A77614:198
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.
BY presenting to the soul the difficulty of performing them; saith Satan, 'tis so hard and difficult a thing to pray as thou shouldst, and to wait on God as thou shouldst, and to walk with God as thou shouldst, and to be lively, warm, and active in the communion of Saints, as thou shouldst, that you were better ten thousand times to neglect them, then to meddle with them; and doubtless by this Device Satan hath, and doth keep off thousands from waiting on God, and from giving to him that service that is due to his name, &c.
BY presenting to the soule the difficulty of performing them; saith Satan, 'tis so hard and difficult a thing to pray as thou shouldst, and to wait on God as thou shouldst, and to walke with God as thou shouldst, and to be lively, warm, and active in the communion of Saints, as thou shouldst, that you were better ten thousand times to neglect them, then to meddle with them; and doubtlesse by this Device Satan hath, and doth keep off thousands from waiting on God, and from giving to him that service that is due to his name, &c.
The first Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, to dwell more upon the necessity of the service, and duty, then on the difficulty that doth attend the duty; you should reason thus with your souls; oh! our souls, though such and such duties and services be hard, and difficult, yet are they not exceeding necessary for the honour of God, and the keeping up of his name in2 the world? and the keeping under of sin, and the keeping under of weak graces, and for the reviving of languishing comforts, and for the keeping clear and bright your blessed evidences, and for the scattering of your fears, and for the raising of your hopes, and for the gladding the hearts of the righteous, and stopping the mouths of unrighteous souls, who are ready to take all advantages, to blaspheme the name of God, and throw dirt and contempt upon his people, and ways? oh! never leave thinking on the necessity of this, and that duty, till your souls be lifted ⟨p. 152⟩up far above all the difficulties that do attend religious duties.
THe first Remedie against this device1 of Satan, is, to dwell more upon the necessity of the service, and duty, then on the difficulty that doth attend the duty; you should reason thus with your soules; oh! our soules, though such and such duties and services be hard, and difficult, yet are they not exceeding necessarie for the honour of God, and the keeping up of his name in2 the world? and the keeping under of sin, and the keeping under of weak graces, and for the reviving of languishing comforts, and for the keeping clear and bright your blessed evidences, and for the scattering of your fears, and for the raising of your hopes, and for the gladding the hearts of the righteous, and stopping the mouths of unrighteous souls, who are ready to take all advantages, to blaspheme the name of God, and throw dirt and contempt upon his people, and wayes? oh! never leave thinking on the necessity of this, and that duty, till your souls be lifted ⟨p. 152⟩
The second Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that the Lord Jesus will make his services easy to you, by the sweet discovery of himself to your souls, whilst you are in his service. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth, and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways, as the Prophet Isaiah saith; if meeting with2 God, who is goodness it self, sweetness it self, beauty it self, strength it self, glory it self, will not sweeten his service to thy soul, nothing in Heaven or Earth will. Jacob's meeting with Rachel, and enjoying of Rachel, made his hard service to be easy, and delightful to him; and will not the souls enjoying of God, and meeting with God, render his service to be much more easy and delightful? doubtless it will. The Lord will give that sweet assistance, by his Spirit and grace, as shall make his service joyous, and not grievous, a delight, & not a burden; a Heaven, and not a Hell to believing souls; the confidence of this divine assistance raised up Nehemiah's spirit, far above all those difficulties, and discouragements that did attend him in the work and service of the Lord, as you may see in that 2 Nehemiah, ⟨p. 153⟩vers. 19, 20. But when Sanballat 3the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, what is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the King? Then answered I them, and said unto them, the God of heaven he will prosper us, therefore we his servants will arise, and build: but you have no right, nor portion, nor memorial in Jerusalem. Ah souls! while you are in the very service of the Lord, you shall find by experience, that the God of Heaven will prosper you, and support you, and encourage, and strengthen you, and carry you through the hardest service, with the greatest sweetness and cheerfulness that can be. Remember this, that God will suit your strength to your work, and in the hardest service you shall have the choicest assistance.
The second Remedie against this device1
The third Remedy against this device of Satan, is, to dwell upon the hard and difficult things that the Lord Jesus Christ hath past through, for your temporal, spiritual, and eternal good. Ah! what a sea of blood? a sea of wrath? of sin, of sorrow, and misery did the Lord Jesus wade through, for your internal and eternal good? Christ did not plead, this Cross is too heavy for me to bear, this wrath is too great ⟨p. 156⟩for me to lie under, this Cup (which hath in it all the ingredients of divine displeasure) is too bitter for me to sip off, how much more to drink the very dregs of it? no, Christ stands not upon this; he pleads not the difficulty of the service, but resolutely, and bravely wades through all, as the Prophet Isa shows: The Lord God hath opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Christ makes nothing of his Fathers wrath, the burden of your sins, the malice1 of Satan, and the rage of the world, but sweetly and triumphantly passes through all. Ah souls! if this consideration will not raise up your spirits, above all the discouragements that you meet with, to own Christ and his service, and to stick, and cleave to Christ, and his service; I am afraid nothing will. A soul not stirred by this, not raised, and lifted up by this, to be resolute and brave in the service of God, notwithstanding all dangers and difficulties, is a soul left of God to much blindness, and hardness.
The third Remedie against this device of Satan, is, to dwel upon the hard and difficult things that the Lord Jesus Christ hath past through, for your temporall, spirituall, and eternall good. Ah! what a sea of blood? a sea of wrath? of sinne, of sorrow, and misery did the Lord Jesus wade through, for your internal and eternall good? Christ did not plead, this Crosse is too heavy for me to beare, this wrath is too great ⟨p. 156⟩for me to lie under, this Cup (which hath in it all the ingredients of divine displeasure) is too bitter for me to sip off, how much more to drink the very dregs of it? no, Christ stands not upon this; he pleads not the difficulty of the service, but resolutely, and bravely wades through all, as the Prophet Isa shews: The Lord God hath opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the haire; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Christ makes nothing of his Fathers wrath, the burden of your sins, the malice
The 4. Remedy against this Device of1 Satan, is, to consider, that religious duties, holy and heavenly exercises are ⟨p. 157⟩only difficult to the worser, to the ignoble part of a Saint; they are not to the noble, and better part of a Saint, to the noble part, the soul, and the renewed affections of a Saint; holy exercises are a heavenly pleasure, and recreation, as the Apostle speaks, I delight in the Law of God, after the inward 2man. With my mind I serve the Law of God, though with my flesh the law of sin. To the noble part of a Saint, Christs yoke is easy, and his burden is light; all the commands and ways of Christ (even those that tend to the pulling out of right eyes, and cutting off of right hands) are joyous, and not grievous to the noble part of a Saint; all the ways and services of Christ are pleasantness (in the abstract) to the better part of a Saint; a Saint, so far as he is renewed, is always best, when he sees most of God, when he tastes most of God, when he is highest in his enjoyments of God, and most warm, and lively in the service of God; oh! saith the noble part of a Saint, that it might be always thus; oh! that my strength were the strength of stones, and my flesh as brass, that my worser part might be more serviceable to my noble part, that I might act by an untired power in that service, that is a pleasure, a Paradise to me.
The 4. Remedy against this Device of1 Satan, is, to consider, that religious duties, holy and heavenly exercises are ⟨p. 157⟩only difficult to the worser, to the ignoble part of a Saint; they are not to the noble, and better part of a Saint, to the noble part, the soule, and the renewed affections of a Saint; holy exercises are a heavenly pleasure, and recreation, as the Apostle speaks, I delight in the Law of God, after the inward 2man. With my minde I serve the Law of God, though with my flesh the law of sinne. To the noble part of a Saint, Christs yoke is easie, and his burden is light; all the commands and wayes of Christ (even those that tend to the pulling out of right eyes, and cutting off of right hands) are joyous, and not grievous to the noble part of a Saint; all the wayes and services of Christ are pleasantnesse (in the abstract) to the better part of a Saint; a Saint, so far as he is renewed, is alwayes best, when he sees most of God, when he tasts most of God, when he is highest in his injoyments of God, and most warme, and lively in the service of God; oh! saith the noble part of a Saint, that it might be alwayes thus; oh! that my strength were the strength of stones, and my flesh as brasse, that my worser part might be more serviceable to my noble part, that I might act by an untired power in that service, that is a pleasure, a Paradise to me.
The fifth Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that great reward, and glorious recompense that doth attend those that cleave to the service of the Lord, in the2 face of all difficulties, and discouragements; though the work be hard, yet the wag•s is great, Heaven will make amends for all, I, one hours being in heaven will abundantly recompense you for cleaving to the Lord, and his ways, in the face of all difficulties. This carried the Apostle through the greatest difficulties; he had an eye to the recompense of reward; he looked for a house that had foundations, whose builder and maker was God, and for a heavenly country; yea, this bore up the Spirit of Christ, in the face of all difficulties and discouragements: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
The fifth Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that great reward, and glorious recompence that doth attend those that cleave to the service of the Lord, in the2 face of all difficulties, and discouragements; though the work be hard, yet the wag•s is great, Heaven will make amends for all, I, one hours being in heaven will abundantly recompence you for cleaving to the Lord, and his wayes, in the face of all difficulties. This carried the Apostle through the greatest difficulties; hee had an eye to the recompence of reward; he look't for a house that had foundations, whose builder and maker was God, and for a heavenly countrey; yea, this bore up the Spirit of Christ, in the face of all difficulties and discouragements: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the Crosse, despising the shame, and is set downe at the right hand of the Throne of God.
Christians that would hold on in the service of the Lord, must look more upon the Crown, then upon the Cross; more upon their future glory, then their present misery; more upon their encouragements, then upon their discouragements. Gods very service is wages, his ways are strewed with roses, ⟨p. 157⟩and paved with joy that is unspeakable,1 and full of glory, and with peace that passeth understanding. Some degree of comfort follows every good action; as heat accompanies fire, as beams and influences issue from the Sun. Moreover by them is thy servant warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward; not only for keeping, but in keeping of them, there is great reward; the joy, the rest, the refreshing, the comforts, the contents, the smiles, the incomes that Saints now enjoy in the ways of God, are so precious and glorious in their eyes, that they would not exchange them for ten thousand worlds; Ah! if the veils be thus sweet and glorious before pay-day comes, what will be that glory, that Christ will crown his Saints with, for cleaving to his service in the face of all difficulties: When he shall say to his father, Lo here am I, and the children which thou hast given me; if there be so much to be had in a wilderness, what then shall be had in Paradise? &c.
Christians that would hold on in the service of the Lord, must look more upon the Crown, then upon the Crosse; more upon their future glory, then their present misery; more upon their incouragements, then upon their discouragements. Gods very service is wages, his wayes are strewed with roses, ⟨p. 157⟩and paved with joy that is unspeakable,1 and ful of glory, and with peace that passeth understanding. Some degree of comfort follows every good action; as heate accompanies fire, as beames and influences issue from the Sun. Moreover by them is thy servant warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward; not only for keeping, but in keeping of them, there is great reward; the joy, the rest, the refreshing, the comforts, the contents, the smiles, the incomes that Saints now injoy in the wayes of God, are so precious and glorious in their eyes, that they would not exchange them for ten thousand worlds; Ah! if the vailes be thus sweet and glorious before pay-day comes, what will be that glory, that Christ will crown his Saints with, for cleaving to his service in the face of all difficulties: When he shall say to his father, Loe here am I, and the children which thou hast given me; if there be so much to be had in a wildernesse, what then shall be had in Paradise? &c.
BY working them to make false inferences, from those blessed and glorious things that Christ hath done; As that Jesus Christ hath done all for us; therefore there is nothing for us to do, but to joy, and rejoice, he hath perfectly justified us, and fulfilled the Law, and satisfied divine Justice, and pacified his Fathers wrath, and is gone to Heaven to prepare a place for us, and in the mean time, to intercede for us; and therefore away with praying, and mourning, and hearing, &c. Ah! what a world of Professors hath Satan drawn in these days, from religious services, by working them to make such sad, wild, and strange inferences, from the sweet and excellent things, that the Lord Jesus hath done for his beloved ones.
BY working them to make false inferences, from those blessed and glorious things that Christ hath done; As that Jesus Christ hath done all for us; therefore there is nothing for us to doe, but to joy, and rejoyce, he hath perfectly justified us, and fulfilled the Law, and satisfied divine Justice, and pacified his Fathers wrath, and is gone to Heaven to prepare a place for us, and in the mean time, to intercede for us; and therefore away with praying, and mourning, and hearing, &c. Ah! what a world of Professors hath Satan drawn in these dayes, from religious services, by working them to make such sad, wilde, and strange inferences, from the sweet and excellent things, that the Lord Jesus hath done for his beloved ones.
The first Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, to dwell as much on those Scriptures that show you the duties and services that Christ requires of you, as upon those Scriptures that declare2 to you, the precious and glorious things that Christ hath done for you. 'Tis a sad, and a dangerous thing, to have two eyes to behold our dignity, and privileges, and not one eye to see our duties, and services. I should look with one eye upon the choice and excellent things that Christ hath done for me, to raise up my heart, to love Christ with the purest love, and to joy in Christ, with the strongest joy, and to lift up Christ above all, who hath made himself to be my all. And I should look with the other eye upon those services and duties, that the Scriptures require of those, for whom Christ hath done such blessed things, as upon that of the Apostle; What, know ye not that your body 3is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: ⟨p. 160⟩therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods. And that 4therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. And that, And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due 5season we shall reap, if we faint not. And that of the Apostle, rejoice always, and pray without ceasing; and that in the Philippians: Work out your salvation with 6fear and trembling; and that, This do till I come; and that, Let us consider one another, to provoke one another to love, and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of our selves together, as the manner of some 7is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. Now a soul that would not be drawn away by this device of Satan, he must not look with a squint eye upon these blessed Scriptures, and abundance more of like import; but he must dwell upon them, he must make these Scriptures to be his chiefest, and his choicest companions, and this will be a happy means to keep him close to Christ, and his service in these times, wherein many turn their backs upon Christ, under pretence of being highly interested in the great and glorious things that have been acted by Christ, &c.
The second Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, to consider, that the great and glorious things that Jesus Christ hath done, and is a doing for us, should be so far from taking us off from religious services, and pious performances, that they should be the greatest motives and encouragements to the performance of them that may be, as the Scriptures do abundantly evidence. I2 will only instance in some, as that, That we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies, might serve him without fear; in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives; Christ hath freed you from all your Enemies, from the curse of the Law, the predominant damnatory power of sin, the wrath of God, the sting of death, and the torments of hell; but what is the end and design of Christ in doing these great and marvellous things for his people? 'tis not that they should throw off duties of righteousness and holiness, but that their hearts may be the more free, and sweet in all holy duties, and heavenly services: So the Apostle; I will be their God, and they shall be my people: And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (mark what follows) Having therefore these promises (dearly beloved) let us cleanse our ⟨p. 164⟩selves from all filthiness of the flesh, and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. And again, The grace of God that 3bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us, that denying all ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious 4appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave him self for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Ah souls! I know no such arguments to work you to a lively and constant performance of all heavenly services, like those that are drawn from the consideration of the great and glorious things that Christ hath done for you; and if such arguments will not take ye, and win upon ye, I do• think the throwing of hell fire in your faces will never do it.
THe first Remedie against this device1 of Satan, is, to dwell as much on those Scriptures that shew you the duties and services that Christ requires of you, as upon those Scriptures that declare2 to you, the precious and glorious things that Christ hath done for you. 'Tis a sad, and a dangerous thing, to have two eyes to behold our dignity, and priviledges, and not one eye to see our duties, and services. I should look with one eye upon the choise and excellent things that Christ hath done for me, to raise up my heart, to love Christ with the purest love, and to joy in Christ, with the strongest joy, and to lift up Christ above all, who hath made himself to be my all. And I should look with the other eye upon those services and duties, that the Scriptures require of those, for whom Christ hath done such blessed things, as upon that of the Apostle; What, know yee not that your body 3is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your owne? For ye are bought with a price: ⟨p. 160⟩therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your spirit, which are Gods. And that 4therefore my beloved brethren, be yee stedfast, unmoveable, alwayes abounding in the worke of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vaine in the Lord. And that, And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due 5season we shall reape, if we faint not. And that of the Apostle, rejoyce alwayes, and pray without ceasing; and that in the Philippians: Worke out your salvation with 6feare and trembling; and that, This doe till I come; and that, Let us consider one another, to provoke one another to love, and to good workes; not forsaking the assembling of our selves together, as the mannor of some 7is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching. Now a soule that would not be drawn away by this device of Satan, hee must not look with a squint eye upon these blessed Scriptures, and abundance more of like import; but he must dwell upon them, he must make these Scriptures to be his chiefest, and his choisest companions, and this will be a happy meanes to keep him close to Christ, and his service in these times, wherein many turn their backs upon Christ, under pretence of being highly interested in the great and glorious things that have been acted by Christ, &c.
The second Remedie against this Device1 of Satan, is, to consider, that the great and glorious things that Jesus Christ hath done, and is a doing for us, should be so far from taking us off from religious services, and pious performances, that they should be the greatest motives and encouragements to the performance of them that may be, as the Scriptures do abundantly evidence. I2 will only instance in some, as that, That we being delivered out of the hands of our Enemies, might serve him without feare; in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our lives; Christ hath freed you from all your Enemies, from the curse of the Law, the predominant damnatory power of sin, the wrath of God, the sting of death, and the torments of hell; but what is the end and design of Christ in doing these great and marvellous things for his people? 'tis not that they should throw off duties of righteousnesse and holinesse, but that their hearts may be the more free, and sweet in all holy duties, and heavenly services: So the Apostle; I will be their God, and they shall be my people: And I will be a Father unto you, and yee shall be my sonnes and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (mark what follows) Having therefore these promises (dearly beloved) let us cleanse our ⟨p. 164⟩selves from all filthinesse of the flesh, and spirit, perfecting holinesse in the feare of the Lord. And againe, The grace of God that 3bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us, that denying all ungodlinsse, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious 4appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave him selfe for us, that he might redeeme us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himselfe a peculiar people, zealous of good workes. Ah soules! I know no such arguments to worke you to a lively and constant performance of all heavenly services, like those that are drawn from the consideration of the great and glorious things that Christ hath done for you; and if such arguments will not take yee, and win upon yee, I do• think the throwing of hell fire in your faces will never do it.
