Apples of Gold, Title page – To the reader
Apples of Gold FOR Young Men and VVomen, AND A Crown of Glory for Old Men and women.
OR, The happineſs of being good betimes, And the honor of being an Old Diſciple. Clearly and fully diſcovered, and cloſely, and faithfully applyed.
ALSO The Young Mans Objections anſwered, And the Old Mans doubts reſolved.
By THOMAS BROOKS Preacher of the Goſpel at Margarets new Fiſhſtreet-hill.
But I thy Servant fear the Lord from my Youth.
1 King. 18.12.
The hoary head is a crown of Glory, if it bee found in a way of righteouſneſs,
Prov. 16.31.
LONDON, Printed by R. I. for John Hancock, to be ſold at the firſt Shop in Popeshead-Alley next to Corn-hill neer the Exchange. 1657.
To all Young Perſons throughout the Nations, eſpecially thoſe (of both Sexes) who begin to turn their faces towards Zion.Prov. 15.23.25 c. 11 A word ſpoken (gnalophnau) upon his Wheels, that is with a due concurrence and obſervation of all circumſtances of time, place, perſon, all which are as the wheels upon which our words and ſpeeches ſhould run, ſuch a word is like apples of gold in pictures of ſilver.
Dear Hearts,
A Word ſpoken in due ſeaſon how good is it? it is often like apples of Gold in pictures of ſilver, many times ſuch a word is ſweet, precious, pleaſing, delectable, and ſtrong in its operation. A company of near friends dining together one Sabbath day, one that was at Table (to prevent impertinent diſcourſe) ſaid, That it was a queſtion whether they ſhould all go to Heaven or no; which ſtruck them all into a dump, and cauſed every one to enter into a ſerious conſideration with themſelves, one thought if any of this company go to bell it muſt bee I, and ſo thought another, and another, and indeed ſo thought almoſt every one then preſent, as well ſervants that waited, as thoſe that ſate at Table, as it was afterwards acknowledged; and (thorow the mercy and bleſſing of God) this ſpeech ſo wrought upon the ſpirits of moſt of them, that it proved the firſt inſtrumentall means of their converſion.
I have my hopes, through grace, that this Treatiſe, though it be ſown in weakneſs, yet by the bleſſing of the moſt high upon it, it may riſe in power, and bee an inſtrumental means of the winning of ſouls to Chriſt, which is my higheſt ambition in this world, and therefore I have broke thorow all difficulties, and carnal reaſonings, that might otherwiſe have ſtifled this babe in the womb, and kept it from ever ſeeing of the light.
I have read of an Emperour, that delighted in no undertaking, ſo much as thoſe which in the eſteem of his Counſellors, and Captains were deemed moſt difficult and impoſſible, if they ſaid ſuch or ſuch an enterprize would never be accompliſhed, it was argument enough to him, to make the adventure, and he uſually proſpered, he ſeldom miſcarried
I have never found greater and choycer bleſſings, to attend any of my poor weak Labours, than thoſe that have been brought forth into the world thorow the greateſt ſtraits and difficulties.
Valerius Maximus reports that one telling a ſouldier, Valerius Maximus. lib. 3. c. de fiducia.going to war againſt the Perſians, that they would hide the Sun with their arrows; hee anſwered, we ſhall fight beſt in the ſhade; nothing ſhould diſcourage nor diſ-hearten a ſouldier of Chriſt, 2 Tim. 2.3, 4. Chriſt ſaith to all his ſouldiers (as the black Prince his father ſaid to him, Hiſt. of France. p. 196.fighting as it were in bloud to the knees, and in great diſtreſs) either vanquiſh or dye. Men of no reſolution, or of weak reſolution, will bee but little ſerviceable to the good of ſouls; Such watch-men as will bee free from the bloud of ſouls, and be ſerviceable to the intereſt of Chriſt, in turning ſinners from darkneſſe to light, muſt bee men of ſpirit and reſolution.
I remember Auſtin beginneth one of his Sermons thus (Ad vos mihi Sermo, Auguſt. de tempore ſerm. 246O juvenes, flos aetatis, periculum mentis) To you is my ſpeech, O young men, the flower of age, the danger of the mind.
So ſay I, to you O Young men, do I dedicate the enſuing Treaetiſe, and that firſt becauſe, the matter contained therein, doth primarily and eminently concern you.
And Secondly, Becauſe of an earneſt deſire, that I have of your internal and eternal welfare.
And Thirdly, Becauſe of ſome late impulſes that have been upon my ſpirit, to leave this Treatiſe in your hands as a Legacy of my Love, and as a teſtimony and witneſs of my (great) ambition to help forward your everlaſting ſalvation.
And Fourthly, Becauſe there is moſt hope of doing good amongſt you (as I evidence more at large in the following Treatiſe.)
And fifthly; To countermine the great underminer of your ſouls, whoſe great deſign is to poyſon you, and poſſeſs you in the morning of your dayes.
Sixthly, To provoke others that are more able and worthy; to bee more ſerviceable to you in declaring themſelves, fully on this very ſubject, which none yet have done that I know of, though it be a point of as great concernment to young perſons (eſpecially) as any I know in all the ſcriptures.
Seventhly, and Laſtly, becauſe there are very many that do lye in wait, to deceive, corrupt, Eph. 4 14 A blind eye is werſe then a lame foor, he that had the leproſy in his head was to be pronounced utterly uncleanand Poyſon young perſons with God-diſhonoring, Chriſt denying, conſcience waſting, and ſoul damning opinions, Principles, and Blaſphemies.
I have read of one who boaſted, and gloried in this, that he had ſpent thirty years in corrupting and Poyſoning of youth; doubtleſſe many wretches, many monſters there be among us, who make it their buſineſſe, their glory, their all, to delude and draw young Perſons to thoſe dangerous errours and Blaſphemies, that leads to deſtruction. Error and folly (ſaith one very well) be the knots of Satan, wherewith hee tyes children to the ſtake to be burnt in hell.
There is a truth in what the Tragaedian ſaid long ſince (Venenum in auro bibitur) Poyſon is commonly drunk out of a cup of gold; So is an error, or by-notion ſooneſt taken into the judgement and conſcience from perſons of the faireſt carriage, & ſmootheſt converſations. Error is ſo foul an Hagge, that if it ſhould come in its own ſhape; a man would loath it, and fly from it, as from hell.
If Jezabel had not painted her face, ſhee had not gotten ſo many young doteing Adulterers to have followed her to their own ruine.
Ah! Young men, young men, the bleſſing of the Lord upon your ſerious and diligent peruſal of this Treatiſe, may bee a happy means to preſerve you from being enſnared and deluded by thoſe monſters, Mar. 23.15who compaſſe Sea and Land to make proſelytes for bell.
And thus I have given you the reaſons of my dedicating this Treatiſe to the ſervice of your ſouls. I would willingly preſume that it will be as kindly taken; as it is cordially tendred; I hope none of you into whoſe hands it may fall, will ſay as once Antipater King of Macedonia did, when one preſented him with a book treating of happineſſe, his anſwer was (Ou Scholazo) I have no leiſure.
Ah! Young men and women, young men and virgins, as you tender the everlaſting welfare of your ſouls, as you would eſcape hell, and come to heaven, as you would have an intereſt in Chriſt, a pardon in your boſomes, as you would be bleſſed here, & glorious hereafter, find time, find leaſure to read over and over the following treatiſe, which is purpoſely calculated for your eternal good. But before I go further, I think it needful in ſome reſpects to give the world ſome further account of other reaſons or motives that hath prevailed with mee once more to appear in print; and they are theſe.
Firſt, Having preached a Sermon occaſionally upon thoſe words (on which this following diſcourſe is built.) I was earneſtly importun'd to print the Sermon, by ſome worthy friends; I did as long as in modeſty I could withſt and their deſires (judging it not worthy of them) but being at laſt overcome, and ſetting about the work, the breathings and comings in of God were ſuch, as hath occaſioned that one Sermon to multiply into many. Luther tells us, that when hee firſt began to turn his back upon Popery, hee intended no more, but to withſtand Popiſh pardons, and ſelling indulgencies; yet neither would God, or his enemies let him alone, till hee reſolved with Moſes not to leave a hoof of Popery unoppoſed, &c. God many times in the things of the Goſpel, carries forth his ſervants beyond their intentions, beyond their reſolutions. But
Secondly, The kinde acceptance, and good quarter that my other peeces have found in the world, and thoſe ſignal and multiplyed bleſſings that have followed them, to the winning of many over to Chriſt, and to the building up of others in Chriſt, hath incouraged mee to preſent this Treatiſe to the World, hoping that the Lord hath a bleſſing in ſtore for this alſo. Gracious experiences are beyond notions, and impreſſions; they are very quickening, and encouraging.
Thirdly, That I might in ſome meaſure make up others neglects, whoſe age, whoſe parts, whoſe experiences, whoſe graces, hath long called upon them to do ſomething conſiderable this way, and that they may bee provoked by my weak aſſay to do better, and to make up what is wanting, through my invincible infirmities, and ſpiritual wants and weakneſſes, which are ſo many, as may well make a ſufficient Apology for all the defects, and weakneſſes that in this Treatiſe ſhall appear to a ſerious judicious eye. But
Fourthly, The love of Chriſt and ſouls hath conſtrained mee to it; 2 Cor. 5.14. 2 Cor. 12.15. Solus amor neſci… difficultates. Love knows no difficulties.as there is an attractive, ſo there is a compulſive vertue in divine love. Love to Chriſt and ſouls will make a man willing to ſpend, and bee ſpent; hee that praies himſelf to death, that preaches himſelf to death, that ſtudies himſelf to death, that ſweats himſelf to death, for the honour of Chriſt, and good of ſouls, ſhall bee no looſer in the end: divine love is like a rod of Myrtle, which as Pliny reports, makes the traveller that carries it in his hand, that hee ſhall never bee faint or weary. Divine love is very operative (ſi non operatur, non eſt) if it do not work, it is an argument, it is not at all; divine love like fire is not idle, but active; hee that loves cannot bee barren; love will make the ſoul conſtant and abundant in well doing. God admits none to heaven (ſaith Juſtin Martyr) but ſuch as can perſwade him by their works, that they love him. The very heathen hath obſerved, Seneca.that God doth not love his children with a weak womaniſh affection, but with a ſtrong maſculine love; and certainly they that love the Lord ſtrongly, that love him with a Maſculine love; they cannot but lay out their little all for him, and his glory. But
Fifthly, I obſerve that Satan, and his inſtruments are exceeding buſy and unwearied in their deſigns, attempts, and indeavours, in theſe dayes, to corrupt and poyſon, It is ſaid of Marcellus the Roman General that he could not bee quiet (Nec victor, nec victus) neither Conquered, nor Conquerer; ſuch a one is Satan.to defile and deſtroy the young, the tender, the moſt hopeful, and moſt flouriſhing plants among us.
Latimer told the Clergy in his time, that if they would not learn diligence, and vigilance of the Prophets and Apoſtles, they ſhould learn it of the Devil, who goes up and down his Dioceſes, and acts by an untired Power, ſeeking whom hee may deſtroy, when the wolves are abroad, the Shepheard ſhould not ſleep but watch; yea double his watch, remembring that hee were better have all the bloud of all the men in the world upon him, than the bloud of one ſoul upon him; by his negligence or otherwiſe.
Satan is a Lyon, not a Lamb, a roaring Lyon, not a ſleepy Lyon, not a Lyon ſtanding ſtill, but a Lyon going up and down as not being contented with the Prey, the many millions of ſouls hee hath got, he ſeeks whom he may ſip up at a draught, as that word (foreign) in the 1 Pet. 5.8. imports; his greateſt deſign, is to fill hell with ſouls, which ſhould awaken every one to bee active, and to do all that may bee done to prevent his deſign, and to help forward the ſalvation of ſouls.
Chryſoſtome compares good paſtors, Chryſ. in Mat. Ho. 15.to fountains that ever ſend forth waters, or Conduits that are alwayes running, though no pail bee put under. But
Sixthly, and Laſtly, 1 Cor. 15. ult.I know the whole life of man is but an hour to work in, and the more work any man doth for Chriſt on earth, the better pay he ſhall have when hee comes to Heaven. 2 Cor. 9.6Every man ſhall at last reap as he ſows; Opportunities of doing ſervice for Chriſt, and ſouls, are more worth than a world, therefore I was willing to takehold on this, not knowing how ſoon I may put off this earthly Tabernacle; 2 Pet. 1.13, 14and remembring that as there is no beleeving, nor repenting in the grave, Eccl. 9.10So there is no praying, preaching, writing, nor Printing in the grave; we had need to be up and doing, to put both hands to it, and to do all wee do with all our might, John 9.4knowing that the night draws on upon us, wherein no man can work.
A Chriſtians dying day is the Lords pay day; that is a time to receive wages, not to do work. And thus I have given the World a true account of the Reaſons that moved me to print the following diſcourſe; before I cloſe up, I deſire to ſpeak a word to young perſons, and another to aged perſons, and then I ſhall take leave of both.
My requeſt to you, who are in the primeroſe of your dayes, is this, if ever the Lord ſhall be pleaſed ſo to own and Crown, ſo to bleſs, and follow this following diſcourſe; as to make it an effectuall means of turning you to the Lord, of winning you to Chriſt, of changing your natures, and converting your ſouls (for ſuch a thing as that, I pray, hope, and beleeve) that then you would do two things for me,
Firſt; That you would never ceaſe, bearing of me upon your hearts when you are in the mount, that I may bee very much under the pourings out of the Spirit, that I may be clear, high, and full in my communion with God, and that I may bee alwayes cloſe, holy, humble, harmleſs and blameleſſe in my walkings with God. And that his work may more and more proſper in my hand.
Secondly, Pſal. 66.16 1 Pet. 3.15That you would by word of mouth, letter, or ſome other way, acquaint mee with what the Lord hath done for your ſouls; if he ſhall make mee a ſpiritual father to you, do not hide his grace from mee, but acquaint mee how hee hath made the ſeed that was ſown in weakneſs to riſe in power upon you, and that
Firſt, That I may do what I can to help on that work begun upon you, that your penny may become a pound, your mite a million, your drop an ocean.
Secondly, That I may the better Engliſh ſome impreſſions that have been upon my own ſpirit, ſince I begun this work.
Thirdly, 1 Theſ. 2 19, 20 2 Cor. 9.2That my joy and thankfulneſs may bee increaſed, and my ſoul more abundantly engaged to that God, who hath bleſt the day of ſmall things to you; ponder theſe ſcriptures, (2 Cor. 7.3, 4, 13. Phil. 2.2. ch. 4.1. Philemon ver. 7. 2 John 3.4.) And then be aſhamed to declare what the Lord hath done for you, if you can.
Fourthly, Mat. 25.23 Dan. 12.3 Prov. 11.30it is better to convert one, than to civilize a thouſand, and will turn more at laſt to a Miniſters account in that day, wherein he ſhall ſay, Loe here am I, and the children that thou haſt given mee, Iſa. 8.18. ſuch a man (with his ſpiritual children about him) ſhall look on God with more comfort and boldneſs, than thoſe that are onelyonly able to ſay, Loe here am I, and the many Benefices; here am I, and the many Eccleſiaſtical dignities, and glories; here am I, and the many hundreds a year, that man had given, and I have gotten. But
Fifthly, Act. 9.3 Iſa. 6.5 Mal. 2.5, 6, 7. &c.and Laſtly, The converſion of others is a ſecondary and more remote evidence of a mans own renovation and converſion. Paul was converted himſelf, before God made him inſtrumental for others Converſion. Gods uſuall method is, to convert by them, who are converted.
I do not remember any one inſtance in all the ſcripture, of Gods converting any by ſuch who have not been converted firſt themſelves; yet I know his grace is free, and the wind blows where it liſts, when it liſts, and as it liſts.
To aged perſons I have a word, and then I have done.
Firſt, To Gray-headed Saints, Ah Friends, ah Fathers, would you ſee your honour, your happineſs, your bleſſedneſs! then look into this Treatiſe, and there you will finde what an unſpeakable honour it is to bee an Old diſciple, what a glory it is to be good betimes, and to continue ſo to Old age.
Secondly, To white-headed Sinners, whoſe ſpring is paſt, whoſe ſummer is overpast, and who are arrived at the fall of the leaf, and yet have a hell to eſcape, a Chriſt to beleeve in, ſins to pardon, hearts to change, ſouls to ſave, and heaven to make ſure, would ſuch be incouraged from ſcripture grounds to repent, beleeve, and hope; that yet there is mercy for ſuch, let them ſeriouſly peruſe this Treatiſe, eſpecially the latter part of it, and there they may finde enough to keep them from deſpairing, and to incourage them to adventure their ſouls upon him that is mighty to ſave.
There are many things in this Treatiſe that are of uſe to all, and ſeveral things of moment that are not every day Preach't nor read. I have made it as pleaſureable as time would permit, that ſo it might be the more profitable to the reader, and that I might the better take the young man by (a holy) craft; 2 Cor. 12. ch. 15.2 Prov. 11.30which is a high point of heavenly wiſdome; there being no wiſdome to that of winning of ſouls. I ſhall now follow this poor peice with my weak prayers, that it may be ſobleſt from heaven, as that it may bring in ſome, and build up others, and do good to all, and ſo reſt
Your friend and Servant in the Goſpel of Chriſt, THOMAS BROOKS.