A77614:200
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 are these that follow.
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 in