A77614:391
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.
Now the Remedies against this Device of Satan are these that follow.
The first Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that you have nothing but what you have received; Christ being as well the fountain of common gifts, as of saving2 grace. What hast thou (saith the Apostle) that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory as though thou hadst not received it? There are those that would hammer out their own happiness, like the Spider climbing up by the thread of her own weaving; of all the parts and abilities that be in you, you may well say, as the young man did of his Hatchet, Alas Master! it was but borrowed; Alas Lord! all I have is but borrowed from that Fountain that fills all the Vessel in Heaven, and on Earth, and it overflows; my gifts are not so much mine,3 as thine: Of thine own have we offered unto thee, said that Princely Prophet, &c.
THe first Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that you have nothing but what you have received; Christ being as well the fountaine of common gifts, as of saving2 grace. What hast thou (saith the Apostle) that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory as though thou hadst not received it? There are those that would hammer out their owne happinesse, like the Spider climbing up by the thread of her owne weaving; of all the parts and abilities that be in you, you may well say, as the young man did of his Hatchet, Alas Master! it was but borrowed; Alas Lord! all I have is but borrowed from that Fountaine that fills all the Vessel in Heaven, and on Earth, and it overflowes; my gifts are not so much mine,