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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.
5. Oft consider Gods Omniscience, whereby he knoweth not only all our secret works, whether good or evil, but also the thoughts of our hearts. Thou knowest, saith David, my down-sitting, and my up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off, Psal. 139. 2. There are two things which God is said to know afar off, the Pride of man, and the Thoughts of man. He hath, it seems, a severe eye up on each of these: He minds our thoughts before they come into our minds; while they are in the Chaos, in the confused Womb of the Soul, before they are expressly conceived and formed, God knoweth them: and ⟨p. 105⟩therefore must needs know what we think, when we think.
5. Oft consider Gods Omnisciency, whereby he knoweth not only all our secret works, whether good or evil, but also the thoughts of our hearts. Thou knowest, saith David, my down-sitting, and my up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off, Psal. 139. 2. There are two things which God is said to know afar off, the Pride of man, and the Thoughts of man. He hath, it seems, a severe eye up on each of these: He minds our thoughts before they come into our minds; while they are in the Chaos, in the confused Womb of the Soul, before they are expresly conceived and formed, God knoweth them: and ⟨p. 105⟩therefore must needs know what we think, when we think.
Surely, O Young Man, didst thou seriously consider this, thou wouldst be more fearful of sinning in secret, and more watchful over thy thoughts, not suffering any worldly, wanton, or exorbitant thoughts to lodge and harbour in thy breast, much more to rule and domineer there.