A77614:106
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 fifth Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that to repent of sin is as great a work of grace, as not to sin. By our sinful falls the powers of the soul are weakened, the2 strength of grace is decayed, our evidences for Heaven are blotted, fears and doubts in the soul are raised (will God once more pardon this scarlet sin, and show mercy to this wretched soul) and ⟨p. 61⟩corruptions in the heart are more advantaged, and confirmed, and the conscience of a man after falls, is the more enraged, or the more benumbed; now for a soul, notwithstanding all this, to repent of his falls, this shows, that 'tis as great a work of grace to repent of sin, as 'tis not to sin. Repentance is the vomit of the soul, and of all Physic, none so difficult, and hard, as 'tis to vomit; the same means that tends to preserve the soul from sin, the same means works the soul to rise by Repentance, when 'tis fallen into sin: We know, the mercy and loving kindness of God, is one special means to keep the soul from sin, as David spake, Thy loving kindness is always before mine eyes, and I have 3walked in thy truth; I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the Congregation of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked: So by the same means the soul is raised, by Repentance out of sin, as you may •ee in Mary Magdalen, who loved much, and4 wept much, because much was forgiven her: so those in Hosea, Come, let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up: after two days he will revive us, in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight; or before his ⟨p. 62⟩face, as the Hebrew hath it, i. e. in his5 favour, confidence in Gods mercy, and love, that he would heal them, and bind up their wounds, and revive their dejected spirits, and cause them to live in his favour, was that which did work their hearts to repent, and return unto him; I might further show you this truth in many other particulars; but this may suffice: