N01010:165
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. Thou mayst believe as most of people do, And yet to Hell at last thy Soul may go. The Faith of credence it is like you have, Which cannot quicken, purify or save. Some Jews believed in Christ, you also find, Yet to their Lusts there hearts were still inclined; And out of Satan's Kingdom were not freed, Nor made Disciples of the Lord indeed. ⟨p. 47⟩Simon the Sorcerer, he did believe, Yet did his Soul no saving grace receive▪ But was a child of Satan never the less, And still was in the the Ga•l of bitterness. The stony ground with joy received the seed, And for a time brought forth as you may read, And yet their hearts they were but hearts of ston• Their Faith was temporary, soon 'twas gone. The Devils do believe as well as you, Yea, and Confess that Jesus they do know: They tremble also, when some men can't say, They ever did unto this present day. Such Faith as Devils have must Men obtain, Which serves for nought, save to augment their pa• If on a Death-bed Conscience do awake, 'T will cause them then to tremble and to quake▪ And roar like Devils when they do espy, The dreadful wrath of that great Majesty, Whom they offend, and against purest Light, And knowledge too most wickedly did slight▪ This faith will serve their grief to aggravate, But not to help them out of that estate, 'Tis easy to believe that Christ did dye; But hard his blood, in Truth, for to apply▪ Men may raise up the dead to life again, As easy as true saving Faith obtain By their own power, an inherent skill, Nought doth oppose it more than Mans own will; Until Almighty power makes it bend, 'Twill not to Grace, nor Jesus condescend. That power which raised up Jesus from the dead, Works Faith in Saints, where by they're quickened: The Faith of Credence, and Historical, Is easy had. I ne'er deny it shall; ⟨p. 48⟩But precious Faith, the Faith of Gods Elect, As 'tis a Grace and gloriously bedecked With other Graces, so twill never grow But in the honest heart, where God doth sow The blessed seed, which, like a garden pure, Doth yield its fruit to the' last, you may be sure. And when this Faith is wrought in any Soul, It throws down self, and wholly then doth roll On Jesus Christ, as its beloved one, On whom it rests, and doth depend alone. If God has wrought this precious Grace in thee, Sin thou dost hate, yea, all Iniquity;