A77614:124
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.
This word from Conscience makes the mans countenance to change, his thoughts to be troubled, his heart to be amazed, and all his mercies on the right hand, and left, to be as dead and withered. Ah! were but the eyes of wicked men open to see their wants, under their abundance, they would cry out, and say as Absalom did, What are all these to me, so long as I cannot see the Kings face? What's honour, and riches, and the favour of Creatures, so long as I want the favour of God, the pardon of my sins, an interest in Christ, and the hopes of glory. O Jod, give me these, or I dye, give ⟨p. 81⟩me these, or else I shall eternally dye.
This word from Conscience makes the mans countenance to change, his thoughts to be troubled, his heart to be amazed, and all his mercies on the right hand, and left, to be as dead and withered. Ah! were but the eyes of wicked men open to see their wants, under their abundance, they would cry out, and say as Absalom did, What are all these to me, so long as I cannot see the Kings face? What's honour, and riches, and the favour of Creatures, so long as I want the favour of God, the pardon of my sins, an interestin Christ, and the hopes of glory. O Iod, give me these, or I dye, give ⟨p. 81⟩me these, or else I shall eternally dye.
The fifth Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that outward things are not as they seem, and are esteemed; they have indeed a glorious outside, but if you view their insides, you will easily find that they fill the head full of cares, and the heart full of fears; what if the fire should consume one part of my estate, and the sea should be a grave to swallow up another part of my estate; what if my servants should be unfaithful abroad, and my children should be deceitful at home? ah the secret fretting, vexing, and gnawing, that doth daily, yea hourly, attend those mens souls, whose hands are full of worldly goods. 'Twas a good speech of an Emperor, you (said he) gaze on my purple Robe, nd golden Crown, but did you know what cares are under it, you would not take it up from the ground to have it. 'Twas a true saying of Augustine on the 26 Psalm, many are