A77618:276
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 6
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.
Thirdly, It may be that the Lord sees that it is very needful, that thy afflictions should be greater than others, it may be thy heart is harder than other mens hearts, and prouder and stouter than other ⟨p. 255⟩mens hearts; it may be thy heart is more impure than others, and more carnal than others, or else more passionate and more worldly than others, or else more deceitful and more hypocritical than others, or else more cold and careless than others, or else more secure than others, or more formal and lukewarm than others; now if this be thy case, certainly God sees it very necessary for the breaking of thy hard heart, and the humbling of thy proud heart, and the cleansing of thy •oul heart, and the spiritualizing of thy carnal hear, &c. that thy afflictions should be greater than others; and therefore hold thy peace; where the disease is strong, the physic must be strong, else the cure will never be wrought. God is a wise Physician, and he would never give strong physic,1 if weaker could effect the cure. Isa. 27. 8. The more rusty the Iron is, the oftener we put it into the fire to purify it; and the more crooked it is, the more blows, and ⟨p. 256⟩the harder blows we give to straiten it; thou hast been long a gathering rust; and therefore if God deal thus with thee, thou hast no cause to complain.
Thirdly, It may bee that the Lord sees that it is very needful, that thy afflictions should be greater than others, it may bee thy heart is harder than other mens hearts, and prouder and stouter than other ⟨p. 255⟩mens hearts; it may bee thy heart is more impure than others, and more carnal than others, or else more passionate and more worldly than others, or else more deceitful and more hypocritical than others, or else more cold and careless than others, or else more secure than others, or more formal and lukewarm than others; now if this bee thy case, certainly God sees it very necessary for the breaking of thy hard heart, and the humbling of thy proud heart, and the cleansing of thy oul heart, and the spiritualizing of thy carnal heare, &c. that thy afflictions should bee greater than others; and therefore hold thy peace; where the disease is strong, the physick must bee strong, else the cure will never bee wrought. God is a wise Physician, and hee would never give strong physick,