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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.
2. Consider that the time here spent in vanity and pleasure will yield thee little comfort on thy death-bed. What was it wherewith Hezekiah comforted himself on his supposed death-bed? Not with calling to mind his former glory, pleasures and delights; but his serving God in integrity and uprightness of heart, Isa. 38. 1. Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth and with an upright heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. This was that which then yielded hi• much peace and comfort.
Go, O Young man, to the bed-side of a dying man, and mind him both of his Worldly vanities with which in times past he was delighted; as also of all those duties of piety, and works of righteousness which he hath performed in the whole course of his life. And then ask him in which he doth now take most comfort, and delight; and you shall find that he will be confounded with shame to think of the former, and exceedingly rejoice with the remembrance of the latter.
Go, O Young man, to the bed-side of a dying man, and mind him both of his Worldly vanities with which in times past he was delighted; as also of all those duties of piety, and works of righteousness which he hath performed in the whole course of his life. And then ask him in which he doth now take most comfort, and delight; and you shall find that he will be confounded with shame to think of the former, and exceedingly rejoyce with the remembrance of the latter.
3. Consider how thou must be called to an account at that last and dreadful day of Judgement, as for thy other sins, so for thy misspent time, for the many precious hours thou hast vainly spent in sports and pastimes. Thou mayest▪ now make light of spending thy precious time in vanity and pleasure, in satisfying thy carnal Lusts, thinking never to hear of them again. But assure thy self, there is a day coming (how near thou knowest not) when thou must give account unto God of all thy merry meetings; yea of every hour spent in worldly pleasures and delights.