N01010:169
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.
But otherwise it is with most of Men, They cry for pardon, and do also then In their vile hearts regard iniquity; And for this cause God doth their suit deny. Their prayers are to God abomination, Whilst they do hide and cover their transgression▪ Some out of Custom do perform their prayer, Not out of Conscience or from Godly care; And others also for vain-glory sake, Like Pharisees they many prayers make. In sight of men, in public such will pray, But in the Closet little have to say. And some to God also seem to draw near, Yet not in love, nor out of filial fear, They with their mouths and tongues much kindness show, When as their hearts are fixed on thing below. 'Tis for the heart that Christ doth chiefly call, And reason 'tis that he should have it all; For he the same did buy, and purchase dear, Yet Satan has the chief possession there. God at the door, and in the porch doth stand Whilst Satan may the bravest Room Command. They lope to him, and keep JEHOVAH out, And yet in prayer they seem to be devout. There's some will pray, and up his duty keep, When the' soul is quite, and the' Body near asleep. Who ever prays, and prays not fervently, In faith, in truth, and in sincerity; Their prayers are sin, and them God will not hear Nor mind their cry when they to him draw near. 'Tis not enough a Duty for to know, But how also each Duty you should do. ⟨p. 52⟩For men may pray, read, hear, and meditate, And yet be in an unconverted state. They out worldly may many truths profess, But not in heart, the power of them possess. The Law in the' Letter keep, yea, have the shell, Yet feed on husks, and want the true kernel The Young Man which to Jesus Christ did run, He many things as well as you had done; And yet fell short, as you may plainly see, Of the chief part of true Christianity. What say yon now O Youth, do you not fear, That you by Satan much deceived are? Have you no Delilah, which secretly Doth in your heart or in your Bosom lye? Don't you to sin some secret love retain; If it be so, you are not born again. Conscience I fear, and God's restraining grace, Has only stopped you in your former race. Like to a Dog that's kept up by a chain, So Conscience does from sin oft-times restrain. But if the chain should slip, then loose he goes, And presently his churlish nature shows;
But otherwise it is with most of Men, They cry for pardon, and do also then In their vile hearts regard iniquity; And for this cause God doth their suit deny. Their prayers are to God abomination, Whilst they do hide and cover their transgression Some out of Costom do perform their prayer, Not out of Conscience or from Godly care; And others also for vain-glory sake, Like Pharisees they many prayers make. In sight of men, in publick such will pray, But in the Closet lettle have to say. And some to God also seem to draw near, Yet not in love, nor out of filial fear, They with their mouthes and tongues much kindness show, When as their hearts are fix'd on thing below. 'Tis for the heart that Christ doth cheifly call, And reason 'tis that he should have it all; For he the same did buy, and purchase dear, Yet Satan has the chief possession there. God at the door, and in the porch doth stand Whilst Satan may the bravest Room Command. They lope to him, and keep JEHOVAH out, And yet in prayer they seem to be devout. There's some will pray, and up his duty keep, When th' soul is quite, and th' Body near asleep. Who ever prays, and pras not fervently, In faith, in truth, and in sincerity; Their prayers are sin, and them God will not hear Nor mind their cry when they to him draw near. 'Tis not enough a Duty for to know, But how also each Duty you should do.