A41668:380
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
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.
O young man; dost thou love thy self, or any thing that thou hast? Dost thou love thy body? abstain then from Fornication, and uncleanness, whereby thou sinnest against thine own body, and bringest a Consumption and Rottenness upon it. Dost thou love thy goods? then flee Fornication, which is like to leave thee a beggar. Dost thou love thy credit? abstain, for it is a dishonourable sin, and will mark thee for one of the fools in Israel, and cause thy name to rot and stink above ground. Lastly, dost thou love thy soul? abstain, for that it's carrying down to the depth of hell.
IV. For the Remedies against this sin, the Scripture affordeth many, I shall hint some of the most principal.
1. Resist those wanton and unclean thoughts, which do either arise from thine own wicked heart, or are cast in by Satan. Do not revolve them in thy mind, nor suffer them to lodge within thee, but with detestation presently reject them, and cast them away. If thou canst not prevent them in their conception, let it be thy care to destroy them in their birth, that so they may prove abortive. If thou suffer them to live, they will receive growth, and strength to thine utter perdition. Who having fire cast into his bosom, will not so soon as he discerneth it, cast it out? Quench these sparks at their first kindling, lest they break out into such a flame, which will not be quenched.
1. Resist those wanton and unclean thoughts, which do either arise from thine own wicked heart, or are cast in by Satan. Do not revolve them in thy mind, nor suffer them to lodge within thee, but with detestation presently reject them, and cast them away. If thou canst not prevent them in their conception, let it be thy care to destroy them in their birth, that so they may prove abortive. If thou suffer them to live, they will receive growth, and strength to thine utter perdition. Who having fire cast into his bosome, will not so soon as he discerneth it, cast it out? Quench these sparks at their first kindling, lest they break out into such a flame, which will not be quenched.