A77614:519
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.
1. That though the invitation be to such that labour and are heavy laden, yet the promise of giving rest, its made over to coming to believing.
2. I answer, that all that this Scripture proves and shows, is, that such as labour under sin as under a heavy burden,1 and that are laden with the guilt of sin, and sense of Gods displeasure, ought to come to Christ for rest; but it doth not prove that only such must come to Christ, nor that all men must be thus burdened, and laden with the sense of their sins, and the wrath of God before they come to Christ. Poor sinners, when they are under the sense of sin, and wrath of God, they are prone to run from creature to creature, and from duty to duty, and from Ordinance to Ordinance, to find rest; and if they could find it in any thing, or creature, Christ should never hear of them. But here the Lord sweetly invites them, and to encourage them, he engages himself to give them rest. Come (saith Christ) and I will give you rest. ⟨p. 373⟩I'll not show you rest, nor barely tell you of rest, but I will give you rest. I am faithfulness it self, and cannot lye, I will give you rest. I that have the greatest power to give it, the greatest will to give it, the greatest right to give it, come laden sinners, and I will give you rest. Rest is the most desirable good, the most suitable good, & to you the greatest good. Come saith Christ, that is, Believe in me & I will give you rest. I will give you peace with God, and peace with conscience, I will turn your storm into an everlasting calm: I will give you such rest, that the world can neither give to you, nor take from you.
2. I answer, that all that this Scripture proves and shews, is, that such as labour under sin as under a heavy burden,1 and that are laden with the guilt of sin, and sense of Gods displeasure, ought to come to Christ for rest; but it doth not prove that only such must come to Christ, nor that all men must be thus burthened, and laden with the sense of their sinnes, and the wrath of God before they come to Christ. Poor sinners, when they are under the sense of sinne, and wrath of God, they are prone to run from creature to creature, and from duty to duty, and from Ordinance to Ordinance, to find rest; and if they could finde it in any thing, or creature, Christ should never heare of them. But here the Lord sweetly invites them, and to encourage them, he engages himself to give them rest. Come (saith Christ) and I will give you rest.