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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 18: Of the well ordering our Thoughts.
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.
For the better keeping thy thoughts in order, put these things in practice.
1. Give God thy first thoughts, by prepossessing thine heart at thy first awaking with thoughts of his infinite Purity, Wisdom, Power, Mercy, Truth, or the like Excellencies in him. Thus did David, Psal. 139. 18. When I awake, I am still with thee; that is, so soon as I awake, my thoughts are upon thee, meditating on thy Word and works; whereby his heart was exceedingly fenced and guarded, both against the suggestions of Satan, and the wicked risings of his own heart. Holy and spiritual thoughts in the Morning will so season thine heart, that thou mayst retain the savour of so good a beginning all the day after.
2. Do thine utmost to keep bad thoughts out of thine heart: but if they have entered in, and got possession, suffer them not to lodge and continue there, but thrust them out of doors by head and shoulders, so soon as they appear. We cannot hinder Birds from flying over our heads, yet may we easily prevent their Nestling there. So the ⟨p. 104⟩best of men cannot always hinder the hovering of worldly, wanton thoughts in their hearts, yet must they deny them Harbour there, by a speedy rejecting of them.