A77614:233
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 casting in a multitude of vain thoughts, whilst the soul is in seeking of God, or in waiting on God, and by this device he hath cooled some mens spirits in heavenly services, and taken off (at least for a time) many precious1 souls from religious performances. I have no heart to hear, nor no heart to pray, nor no delight in reading, nor in the society of the Saints, &c. Satan doth so dog, and follow my soul, and is still a casting in such a multitude of vain thoughts concerning God, the world, and my own soul, &c. that I even tremble to think of waiting upon God in any religious service; oh! the vain thoughts that Satan casts in, do so distaste my soul, and so grieve, vex, perplex, and distract my soul, that they even make me weary of holy duties, yea, of m• very life; oh! I cannot be so raised and ravished, so heated and melted, so quickened and enlarged, so comforted and refreshed as I should be, as I might ⟨p. 183⟩be, and as I would be in religious services, by reason of that multitude of vain thoughts that Satan is injecting, or casting into my soul, &c.
BY casting in a multitude of vaine thoughts, whilst the soule is in seeking of God, or in waiting on God, and by this device he hath cooled some mens spirits in heavenly services, and taken off (at least for a time) many precious1 soules from religious performances. I have no heart to heare, nor no heart to pray, nor no delight in reading, nor in the society of the Saints, &c. Satan doth so dog, and follow my soule, and is still a casting in such a multitude of vaine thoughts concerning God, the world, and my own soule, &c. that I even tremble to think of waiting upon God in any religious service; oh! the vaine thoughts that Satan casts in, do so distast my soule, and so grieve, vex, perplex, and distract my soule, that they even make me weary of holy duties, yea, of m• very life; oh! I cannot be so raised and ravished, so heated and melted, so quickned and enlarged, so comforted and refreshed as I should be, as I might ⟨p. 183⟩be, and as I would be in religious services, by reason of that multitude of vain thoughts that Satan is injecting, or casting into my soule, &c.
The first Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, to have your hearts strongly affected with the greatness, holiness, Majesty, and glory of that God, before whom you stand, and with whom your souls do converse in religious services; Oh! let your souls be greatly affected with the presence, purity, and majesty of that God before whom thou standest. A man would be afraid of playing with a feather, when he is speaking to a King; ah! when men have poor, low, light, slight, &c. thoughts of God, in their drawing near to God, they tempt the Devil to bestir himself, and to cast in a multitude of vain thoughts to disturb and distract the soul in its waiting on God. There is nothing that will contribute so much to the keeping out of vain thoughts, as to look upon God as an omniscient God, an ⟨p. 184⟩omnipresent God, an omnipotent God, a God full of all glorious perfections; a God, whose Majesty, purity, and glory will not suffer him to behold the least iniquity. The reason why the blessed Saints, and glorious Angels in Heaven have not so much as one vain thought, is, because they are greatly affected with the greatness, holiness, majesty, purity, and glory of God.
THe first Remedie against this device1 of Satan, is, to have your hearts strongly affected with the greatnesse, holinesse, Majesty, and glory of that God, before whom you stand, and with whom your souls do converse in religious services; Oh! let your souls be greatly affected with the presence, purity, and majesty of that God before whom thou standest. A man would be afraid of playing with a feather, when he is speaking to a King; ah! when men have poor, low, light, slight, &c. thoughts of God, in their drawing neer to God, they tempt the Devill to bestir himselfe, and to cast in a multitude of vaine thoughts to disturb and distract the soul in its waiting on God. There is nothing that will contribute so much to the keeping out of vaine thoughts, as to looke upon God as an omniscient God, an ⟨p. 184⟩omnipresent God, an omnipotent God, a God full of all glorious perfections; a God, whose Majestie, purity, and glory wil not suffer him to behold the least iniquity. The reason why the blessed Saints, and glorious Angells in Heaven have not so much as one vaine thought, is, because they are greatly affected with the greatnesse, holinesse, majesty, purity, and glory of God.
The second Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, to be peremptory in religious services, notwithstanding all those wandering thoughts the soul2 is troubled with. This will be a sweet help against them for the soul to be resolute in waiting on God, whether it be troubled with vain thoughts, or not; to say, well, I will pray still, and hear still, and meditate still, and keep fellowship with the Saints still; many precious souls can say from experience, that when their souls have been peremptory in their waiting on God, that Satan hath left them, and hath not been so busy in vexing their souls with vain thoughts; when Satan perceives that all3 those trifling vain thoughts that he casts into the soul, do but vex the soul into greater diligence, carefulness, watchfulness, and peremptoriness in holy and heavenly services, and that the soul ⟨p. 185⟩looses nothing of his zeal, piety, and devotion, but doubles his care, diligence, and earnestness; he often ceases to interpose his trifles, & vain thoughts as he ceased to tempt Christ, when Christ was peremptory in resisting his temptations.
The second Remedie against this Device1 of Satan, is, to be peremptory in religious services, notwithstanding all those wandering thoughts the soule2 is troubled with. This will be a sweet help against them for the soul to be resolute in waiting on God, whether it be troubled with vain thoughts, or not; to say, wel, I will pray still, and heare still, and meditate still, and keep fellowship with the Saints still; many precious soules can say from experience, that when their soules have been peremptory in their waiting on God, that Satan hath left them, and hath not been so busie in vexing their soules with vaine thoughts; when Satan perceives that all3 those trifling vain thoughts that he casts into the soule, do but vex the soule into greater diligence, carefulnesse, watchfulnesse, and peremptorinesse in holy and heavenly services, and that the soul
The third Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, to consider this, that those vain and trifling thoughts that are cast2 into our souls, when we are waiting upon God in this or that religious service, if they are not cherished, and indulged, but abhorred, resisted, and disclaimed; they are not sins upon our souls, though they may be troubles to our minds, they shall not be put upon our accounts, nor keep mercies and blessings from being enjoyed by us; when a soul in uprightness can look God in the face, and say, Lord, when I approach near unto thee, there be a world of vain thoughts crowd in upon me, that do disturb my soul, and weaken my faith, and lessen my comfort, and spiritual strength; oh! these are my clog, my burden, my torment, my hell; oh! do justice upon these; free me from these that I may serve thee with more freeness, singleness, spiritualness, and sweetness of spirit. These thoughts may vex that soul, but they shall not harm that soul, ⟨p. 186⟩nor keep a blessing from that soul; If vain thoughts resisted and lamented, could stop the current of mercy, and render a soul unhappy, there would be none on earth that should ever taste of mercy, or be everlastingly happy, &c.
The third Remedie against this device1 of Satan, is, to consider this, that those vaine and trifling thoughts that are cast2 into our soules, when we are waiting upon God in this or that religious service, if they are not cherished, and indulged, but abhorred, resisted, and disclaimed; they are not sins upon our soules, though they may be troubles to our mindes, they shall not be put upon our accounts, nor keep mercies and blessings from being injoyed by us; when a soule in uprightnesse can look God in the face, and say, Lord, when I approach neer unto thee, there be a world of vain thoughts croud in upon me, that do disturb my soule, and weaken my faith, and lessen my comfort, and spirituall strength; oh! these are my clog, my burden, my torment, my hell; oh! do justice upon these; free me from these that I may serve thee with more freenesse, singlenesse, spiritualnesse, and sweetnesse of spirit. These thoughts may vexe that soule, but they shall not harm that soul,
The fourth Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that watching against sinful thoughts, resisting of sinful thoughts, lamenting and weeping over sinful thoughts, carries2 with it the sweetest, and strongest evidence of the truth, and power of grace, and of the sincerity of your hearts, and is the readiest and the surest way to be rid of them; many low and carnal considerations may work men to watch their words, their lives, their actions; As hope of gain, or to please friends, or to get a name in the world, and many other such like considerations; oh! but to watch our thoughts, to weep and lament over them, &c. this must needs be from some noble, spiritual, and internal principle, as love to God, a holy fear of God, a holy care and delight to please the Lord, &c. The Schools do well observe, that outward sins are of greater3 infamy; but inward heart sins are of greater guilt, as we see in the Devils. There is nothing that speaks out a man to be throughly, and kindly wrought ⟨p. 187⟩upon, as his having his thoughts to be4 brought into obedience, as the Apostle speaks, Grace is grown up to a very great height in that soul, where it prevails, to the subduing of those vain thoughts that walk up and down in the the soul; well, though you cannot be5 rid of them, yet make resistance and opposition against the first risings of them; when sinful thoughts arise, then think thus; the Lord takes notice of these thoughts, he knows them afar off, as the Psalmist speaks; he knew Herod's bloody thoughts, and Judas his betraying thoughts, and the Pharisees cruel and blasphemous thoughts afar off; oh! think thus, all these sinful thoughts, they defile and pollute the soul, they deface and spoil much of the inward beauty, and glory of the soul; if I commit this or that sin, to which my thoughts incline me, then either I must6 repent, or not repent; if I repent, it will cst me more grief, sorrow, shame, heart-breaking, and soul-bleeding, before my conscience will be quieted, divine Justice pacified, my comfort and joy restored, my evidences cleared, and my pardon in the Court of Conscience sealed, then the imagined profit, or seeming sensual pleasure can be worth; What fruit had you in those things whereof you are now ashamed?
If I never repent, oh then my sinful1 thoughts will be the Scorpions that will eternally vex me; the rods that will eternally lash me; the thorns that will everlastingly prick me; the dagger that will be eternally a stabbing me; the worm that will be for ever a gnawing me; oh! therefore watch against them, be constant in resisting them, an• in lamenting and weeping over them, and then they shall not hurt thee, though they may for a time trouble thee, and remember this; he that doth this, doth more then the most glistering and blustering Hypocrite in the world doth.
If I never repent, oh then my sinfull1 thoughts will be the Scorpions that wil eternally vex me; the rods that will eternally lash me; the thorns that will everlastingly prick me; the dagger that will be eternally a stabbing mee; the worme that will be for ever a gnawing me; oh! therefore watch against them, be constant in resisting them, an• in lamenting and weeping over them, and then they shall not hurt thee, though they may for a time trouble thee, and remember this; he that doth this, doth more then the most glistering and blustering Hypocrite in the world doth.
The fifth Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, to labour more and more to be filled with the fullness of God, and to be enriched with all spiritual and heavenly things; what's the reason that the Angels in heaven have not so much as an idle thought? 'tis because they are filled with the fullness of God; take it for an experienced truth, the more the soul is filled with the fullness of God, and enriched with spiritual and heavenly things, the less room there is in that soul for vain thoughts. The fuller the vessel is of wine, the less room there is for water; Oh! lay up much of God, of Christ, of precious promises, and choice experiences in your hearts, and ⟨p. 189⟩then you will be less troubled with vain thoughts; A good man out of the good treasure 2of his heart bringeth forth good things.3
The fifth Remedie against this device1 of Satan, is, to labour more and more to be filled with the fulnesse of God, and to be inriched with all spirituall and heavenly things; what's the reason that the Angells in heaven have not so much as an idle thought? 'tis because they are filled with the fulnesse of God; take it for an experienced truth, the more the soule is filled with the fulnesse of God, and inriched with spirituall and heavenly things, the lesse room there is in that soule for vaine thoughts. The fuller the vessel is of wine, the lesse room there is for water; Oh! lay up much of God, of Christ, of precious promises, and choise experiences in your hearts, and ⟨p. 189⟩then you wil be lesse troubled with vain thoughts; A good man out of the good treasure 2of his heart bringeth forth good things.3
The sixth Remedy against this device of Satan, is, to keep up holy and spiritual affections; for such as your affections are, such will be your thoughts; Oh! 1how I love thy law, 'tis my meditation all the day; what we love most, we most muse upon; when I awake, I am still with thee. That which we much like, we shall much mind; them that are frequent in their love to God and his law, will be frequent in thinking of God, and his2 law; a child will not forget his mother.
The sixth Remedie against this device of Satan, is, to keep up holy and spirituall affections; for such as your affections are, such will be your thoughts; Oh! 1how I love thy law, 'tis my meditation all the day; what we love most, we most muse upon; when I awake, I am still with thee. That which wee much like, wee shall much mind; them that are frequent in their love to God and his law, wil be frequent in thinking of God, and his2 law; a childe will not forget his mother.
The seventh Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, to avoid multiplicity of worldly business; oh! let not the world take up your hearts & thoughts at other times; souls that are torn In pieces with the cares of the world, will be always vexed and tormented with vain thoughts in all their approaches to God; vain thoughts will be still crowding in upon him that lives in a crowd of business. The stars which have least circuit, are nearest the Pole; and men that are least perplexed with business, are commonly nearest to God.
The seventh Remedie against this device1 of Satan, is, to avoid multiplicity of wordly businesse; oh! let not the world take up your hearts & thoughts at other times; soules that are torne In pieces with the cares of the world, will be alwayes vexed and tormented with vain thoughts in all their approaches to God; vain thoughts will be still crouding in upon him that lives in a croud of businesse. The stars which have least circuit, are neerest the Pole; and men that are least perplexed with businesse, are commonly nearest to God.
BY working them to rest in their performances, to rest in prayer, and to rest in hearing, reading, and the communion1 of Saints, &c. and when Satan hath drawn the soul to rest upon the service done; then he will help the soul to reason thus; why, thou wert as good never pray, as to pray, and rest in prayer; as good never hear, as to hear, and rest in hearing; as good never be in the communion of Saints, as to rest in the communion of Saints; and by this device he stops many souls in their heavenly race, and takes off poor souls from those services that should be their joy and Crown.
BY working them to rest in their performances, to rest in prayer, and to rest in hearing, reading, and the communion1 of Saints, &c. and when Satan hath drawn the soul to rest upon the service done; then he will help the soul to reason thus; why, thou wert as good never pray, as to pray, and rest in prayer; as good never heare, as to heare, and rest in hearing; as good never be in the communion of Saints, as to rest in the communion of Saints; and by this device he stops many soules in their heavenly race, and takes off poor soules from those services that should be their joy and Crown.
The fourth Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that watching against sinfull thoughts, resisting of sinfull thoughts, lamenting and weeping over sinfull thoughts, carries2 with it the sweetest, and strongest evidence of the truth, and power of grace, and of the sincerity of your hearts, and is the readiest and the surest way to be rid of them; many low and carnal considerations may worke men to watch their words, their lives, their actions; As hope of gaine, or to please friends, or to get a name in the world, and many other such like considerations; oh! but to watch our thoughts, to weep and lament over them, &c. this must needs be from some noble, spiritual, and internal principle, as love to God, a holy fear of God, a holy care and delight to please the Lord, &c. The Schools do well observe, that outward sinnes are of greater3 infamy; but inward heart sinnes are of greater guilt, as wee see in the Devills. There is nothing that speaks out a man to be throughly, and kindly wrought ⟨p. 187⟩upon, as his having his thoughts to be4 brought into obedience, as the Apostle speaks, Grace is growen up to a very great height in that soule, where it prevailes, to the subduing of those vaine thoughts that walk up and down in the the soule; well, though you cannot be5 rid of them, yet make resistance and opposition against the first risings of them; when sinfull thoughts arise, then thinke thus; the Lord takes notice of these thoughts, he knows them afar off, as the Psalmist speaks; he knew Herods bloody thoughts, and Judas his betraying thoughts, and the Pharisees cruell and blasphemous thoughts afarre off; oh! think thus, all these sinfull thoughts, they defile and pollute the soule, they deface and spoyle much of the inward beauty, and glory of the soule; if I commit this or that sinne, to which my thoughts incline me, then either I must6 repent, or not repent; if I repent, it will c•st me more griefe, sorrow, shame, heart-breaking, and soul-bleeding, before my conscience will be quieted, divine Justice pacified, my comfort and joy restored, my evidences cleared, and my pardon in the Court of Conscience sealed, then the imagined profit, or seeming sensuall pleasure can be worth; What fruit had you in those things whereof you are now ashamed?
