A77618:377
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.
Tenthly, If you would keep silent, then keep humble before the Lord. Oh! labour every day to be more humble, and more low, and little in your own eyes; who1 am I, saith the humble soul, but that God should cross me in this mercy, and take away that mercy, and pass a sentence of death upon every mercy? I am not worthy of the least mercy, I deserve not a crumb of mercy, I have forfeited2 every mercy, I have improved never a mercy. Only by pride comes contention; it is only pride that puts men upon contending with God and men; an humble soul will lye quiet at the foot of God, it will be contented with bare commons; As you see sheep can live upon the bare Commons, which a fat Ox cannot. A Dinner of green herbs relisheth well with the humble mans palate, whereas a stalled Ox is but a course dish to a proud mans stomach; an humble heart thinks none less than himself, nor none worse than himself; ⟨p. 366⟩an humble heart looks upon small3 mercies, as great mercies, and great afflictions, as small afflictions; and small afflictions, as no afflictions; and therefore sits mute and quiet under all; do •ut keep humble, and you will keep silent before the Lord; pride kicks, and flings, and frets, but an humble man hath still his hand upon his mouth. Every thing on this side Hell is mercy, much mercy, rich mercy, to an humble soul; and therefore he holds his peace.
Tenthly, If you would keep silent, then keep humble before the Lord. Oh! labour every day to bee more humble, and more low, and little in your own eyes; who1 am I, saith the humble soul, but that God should cross mee in this mercy, and take away that mercy, and pass a sentence of death upon every mercy? I am not worthy of the least mercy, I deserve not a crum of mercy, I have forfeited2 every mercy, I have improved never a mercy. Onely by pride comes contention; it is onely pride that puts men upon contending with God and men; an humble soul will lye quiet at the foot of God, it will bee contented with bare commons; As you see sheep can live upon the bare Commons, which a fat Oxe cannot. A Dinner of green herbs relisheth well with the humble mans palate, whereas a stalled Oxe is but a course dish to a proud mans stomack; an humble heart thinks none less than himself, nor none worse than himself;