A77614:105
Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices
Precious remedies against Satan's devices or, salve for believers and unbelievers sores. Being a companion for those that are in Christ, or out of Christ; that are high, or low, learned, or illiterate, staggering, or wandering; that slight, or neglect ordinances, under a pretence of living above them; that are growing (in spirituals) or decaying; that are tempted, or deserted, afflicted, or opposed; that have assurance, or that want assurance; that are self-seekers, or the common-wealths caterpillars; that are in love sweetly united, or that yet have their spirits too much embittered, &c. By Thomas Brooks, a willing servant unto God, and the faith of his people, in the glorious gospel of Christ, at Margarets fish-street hill.Precious remedies against Satans devices or, salve for believers and unbelievers sores. Being a companion for those that are in Christ, or out of Christ; that are high, or low, learned, or illiterate, staggering, or wandering; that slight, or neglect ordinances, under a pretence of living above them; that are growing (in spiritualls) or decaying; that are tempted, or deserted, afflicted, or opposed; that have assurance, or that want assurance; that are self-seekers, or the common-wealths caterpillars; that are in love sweetly united, or that yet have their spirits too much imbittered, &c. By Thomas Brookes, a willing servant unto God, and the faith of his people, in the glorious gospel of Christ, at Margarets fish-street hill.
London: printed by M. Simmons for John Hancock, 1653
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.
The fourth Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that if the work of Repentance were ⟨p. 59⟩such an easy work, as Satan would2 make it to be; then certainly so many would not lye roaring, and crying out (of wrath and eternal ruin) under the horrors and terrors of conscience, for not repenting; yea, doubtless, so many millions would not go to hell for not Repenting, if 'twere such an easy thing to repent: Ah! do not poor souls under horrors of conscience, cry out, and say, were all this world a lump of gold, and in our hand to dispose of, we would give it for the least dram of true Repentance, and wilt thou say, it is an easy thing to repent? When a poor sinner, whose Conscience is awakened, shall judge the exchange of all the world, for the least dram of Repentance, to be the happiest exchange that ever sinner made, tell me, oh soul! is it3 good going to hell? is it good dwelling with the devouring fire? with everlasting burnings? Is it good to be for ever separated from the blessed and glorious presence of God, Angels, and Saints? And to be for ever shut out from those good things of eternal life? which are so many, that they exceed number, so great, that they exceed measure▪ so precious, that they exceed all estimation; we know, 'tis the greatest misery that can befall the sons of men; ⟨p. 60⟩and would they not prevent this by Repentance, if it were such an easy thing to repent, as Satan would make it? well then, do not run the hazard of loosing God, Christ, Heaven, and thy soul for ever, by hearkening to this Device of Satan, viz. That it is an easy thing to Repent, &c. If it be so easy, why then do wicked mens hearts so rise against them, that press the Doctrine of repentance in the sweetest way, and by the strongest and the choicest Arguments that the Scripture doth afford? And why do they kill two at once? The faithful Labourers name, and their own souls, by their wicked words and actings, because they are put upon repenting, which Satan tells them is so easy a thing: surely, were repentance so easy, wicked men would not be so much enraged when that doctrine is by evangelical considerations pressed upon them.