A77614:192
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.
Now the Remedies against this device of Satan are these that follow.
The first Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, to consider, that all the troubles and afflictions that you meet with in a way of righteousness, shall never hurt you; they shall never harm you. And who is he that shall harm 2you, if you be followers of that which is good, saith the Apostle, i. e. none shall harm you; natural conscience cannot but ⟨p. 143⟩do homage to the image of God, stamped upon the natures, words, works, and lives of the godly; as we may see in the carriage of Nebuchadnezzar, and3 Darius towards Daniel. All the afflictions and troubles that do attend men in a way of righteousness, can never rob them of their treasure, of their jewels; they may rob them of some light, slight things; as the sword that is by their side, or the stick that is in their hand, or of the flowers, or ribbons that be in their hats; The treasures of a Saint is the presence of God, the favour of God, union and communion with God; the pardon of sin, the joy of the spirit, the peace of Conscience, which are Jewels that none can give, but Christ, nor none can take away, but Christ. Now, why should a gracious soul keep off from a way of holiness? because of afflictions, &c. when no afflictions can strip a man of his heavenly jewels, which are his ornaments, and his safety here, and will be his happiness and glory hereafter. Why should that man be afraid, or troubled for4 storms at Sea, whose treasures are sure in a friends hand upon land? why, a believers treasure is always safe in the hands of Christ; his life is safe, his soul is safe, his grace is safe, his ⟨p. 144⟩