A77614:122
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 third Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that there is no greater misery in this life, then not to be in misery; no greater2 affliction, then not to be afflicted; woe, woe to that soul that God will not spend a rod upon; this is the saddest stroke of all, when God refuses to strike at all. Ephraim is joined to Idols, let him alone. Why should you be smitten any more, you will revolt more and more. When the Physician gives over the Patient, you say ⟨p. 78⟩ring out his knell, the man is dead: so when God gives over a soul to sin, without control, you may truly say, this soul is lost; you may ring out his knell, for he is twice dead, and plucked up by the roots. Freedom from punishment is the mother of security, the step-mother of virtue, the poison of Religion, the moth of holiness, and the introducer of wickedness; nothing said one, seems more unhappy to me, then he to whom no adversity hath happened. Outward mercies oft-times prove a snare to our souls. I will lay a stumbling block, Ezek. 3. 20. Vatablus his note there is3 I will prosper him in all things, and not by affliction, restrain him from sin. Prosperity hath been a stumbling block, at which millions have stumbled, and fallen, and broke the neck of their souls for ever.
The third Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that there is no greater misery in this life, then not to be in misery; no greater2 affliction, then not to be afflicted; woe, woe to that soul that God will not spend a rod upon; this is the saddest stroke of all, when God refuses to strike at all. Ephraim is joyned to Idols, let him alone. Why should you be smitten any more, you will revolt more and more. When the Physician gives over the Patient, you say ⟨p. 78⟩