N01010:206
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.
Youth. My faith, alas, is weak, O send relief, Lord, I believe, O help my unbelief, That precious voice which I did lately hear, Will soon remove my doubts and all my fear. If Love, as well as pity, thou dost show, 'Twill give me joy, and take away my woe. But thou mayst, Lord, my Soul commiserate, And yet may I be in a dying state. Over Jerusalem thou didst Lament, Who had no saving Grace for to repent. Is there in thee such Bowels of compassion, As to bestow thy self and thy Salvation, On such a Worm as I, whose wounded breast is heavy loaded, and would fain have rest? O help, dear Lord; my fainting Soul will dye, Without an answer from thee speedily.
Youth. My faith, alas, is weak, O send relief, Lord, I believe, O help my unbelief, That precious voice which I did lately hear, Will soon remove my doubts and all my fear. If Love, as well as pity, thou dost show, 'Twill give me joy, and take away my wo. But thou mayst, Lord, my Soul commiserate, And yet may I be in a dying state. Over Jerusalem thou didst Lament, Who had no saving Grace for to repent. Is there in thee such Bowels of compassion, As to bestow thy self and thy Salvation, On such a Worm as I, whose wounded brest is heavy loaded, and would fain have rest? O help, dear Lord; my fainting Soul will dye, Without an answer from thee speedily.
Jesus. Look up to me and see my Love descending, 'Tis from Eternity, and has no ending. Canst thou have more, dear Soul? thou hast my heart; What e'er is mine, to thee I will impart. Thy scarlet sins are washed quite away, Not one of them unto thy charge I'll lay Pull up thy drooping heart, be of good cheer, Thy sins, though never so great, forgiven are. I able am to save to the uttermost All those who do in me put all their trust. Those which do come to me, I in no wise Will cast them out, therefore lift up thine eyes▪ ⟨p. 79⟩Behold my hands and feet, and do not doubt, For I have wished and cleansed thy Soul throughout. Thy debts I've paid, and quitted thy old score; Thy former faults I ne'er remember more. Enter the Royal Fort, thou hast obtained: Th' holy fountain of pleasure, holy Love unstained Take up thy Lodging in Eternal Love, What's here below, thy treasure is above. Cheer up, poor heart, I tell thee thou art mine. My blood was shed to save that Soul of thine: With endless joys thy Soul I'll satisfy, And in my Bosom ever shalt thou lie. In my enfolded Arms I now thee take, And do engage i'll never thee forsake. In the fire and in the Water i'll be near, And help thee through all grief and trouble here, Yea, I'll be with thee always to the end, And Death at last I'll cause to be thy friend; And make its passage also unto thee Only an entrance to felicity. Rivers of pleasures thou shalt have to the brim, Wherein the prophets and Apostles swim, And with great Glory thou shalt Crowned be, And on the throne sit down with me. World, Death nor Devil ever shall remove My heart from thee, for those I truly Love, I Love the end: Ah, Soul 'tis thou shalt lie In my own Arms to all Eternity.