A77618:161
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.
Secondly, Consider, That all your afflictions, troubles and ⟨p. 120⟩trials, shall work for your good, Rom. 8. 28. And we know that all 1things shall work together for good to them that love God. Why then should you fret, fling, fume? seeing God designs your good in all. The Bee sucks sweet honey out of the bitterest herbs: so God will by afflictions teach his children to suck sweet knowledge, sweet obedience, and sweet experiences, &c. out of all the bitter afflictions and trials he exercises them with; that scouring and rubbing which frets others, shall make them shine the brighter, and that weight which crushes and keeps others under, shall but make them like the palmtree, grow better and higher. And that hammer which knocks others all in pieces, shall but knock them the nearer to Christ the corner-stone. Stars shine brightest in the darkest night: Torches give the best light, when beaten: Grapes yield most Wine, when most pressed: Spices smell sweetest, when pounded; Vines are the ⟨p. 121⟩better for bleeding; Gold looks the brighter for scouring; Juniper smells sweetest in the fire; Camomile, the more you tread it, the more you spread it; the Salamander lives best in the fire; the Jews were best, when most afflicted; the Athenians would never mend, till they were in mourning; the Christ's-cross (saith Luther) is no letter in the book, and yet (saith he) it hath taught me more than all the letters in the book. Afflictions are the Saints best benefactors to heavenly affections; where afflictions hang heaviest, corruptions hang loosest. And grace that is hid in nature, as sweet water in Rose-leaves, is then most fragrant, when the fire of affliction is put under to distil it out. Grace shines the brighter for scouring, and is most glorious, when it is most clouded.
Secondly, Consider, That all your afflictions, troubles and ⟨p. 120⟩trials, shall work for your good, Rom. 8. 28. And wee know that all