A77618:146
The silent soul, with sovereign antidotes against the most miserable exigentsThe silent soul, with soveraign antidotes against the most miserable exigents
The silent soul, with sovereign antidotes against the most miserable exigents: or, A Christian with an olive-leaf in his mouth, when he is under the greatest afflictions, the sharpest and sorest trials and troubles, the saddest and darkest providences and changes, with answers to divers questions and objections that are of greatest importance, all tending to win and work souls to be still, quiet, calm and silent under all changes that have, or may pass upon them in this world, &c. / By Thomas Brooks preacher of the Word at Margarets New Fish-street London, and pastor of the Church of Christ meeting there.The silent soul, with soveraign antidotes against the most miserable exigents: or, A Christian with an olive-leaf in his mouth, when he is under the greatest afflictions, the sharpest and sorest trials and troubles, the saddest and darkest providences and changes, with answers to divers questions and objections that are of greatest importance, all tending to win and work souls to bee still, quiet, calm and silent under all changes that have, or may pass upon them in this world, &c. / By Thomas Brooks preacher of the Word at Margarets New Fish-street London, and pastor of the Church of Christ meeting there.
London: printed by R.I. for John Hancock, 1660
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.
At last he desired so much as would serve him to cut down the briers and bushes, alleging, that such shrubs as they did but suck away the juice of the ground, and hinder the growth, and obscure the glory of the fair and goodly trees; hereupon they were all content to afford him so much; he pretends a thorough reformation, but behold a sad deformation; for when he had got his Helve, down went both Cedar, Oak, Ash, Elm, and all that stood in his way. Such are the subtle reaches of sin, it will promise to remove the Briers and Bushes of afflictions and troubles, that hinder the soul of that juice, sweetness, comfort, delight and content that otherwise it might ⟨p. 107⟩enjoy. Oh do but now yield a little to it, and instead of removing your troubles, it will cut down your peace, your hopes, your comforts, yea it will cut down your precious souls. What is the breathing of a vein, to the being let blood in the throat, or a scratch on the hand, to a stab at the heart? no more are the greatest afflictions to the least sins, and therefore Christians never use sinful shifts to shift your selves out of troubles, but rather be mute and silent under them, till the Lord shall work out your deliverance from them. But,
At last hee desired so much as would serve him to cut down the briers and bushes, alledging, that such shrubs as they did but suck away the juice of the ground, and hinder the growth, and obscure the glory of the fair and goodly trees; hereupon they were all content to afford him so much; hee pretends a thorow reformation, but behold a sad deformation; for when hee had got his Helve, down went both Cedar, Oak, Ash, Elm, and all that stood in his way. Such are the subtil reaches of sin, it will promise to remove the Briers and Bushes of afflictions and troubles, that hinder the soul of that juice, sweetnesse, comfort, delight and content that otherwise it might ⟨p. 107⟩enjoy. Oh do but now yeeld a little to it, and instead of removing your troubles, it will cut down your peace, your hopes, your comforts, yea it will cut down your precious souls. What is the breathing of a vein, to the being let blood in the throat, or a scratch on the hand, to a stab at the heart? no more are the greatest afflictions to the least sins, and therefore Christians never use sinful shifts to shift your selves out of troubles, but rather bee mute and silent under them, till the Lord shall work out your deliverance from them. But,