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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 23: Of Moderation in Sports and Recreations.
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.
But contrariwise, how do the greater part of Young Men, either accustom themselves to unlawful Recreations, sporting themselves in sin and wickedness; or else abuse their lawful Recreations, by lavishing away much of their precious time therein, making a Vocation of their Recreation; as if their work were to play, and their pastimes were the very Trade to which they had ⟨p. 126⟩served an Apprenticeship, and idleness were the business of their lives.
Ah Young Men, is your peace yet to be made with God? the pardon of your sins yet to be obtained? your Salvation yet to be wrought out? And is the time allotted for these things both short and uncertain, and yet do ye squander it away in sports and pastimes? Doth your everlasting happiness and misery depend upon your well or ill improving of your time here, and can you so prodigally lavish it out in sensual pleasures and delights? O that men endowed with reason should be so foolish and unwise, as to hazard the eternal welfare of their precious Souls for a few pleasing vanities, which last but for a moment!
Ah Young Men, is your peace yet to be made with God? the pardon of your sins yet to be obtained? your Salvation yet to be wrought out? And is the time allotted for these things both short and uncertain, and yet do ye squander it away in sports and pastimes? Doth your everlasting happiness and misery depend upon your well or ill improving of your time here, and can you so prodigally lavish it out in sensual pleasures and delights? O that men indowed with reason should be so foolish and unwise, as to hazard the eternal welfare of their precious Souls for a few pleasing vanities, which last but for a moment!
It was the sad expression of Lysimachus, who had lost his Kingdom for one draught of water; For what a short pleasure have I made my self a Bondslave for ever? Oh the folly and madness that possesseth the hearts of many Young Men to throw away their time upon their Lusts and pleasures, as that which is nothing worth, which hereafter, if they had it, they would give a whole world to redeem it, but cannot obtain.