N01010:518
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. Alas! the Journey's long, you'll wearied be, And faint before that Kingdom you do see.
Professor. Nay, Sir, be silent, that is false; for I By Faith most clearly do the Land espy. But is the Journey long? blame me no more, Betimes in the' morning I set out therefore. Why didst thou say it was too soon for me For to set out, if long the Journey be, I do resolve in Youth with speed to strive, Lest I too late at last should there arrive. While strength and youth do last, I'll bend my mind To travel hard, because I clearly find Old Age and weary Limbs quite out of case To go a Journey or to run a Race ⟨p. 159⟩Alas! when night is ready to come in, That's not a time this Journey to begin, When Sun and Moon and Stars all darkened be, And clouds return, that we no light can see; When Rain and tempests do most sore appear, And the' Keepers of the house all trembling are; When the strong Men themselves are forced to bow, And Grinders cease also, because that now They are but few, and ready to fall out, And those through windows which do look about, Are become dim, nay, darkened, without Light, And doors too in the street are shut up quite. When the low sound of the' Grinders scarcely heard, He riseth up too at the voice of the' Bird; And all the Daughters of sweet Music rare, Are brought too low, don't for such Music care; And fears increase in thoughts of what's on high, Fears in the way, and fears for what is nigh. When flourish shall the Almond-Tree also, And the' Grass-hopper shall be a burden too When loosed is the precious silver Cord, And Golden Bole is broken, as we have heard; When the weak Pitcher at the Fountain's broke, And the' Wheel at the' Cistern with a heavy stroke When desire fails, and there, alas! is none, What will such do who han't this Race begun? Besides, tis clear, my Days Uncertain be Old Age, alas, I may not live to •ee. Young Men are quickly gone; for I behold D•ily, as Young as I, are turned to the' Mould, M• own Experience doth discover this: My Life a Bubble and a Vapour is