A41668:687
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
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.
Therefore, O Young Man, have special regard to thy Relative Duties: if thou be not good therein, thou art not good at all, what show of goodness soever thou makest. A good man, but a careless Master, careless of the Souls of his Servants! A good man, but an harsh, unkind Husband, these cannot well stand together: Men are really what they are relatively: except thou art relatively good, thou art not really good. Be therefore exactly conscionable in the duties of thy Relations. If thou beest a Master, a Governor of a Family, be just and merciful to thy servants, careful for the saving of their Souls. If thou beest an Husband, be kind and loving ⟨p. 153⟩to thy Wife, let all thy Commands be in love, then will they be more cheerfully obeyed. If thou beest a Father, be careful in the education of thy Children, bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: As God hath made them thy Children by Natural Generation, do thou endeavour to make them his Children by a Religious Education. Know that relative duties and graces do very much grace Religion.
Therefore, O Young Man, have special regard to thy Relative Duties: if thou be not good therein, thou art not good at all, what shew of goodness soever thou makest. A good man, but a careless Master, careless of the Souls of his Servants! A good man, but an harsh, unkind Husband, these cannot well stand together: Men are really what they are relatively: except thou art relatively good, thou art not really good. Be therefore exactly conscionable in the duties of thy Relations. If thou beest a Master, a Governour of a Family, be just and merciful to thy servants, careful for the saving of their Souls. If thou beest an Husband, be kind and loving ⟨p. 153⟩to thy Wife, let all thy Commands be in love, then will they be more chearfully obeyed. If thou beest a Father, be careful in the education of thy Children, bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: As God hath made them thy Children by Natural Generation, do thou endeavour to make them his Children by a Religious Education. Know that relative duties and graces do very much grace Religion.