A77614:147
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 sixth Remedy against this device of Satan, is seriously to consider, that the design of God in all the afflictions that do befall them, is only to try them; 'tis not to wrong them, nor to ruin them, as ignorant souls are apt to think. He knoweth the way that I take, and when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold, saith patient Job So in that 8. Dan. 2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God l•d thee, these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou 1wouldest keep his Commandments or no. God afflicted them thus, that he might make known to themselves, and others, what was in their hearts. When fire is put to green wood, there comes out abundance of watery stuff that afore appeared not; when the pond is empty, the mud, filth, and toads come to light. The snow covers many a dunghill; so doth prosperity many a rotten heart. It is easy to wade in a warm-bath, and every bird can sing ⟨p. 101⟩in a sun-shine-day, &c. Hard weather tries what health we have; afflictions try what sap we have, what grace we have. Weathered leaves soon fall off in windy weather; Rotten boughs quickly break with heavy weights, &c. you are wise, and know how to apply it.
The sixt Remedy against this device of Satan, is seriously to consider, that the designe of God in all the afflictions that do befall them, is only to try them; 'tis not to wrong them, nor to ruine them, as ignorant soules are apt to think. He knoweth the way that I take, and when he hath tryed me, I shall come forth as gold, saith patient Job So in that 8. Dan. 2. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God l•d thee, these fourty yeares in the willdernesse, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou 1wouldest keep his Commandements or no. God afflicted them thus, that he might make known to themselves, and others, what was in their hearts. When fire is put to green wood, there comes out abundance of watery stuffe that afore appeared not; when the pond is empty, the mud, filth, and toads come to light. The snow covers many a dunghill; so doth prosperity many a rotten heart. It is easie to wade in a warme-bath, and every bird can sing