A77614:467
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.
Fifthly, if you would not be taken with any of Satan's Devices, then labour to be filled with the spirit; the spirit of the Lord is a spirit of light and power, and what can a soul do without light, & power against spiritual wickednesses 1in high places. 'Tis not enough that you have the spirit, but you must be filled with the spirit, or else (Satan) that evil spirit will be too hard for you, and his plots will prosper against you. That's a sweet word of the Apostle,2 be filled with the Spirit, i. e. labour for abundance of the spirit; he that thinks he hath enough of the holy Spirit, will quickly find himself vanquished by the evil spirit. Satan hath his snares to take you in prosperity & adversity, in health & sickness, in strength and weakness; when you are alone, and when you are in company; when you come on to spiritual duties, and when you come off from spiritual duties, and if you are not filled with the Spirit, Satan will be too hard, and too crafty for you, and will easily, and frequently take you in his snares, and make a prey of you in spite of your souls; therefore labour more to have your hearts filled with the Spirit, then to have your heads filled with notions, your shops with wares, your chests with ⟨p. 325⟩silver, or your bags with gold, so shall you escape the snares of this fowler, and triumph over all his plots, &c.
Fifthly, if you would not be taken with any of Satans Devices, then labour to be filled with the spirit; the spirit of the Lord is a spirit of light and power, and what can a soule doe without light, & power against spiritual wickednesses 1in high places. 'Tis not enough that you have the spirit, but you must be filled with the spirit, or else (Satan) that evill spirit will be too hard for you, and his plots will prosper against you. That's a sweet word of the Apostle,2 be filled with the Spirit, i. e. labour for abundance of the spirit; hee that thinks he hath enough of the holy Spirit, will quickly find himselfe vanquished by the evill spirit. Satan hath his snares to take you in prosperity & adversity, in health & sickness, in strength and weakness; when you are alone, and when you are in company; when you come on to spirituall duties, and when you come off from spirituall duties, and if you are not filled with the Spirit, Satan will be too hard, and too crafty for you, and will easily, and frequently take you in his snares, and make a prey of you in spight of your soules; therefore labour more to have your hearts filled with the Spirit, then to have your heads filled with notions, your shops with wares, your chests with