A77614:54
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 the Devil, are these.
First, keep at the greatest distance from1 sin, and from playing with the golden bait that Satan holds forth to catch you; for this you have the 12 Rom. 9. v. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good; when we meet with any thing extremely evil, and contrary to us, nature abhors it, and retires as far as it can2 from it. The Greek word that is there rendered abhor, is very significant, it signifies to hate it as Hell it self, to hate it with horror. Anselm used to say, that if he should see the shame of sin on the one hand, and the pains of hell on the other, and must of necessity choose one, he would rather be thrust into Hell without sin, then go into Heaven with sin: so great was his hatred and detestation of sin. 'Tis our wisest and our safest3 course to stand at the furthest distance from sin, not to go near the house of the Harlot; but to fly from all appearance of evil; the best course to prevent falling into the pit, is to keep at the4 greatest distance; he that will be so bold as to attempt to dance upon the brink of the pit, may find by woeful experience, that 'tis a righteous thing with God, that he should fall into the pit. Joseph keeps at a (distance from sin, ⟨p. 10⟩and from playing with Satan's golden baits, and stands; David draws near, and plays with the bait, and falls, and swallows bait and hook with a witness. David comes near the snare, and is taken in it, to the breaking of his bones, the wounding of his conscience, and the loss of his God.