A77614:335
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 suggesting to the soul his often1 relapses into the same sin which formerly he hath pursued with particular sorrow, grief, shame and tears, and prayed, complained, and resolved against. Saith Satan, thy heart is not right with God, surely thy estate is not good, thou dost but flatter thy self, to think that ever God will eternally own, and embrace such a one as thou art, who complainest against sin, and yet relapsest into the same sin, who with tears and groans confessest thy sin, and yet ever and anon art fallen into the same sin, &c.
BY suggesting to the soule his often1 relapses into the same sin which formerly he hath pursued with particular sorrow, grief, shame and tears, and prayed, complained, and resolved against. Saith Satan, thy heart is not right with God, surely thy estate is not good, thou dost but flatter thy selfe, to think that ever God will eternally owne, and embrace such a one as thou art, who complainest against sin, and yet relapsest into the same sin, who with teares and groanes confessest thy sin, and yet ever and anon art fallen into the same sin, &c.
I confess this is a very sad condition for a soul, after he hath obtained mercy and pity from the Lord, after God hath spoken peace and pardon to him, and wiped the tears from his eyes, and set him upon his legs, to return to folly; ah! how do relapses lay men open ⟨p. 245⟩to the greatest afflictions, and worst1 temptations? How do they make the wound to bleed afresh? How do they darken and cloud former assurances and evidence• for Heaven? How do they put a sword into the hand of conscience to cut and slash the soul? They raise such fears, terrors, horrors, and doubts in the soul, that the soul cannot be so frequent in duty, as formerly, nor so fervent in duty as formerly, nor so confident in duty as formerly, nor so bold, familiar, and delightful with God in duty as formerly; nor so constant in duty as formerly: they give Satan an advantage to triumph over Christ; they make the work of repentance mo•e difficult; they make a mans life a burden, and they render death to be very terrible unto the soul, &c.
I confesse this is a very sad condition for a soule, after he hath obtained mercy and pity from the Lord, after God hath spoken peace and pardon to him, and wip't the tears from his eyes, and set him upon his legs, to returne to folly; ah! how doe relapses lay men open ⟨p. 245⟩to the greatest afflictions, and worst1 temptations? How doe they make the wound to bleed afresh? How doe they darken and cloud former assurances and evidence• for Heaven? How doe they put a sword into the hand of conscience to cut and slash the soule? They raise such feares, terrours, horrours, and doubts in the soule, that the soule cannot be so frequent in duty, as formerly, nor so fervent in duty as formerly, nor so confident in duty as formerly, nor so bold, familiar, and delightfull with God in duty as formerly; nor so constant in duty as formerly: they give Satan an advantage to triumph over Christ; they make the work of repentance mo•e difficult; they make a mans life a burden, and they render death to be very terrible unto the soule, &c.
The first Remedy against this device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that there are many Scriptures that do clearly evidence a possibility of the St. falling into the same sins, whereof they have formerly repented. cI will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from them, saith the Lord by the Prophet Hosea, so the Prophet Jeremiah speaks, dGo and proclaim these words towards the North▪ and say, return thou back-sliding Israel▪ saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful▪ saith the 4Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Turn, oh backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, for I am married unto you: And I will take you one of a City, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: So the Psalmist, They turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their Fathers, they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. And no wonder, for tho their repentance be never so sincere and sound, yet their graces are but weak, ⟨p. 247⟩and their mortification imperfect in5 this life; though by grace they are freed from the dominion of sin, and from the damnatory power of every sin, and from the love of all sin, yet grace doth not free them from the seed of any one sin; and therefore 'tis possible for a soul to fall again and again into the same sin; if the fire be not wholly put out, who would think it impossible that it should catch and burn again and again?
THe first Remedie against this device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that there are many Scriptures that doe clearly evidence a possibility of the St. falling into the same sins, whereof they have formerly repented.
The second Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is seriously to consider, that God hath no where engaged himself by any particular promise, that souls converted and united to Christ, shall not fall again and again into the same sins after conversion. I cannot find in the whole Book of God, where he2 hath promised any such strength or power against this or that particular sin, as that the soul shall be for ever (in this life) put out of a possibility of falling again and again into the same sins; and where God hath not a mouth to s•eak, I must not have a heart to believe. God will graciously pardon those sins to his people, that he will not in this life effectually subdue in his people. I would go far to speak with that soul that can show a promise, that when our ⟨p. 248⟩sorrow and grief hath been so great, or so much, for this or that sin, that then God will preserve us from ever falling into the same sin; the sight of such a promise would be as life from the dead, to many a precious soul, who desires nothing more then to keep close to Christ, and fears nothing more then backsliding from Christ.
The second Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is seriously to consider, that God hath no where ingaged himselfe by any particular promise, that soules converted and united to Christ, shall not fall againe and againe into the same sins after conversion. I cannot find in the whole Book of God, where he2 hath promised any such strength or power against this or that particular sin, as that the soule shall be for ever (in this life) put out of a possibility of falling againe and againe into the same sins; and where God hath not a mouth to s•eak, I must not have a heart to believe. God will graciously pardon those sins to his people, that he will not in this life effectually subdue in his people. I would goe far to speak with that soule that can shew a promise, that when our ⟨p. 248⟩
The third Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is seriously to consider, that the most renowned, and now crowned Saints, have in the days of their being on earth, relapsed into one and the2 same sin. Lot was twice overcome with wine; John twice worshipped the Angel; Abraham did often dissemble, and Jay his wife open to adultery, to save his own life, which some Heathens would not have done. And it came to 3pass, when God caused me to wander from my Fathers house, that I said unto her, this is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me, at every place whether we shall come, say of me, he is my brother. David in his4 wrath was resolved, if ever man was, that he would be the death of Nabal, and all his innocent Family, and after this he fell into the foul murder of Uriah. Though Christ told his Disciples that his Kingdom was not of this world, yet again, and again, and again, three ⟨p. 249⟩several times, they would needs be on horse-back, they would fain be high, great, and glorious in this world; their pride and ambitious humour put them (that were but as so many beggars) upon striving for preeminence, and greatness in the world, when their Lord and Master told them 3 several times of his sufferings in the world, and of his going out of the world. Jehoshaphat, 5though a godly man, yet joins affinity with wicked Ahab, and though he was saved by a miracle, yet soon after he falls into the same sin, and joins himself with 6Ahaziah, King of Israel, who did very wickedly. Sampson i• by the Spirit of the Lord numbered among the faithful worthies,7 and yet he fell often into one gross sin, as is evident in the book of Judges; 8
The fourth Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, to consider, that ther• are relapses into enormities, and there are relapses into infirmities; now 'tis not usual with God to leave his people2 frequently to relapse into enormities, for by his spirit and grace, by his smiles and frowns, by his word and rod, he doth usually preserve his people from a frequent relapsing into enormities; yet he doth leave his choicest ones frequently to relapse into infirmities (and of his grace he pardons them in course) as idle words, passion, vain thoughts, &c. Though gracious souls strive against these, and complain of these, and weep over these, yet the Lord to keep them humble, leaves them frequently to relapse into these; and these frequent relapses into infirmities shall never be their bane, because they be their burden
The fourth Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, to consider, that ther• are relapses into enormities, and there are relapses into infirmities; now 'tis not usuall with God to leave his people2 frequently to relapse into enormities, for by his spirit and grace, by his smiles and frownes, by his word and rod, he doth usually preserve his people from a frequent relapsing into enormities; yet he doth leave his choicest ones frequently to relapse into infirmities (and of his grace he pardons them in course) as idle words, passion, vaine thoughts, &c. Though gracious soules strive against these, and complaine of these, and weep over these, yet the Lord to keep them humble, leaves them frequently to relapse into these; and these frequent relapses into infirmities shall never be their bane, because they be their burden
The fifth Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is to consider, that there are2 involuntary relapses, and there are voluntary relapses; involuntary relapses are, when the resolution and full bent of the heart is against sin, when the soul strives with all its might against sin, by ⟨p. 251⟩sighs and groans, by prayers and tears, and yet out of weakness, is forced to fall back into sin, because there is not spiritual strength enough to overcome; Now though involuntary relapses must humble us, yet they must never discourage, nor deject us, for God will freely and readily pardon those in course. Voluntary relapses are, when the soul longs, and loves to return to the flesh-pots of Egypt; when 'tis a pleasure, and a pastime to a man to return to his old courses; such voluntary relapses speak out the man blinded, hardened, and ripened for ruin, &c.
The fift Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is to consider, that there are2 involuntary relapses, and there are voluntary relapses; involuntary relapses are, when the resolution and full bent of the heart is against sin, when the soul strives with all its might against sin, by ⟨p. 251⟩sighes and groans, by prayers and tears, and yet out of weaknesse, is forced to fall back into sin, because there is not spirituall strength enough to overcome; Now though involuntary relapses must humble us, yet they must never discourage, nor deject us, for God will freely and readily pardon those in course. Voluntary relapses are, when the soule longs, and loves to return to the flesh-pots of Egypt; when 'tis a pleasure, and a pastime to a man to return to his old courses; such voluntary relapses speak out the man blinded, hardned, and ripened for rulne, &c.
The sixth Remedy against this Device 1of Satan, is, to consider, that there is no such power, or infinite virtue in the2 greatest horror, or sorrow the soul can be under for sin, nor in the sweetest, or chosest discoveries of Gods grace, and love to the soul; as for ever to fence, and secure the soul from relapsing into the same sin; Grace is but a created habit, that may be prevailed against by the secret, subtle, and strong workings of sin in our hearts: And those discoveries that God makes of his love, beauty, and glory to the soul, do not always abide in their freshness, and power upon the heart; but by degrees they fade, and wear off, and then the soul ⟨p. 252⟩may return again to folly; As we see in Peter, who after he had a glorious testimony3 from Christ his own mouth, of his blessedness and happiness, labours to prevent Christ from going up to Jerusalem to suffer out of base slavish fears, that he and his fellows could not be secure, if his Master should be brought to suffer. And again, after this, Christ had him up into the Mount, and there4 showed him his beauty, and glory, to strengthen him against the hour of tentation that was a coming upon him; and yet soon after he had the honour, and happiness of seeing the glory of the Lord (which most of the Disciples had not) he basely, and most shamefully denies the Lord of glory, thinking5 by that means to provide for his own safety: And yet again, after Christ had broke his heart with a look of love, for his most unlovely dealings, and bade them that were first acquainted with his resurrection, to go and tell Peter that he was risen; I say, after all this, slavish fears prevail upon him, and he basely dissembles, and plays ehe Jew with the Jews, and the Gentile with the Gentiles, to the seducing of Barnabas, 6&c.
Yet by way of caution, know it's very rare, that God doth leave his beloved ⟨p. 253⟩ones frequently, to relapse into one and the same gross sin; for the law of nature is in arms against gross sins, aswell as the law of grace; so that a gracious soul cannot, dares not, will not frequently return to gross folly. And God hath made even his dearest ones dearly smart for their relapses, as may be seen by his dealings with Samson, Jehoshaphat, and Peter; Ah Lord! what a hard heart hath that man, that can see thee stripping and whipping thy dearest ones for their relapses, and yet make nothing of returning to folly, &c.
Yet by way of caution, know it's very rare, that God doth leave his beloved ⟨p. 253⟩ones frequently, to relapse into one and the same grosse sin; for the law of nature is in armes against grosse sins, aswell as the law of grace; so that a gracious soule cannot, dares not, will not frequently returne to grosse folly. And God hath made even his dearest ones dearly smart for their relapses, as may be seen by his dealings with Samson, Iehosaphat, and Peter; Ah Lord! what a hard heart hath that man, that can see thee stripping and whipping thy dearest ones for their relapses, and yet make nothing of returning to folly, &c.
BY persuading them that these estate is not good, their hearts are not upright, their graces are not sound, b• cause they are so followed, vexed, and tormented with 'temptations; 'tis his method, first to vex, and weary the soul with temptations, and then to tempt ⟨p. 254⟩the soul, that surely 'tis not beloved,1 because 'tis so much tempted; and by this stratagem he keeps many precious souls in a sad, doubting, and mourning temper many years, as many of the precious sons of Zion have found by woeful experience, &c.
BY perswading them that theis estate is not good, their hearts are not upright, their graces are not sound, b• cause they are so followed, vexed, and tormented with 'temptations; 'tis his method, first to vex, and weary the soul with temptations, and then to tempt ⟨p. 254⟩the soule, that surely 'tis not beloved,1 because 'tis so much tempted; and by this stratagem he keeps many precious souls in a sad, doubting, and mourning temper many years, as many of the precious sonnes of Sion have found by wofull experience, &c.
The third Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is seriously to consider, that the most renowned, and now crowned Saints, have in the dayes of their being on earth, relapsed into one and the2 same sin. Lot was twice overcome with wine; John twice worshipped the Angel; Abraham did often dissemble, and Iay his wife open to adultery, to save his owne life, which some Heathens would not have done. And it came to 3passe, when God caused me to wander from my Fathers house, that I said unto her, this is thy kindnesse which thou shalt shew unto me, at every place whether we shall come, say of me, he is my brother. David in his4 wrath was resolved, if ever man was, that he would be the death of Nabal, and all his innocent Family, and after this he fell into the foule murther of Ʋriah. Though Christ told his Disciples that his Kingdome was not of this world, yet againe, and againe, and again, three ⟨p. 249⟩severall times, they would needs be on horse-back, they would faine be high, great, and glorious in this world; their pride and ambitious humour put them (that were but as so many baggars) upon striving for preheminence, and greatnesse in the world, when their Lord and Master told them 3 severall times of his sufferings in the world, and of his going out of the world. Jehoshaphat, 5though a godly man, yet joynes affinity with wicked Ahab, and though he was saved by a miracle, yet soon after he fals into the same sin, and joynes himself with 6Ahaziah, King of Israel, who did very wickedly. Sampson i• by the Spirit of the Lord numbred among the faithful worthies,7 and yet he fell often into one gross sin, as is evident in the book of Judges; 8Peter you know relapst often, and so did Jonah; and this comes to passe, that they may see their owne inability to stand, to resist, or overcome any temptation, or corruption. And that they may be taken off from all false confidences, and rest wholy upon God, and onely upon God, and alwayes upon God; and for the praise and honour of the power, wisdome, skill, mercy, and9 goodnesse of the Physitian of our souls, that can heale, help, and cure, when the disease is most dangerous, when the ⟨p. 250⟩soule is relapst, and growes worse and worse, and when others say there is no help for him in his God, and when his owne heart and hopes are dying.
