A77614:393
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 second Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that mens leaning and trusting to their own wits, parts, and abilities, have been their utter overthrow, and ruin;2 as you may see in Ahithophel, and those Presidents and Princes that engaged against Daniel, and in the Scribes and Pharisees; God loves to confute men in their Confidences; he that stands upon his parts and abilities, doth but stand upon a quick-sand, that will certainly fail him. There is nothing in the world that provokes God more to with-draw from the soul, then this, and how can the soul stand when his strength is departed from him? Every thing that a man leans upon, but God, will be a dart that will certainly pierce his heart through and through; ah! how many in these days have lost their estates? their friends? their lives? their souls? by leaning upon their admired parts and abilities? The Saints are described3 by their leaning upon their beloved the Lord Jesus; he that leans only upon the bosom of Christ, lives the highest, choicest, safest, and sweetest life; miseries always lye at that mans door, that leans upon any thing below the precious bosom of Christ. Such a man is most in danger, and this is none ⟨p. 287⟩of his least plagues, that he thinks himself secure. 'Tis the greatest wisdom in the world, to take the wise mans counsel. Trust in the Lord with all thy 4heart, and lean not to thine own understanding.
The second Remedy against this Device1 of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that mens leaning and trusting to their own wits, parts, and abilities, have been their utter overthrow, and ruine;2 as you may see in Achitophel, and those Presidents and Princes that engaged against Daniel, and in the Scribes and Pharisees; God loves to confute men in their Confidences; he that stands upon his parts and abilities, doth but stand upon a quick-sand, that will certainly faile him. There is nothing in the world that provokes God more to with-draw from the soul, then this, and how can the soul stand when his strength is departed from him? Every thing that a man leanes upon, but God, will be a dart that will certainly pierce his heart through and through; ah! how many in these dayes have lost their estates? their friends? their lives? their souls? by leaning upon their admired parts and abilities? The Saints are described