A41668:418
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.
1. Believe thy present condition to be very sad and dangerous, so long as thou livest in this sin. What hope of Salvation canst thou have without true and unfeigned repentance?
2. Keep a narrow watch over thy tongue, that thou mayst not offend in this kind any more. And if thou hast been so long accustomed to it, that thou even despairest of leaving it off at once, labour to leave it by degrees. Resolve whatsoever occasion is offered, to keep such a narrow watch over thy tongue, that (with the assistance of Gods Grace) thou wilt not swear for the space of an whole day. And when thou hast got so far the Victory over thy former evil custom, then take a longer, and a longer time: and so at length, by the assistance of Gods Grace, thou wilt quite forget thine old and wicked custom.
2. Keep a narrow warch over thy tongue, that thou mayst not offend in this kind any more. And if thou hast been so long accustomed to it, that thou even despairest of leaving it off at once, labour to leave it by degrees. Resolve whatsoever occasion is offered, to keep such a narrow watch over thy tongue, that (with the assistance of Gods Grace) thou wilt not swear for the space of an whole day. And when thou hast got so far the Victory over thy former evil custom, then take a longer, and a longer time: and so at length, by the assistance of Gods Grace, thou wilt quite forget thine old and wicked custom.
3. Break this old and wicked custom, by taking up a new, and better: Accustom thy self to serious and savoury discourse: let thy Speech be full of Grace, and then it will be empty of Oaths.