A41668:566
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.
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.
Do you lack Pass-time? Sports to pass away the time? company to pass away the time? Why man, is all thy work done, that thy time now lies upon thy hands? Look to it, thou mayst hereafter beg for an hour, one hour to pray in, one hour to repent in, which now thou merely triflest, and playest away. O what a precious commodity would time be in Hell? One day of Grace, one day to repent in, what a joy would it be to the damned Souls? but then it will be too late; it's gone, and will not be recalled for ever.