N01010:173
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.
Conscience. Sir, say no more, I am at your Command, And you shall hear how things at present stand, He hath, O Truth, almost deceived me By's late pretences unto Sanctity: But having now afresh received more light, I must declare he was an Hypocrite. He's not renewed or truly born again. Which I to you shall clearly now explain. For, first of all, his Faculty, called Will, That is perverse and very wicked still; Though I stir up to goodness every hour, Will doth oppose it with his greatest power. He'll never pray in private day nor night: But I must force him to't with all my might. The old man is not slain I do espy, But has much favour shown him secretly, Though I do force him into holes to run, Yet he doth nourish him when all is done. His Love and his Affections are for sin, And so in Truth they ever yet have been. He's troubled more at sin because of guilt, Than at the Odium of its cursed filth. When he's abroad amongst Religious Men, Precise and Zealous he is always then: But when amongst such who ungodly be, He suits himself to their vile company. ⟨p. 56⟩Some sins are left which Men condemn as gross, Yet one he keeps, and hugs it very close: Lust doth bear rule and much predominate, And he on it doth love to ruminate. 'Tis shame an outward fear doth him restrain, Or else the act he would commit again. If he from outward blots can keep his Name, That Saints can't him accuse nor justly blame, He's satisfied, and very well content, Though to his Peace I never gave consent. Peace he oft-times doth speak unto his Soul, And scarce will suffer me him to control. When I sometimes do catch him in a lye, And do reprove him for Hypocrisy: To stop my Mouth he vows he will with speed Amend what is amiss, and take more heed▪ And more than this of him I could relate, And show how you have hit his present state: But that he will not suffer me to speak, He blinds mine eyes, that so I might not rake Into his heart and life, lest he thereby Meet with great shame for his iniquity.
Conscience. Sir, say no more, I am at your Command, And you shall hear how things at present stand, He hath, O Truth, almost deceived me By's late pretences unto Sanct•ty: But having now afresh receiv'd more light, I must declare he was an Hypocrite. He's not renew'd or truly born again. Which I to you shall clearly now explain. For, first of all, his Faculty, call'd Will, That is perverse and very wicked still; Though I stir up to goodness every hour, Will doth oppose it with his greatest pow'r. He'll never pray in private day nor night: But I must force him to't with all my might. The old man is not slain I do espy, But has much favour shown him secretly, Though I do force him into holes to run, Yet he doth nourish him when all is done. His Love and his Affections are for sin, And so in Truth they ever yet have been. He's troubl'd more at sin because of guilt, Than at the Odium of its cursed filth. When he's abroad amongst Religious Men, Precise and Zealous he is always then: But when amongst such who ungodly be, He suits himself to their vile company.