The YOUTHS Guide;
Being certain good Lessons of Instructions to all people to take care how they lead their lives in these
sorrowful times, warning them to avoid Luxury, Pride, and Drunkenness, with other Debaucherys.
Written more especially to Youth, by a youngman that lay on his sick bed, and afterwards dyed
in the Flower of his age, being 21 years old when he dyed at Mile-End.
Tune of, A Lesson for all true Christians; Or, My bleeding Heart.
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PRepare good People to give ear with speed,
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For now to give instructions I proceed,
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To tell of sins for which the Land does groan,
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Such sins whose cryes will bring fierce Vengeance down.
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ANd make us to repent them when too late,
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Therefore in time let us prevent the fate,
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With meek submission Heavens high wrath asswage
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Before he ope's the floodgate of his Rage.
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VEngeance was lately studied, God did repent
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I'th midst of Judgment, & our woes prevent:
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Sure our deliverances an't quite forgot,
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From Plague, fire, war, & this more dreadful Plot.
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LAment then all for sins, and sin no more,
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Let us our former wicked waies deplore,
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Youngmen and Maids embrace Gods Sacred truth
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Remember your Creator in your youth.
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BE not by Hells Temptations drown away,
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Vile lusts and sinful follies to obey;
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Know, if you'r good Heav[e]ns glories you shall share
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The bad in endless torments must despair.
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VAin swearing let not in your mouth be found
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For such presumption know the World was drownd
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Harbor no pride, for by that Satan fell
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From joys above to howl in flames of Hell.
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REmember that y'r bought with precious blood
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And that the Lord of life once thought it good
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To lay his glory by and take our shape,
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That we the second death might freely scape.
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GIve not yourselves to whoredome, 'tis a crime
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Youth's much addicted to in this our time:
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Lewd women Holy Writ does still declare
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Is unto man a stumbling block and snare.
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ISrael durst tempt from them the mighty God
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If Jacob, who consum'd them with his Rod;
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Sent his devouring Plagues, which swept away
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Near twenty thousand of them in one day.
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SO for the like sin we in numbers fell,
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The Living could not the Dead number well:
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Our City too was soon reduc'd to dust,
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And yet there's few that think of living just.
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ALthough Gods Judgments duly threaten, yet
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To swear & curse young children think it fit,
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And Parents, who severe for it should chide
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Do oft in hearing of them take a pride.
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BElching of swift damnation now is grown
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A thing so common, that some do't unknown,
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Though Blazing Stars and Prodigies foretell
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That we against the King of Kings rebel.
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CAutious be Youths and Maids I say how you
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Do hastily the paths of death pursue;
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Wisdom cries loud, and bids you turn aside,
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Oh hear her voice, and let her be your guide.
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DO not give ear to such as wou[l]d betray
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You into mischeif, cause you to go astray,
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But let Gods word your only pattern be,
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For that is life unto Eternity.
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EVen follow their good lives who with their blood
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Seal'd up their Testimony, and withstood
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Romes Persecutions, nor did shrink nor faint
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To suffer all the Tyrants could invent.
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FOllow, I say, th' examples of the just,
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And in Gods mercies still be all thy trust.
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Parents instruct your children that they may
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Your Precepts and your just commands obey.
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GOvern them wisely, and you'l quickly find
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As you instruct them so they'l be inclin'd;
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But if you nurture them in Vice when young
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They'l vex your soul when they grow great & strong.
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HOnour your Parents, for if you despise,
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The Valley-Ravens will pluck out your eye
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Pay homage to them and you long shall live
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in the good Land which God himself does give.
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IMagine not but God does see thy waies,
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'Tis he alone that can prolong thy days,
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And after give thee everlasting Life,
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Whence he has banisht Envy, Hate, and Strife.
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KNow this youngman in this thy day the peace
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And welfare of thy soul e're life does cease,
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Dangers beset thee, and as death doth leave
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So judgment finds, then don't thyself deceive.
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LEarn Servants to obey and to be just,
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Let none be prompted to betray his trust:
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Eye-service hate, for such does God despise,
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Do not defraud, nor given be to lyes.
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MAke no debate, nor on the Sabbath play,
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For that the Lord appoints his holy day
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What he hath Sacred made above the rest,
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And heavy doom 'gainst breakers on't exprest.
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NOw let your heart be pure and perfect, why
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Because the dreadful day of death draws nigh
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And after that the final day of doom,
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Which speedily will upon all flesh come.
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O Then let me exhort both young and old
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To pray to God e're he his wrath unfold,
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And let all live as they intend to dye,
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Lest they for sin be bound in flames to lye.
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