A77614:93
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 Satan are these that follow.
The first Remedy is, seriously to consider,1 that Repentance is a mighty work, a difficult work, a work that is above our power. There is no power below that power that raised Christ from the dead, and that made the world, that can break the heart of a sinner, or turn the heart of a sinner; thou art as well ⟨p. 50⟩melt Adamant, as to melt thine own heart, to turn a flint into flesh, as to turn thine own heart to the Lord; to raise the dead, and to make a world, as to Repent. Repentance is a flower that grows not in Natures garden. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots, then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil, Jer. 13. 23. Repentance is a gift that comes down from above, men are not born with Repentance in their hearts, as they are borne with tongues in their mouths, Acts. 5.2 31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give Repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. So in that 2 Tim. 2. 25. In meekness instructing them that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance, to the acknowledging of the truth. 'Tis not in the power of any mortal to repent at pleasure: Some ignorant, deluded souls vainly conceit that these five words, Lord have mercy upon me, are efficacious to send them to Heaven; but as many are undone by buying a counterfeit Jewell: so many are in Hell, by mistake of their Repentance; many rest in their Repentance, though it be but the shadow of Repentance, which caused one to say, Repentance damneth more then sin.