N01010:512
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.
Apostate. Thou art too strict, too righteous and precise, Thou s•ight'st such things which prudent men do prize Thou mayst have Christ, Pleasure and Honours too, And saved be without half this ado. There's very few, alas, are of your Mind, Who unto Rome are not at all inclined.
Apostate. Thou art too strict, too righteous and p•ecise, Thou s•ight'st such things which prudent men do prize Thou may'st have Christ, Pleasure and Honours too, And saved be without half this ado. There's very few, alas, are of your Mind, Who unto Rome are not at all inclin'd.
Professor. You now condemn me for my holy Life, Wherein, 'tis true, I met with straits and strife But when, dear Sir, you come at length to dye, You'll blame your self, and me you'll justify. Did ever any one on a Dying Bed Lament that they were by Gods Spirit led To crucify their sins, and undertake All things to leave for the Lord Jesus sake▪ ⟨p. 155⟩If Righteous Ones, alas! scarce saved are, It greatly doth behove me to take care In holiness to walk, what e'er you say, I from the Paths of Life will never stray. The Way I know is rough, 'tis hard and straight, And leads me also through a Thorny gate. Whose scratching Pricks are very sharp and fell, The way to Heaven is by the Gates of Hell. Your way, 'tis true, seems very smooth and wide, Since you from Christ have lately turned aside. My Paths seem long, yours short and very fair, Free from all Rubs and Snares, yet (Sir) beware, The safest Path is not always most even, The way to Hell's like to a seeming Heaven. Shall proud Flesh wantons for a moments pleasure, Expose themselves to shame, and loss of Treasure? They'll spend their strength, their Gold, and their Estates, Amongst their sensual Dame hellish-Mates. Shall cursed Pleasures thus be prized, and must The joys above be cheaper than a Lust? Th'ambitious Gallant, for to hoist his Name Upon the wings of Honour and of Fame, How will he venture on the point of Spears, And face the mouths of Canons! nought the fears: With Courage stout, how will he fight in the' Flood, When Brinish Seas are mixed with human Blood! Shall wretched Man be at the Devils will, And dangers run his Lust for to fulfil? And shall not I, when God commands me forth, engage for him with all my might on Earth? Or shall the promised Crown of endless Life, e judged a Trifle, and not worth a strife?