A77614:474
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.
9. If you would not be taken in any of Satan's snares, then engage not against Satan in your own strength, but1 be every day drawing new virtue, and strength from the Lord Jesus; certainly, that soul that engages against any old or new temptation, without new strength, new influences from on high, will fall before the power of the temptation; you may see this in Peter, he rested upon some old received strength (Though all men should deny thee, yet will not I) and therefore he falls sadly before a new temptation; he curses, and2 swears, and denies him thrice, that had thrice appeared gloriously to him; ah souls! when the snare is spread, look up to Jesus Christ, who is lifted up in the Gospel, as the brazen Serpent was3 in the wilderness, and say to him, Dear Lord, here is a new snare laid to catch my soul, and grace formerly received without fresh supplies from thy blessed bosom, will not deliver me from this snare; oh! give me new strength, new ⟨p. 341⟩power, new influences, new measures of grace, that so I may escape this snare. Ah souls! remember this, that your4 strength to stand, and overcome, must not be expected from graces received, but from the fresh, and renewed influences of Heaven; you must lean more upon Christ then upon your duties, you must lean more upon Christ, then upon spiritual taft• and discoveries; you must lean more upon Christ, then upon your graces, or else Satan will lead you into captivity, &c.
9. If you would not be taken in any of Satans snares, then engage not against Satan in your own strength, but1 be every day drawing new vertue, and strength from the Lord Jesus; certainly, that soule that engages against any old or new temptation, without new strength, new influences from on high, will fall before the power of the temptation; you may see this in Peter, hee rested upon some old received strength (Though all men should deny thee, yet will not I) and therefore he falls sadly before a new temptation; he curses, and