N01010:127
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.
Belshazzar, who upon the Throne did •it, His Knees against each other soon did hit, How was he scared when the writing came And wrote upon the Wall, even the same That afterwards befell, his end being come, Received his fatal stroke, which was his Doom. Great men oft-times being filled with great fear; Being perplexed they know not how to steer. Tall Cedars fall when little shrubs abide, Though Winds do blow and strangely turn […] Ti• For man in honour lives but a short space. He dyes like to the beasts, so ends his race: Where's Nimrod now that mighty Man of old, And where's the Glory of the head of Gold? ⟨p. 21⟩Great Monarchs now are mouldered quite away, Who did on earth the Golden sceptre sway, In highest place of Humane Government: None ever found therein solid content. Of Alexander 'tis declared by some, How he sate down when he had overcome The Eastern World, and did weep very sore Because there was one World and no more For him to Conquer. Thus also 'tis still, This world's no• big enough Man's Soul to fill, Riches and Wealth also can't satisfy, That precious Soul which in thy breast doth lie. If store of Gold and Silver thou shouldst gain, 'Twould but increase thy sorrow, grief and pain. Riches, (O Young Man) they are but empty things, And fly most swift away with Eagles wings. When riches thou dost heap, thou heapest up sorrow, They're thine to day, alas! but gone to morrow, Fires may come and thy Treasures burn, Or Thieves steal them, as they have often done. He that hath thousands by the Year, this night May be as poor as Job before 'tis light. And as for pleasure which thy Age doth prize, Why should that seem so lovely in thine eyes? 'Tis but a moment they with thee will last, And sadness comes also when they are past, The Brute his pleasures hath as well as thee, Man's chiefest good therefore can't pleasure be, And whilst thou strivest thy evil Lust to please, Thy raging Conscience (Youth) who shall appease? With this sweet Meat, I tell thee also, Friend, Thou shalt have sour sauce before the end. ⟨p. 22⟩And as for Beauty, that also is vain, Unless thou canst the inward Beauty gain. What's outward Beauty, save an evil snare, By which vain ones oft-times deceived are? That beauty which mans carnal heart doth prize, Renders not lovely in JEHOVAH's eyes. Though decked with Jewels, Rings and brave attire, The glorious King their beauty don't desire;