N00425:139
Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ...…
Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ... To which may be added, a short scriptural catechism, accommodated unto their capacities. / By Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by R. Pierce for Nicholas Buttolph, 1690
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.
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.
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.