N01010:125
War with the devil, or, The young man's conflict with the powers of darkness,…
War with the devil, or, The young man's conflict with the powers of darkness, in a dialogue discovering the corruption and vanity of youth, the horrible nature of sin, and deplorable condition of fallen man, also, a description of the power and rule of conscience, and the nature of true conversion. : To which is added, an appendix, containing a dialogue between an old apostate and a young professor, worthy the perusal of all, but chiefly intended for the instruction of the younger sort. / By B.K. author of Zion in distress, or The groans of the Protestant church.War with the devil, or, The young man's conflict with the powers of darkness, in a dialogue discovering the corruption and vanity of youth, the horrible nature of sin, and deplorable condition of fallen man, also, a description of the power and rule of conscience, and the nature of true conversion. : To which is added, an appendix, containing a dialogue between an old apostate and a young professor, worthy the perusal of all, but chiefly intended for the instruction of the younger sort. / By B.K. author of Sion in distress, or The groans of the Protestant church.
New York: printed by William Bradford, 1707
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Youth in his Unconverted state.Youth in his Ʋnconverted state.
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.
Those that do seek Gods Kingdom first of all, And do obey Gods sweet and gracious call, They shall find Christ, and lie too in his Breast, And reap the Comfort of Eternal rest. But if thou shouldst this golden time neglect, And all good motions utterly reject; And •light the day of this thy visitation, That will to God be such a provocation, That he'll not wait upon thee any more, Nor never knock hereafter at thy door. While terms of peace God doth therefore afford, Subject to him, lest he doth draw his Sword. If once to anger him you do provoke, He'll brake your bones, and wound you with his stroke. Who can before his indignation stand, Or bear the weight of his revengeful hand? How darest thou a War with him maintain, And say, o'er thee Christ Jesus shall not Reign? Wilt thou combine with his vile Enemy, And yet presume on his sweet clemency? Wilt thou, vile Traitor-like, contrive the death Of that great King, from whom thou hast thy breath? Wilt thou, cast dirt upon the Holy One, And keep Christ Jesus from his rightly Throne? Is't not his right thy Conscience for to sway? Ought he not there to Reign, and thou Obey? ⟨p. 18⟩Darest thou resist his dread and Sovereign power? Yea, or hold parley with him for an hour, To gratify the Devil, who thereby Renews his strength, yea, and doth fortify Himself in thee, and makes his Kingdom strong, By tempting thee to sin whilst thou are young? The Black-a-moor as soon may change his skin, As thou mayst leave and turn away from sin, When once a habit and a custom's taken, Then sinful ways are hard to be forsaken. Darest thou, vile wretch, Christ's Government oppose And with the Devil and corruption close? Hadst rather that the Devil reign o'er thee, Than unto God Almighty subject be? Which will be best, dost think, for thee i'th' end, The Lord to please, and Satan to offend? Or Satan for to please, and so thereby, Declare thy self JEHOVAH's Enemy? For those who live in sin, 'tis very clear, They Enemies to GOD and JESUS are. And wilt thou yield unto the Devil still, And greedily also his will fulfil? Dost think, vain Youth, he'll prove to thee a friend, That thou dost so his cursed ways commend? Has Sin (which is his odious excrement) So sweet a smell, yea, and a fragrant scent? Shall that which is the superfluity Of naughtiness, be precious in thine e•e?
Those that do seek Gods Kingdom first of all, And do obey Gods sweet and gracious call, They shall find Christ, and lie too in his Breast, And reap the Comfort of Eternal rest. But if thou should'st this golden time neglect, And all good motions utterly reject; And light the day of this thy visitation, That will to God be such a provocation, That he'll not wait upon thee any more, Nor never knock hereafter at thy door. While terms of peace God doth therefore afford, Subject to him, lest he doth draw his Sword. If once to anger him you do provoke, He'll brake your bones, and wound you with his stroke. Who can before his indignation stand, Or bear the weight of his revengeful hand? How darest thou a War with him maintain, And say, o're thee Christ Jesus shall not Reign? Wilt thou combine with his vile Enemy, And yet presume on his sweet clemency? Wilt thou, vile Traytor-like, contrive the death Of that great King, from whom thou hast thy breath? Wilt thou, cast dirt upon the Holy One, And keep Christ Jesus from his rightly Throne? Is't not his right thy Coscience for to sway? Ought he not there to Reign, and thou Obey?