A77614:145
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 Device ⟨p. 98⟩of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that the afflictions that do befall the Saints, are such as proceed from Gods dearest love. As many as I love I rebuke 1and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. Saints saith God, think not that I hate you, because I thus chide you; he that escapes reprehension, may suspect his adoption; God had one Son without corruption, but no Son without correction. A gracious soul may look through the darkest cloud, and see a God smiling on him. We must look through the anger of his correction, to the sweetness of his countenance, and as by a Rain-bow, we see the beautiful image of the Suns light, in the midst of a dark, and waterish cloud. When Munster lay sick, and his friends asked him how he did, and how he felt himself, he pointed to his sores and ulcers (whereof he was full) and said, these are Gods Gems, and Jewels, wherewith he decketh his best friends, and to me they are more precious then all the gold and silver in the world. A soul at first conversion is but ruff cast, but God by afflictions doth square and fit, and fashion it for that glory above, which doth speak them out, to flow from precious love; therefore the afflictions that do attend the people of God, should be ⟨p. 99⟩no bar to holiness, nor no motive to draw the soul to ways of wickedness.
The fourth Remedy against this Device ⟨p. 98⟩of Satan, is, seriously to confider, that the afflictions that doe befall the Saints, are such as proceed from Gods dearest love. As many as I love I rebuke 1and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. Saints saith God, think not that I hate you, because I thus chide you; he that escapes reprehension, may suspect his adoption; God had one Son without corruption, but no Son without correction. A gracious soule may look through the darkest cloud, and see a God smiling on him. We must look through the anger of his correction, to the sweetnesse of his countenance, and as by a Rain-bow, we see the beautifull image of the Suns light, in the midst of a dark, and waterish cloud. When Munster lay sick, and his friends asked him how he did, and how he felt himselfe, he pointed to his sores and ulcers (whereof he was full) and said, these are Gods Gems, and Jewells, wherewith he decketh his best friends, and to me they are more precious then all the gold and silver in the world. A soul at first conversion is but ruf cast, but God by afflictions doth square and fit, and fashion it for that glory above, which doth speak them out, to flow from precious love; therefore the afflictions that doe attend the people of God, should be