A29676:365
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. › Good Couns 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.
As you would be good betimes, dwell much upon your corrupt nature betimes; Ah! Such is the corruption of our nature, that propound any divine good to it, it is entertained as fire by water, or ⟨p. 225⟩wet wood, with hissing; propound any evil, then it is like fire to straw, it is like the foolish Satire, that made haste to kiss the fire, it is like that unctuous matter, which the naturalists say, sucks and snatches the fire to it, with which it is consumed; till you come to be sensible of this, you will never begin to be good, you will never look to have your hearts changed, and your souls saved.
As you would be good betimes, dwell much upon your corrupt nature betimes; Ah! Such is the corruption of our nature, that propound any divine good to it, it is entertained as fire by water, or ⟨p. 225⟩wet wood, with hissing; propound any evil, then it is like fire to straw, it is like the foolish Satyre, that made haste to kiss the fire, it is like that unctious matter, which the naturalists say, sucks and snatches the fire to it, with which it is consumed; till you come to bee sensible of this, you will never beginne to be good, you will never look to have your hearts changed, and your souls saved.
The Ethiopians paint Angels black, and Devils white, in favour of their own complexion, & they say, that if the brute creatures could draw a picture of the divine nature, they would make their shape the Copy, and thus they flatter and delude themselves; take heed young men, take heed, that you don't put the like cheats upon your own souls, take heed that you be not like those Limners, who so as they can make a mans picture gay and gaudy, care not to draw it, ⟨p. 226⟩so as to resemble him, it is safest and best O young man! to know the worst of thy self, and to know thy self as thou art in thy self, and not as thy own flattering heart, or as other flatterers may represent thee to thy self.