerity, and with all their heart. Though therefore you have obtained freedom from man, yet you must not take any freedom to sin against God; and though you are, in that respect, at your own dispose, yet you must not live as if you were your own. I think that Young Men, at the coming out of their time, had need count it one of the special times of their life, wherein they should be most watchful. For it may be easily observed in too many, that there is such prophaneness then manifested, as if Hell were broken loose.