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

What sayest thou now, O man, wilt thou hearken to this counsel, not to allow thy self in any one sin thou knowest to be so? Hast thou hearkened to it? Thou knowest it is a sin to lye, and yet dost thou not lye? Thou knowest that defrauding, over-reaching, defaming, backbiting, scoffing, quarrelling, thou knowest that these are all sins; are there none of them which thou allowest in thy self? Thou knowest 'tis a sin, unnecessarily to keep company with sinners, to be the companion of Drunkards, the companion of Swearers, and the vile ones of the earth; dost thou keep not only from the ways, but from the company of such? Are they no company for thee, who are no friends to Godliness? Dost thou know thine own iniquities, thy special sins, that have greatest power over thee, and thou hast greatest pleasure in, and dost thou keep thy self from these? Is there not one Lust that thou wouldst have spared to thee? God will not spare thee one sin, the Scripture will not allow thee one; and if thou wilt approve thy self to him, let not thy Conscience ⟨p. 121⟩allow thee what God allows thee not, and let not thine heart love and entertain and practice it, whether Conscience allow it or no. If thou wilt be upright, keep thee from all, but especially from thine own iniquity.

What saist thou now, O man, wilt thou hearken to this counsel, not to allow thy self in any one sin thou knowest to be so? Hast thou hearkened to it? Thou knowest it is a sin to lye, and yet dost thou not lye? Thou knowest that defrauding, over-reaching, defaming, backbiting, scoffing, quarrelling, thou knowest that these are all sins; are there none of them which thou allowest in thy self? Thou knowest 'tis a sin, unnecessarily to keep company with sinners, to be the companion of Drunkards, the companion of Swearers, and the vile ones of the earth; dost thou keep not only from the wayes, but from the company of such? Are they no company for thee, who are no friends to Godliness? Dost thou know thine owne iniquities, thy special sins, that have greatest power over thee, and thou hast greatest pleasure in, and dost thou keep thy self from these? Is there not one Lust that thou wouldst have spared to thee? God will not spare thee one sin, the Scripture will not allow thee one; and if thou wilt approve thy self to him, let not thy Conscience ⟨p. 121⟩allow thee what God allows thee not, and let not thine heart love and entertain and practice it, whether Conscience allow it or no. If thou wilt be upright, keep thee from all, but especially from thine own iniquity.