The young man's guide through the wilderness of this world to the heavenly Canaan…

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?

2. Youth is the time of strength, and the service of God being no easy work calls for thine utmost strength; the strength of thy body, as well as the strength of thy mind. Our Saviour requires, strive to enter in at the strait gate. The word in the Greek [Greek or Hebrew], signifieth a striving with our utmost skill, strength, and activity, as wrestlers do for mastery. And saith the Apostle, work out your salvation, where the word in the Original [Greek or Hebrew], signifieth to work with the greatest industry. Old men whose strength is wasted, are like to make but poor wrestlers, and as poor ⟨p. 6⟩workers: And therefore what fitter time can there be in earnest to set upon the difficulties of Religion, and Godliness, and the mighty and weighty works thereof, than in the strength of our days?

2. Youth is the time of strength, and the service of God being no easie work calls for thine utmost strength; the strength of thy body, as well as the strength of thy mind. Our Saviour requires, strive to enter in at the strait gate. The word in the Greek , signifieth a striving with our utmost skill, strength, and activity, as wrestlers do for mastery. And saith the Apostle, work out your salvation, where the word in the Original , signifieth to work with the greatest industry. Old men whose strength is wasted, are like to make but poor wrestlers, and as poor