A77614:385
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 3. Remedy against this device of1 Satan, is, to consider, that you cannot engage against the Saints, but you must2 engage against God himself, by reason of that near, and blessed union that is between God and them; you cannot be fighters against the Saints, but you will be found in the casting up of the account, to be fighters against God himself; and what greater madness, then for weakness it self to engage against an almighty strength; the near union that is between the Lord and Believers, is set forth by that near union that is betwixt a husband and his Wife.3 (They two shall be one flesh; This is a great Mystery, but I speak concerning Christ & the Church) We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones, saith the Apostle: This near union is set forth by that union that is between the head and the members, which make up one body, and by that union that is betwixt the graft and the stock, which are made one by inscition. The union between the Lord and a Believer is so near, that you cannot strike a Believer, but the Lord is sensible of it, and takes it as done to himself, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou 4me? And in all their afflictions he was afflicted, &c. Ah souls! who ever engaged against God, and prospered? who ⟨p. 282⟩ever took up the sword against him, but perished by it? God can speak you to hell, and nod you to hell at pleasure; 'tis your greatest concernment to lay down your weapons at his feet, and to 5kiss the Son lest he be angry, and you perish in the mid-way.
The 3. Remedie against this device of1 Satan, is, to consider, that you cannot engage against the Saints, but you must2 engage against God himselfe, by reason of that neer, and blessed union that is between God and them; you cannot be fighters against the Saints, but you will be found in the casting up of the account, to be fighters against God himself; and what greater madnesse, then for weaknesse it selfe to engage against an almighty strength; the neer union that is between the Lord and Beleevers, is set forth by that neer union that is betwixt a husband and his Wife.