A29676:448
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.
Ah young men, young men! your worst enemies are within you, and all their plots, designs, and assaults are upon your souls, your most noble part; they know if that fort Royal be won, all is their own, and you are undone, and shall be their slaves for ever; and therefore it stands you upon, to arm your selves against these inbred enemies, and if you engage Christ in the quarrel, you will carry the day, and ⟨p. 277⟩when you shall lye upon your dying-beds, you will then find that there is no comfort to that, which ariseth from the conquests of your own hearts, your own lusts.
Ah young men, young men! your worst enemies are within you, and all their plots, designs, and assaults are upon your souls, your most noble part; they know if that fort Royal bee won, all is their own, and you are undone, and shall bee their slaves for ever; and therefore it stands you upon, to arm your selves against these inbred enemies, and if you ingage Christ in the quarrel, you will carry the day, and ⟨p. 277⟩when you shall lye upon your dying-beds, you will then finde that there is no comfort to that, which ariseth from the conquests of your own hearts, your own lusts.
Secondly, If you would break covenant with sin, if you would arm and fence your selves against sin betimes, 1then look upon sin as the souls bonds, for as bonds tie things together, so doth sin tie the sinner, and the curse together, it binds the sinner and wrath together, it links the sinner and hell together. I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity; iniquity is a chain, a bond; now bonds and chains gall the body, and so do sin the soul, and as poor captives are held fast in their chains, so are sinners in their sins; they cannot redeem themselves by price, 2