The Young Man’s Pocket Companion: Part III

Summary

Some brief Cautions to a young Man against the Scepticism and Infidelity of the present Age, which insnare the Minds, and debauch the Morals of the Youth of this Kingdom:Wherein the essential Principles of Christianity are laid down and vindicated in so intelligent and forcible a Manner, as may serve for a Preservative against the contagious Infidelity of the present Age, and enable a young Man to give a Reason for his Faith.

The present Age, by a strange Fatality, which I know not to what to ascribe it, is so lamentably over-run with Atheism, Deism, and Infidelity, that it is matter of no small Concern, that it should be necessary to caution a young Man on this Head: For is it not a sad thing to reflect, that after upwards of 1700 Years, in which Christianity has triumphed over all its Enemies, converting Principalities and Powers from Paganism to the Light of the Gospel, we should now have our most Holy Religion to defend? And this not from the successful Invasions of the open and profess’d Enemies of our Faith, which have often overturn’d States and chang’d Religions; but from an upstart Race of Libertines, that have risen up among our selves; and who, under the Notion of Freedom of Thought and Liberty, have run into all manner of Licentiousness.

The narrow Compass which we have prescrib’d to our selves, obliges us to be as brief as possible on this important Subject: And we would gladly have excus’d our selves from undertaking this Task, had not a very good Friend, who has a laudable Concern for the Good of Mankind, persuaded us, that it was absolutely necessary, to add something in Defence of our Holy Religion, that might be of Use to fortify the Mind of the young Man as he advanced to riper Years and Understanding in the Belief and Practice of the Christian Religion, so rudely and so openly attack’d by barbarous and impious Persons, as well in Print, as in all Conversations.