A29676:35
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
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.
Thirdly, That I might in some measure make up others neglects, whose age, whose parts, whose experiences, whose graces, hath long called upon them to do something considerable this way, and that they may be provoked by my weak assay to do better, and to make up what is wanting, through my invincible infirmities, and ⟨image 7⟩spiritual wants and weaknesses, which are so many, as may well make a sufficient Apology for all the defects, and weaknesses that in this Treatise shall appear to a serious judicious eye. But
Thirdly, That I might in some measure make up others neglects, whose age, whose parts, whose experiences, whose graces, hath long called upon them to do something considerable this way, and that they may bee provoked by my weak assay to do better, and to make up what is wanting, through my invincible infirmities, and ⟨image 7⟩spiritual wants and weaknesses, which are so many, as may well make a sufficient Apology for all the defects, and weaknesses that in this Treatise shall appear to a serious judicious eye. But
Fourthly, The love of Christ and souls hath constrained me to it; 1as there is an attractive, so there is a compulsive virtue in divine love. Love to Christ and souls will make a man willing to spend, and be spent; he that prays himself to death, that preaches himself to death, that studies himself to death, that sweats himself to death, for the honour of Christ, and good of souls, shall be no looser in the end: divine love is like a rod of Myrtle, which as Pliny reports, makes the traveller that carries it in his hand, that he shall never be faint or weary. Divine love is very operative (si non operatur, non est) if it do not work, it is an argument, it is not at all; divine love like fire is not idle, but active; he that loves cannot be barren; love ⟨image 7⟩