N01010:159
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.
Truth. In this also you may deceived be. Men may forsake all gross iniquity, Yet in their Souls may some sweet morsel lie, Which they may hug and keep close secretly. They may sin leave, but not as it is sin; Which has too often manifested been If the least sin thou didst forsake aright, All sin would then be odious in thy sight. Judgement and Reason may your sins oppose, And utterly refuse with them to close; Yet may thy will and thy affections join, To favour still and love those sins of thine. If sin's not out of thy Affection cast, Thou wilt appear an Hypocrite at last; If sin's in the' Will and in the' Affections found, 'Tis a true sign thy heart is unsound. ⟨p. 43⟩When they do meet with storms & with bad weather, Lest all their Goods and Ship do sink together, When in the Soul great storms and tempests rise The Devil then may subtly advise, The Soul to throw some of its sins away, To make a Calm that so thereby he may, Persuade the Soul the danger is quite gone, And that the work in him is fully done. 'Tis not enough therefore some sins to leave, But every sin you must resolve to have And cast o'er-board, yea, and that willingly, Or else you sink to all Eternity. Not by constraint as Conscience doth compel, As some are forced to do who like it well, Who leave the Act, but love to it retain: Such leave their sins, and yet their sins remain.
Truth. In this also you may deceived be. Men may forsake all gross iniquity, Yet in their Souls may some sweet morsel lie, Which they may hug and keep close secretly. They may sin leave, but not as it is sin; Which has too often manifested been If the least sin thou didst forsake aright, All sin would then be odious in thy sight. Judgement and Reason may your sins oppose, And utterly refuse with them to close; Yet may thy will and thy affections joyn, To favour still and love those sins of thine. If sin's not out of thy Affection cast, Thou wilt appear an Hypocrite at last; If sin's i'th' Will and in th' Affections found, 'Tis a true sign thy heart is unsound. ⟨p. 43⟩When they do meet with storms & with bad weather, Lest all their Goods and Ship do sink together, When in the Soul great storms and tempests rise The Devil then may subtilly advise, The Soul to throw some of its sins away, To make a Calm that so thereby he may, Perswade the Soul the danger is quite gone, And that the work in him is fully done. 'Tis not enough therefore some sins to leave, But every sin you must resolve to have And cast o're-board, yea, and that willingly, Or else you sink to all Eternity. Not by constraint as Conscience doth compel, As some are forc'd to do who like it well, Who leave the Act, but love to it retain: Such leave their sins, and yet their sins remain.