The young-mans conquest over the powers of darkness. In a dialogue, between a virtuous young-man, and the subtile insinuating tempter; discovering the baits of Satan, and the strength of temptation: with the Christians fortitude, and only means of overcoming, which is by faith in Christ, and unwearied perseverance. Eph. 6. chap. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may withstand the wiles of the devil. Necessary to be set up in all houses.

The YOUNG-MANS Conqueſt Over the POWERS of DARKNESS. In a DIALOGUE, Between a Virtuous Young-Man, and the Subtile Inſinuating Tempter Diſcovering the Baits of SATAN, and the Strength of TEMPTATION: With the Chriſtians Fortitude, and only means of Overcoming, which is by Faith in Chriſt, and unwearied Perſeverance. Eph. 6. chap. 11. Put on the whole Armour of God, that you may withſtand the wiles of the Devil. Neceſſary to be ſet up in all Houſes.

comic strip

panel The Young Man at School.

The Devil Tempting him to neglect Learning, and to follow Paſtime.

panel The Vertuous young Student.

The Devil Tempts him to ill company

panel The Heavenly Pilgrim.

The Devil Tempteth him with Money, to hinder him in his way to Heaven.

panel The Armed Chriſtian.

The Devil Shooting his Dart at him, are beat back.

Straight is the Gate, and Narrow is the Way, &c.

Tempter, YOungman, well met, but whither in ſuch haſt, Do's fear ſurpriſe thee that thou mov'ſt ſo faſt, Whither art Running Youth, come prethee tell, Youngman, To ſhun thoſe Crooked Paths that Leads to Hell. Tempter, Piſh, talk no more of that, but tell me whither Thou do'ſt intend, and wee'l go both together. Youngman, A pretty motion, when I want a Guide I'le ſend for thee, till then thou art deny'd. T. Slight not the Courteſie which I have ſhown, Such oft miſtake the way who go alone, Thy Feet may ſlide, ſhouldſt thou my care neglect, But I will Guide thee, and from harm protect. Y. If Heaven will guide my Soul, I ſhall not ſtray, Or fear the danger of a Slipp' • y way. As for thy offers, I muſt borrow Leave To ſay, ſuch friendſhip's only to deceive. T. Thy ſerious mind adviſe, and thou wilt ſee My ways are beſt, be principl'd by me, 'Tis I miſtaken Soul, 'tis I alone That can Conduct thee to the Sublime Throne. Believe not thoſe that tell thee Babling Stories, Of Endleſs, Boundleſs, unconceived Glories. Believe me Youth, 'tis I that can Diſplay The Goſpel Colours, better far then They. I can do more, it lies within my Power To make thee Poor, or Rich, in half an hour. I'le make the ſwell with Riches, thou ſhalt have. All that thy Heart can wiſh, or Tongue can crave, Come Gentle Soul, into my twining Arm's I'le hugg thee, I'le delight thee with my Charms. Y. Tempter with-draw thy Bates and Snares, and ſtay The Progreſs of thy Tongue, and give me way That I may vent my thoughts, you having ſpoke At large already, and is this the Stroke Which you intend ſhall wound me, be Aſſur'd, The Blows but ſmall, and may be well Endur'd. T. What doſt thou think I am perfidious, Eye, 'Tis folly to condemn before you Try. Alas ! alas ! what profit can Accrue To me, by wronging ſuch a Youth as you, I doubt theſe Weak, theſe Empty thoughts preſage A Tempeſt Guarded with a ſtorm of Rage, Well then Storm on, and when thy Storm is ſpent, Sit down and Meditate, and then Repent. Y. Repent, O happy word, although Expreſt 〈◊〉 a foul Mouth, Thoſe that repent are bleſt. •• on falacious wretch, I can not brook •• ny Golden baits, I have deſcry'd thy Hook, • oft thou believe that I can Entertain Belief from thee, or doeſt thou think to Reign Within my Breaſt, no, no, thy Clowdy Powers Are at the beſt but falcifying Showers; Thou bidſt me try, thy ways are ſo unjuſt, That I reſolve neither to try nor Truſt. T. Not try nor Truſt, art-thou reſolv'd to croſs My real motions, do, and ſee whoſe loſs Will prove moſt Weighty, if I loſe the heat Of thy weak Love, my loſs will not be great. Take my inſtructions Soul, 'tis I muſt bring Content unto thee, 'tis a Glorious thing To be Immortal, prethee Soul decline Thy former ways, ſay, ſhall I call thee mine. My Gates are always open, thoſe that venture To come to me, ſhall with a welcome Enter. Y. 'Tis not thy charming tempting Tongue can turn The Biaſs of my Soul, or make me ſpurn At Holy Writ, 'tis not thy fond conceit Of being good, ſhall make me to Retreat From Heavens Commands, 'tis not thy promis'd joys Can make me chearful, or thy painted Toys Can Lure me to thy Fiſt, 'tis not the Dart Of thy vain Love can penetrate my Heart. 'Tis not thy greatneſs that ſhall make me yield To thy deſires, Religion is my Shield. I am advis'd to ſhun the broad path'd ways, But to believe what Holy Scripture ſays, The paths are Strait in which I ought to Run The Courſe of Grace, untill my days are done, And thoſe that change a Vertue for a Vice, Deſerve no Fruit from Heavens bleſt Paradice. T. Urge not the Scriptures, for I dare maintain My paths are beſt, all other ways are vain, Know that my real breaſt contrives no End But what may profit thee, be thy own Friend, Obſerve my Actions, pry into my parts, Lets know each other by Exchange of Hearts, I'le give the mine, and for my ſake reſtore Thine unto me, grant this I'le ask no more. Y. Thou ſaiſt thou'rt great and good, if this be true. I needs muſt call the Scripture falſe, or you, Truth bids me tell thee boldly, when thou cry'ſt Thou'rt great, and good, and rich, and rare, thou ly'ſt, If thou art great and good, then tell me why, Thou wilt behold ſo vile a Wretch as I, How can it be that thou wilt condeſcend To feed my wants that am ſo mean a Friend; Strange is that Charity which ſeems to ſhine, From ſuch a Diabolick breaſt as thine, I will Implore Heav'ns aid, to keep me ſtill, From this moſt Vile Progenitor of Ill; Lord let him not infould me in his Arms, Or overcome me with his wanton Charmes, Be thou my Fort, and then I ſhall endure, His furious onſets, and repoſe ſecure, Give me thy Grace, then ſhall I be Content, Make me as ſtrong as he is Impudent. T. What ſtill refuſe to do as I deſire, I'le make my Bellows to Advance the Fire Of thy diſtreſs, and thy perpetual grief Shall find a Voyce, but ramble from Relief, I'le gripe thee till I make thee underſtand The Fiery Language of my furious hand. Y. Do, let the Spring-Tyde of thy fierce deſires Flow to the height, thou ſhalt not Quench my Fires, Know, Tempter know, my Heart reſerves no place For thy Abode, I ſcorn thee to thy Face. The well dy'd Colours of my Soul declares Defiance to thee, and my breaſt prepares. To give the Battel, ſtrike, I fear thee not, Who's Arm'd with Faith, needs fear no Cannon-ſhot. T. What Impious Tongue is that which dares deny My Power, with ſo much boldneſs — Y. Wretch 'tis I. 'Tis I infernal Traytor, that will ſpend My ſtrength to prove thou art a Flat'ring friend. T. Move me to Anger, do, and thou ſhalt find A Courteous Friend at laſt may prove unkind, Have I not wo'd thee almoſt night and day To go to Heaven, Youngman, The quite contrary way. T. Have I not proffered all chat can be given To a ſick Soul — Young. To draw my Soul from Heaven. T. Did I not promiſe to be true and Juſt, Y. Did I not ſay I'de neither try nor Truſt, T. Did I not promiſe I would make thee wiſe, Y. Y. Did I not ſay thou wer't compos'd of Lies, T. Did I not promiſe to Encreaſe thy ſtore, Y. Did I not ſay ſuch wealth would make me poor, T. Did I not promiſe thee Eternal Glory, Y. Did I not ſay that promiſe was a Story, T. Did I not tell thee I was great and good, Y. Did I not Anſwer, 'twas in Sheding blood, T. Thus by fair Terms I Laboured to obtain, Y. Thus in fowl Terms I told thee 'twas in vain, T. Then I began to Threaten thee with Grief, Y. And then I fled to Heav'n and found Relief. T. Then here I'le leave thee to the Lawleſs power Of thy own paſſion, curſed be the hour That brought thee forth, if all this will not do, May all Men curſe thee, and I'le curſe thee too. Y. Begon, begon, but ſtay, hark Satan hark, Boaſt, thou haſt ſhot, though thou didſt miſs thy mark, T. Why doſt thou bid me go, I hope thy words Are ſuch as mine, which only Jeſts affords. Smile on me then, and chearfully Impart, The loving Childings of a tender Heart. Y. Thou great Corrupter of Diviner parts, Thou watchful Thief that ſteals into the Hearts Of ſilly Mortals, think not to devour My Armed heart, with thy purſuing power. T. Will nothing move thee, wilt thou ſtill miſtruſt If fair means will not move thee, foul means muſt. Y. I fear thee not, becauſe I know thy power Is Limited, and thou canſt not devour Without Commiſſion, therefore do thy worſt, And let thy Envy ſwell untill it burſt. If words could kill, I had been e're this time Worded to Death, but now I hope to Clime Above the Reach of Words, in thy deſpite, Where thou maiſt Grumble at me, but not bite. If thou art God, as thou pretends to be, Why doſt thou ſuffer ſuch a thing as me T' expoſtulate ſo long, and doſt not ſhow Thy Judgments in my ſpeedy overthrow. T. It is my goodneſs, and not thy, deſert That breads forbearance in my tender Heart; Alas ! alas! What Honour would Accrue To me in Conquering ſuch a thing as you. Y. Thy Threats nor feign'd expreſſions cannot move My Heart from God, nor nothing make me Love; Thy wretched ſelf, then be content and ceaſe. To Urge my mind, or interrupt my peace. Now Gloriou • God, be pleaſed to Inflame My Heart with Raptures, to Exrol thy Name, Lord, I am weak, and if thou ſhouldſt deny To, give me Strength, how weak a thing am I, Wean me, O wean me, from this Nurſing Earth, Make it my Sorrow, and thy Throne my Mirth; When I am Tempted, make me underſtand, Thou haſt a Storming and a Calming Hand; Then ſhall my Ready Lips Expreſs, and ſhow I know no more then thou wouldſt have me know; My unty'd Tongue ſhall evermore Proclaim Exalted Praiſes to thy Holy Name. FINIS.