A29676:373
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.
First, If you would be good betimes, then you must know betimes that there is every thing in Christ, that may encourage you to seek him, and serve him, to love him, 1and obey him, to believe on him, and to marry with him. If you look upon his names, his natures, his offices, his graces, his dignities, his excellencies, his royalties, his glories, his fullnesses, they all speak out as much. Are you poor? why Christ hath tried Gold to enrich you; 2are you naked? Christ hath white raiment to clothe you; are you spiritually blind? Christ hath eye-salve that will enlighten you; are you in straits? he hath wisdom to Counsel you; 3are you unrighteous? he will be righteousness to you; are you unholy? he will be holiness and sanctification to you; ⟨p. 229⟩are you hungry? 4he is bread to feed you; are you thirsty? he is wine and milk to satisfy you; are you weary? he is a bed, a seat, to rest you; are you sick? why, he is a Physician to cure you, &c. (Omne bonum in summo bono) all good is in the chiefest good. The Creatures have their particular goodness, health hath its particular goodness, and wealth hath its particular goodness, and learning hath its, and the favour of the Creature hath its, &c. but now Jesus Christ he is an universal good, 5all the petty excellencies that are scattered abroad in the Creatures, are united to Christ; yea all the whole volume of perfections which is spread through heaven and earth is epitomized in him. (Ipse unus erit tibi omnia, quia in ipso uno bono, bona sunt omnia. Aug. One Christ will be to thee instead of all things else, because in him are all good things to be found. Abraham's servant brought forth jewels ⟨p. 230⟩of silver, 6and jewels of gold to win Rebekah's heart to Isaac; so should you, O young men, be often in presenting to your own view, all those amiable and excellent things that be in Christ, to win your hearts over to Christ betimes.