A77614:216
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 them the paucity, and poverty of those that walk in the ways of God, that hold on in religious practices; saith Satan, do not you see that those that walk in such and such religious ways, are the poorest, the1 meanest, and the most despicable persons in the world; this took with them in that seventh of John. Then answered the Pharisees, are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers, or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
BY presenting to them the paucity, and poverty of those that walk in the wayes of God, that hold on in religious practices; saith Satan, do not you see that those that walk in such and such religious wayes, are the poorest, the1 meanest, and the most despicable persons in the world; this took with them in that seventh of John. Then answered the Pharisees, are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers, or of the Pharisees beleeved on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
The first Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, to consider, that though they are outwardly poor, yet they are inwardly rich; though they are poor in temporals, yet they are rich in spirituals; the worth and riches of the Saints is inward: The Kings daughter is all glorious within. Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him, saith James. I know thy poverty, but thou art rich, saith John to the Church of Smyrna. What though they have little in possession, yet they have a glorious Kingdom in reversion. Fear not little flock, 'tis your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdom. Though Saints have little in hand, yet they have much in hope; you count those happy in a worldly sense, that have much in reversion, though they have but little in possession; and will you count the Saints miserable, because they have little in hand? little in possession? though they have a glorious Kingdom ⟨p. 171⟩in reversion of this. I am sure, the poorest Saint that breaths will not exchange (were it in his power) that which he hath in hope, and in reversion, for the possession of as many worlds, as there be stars in Heaven, or sands in the Sea, &c.
THe first Remedie against this Device1 of Satan, is, to consider, that though they are outwardly poor, yet they are inwardly rich; though they are poor in temporalls, yet they are rich in spiritualls; the worth and riches of the Saints is inward: The Kings daughter is all glorious within. Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heires of the Kingdome, which he hath promised to them that love him, saith James. I know thy poverty, but thou art rich, saith John to the Church of Smyrna. What though they have little in possession, yet they have a glorious Kingdome in reversion. Feare not little flocke, 'tis your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdome. Though Saints have little in hand, yet they have much in hope; you count those happy in a worldly sense, that have much in reversion, though they have but little in possession; and wil you count the Saints miserable, because they have little in hand? little in possession? though they have a glorious Kingdome ⟨p. 171⟩
The second Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, to consider, that in all ages God hath had some that have been great, rich, wise, and honourable, that have chosen his ways, and cleaved to his service in the face of all difficulties,2 though not many wise men, yet some wise men have; and though not many mighty, yet some mighty have; and though not many noble, yet some noble have; witness Abraham, and Jacob, and Job, and several Kings, and others that the Scriptures speak of; and ah! how many have we among our selves, whose souls have cleaved to the Lord, and who have swum to his service, through the blood of the slain, and who have counted their lives dear unto them, that they and others might enjoy the holy things of Christ, according to the mind and heart of Christ, &c.
The second Remedie against this device1 of Satan, is, to consider, that in all ages God hath had some that have been great, rich, wise, and honourable, that have chosen his wayes, and cleaved to his service in the face of all difficulties,2 though not many wise men, yet some wise men have; and though not many mighty, yet some mighty have; and though not many noble, yet some noble have; witnesse Abraham, and Jacob, and Job, and severall Kings, and others that the Scriptures speak of; and ah! how many have we among our selves, whose soules have cleaved to the Lord, and who have swum to his service, through the blood of the slain, and who have counted their lives dear unto them, that they and others might injoy the holy things of Christ, according to the mind and heart of Christ, &c.
The third Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that the spiritual riches of the poorest Saints do infinitely transcend the temporal ⟨p. 172⟩riches of all the wicked men in the2 world; their spiritual riches do satisfy them, they can sit down satisfied with the riches of grace that be in Christ; without honours, and without riches, &c. He that drinks of that water that I shall give him, shall thirst no more. The riches of poor Saints are durable, they will bed and board with them, they3 will go to the Prison, to a sick bed, to a grave, yea to Heaven with them. The spiritual riches of poor Saints are as wine, to cheer them; and as bread to strengthen them, and as clothes to warm them, and as Armour to protect them. Now all you that know any thing, do know, that the riches of this world cannot satisfy the souls of men, and they are as fading as a flower, or as the owners of them are, &c.
The third Remedie against this device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that the spiritual riches of the poorest Saints do infinitely transcend the temporall ⟨p. 172⟩riches of all the wicked men in the2 world; their spirituall riches do satisfie them, they can sit downe satisfied with the riches of grace that be in Christ; without honours, and without riches, &c. He that drinks of that water that I shall give him, shall thirst no more. The riches of poor Saints are durable, they will bed and board with them, they3 will goe to the Prison, to a sick bed, to a grave, yea to Heaven with them. The spirituall riches of poore Saints are as wine, to cheer them; and as bread to strengthen them, and as cloathes to warme them, and as Armour to protect them. Now all you that know any thing, do know, that the riches of this world cannot satisfie the soules of men, and they are as fading as a flower, or as the owners of them are, &c.
The fourth Remedy against this device1 is, seriously to consider, that though the Saints considered comparatively are few, though they be a little, little flock, a 2remnant, a garden enclosed, a spring shut up, 3a fountain sealed; though they are as the Summer gleanings, though they are one of a City, and two of a Tribe; though they be4 but a handful to a house-full; a spark to a flame, a drop to the Ocean; yet consider them simply in themselves, and so they are an innumerable number that ⟨p. 173⟩cannot be numbered, as John speaketh. After this I beheld, and lo a great multitude which no man could number, of all Nations, 5and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. So Matth. speaks; And I say 6unto you, that many shall come from the East, and West, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. So Paul: But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels. To the general assembly, and Church of the first borne, which are written in Heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.
The fourth Remedie against this device1 is, seriously to consider, that though the Saints considered comparatively are few, though they be a little, little flocke, a 2remnant, a garden enclosed, a spring shut up, 3
The fifth Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that 'twill be but as a day, before these poor despised Saints shall shine brighter then the Sun in her glory; 'twill not be long before you will wish, oh! that we were now among the poor, mean, despised ones, in the day that God comes to make up his jewels. 'Twill not be long before these poor few Saints shall be lifted up upon their Thrones to judge the multitude, the world, as the Apostle speaks: Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world? and in that day? oh! ⟨p. 174⟩how will the great, and the rich, the2 learned, and the noble wish, that they had lived, and spent their days with these few, poor, contemptible creatures in the service of the Lord? oh! how will this wicked world curse the day, that ever they had such base thoughts of the poor, mean Saints, and that their poverty became a stumbling block, to keep them off from the ways of sanctity. I have read of Ingo an ancient King of the Draves, who making a stately feast, appointed his Nobles, at that time Pagans, to sit in the Hall below, and commanded certain poor Christians, to be brought up into his Presence-chamber, to sit with him at his Table, to eat and drink of his Kingly cheer; at which many wondering, he said, he accounted Christians, though never so poor, a greater ornament at his Table, and more worthy of his company, then the greatest Peers unconverted to the Christian faith; for when these might be thrust down to Hell, those might be his Consorts, and fellow Princes in Heaven; you know how to apply it. Although you see the stars sometimes by their reflections, in a puddle, or in the bottom of a Well, I in a stinking ditch, yet the stars have their situation in Heaven: So, though you see a godly man in a poor, ⟨p. 175⟩miserable, low, despised condition, for the things of this world, yet he is fixed in Heaven, in the Region of Heaven. Who hath raised us up (saith the Apostle) and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Oh!
The fifth Remedie against this device1
therefore, say to your own souls (when they begin to decline the ways of Zion, because of the poverty and paucity of those that walk in them) the day is at hand, when these few, poor, despised Saints shall shine in glory, when they shall judge this world, and when all the wicked of the world will wish that they were in their condition, & would give ten thousand worlds (were it in their power) that they might but have the honour, and happiness to wait upon those, whom for their poverty and paucity they have neglected and despised in this world.
therefore, say to your owne souls (when they begin to decline the wayes of Zion, because of the poverty and paucity of those that walke in them) the day is at hand, when these few, poor, despised Saints shall shine in glory, when they shall judge this world, and when all the wicked of the world will wish that they were in their condion, & would give ten thousand worlds (were it in their power) that they might but have the honour, and happinesse to waite upon those, whom for their poverty and paucity they have neglected and despised in this world.
The sixth and last Remedy against this1 device of Satan, is, solemnly to consider that there will come a time even in this2 life, in this world, when the reproach and contempt that is now cast upon the ways of God, by reason of the poverty and paucity of those that walk in those ways, shall be quite taken away, by his making them the head, that have days without number been the tail, and by his raising them up to much outward riches, prosperity, and glory, who have ⟨p. 176⟩been as the out-cast, because of their poverty and paucity. John speaking of the glory of the Church, the new Jerusalem that came down from Heaven, in that 21. of the Revelation, tells us, That the Nations of them which are saved, shall walk in the light of it, and the Kings of the earth do bring their glory into it. So the Prophet Isaiah: They shall bring their sons from far, and their silver and their gold with 3them, vers. 9. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones Iron, vers. 19. And so the Prophet Zechariah speaks, Chap. 14. v. 14. And the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel in great abundance. The Lord hath promised that the meek shall inherit the earth: And heaven and earth shall pass away, before one jot or tittle of his word shall pass unfulfilled; Ah poor Saints! now some thrust sore at you, others look a squint upon you, others shut the door against you, others turn their backs upon you; and most of men (except it be a few that live much in God, and are filled with the riches of Christ) do either neglect you, or despise you, because of your poverty; but the day is coming, when you shall be lifted up above the dunghill, when you shall change poverty for riches, your rags for robes, ⟨p. 177⟩your reproach for a crown of honour, your infamy for glory, even in this world.
The sixt and last Remedie against this1
And this is not all, but God will also mightily increase the number of his chosen ones; multitudes shall be converted to him. Who hath heard such a 1thing? who hath seen such things? shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a Nation be borne at once? for as soon as Zion travelled, she brought forth children. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all Nations, upon 2horses, and in Chariots, in Litters, and upon Mules, & upon swift beasts to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord; as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. Doth not the Scripture say, that the Kingdoms of 3this world must become the Kingdoms of our Lord? Hath not God given to Christ the heathen? and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possessions? Hath not the Lord said, that in the last days, the mountain of the Lords 4house shall be lifted up above the hills, and shall be established in the top of the mountains, and all Nations shall flow unto it. Pray read5 and meditate upon the sixty chapter of Isaiah, and the sixty sixth chapter, and the five first verses of the second chapter of Isaiah, and there you shall find the multitudes that shall be converted to ⟨p. 178⟩Christ; and oh! that you would be mighty in believing, and in wrestling with God, that he would hasten the day of his glory, that the reproach that is now upon his people and ways, may cease.
And this is not all, but God will also mightily increase the number of his chosen ones; multitudes shall be converted to him. Who hath heard such a 1thing? who hath seen such things? shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a Nation be borne at once? for assoone as Zion travelled, she brought forth children. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all Nations, upon
BY presenting before them the examples1 of the greatest part of the world that walk in the ways of their own hearts, and that make light and slight of the ways of the Lord; why saith Satan, do not you see, that the great, and the rich, the noble and the honourable, the learned and the wise, even the greatest number of men never trouble themselves about such and such ways, and why then should you be singular and nice▪ you were far better do as the most do, &c.
BY presenting before them the examples1 of the greatest part of the world that walk in the wayes of their owne hearts, and that make light and slight of the wayes of the Lord; why saith Satan, do not you see, that the great, and the rich, the noble and the honourable, the learned and the wise, even the greatest number of men never trouble themselves about such and such wayes, and why then should you be singular and nice▪ you were far better doe as the most doe, &c.
