War with the Devil or the Young Mans 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 Definition, 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. The Fourth Impression. By B. K. [i.e. Benjamin Keach] |
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By a Friend, in Commendation of these POEMS.
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 | War with the Devil |  |
By a Friend, in Commendation of these POEMS.
My Muse is dull, although I have a will,This Book for to commend I want the skill.
I know not how it's worth for to declare,
Few Poems may, doubtless, with it compare;
Not for rare elegant Scholastick strains,
Which flow alone from those quick-witted brains:
Who with their Rhetorick, and curious Art;
Strive to affect the Fancy, not the Heart,
This Treatise read (kind Friend) and thou shalt see,
'Tis chiefly fill'd with choice Divinity.
The Author soars on high, his main design,
Is to instruct that precious soul of thine.
I'th' path Cœlestial, shews thee very plain;
How thou in Christ an Int'rest may'st obtain.
Or, if in Christ thy soul has got a place,
He to thy joy, shews forth thy happy case.
This Poem's like a Messenger sent forth,
To give a visit to the drowzy Earth;
The slugish Soul it strives for to awake,
Before it drops into the Fiery Lake.
Ther's very few upon the Earth do live,
But brought from hence some benefit receive.
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Yet 'twill agree with every place and time.
Its Message is of such a large extent,
It may in truth to all the World be sent:
To Male and Female, low and high degree,
He speaks a word to bond as well as free.
All, in whom Conscience dwells, he lets them see
Consciences great Pow'r and Authority.
When Heav'ns hot thunder-bolts with fire & hail,
Made Ægypts mighty Monarch's courage fail;
Conscience stept in, made him cry out amain,
The Lord is just; I, and my wicked train
Have sinn'd: Yea, Conscience also brings
Saul Son of Kish, the first of Israel's Kings,
Before the Prophet, humbly to confess
That he had sinn'd, and acted wickedness.
Conscience made David to cry out amain,
'Tis I have sinn'd, I have Uriah slain.
Though David slew a Lyon and a Bear,
And did not the great Gyants courage fear;
Yet Conscience made him stoop and tremble too:
And more than this you'l find Conscience can do.
Here's Counsel for Professors and Prophane,
Choose, or refuse, here's loss and also gain.
One Reason, Reader, of this Mode or Style,
Is, that it might with honest craft beguile
Such curious Fancies who had rather chose
To read ten lines in Verse, than one in Prose.
And as the nimble Fly, that lightly springs
Against the Flame, untill she burns her wings,
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VVith which she only sought to sport and game:
So whilst those curious fancies think to play
With this small piece, 'twill secretly betray
Them to their Conscience, and if Conscience send
Them to God's Word, the Author has his end.
Provided that unto the same they yeild,
And Grace and Conscience do obtain the field.
Farewel. W. B.
| War with the Devil | |