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

1. The longer thou continuest in any sin, the stronger it will grow, and the more hardly be subdued. The longer a Tree is suffered to grow, the deeper rooting it taketh, and the more hardly will it be plucked up. In like manner, the longer thou continuest in sin, the deeper rooting will it take in thee, and with the greater difficulty be removed. As therefore we would condemn him of extreme folly, who essaying to pluck up a young Plant, and finding some difficulty therein, should let it stand till it had taken deeper rooting in the ground, and then attempt to pull it up: So alike, nay much more foolish is that man, who, in his Youth and younger years, finding some difficulty in turning from his sins unto God, should put it off till his sins had taken faster hold in him, supposing that then he should more easily do it. The truth is, 'tis rarely seen, that such who give up themselves to the service of sin and Satan in their Youth, do serve God in their Old Age. How seldom do we hear of an old sinner converted? Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, who are accustomed to do evil, Jer. 13. 23. As if it were a thing impossible for one that hath continued long in a course of sinning, to leave and forsake it, and to give up himself to the service of God. Surely with man it is impossible, though not with God, unto whom all things are possible: It will be therefore thy wisdom betimes, even in thy Youth, to set thy self against the power of thy corruptions, lest they grow too strong in thee to be mastered and subdued.

1. The longer thou continuest in any sin, the stronger it will grow, and the more hardly be subdued. The longer a Tree is suffered to grow, the deeper rooting it taketh, and the more hardly will it be plucked up. In like manner, the longer thou continuest in sin, the deeper rooting will it take in thee, and with the greater difficulty be removed. As therefore we would condemn him of extream folly, who essaying to pluck up a young Plant, and finding some difficulty therein, should let it stand till it had taken deeper rooting in the ground, and then attempt to pull it up: So alike, nay much more foolish is that man, who, in his Youth and younger years, finding some difficulty in turning from his sins unto God, should put it off till his sins had taken faster hold in him, supposing that then he should more easily do it. The truth is, 'tis rarely seen, that such who give up themselves to the service of sin and Satan in their Youth, do serve God in their Old Age. How seldom do we hear of an old sinner converted? Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, who are accustomed to do evil,