A41668:52
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 2: Containeth the grand proposition, with the Reasons thereof.
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.
The Reasons of the point.
Reas. 1. Youth is the fittest time that can he given unto God, as being the Spring time, and excellentest part of thy life. In the grave there is no serving God: in thine old age it is bad serving him, by reason of the manifold weaknesses and infirmities which do accompany the same: therefore thy Youth must needs be the fittest time for his service. For,
1. Youth is most active and vigorous, quick and lively, being not at all clogged with the infirmities of age. Then is thy body strongest, thy wit sharpest, and thy memory most capable, and retentive. How unworthy then is it for thee to Sacrifice thy youth to Bacchus and Venus, to ungodly sensuality and luxury, and at last to lay thine old bones upon Gods Altar? O, what Pity is it, that the Devil, the world, and the flesh should have thy cream and flour? And how shameful that God, to whom thy whole life is due, should have only thy bran, and dregs?
1. Youth is most active and vigorous, quick and lively, being not at all clogged with the infirmities of age. Then is thy body strongest, thy wit sharpest, and thy memory most capable, and retentive. How unworthy then is it for thee to Sacrifice thy youth to Bacchus and Venus, to ungodly sensuality and luxury, and at last to lay thine old bones upon Gods Altar? O, what Pity is it, that the Devil, the world, and the flesh should have thy cream and flour? And how shameful that God, to whom thy whole life is due, should have only thy bran, and dreggs?