A77618:222
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
THE MUTE CHRISTIAN Under the SMARTING ROD. › Objections › Objection 2
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.
Fourthly, It may be thou hast not made a happy improvement of thy near and dear mercies whilst thou enjoyest them: thou hast been taken with thy mercies, but thy heart hath not been taken up in the improvement of them; there are many who are very much taken with their mercies, who make no conscience of improving their mercies; have thy near and dear mercies been a star to lead thee ⟨p. 193⟩to Christ? have they been a cloud by day, and a pillar of light by night to lead thee towards the heavenly Canaan? have they been a Jacobs Ladder to thy soul? hast thou by them been provoked to give up thy self to God as a living1 Sacrifice? hast thou improved thy near and dear mercies to the inflaming of thy love to God? to the strengthening of thy confidence in God? to the raising of thy communion with God? and to the engaging of thy heart to a more close and circumspect walking before God? &c. if thou hast not thus improved them, thou hast more cause to be mute, than to murmur, to be silent, than to be impatient, to fall out with thy self, than to fall out with thy God. Children and fools are taken with many things, but improve n• thing; such children and fools a•e most men, they are much taken with their mercies, but they make no improvement of their mercies; and therefore no wonder if ⟨p. 194⟩God strip them of their mercies. The candle of mercy is set up, not to play by, but to work by.
Fourthly, It may bee thou hast not made a happy improvement of thy near and dear mercies whilst thou injoyest them: thou hast been taken with thy mercies, but thy heart hath not been taken up in the improvement of them; there are many who are very much taken with their mercies, who make no conscience of improving their mercies; have thy near and dear mercies been a star to lead thee ⟨p. 193⟩to Christ? have they been a cloud by day, and a pillar of light by night to lead thee towards the heavenly Canaan? have they been a Jacobs Ladder to thy soul? hast thou by them been provoked to give up thy self to God as a living