A29676:204
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.
Young men, I will suppose you to be good accountants; now if you please to count the number, and mark the age of the Sacrifices in the old Testament, you shall find more Kids and Lambs offered than Goats, and old Sheep; You have no lease of your lives, you are not sure that you shall live to Isaacks age, 1to live till your eyes wax dim; you ⟨p. 121⟩are not sure that you shall live to Jacobs years, and die, 2leaning upon the top of a staff. 3You read of them who die in their youth, and whose lives are among the unclean. Slip not the present season, neglect not this day of grace; let not Satan keep your souls and Christ any longer asunder, by telling of you, 4that you are too young; that hereafter will be time enough. Austin tells us, that by this very temptation the Devil kept him off from receiving of Christ, from closing with Christ Seven years together: he could no sooner think of inquiring after Christ, of getting an interest in Christ, of leaving off his sinful courses, &c. but Satan would be still a suggesting, thou art too young to leave thy drunkenness, thou art too young to leave thy Delilahs, to leave thy Harlots; till at last he cried out, how long shall I say it is too soon? why may I not repent to day? and lay hold ⟨p. 122⟩on Jesus Christ to day? &c. Ah young men! this is your day, this is your season, if you will not now hearken and obey, you may perish for ever. Caesar had a letter given him by Artemidorus, that morning he went to the Senate, wherein notice was given him of all the conspiracy of his murderers; so that with ease, he might have prevented his death; but neglecting the reading of it, was slain; he slipped his season, and dyes for it. Ah! how many for slipping gracious seasons and opportunities have died for ever? Soul-opportunities are more worth than a thousand worlds; mercy is in them, grace and glory is in them, heaven and eternity is in them.