N01010:438
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.
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.
Devil. Pursue thy purpose, thou shalt under•••n• What-e'er I have shall be at thy command▪ My Kingdom's great, this world is whol•• •ine, Bow down to me, and all shall then be th••• ▪ ⟨p. 106⟩Afraid I was I should have lost thee quite. The•'s nought like that which here's now in th• sig•• Behold the Bags of Gold which thou shalt have, Honours on earth, riches and pleasures brave, When others forced in Prison are to lie, Thou shalt enjoy thy precious liberty. When Kings and Princes do upon them frown, Thou shalt be held in honour and renown. Thou hast much goods laid up for many years, And long shalt live free from all cares and fears. Thy seed established too shall be on earth, And thou shalt spend thy days in joy and mirth. Thoughts of Religion utterly disdain, Nor think of God, or Jesus Christ again, Fanatic fables never more regard, The pains of Hell, of which thou oft hast heard, Are nought, save fictions of their crafty head; With fear of nothing are they frightened, That mad-men like, they do tread under feet Those lovely joys which wise men find most sweet Religion's nought but a devised thing, Which up at first some crafty head did bring To awe the minds of fools, who wanting wit, Take that for Gold that's a mere counterfeit. The truth of Scripture thou hast cause to doubt, For divers places thou mayst soon find out Which inconsistent to each others be, Of what it speaks there is no certainty. Conclude in Truth there is no God at all, Why shouldst thou be so foolish as to call On him, whom thou didst never see or know, Unless its thus, because that most do so? ⟨p. 107⟩Let Melancholy fancies now therefore Ne'er vex thy mind, nor grieve thee any more. Enjoy thy self on Earth, and heap up Gold, No good like that which purse and bags do hold. Come eat and drink, to morrow thou must dye; And afterwards there's no Eternity, As some suppose, for thou in the' grave shalt rot, And as the Beast be utterly forgot: But since you know it is reproach to them, Who all Religion utterly contemn, Thou mayst Religious also seem to be, For there is one that's very fit for thee. Melodious sounds, sweet mirth, and Music rare, Do much affect the heart, and charm the ear. No worship on the Earth doth suit so well With flesh or blood, or doth for ease excel, Or with man's interest doth so well agree, Like what's maintained in famous Italy.