A77614:376
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.
The fifth Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, to dwell much upon the famous examples of those worthy Saints that have denied themselves, and preferred the public good before their own particular advantage: As Moses; And the Lord said unto Moses, let me alone that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under Heaven, and I will make of thee a Nation mig••ter, and greater then they; oh! but this offer would not2 take with Moses, he being a man of a brave public spirit, is hot in his desires and prayers that the people might be spared and pardoned; saith he, pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this people, according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt until now. And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word. A•••hould God make such an offer to many that write themselves Moses, and are called ⟨p. 272⟩by many, Moses, I am afraid they would prefer their own advantage above the3 public good; they would not care what become of the people, so they and theirs might be made great and glorious in the world; they would not care so they might have a Babel built for them, though it was upon the ashes, and ruin of the people; baser spirits then these are not in hell, no, not in hell, and I am sure there are no such spirits in Heaven; such mens hearts and principles must be changed, or they will be undone for ever. Nehemiah was a4 choice soul, a man of a brave public spirit, a man that spent his time, his strength, and his estate for the good and ease of his people. Moreover (saith he) from the time that I was appointed to be their Governor in the Land of Judah, from the twentieth year, even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the King, that is, twelve years; I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the Governor. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land, and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work. Moreover, there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and Rulers, besides those that came unto us from among the Heathen that are about us. Now that which was prepared for me daily, was