Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ...…

If you ask, why, the Devil is our Enemy, the Reply is likewise easy; 'tis from his malignant spite at God, and spleen at man: The Devils cannot endure that the Name of God should be owned in the world; now 'tis our privilege that we both do the Service of God, and bear the Image of God; but because the Devil would be in the Throne of God, therefore he is unwilling that God should have any Children or Subjects upon the face of the Earth. Moreover, the Devils cannot brook it, that any should be above them; as 'tis intimated, that pride was the condemnation of the Devil. Because he sees man Saved, and himself Damned; man Advanced, and himself Degraded; hence he will do us all the Hurt he can.

If you ask, why, the Devil is our Enemy, the Reply is likewise easy; 'tis from his malignant spite at God, and spleen at man: The Devils cannot endure that the Name of God should be owned in the world; now 'tis our priviledge that we both do the Service of God, and bear the Image of God; but because the Devil would be in the Throne of God, therefore he is unwilling that God should have any Children or Subjects upon the face of the Earth. Moreover, the Devils cannot brook it, that any should be above them; as 'tis intimated, that pride was the condemnation of the Devil. Because he sees man Saved, and himself Damned; man Advanced, and himself Degraded; hence he will do us all the Hurt he can.

But he that is thus an Enemy to all men, is to young men, more eminently so. As the Apostle speaks to Christians, thus I may to young men, in I Pet. 5. 8. The Devil is your Adversary; young men, the Devil is remarkably ambitious to make a prey of your precious and immortal Souls. The Devil is an Abaddon and Apollyon; for to give him his due, to him does appertain the Name, which the Apocalypse justly puts upon a great Son of his. But young men do most of all find him such an one; that as our Lord said unto young Peter, in Luc 22. […] ⟨p. 57⟩31. Behold, Satan hath desired to have you. So may it be said unto young persons, Behold, Satan is peculiarly desirous to have you in his ravenous, devouring Jaws. The Devil goes ranging, raging, roaring about the world; and young men are those whom he is most concerned for the catching and spoiling of. Some have observed, That most of the Temptations recorded in the Scripture, still fell upon younger men. Be sure the Tempter falls foul upon them with a particular eagerness, and energy. And this for two causes.