A29676:200
Apples of gold for young men and women, and a crown of glory for…Apples of gold for young men and vvomen, and a crown of glory for…
Apples of gold for young men and women, and a crown of glory for old men and women. Or, The happiness of being good betimes, and the honour of being an old disciple Clearly and fully discovered, and closely, and faithfully applied. Also the young mans objections answered, and the old mans doubts resolved. By Thomas Brooks preacher of the gospel at Margarets new Fishstreet-hill.Apples of gold for young men and vvomen, and a crown of glory for old men and women. Or, The happiness of being good betimes, and the honour of being an old disciple Clearly and fully discovered, and closely, and faithfully applyed. Also the young mans objections answered, and the old mans doubts resolved. By Thomas Brooks preacher of the gospel at Margarets new Fishstreet-hill.
London: printed by R.I. for John Hancock, 1657
THE Young-Mans Duty AND EXCELLENCY. › Encouragements to Young men
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.
The fourth motive to provoke young ones to be really good betimes, is, to consider that the present time, the present day is the only season that you are sure of, time past cannot be recalled, and time to come cannot be ascertained. 1To day if you hear his voice harden not your hearts. Behold now is the acceptable time, 2now is the day of Salvation; some there be that trifle away their time, and fool away their souls and their salvation; to prevent this, the Apostle beats upon the [Greek or Hebrew], the present opportunity, because if that be once past, there is no recovering of it; therefore as the Mariner takes the first fair wind to sail; and as the Merchant takes his first opportunity of buying and selling, and as the Husbandman takes the first opportunity of sowing and reaping, So, should young men take the present season; the present day (which is their day) to be good towards ⟨p. 117⟩the Lord, to seek him, and serve him, and not to post off the present season, for they know not what another day, another hour, another moment may bring forth: that door of grace that is open to day, may be shut to morrow; that golden Sceptre of mercy that is held forth in the Gospel this day, may be taken in the next day; that love that this hour is upon the bare knee, entreating and beseeching young men to break off their Sins by repentance, to return to the Lord, 3to lay hold on his strength, and be at peace with him, may the next hour be turned into wrath. Ah! the noble motions that have been lost, the good purposes that have withered, the immortal souls that have miscarried, by putting off the present season, the present day. Paul discoursing before Felix of righteousness, 4temperance and judgment to come, and in this discourse striking at two special vices ⟨p. 118⟩that Felix was particularly guilty of, he falls a trembling, and being upon the wrack to hear such doctrine, he bids Paul depart for that time, and he would call for him at a convenient season, here Felix neglects his present season, and we never read that ever after this, he found a convenient time or season to hear Paul make an end of the subject he had begun; So Christ made a very fair offer to the Young man in the Gospel, Go and sell that thou hast,