A77618:316
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 8
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, Hereby the Lord will teach his people to set a higher price upon his face and favour, when they come to enjoy it. Cant. 13. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth; I held him, and I would not let him go, &c. No man sets so high a price upon Christ, as he that hath lost him, and found him again. Jesus in the China tongue signifies the rising Sun, and so he is, Mal. 4. 2. especially to souls that have been long clouded. The poor Northern Nations in Strabo, who want the light of the Sun for some months together, when the term of his return approaches, ⟨p. 299⟩they climb up into the highest mountains to spy it, and he that spies it first was accounted the best and most beloved of God, and usually they did choose him King; at such a rate did they prize the return of the Sun: Ah! so it is with a poor soul, that for some months, years, hath been deserted, Oh how highly doth he prize and value the Sun of Righteousness, his returning to him, and shining upon him! Psa. 63. 3. Thy loving kindness is better than life, or better than lives, as the Hebrew hath it, divine favour2 is better than life, it is better than life with all its revenues, with all its appurtenances, as honours, riches, pleasures, applause, &c. yea it is better than many lives put together. Now you know at what a high rate men value their lives, they will bleed, sweat, vomit, purge, part with an estate, yea with a limb, yea limbs, to preserve their lives. As he cried out, give me any deformity, any torment, any misery, so you spare my life. Now, ⟨p. 300⟩though life be so dear and precious to a man, yet a deserted soul prizes the returnings of divine favour upon him, above life, yea above many lives; many men have been weary of their lives, as is evident in Scripture and History; but no man was ever yet found that was weary of the love and favour of God; no man sets so high a price upon the Sun, as he that hath lain long in a dark dungeon, &c. But