A77618:244
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 3
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.
Fifthly, The longer you have been afflicted, the more in spiritual experiences you have been enriched, 2 Cor. 1. 5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. The lower the ebb, the higher the tide, the more pain, the more gain, the more afflicted, the more comforted, the lower we are cast, the higher we shall be raised. Of all Christians, none so rich in spiritual experiences, as those that have1 been long in the school of affliction. Oh the blessed stories that such can tell of the power of God supporting them, of the wisdom of God directing them, of the favour of God comforting them, of the presence of God assisting them! Oh the love-tokens, the love-letters, the bracelets, the Jewels, that they are able to produce since they have been in the furnace of affliction! Oh the sins that long afflictions have discovered and mortified! O the ⟨p. 223⟩temptations that long afflictions have prevented and vanquished! you shall as soon number the stars of Heaven, and the sands of the Sea, as you shall number up the heavenly experiences of such Christians that have been long under afflictions; the afflicted Christians heart is fullest of spiritual treasure; though he may be poor in the world, yet2 he is rich in faith and holy experiences, and what are all the riches of this world to spiritual experiences? one spiritual experience is more worth than a world, and upon a dying-bed, and before a judgement seat, every man will be of this opinion. The men of this world will with much quietness and calmness of spirit, bear much, and suffer much, I and suffer long, when they find their sufferings to add to their revenues: and shall nature do more than grace? It is the common voice of nature, Who will show us any 3good? how shall we come to be great, and high, and rich in the world? we care not what we ⟨p. 224⟩suffer, nor how long we suffer, so we may but add house to house,4