Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	abide_v	able_a	faith_n	80	3	4.5624	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77614	Precious remedies against Satans devices or, salve for believers and unbelievers sores. Being a companion for those that are in Christ, or out of Christ; that are high, or low, learned, or illiterate, staggering, or wandering; that slight, or neglect ordinances, under a pretence of living above them; that are growing (in spiritualls) or decaying; that are tempted, or deserted, afflicted, or opposed; that have assurance, or that want assurance; that are self-seekers, or the common-wealths caterpillars; that are in love sweetly united, or that yet have their spirits too much imbittered, &c. By Thomas Brookes, a willing servant unto God, and the faith of his people, in the glorious gospel of Christ, at Margarets fish-street hill.	Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680.	1658 (1658)	Wing B4954; Thomason E1426_1	231,671	413

thee Behold I have graven thee upon the Verse 16. palmes of my bands thy walls are continually before me If ever you would be too hard for Satan and after all your assaults have your bow abide in strength then take to you the word of God which is the two-edged sword of the Spirit Ephes 6. 1. and the shield of faith whereby you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Devill 'T is not spitting at Satans name nor crossing your selves nor leaning to your owne resolutions that will get you the victory Luther reports of Staupicius a German Minister that he acknowledged himself that before he came to understand aright the free and powerfull grace of God that he vowed and resolved an hundred times against some particular sinne and never could get power over it at last he saw the reason to be his trusting to his own resolution therefore be skilfull in the word of righteousnesse and in the actings of faith upon Christ and his victory and that Crown of glory that is set before you and Satan will certainly flye from you Iames 4. 7. c. The fifth Proposition is this That we may read much of Satans 5 Proposition nature and disposition by the divers names and Epithites that are given him in the Scriptures Sometimes he is called Behemoth which is bruta whereby Iob 40. 15. the greatnesse and brutishnesse of the Devill is figured Those evill spirits are sometimes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Accusers for their calumnies and slanders and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 evill ones for their malice Satan is Adversarius an adversary that troubleth Revel 9. and molesteth Abaddon is a destroyer They are called Tempters for their suggestion Lions for their devouring Dragons for their cruelty and Serpents for their subtlety c. As his names are so is he as face answers to face so do Satans names answer to his nature hee hath the worst names and the worst nature of all created creatures c. The sixth and last Proposition is this That God will shortly tread downe 6 Proposition Rom. 16. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suntripsei from suntribo the Greek word signifies to break or crush a thing to pieces being applyed to the feet it noteth that breaking or crushing which is by stamping upon a thing Satan under the Saints feet Christ our Champion hath already won the Field and will shortly set our feet upon the necks of our spirituall enemies Satan is a foiled Adversary Christ hath led him captive and triumph't over him upon the Crosse Christ hath already overcome him and put weapons into your hands that you may overcome him also set your feet upon his neck Though Satan be a roaring Lion yet Christ who is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah will make Satan flye and fall before you Let Satan doe his worst yet you shall have the honour and the happiness to triumph over him Cheer up you precious sons of Sion for the certainty and sweetnesse of Victory will abundantly recompence you for all the paines you have taken in making resistance against Satans temptations The broken horns of Satan shall be Trumpets of our triumph and the Cornets of our joy c. Now I shall come to the Reasons of the Point and so draw to a close c. THe first Reason is that their hearts 1 Reason may be kept in an humble praying The Philosopher had a ball of brasse in his hand which if he chanced to sleep with the fall into a bason awaked him to his studies You are wise and know how to apply it watching frame oh hath Satan so many devices to ensnare and undoe the soules of men how should this awaken dull drowsie soules and make them stand upon their watch A Saint should be like a Seraphim beset all over with eyes and lights that he may avoid Satans snares and stand fast in the hour of temptation The Lord hath in the Scripture discovered the several snares plots and devices that the Delill hath to undo the soules of men that so being forwarn'd they may be forearm'd that they may be alwayes upon their watch-tower and hold their weapons in their hands as the Iewes did in N●hemiah's time c. The second Reason is from that malice 2 Reason envy and enmity that is in Satan Malice cares not what it saith or doth it may kill or gall against the souls of men Satan is full of envy and enmity that makes him very studious to suit his snares and plots to the tempers constitutions fancies and callings of men that so hee may make them as miserable as himself The Russians are so malicious that you shall have a man hide some of his own goods in the house of him whom he hateth and then accuse him for the stealth of them so doth Satan out of malice to An envious heart and a plotting head are inseparable companions the soules of men hide his goods his wares as I may say in the soules of men and then goe and accuse them before the Lord and a thousand thousand other wayes Satans malice envy and enmity puts him upon eternally to undoe the precious soules of men c. The third Reason is drawn from that 3 Reason long experience that Satan hath had he is a spirit of mighty abilities and his abilities to lay snares before us are mightily increased by that long standing of his hee is a spirit of above five thousand yeares standing he hath had time enough to studie all those wayes and methods which tend most to ensnare and undo the souls of men And as he hath time enough so he hath made it his whole study his only study his constant study to find out snares depths and stratagems to entangle and overthrow the soules of men when he was but a young Serpent he did easily deceive and out-wit our first Parents but now he is grown that Old Serpent as Gen. 3. John speakes Hee is as olde as the world Revel 12. 9. and is grown uery cunning by experience The fourth Reason is in Judgement 4 Reason to the men of the world that they may stumble and fall and be ensnared for ever wicked men that withstand the offers of mercy and despise the spirit of grace that will not open though God knocks never so hard by his word and rod by his Spirit and consceience are given up by a hand of Justice to be 1 King 22. 22. hardned deceived and ensnared by Satan to their everlasting ruine and what can be more just then that they should be taken and charmed with Satans wiles who have frequently refused to be charmed by the Spirit of grace though he hath charmed never so wisely and never so sweetly c. The fifth Reason is That the excellency 5 Reason and power of Gods grace may be the more illustrated and manifested by making man able

PRECIOUS REMEDIES AGAINST SATANS Devices OR Salve for Believers and Vnbelievers Sores Being a Companion for those that are in Christ or out of Christ That are high or low learned or illiterate staggering or wandering That slight or neglect Ordinances under a pretence of living above them That are growing in spiritualls or decaying That are Tempted or Deserted afflicted or Opposed That have Assurance or that want Assurance That are Self-seekers or the Common-wealths Caterpillars That are in love sweetly united or that yet have their spirits too much imbittered c. By THOMAS BROOKES a willing Servant unto God and the faith of his people in the glorious Gospel of Christ at Margarets Fish-street hill The Second Edition Corrected and Enlarged Put on the whole Armour of God that yee may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil Ephes 6. 11. But unto you I say and unto the rest in Thyatira as many as have not this Doctrine and which have not knowne the Depths of Satan as they spake I will put upon you no other burthen but that which you have already hold fast till I come Rev. 2. 24 25. LONDON Printed by M. Simmons for John Hancock at the first shop in Popes-head Alley next to Corn-hill 1653. THE EPISTLE Dedicatorie TO HIS Most Dear and Precious Ones The Sons and Daughters of the most High God over whom the holy Ghost hath made him a Watchman Beloved in our dearest Lord CHrist the Scripture your owne hearts and Satans Devices are the foure prime things that should be first and most studied searched if any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here nor happie If a Minister had as many eyes as Argus to watch as many heads as Typheus to dispose and as many hands as Briareus to labour he might finde imployment enough for them all hereafter 'T is my worke as a Christian but much more as I am a watchman to doe my best to discover the fulnesse of Christ the emptinesse of the creature and the snares of the great Deceiver which I have endeavoured to doe in the following discourse according to that measure of grace which I have received from the Lord. God once accepted a handfull of meale for a sacrifice and a gripe of Goats haire for an oblation and I know that you have not so learned the Father as to despise the day of small things Beloved Satan being fallen from light to darknesse from felicity to misery from Heaven to hell from an Angell to a Devill is so full of malice and envy that he will leave no meanes unattempted whereby he may make all others eternaly miserable with himselfe he being shut out of Heaven and shut up under chaines of darknesse till the judgement of the great day makes use of all his power and skill to bring all the sons of men into the same condition and condemnation with himselfe Satan hath cast such sinfull seed into our soules that now he can no sooner tempt but we are ready to assent he can no sooner have a plot upon us but he makes a conquest of us if he doth but shew men a little of the beauty and bravery of the world how ready are they to fall down and worship him What ever sin the heart of man is most prone to that the Devill will help forward If David be proud of 2 Sam. 24. his people Satan wil provoke him to number them that he may be yet prouder If Peter be slavishly Matth. 16. ver 22. 26. ch 69. ult fearfull Satan will put him upon rebuking and denying of Christ to save his owne skin If Ahabs 1 Kings 22. Prophets be given to flatter the Devill will strait way become a lying spirit in the mouthes of foure hundred of them and they shall flatter Ahab to his ruine If Judas will John 13. 2. be a Traitor Satan will quickly enter into his heart and make him sell his Master for money which some Heathens would never have done If Ananias will lye Acts 5. 3. for advantage Satan wil fill his heart that he may lye with a witness to the Holy Ghost Satan loves to saile with the winde and to suite mens temptations to their conditions and inclinations if they be in prosperity he will tempt them to deny God if they be in adversity he will tempt them to distrust Prov. 30. v. 9. God if their knowledge be weak he will tempt them to have low thoughts of God if their conscience be tender he will tempt to scrupulosity if large to carnall security if we be bold-spirited he will tempt to presumption if timerous to desperation if flexible to inconstancie if stiffe to impenitency c. From the power malice and skill of Satan doth proceed all the soule killing plots devices stratagems and machinations that be in the world Severall devices he hath to draw soules to sin and severall plots he hath to keepe soules from all holy and heavenly services and severall stratagems he hath to keep soules in a mourning staggering doubting and questioning condition He hath severall devices to destroy the great and honourable the wise and learned the blinde and ignorant the rich and the poore the reall and the nominall Saints c. One while he will refraine from tempting that we may think our selves secure and neglect our watch another while he will seeme to flie that he may make us proud of the victory one while hee will fix mens eyes more on others sins then their own that he may puffe them another while he will fix their eyes more on others graces then their own that he may overwhelme them c. A man may as well tell the stars and number the sands of the sea as reckon up all the devices of Satan yet those which are most considerable and by which he doth most mischiefe to the precious soules of men are in the following Treatise discovered and the Remedies against them prescribed c. Beloved I think it necessary to give you and the world a faithfull account of the Reasons moving me to appear in Print in these dayes wherein we may say there was never more writing and yet neverlesse practising and they are these that follow c. First because Satan hath a 1. Reason greater influence upon men and higher advantages over men having the winde and the hill as it were then they thinke he hath and the knowledge of his high advantages is the high way to disappoint him and to render the soul strong in resisting and happy in conquering c. Your importunity and the importunity 2. Reason of many other precious sons of Zion hath after much striving with God my own heart and others made a conquest of me and forced me to doe that at last which at first was not a little contrary to my inclination and resolution c. The strange opposition that I 3. Reason Pirates make the strongest and the

hottest oppositions against those vessells that are most richly laden so doth Satan that arch Pirate against those truths that have most of God Christ and Heaven in them met with from Satan in the study of this following discourse hath put an edge upon my spirit knowing that Satan strives mightily to keep those things from seeing the light that tend eminently to shake and break his Kingdome of darknesse and to lift up the Kingdome and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ in the soules and lives of the children of men c. Its exceeding usefulnesse to all sorts ranks and conditions of men 4. Reason in the world here you have salve for every sore and a plaister for every wound and a Remedy against every disease especially against those that tend most to the undoing of soules and to the ruine of the State c. I know not of any one or 5. Reason other that have writ of this Subject all that I have ever seen have only toucht upon this string which hath been no small provocation to me to attempt to doe something this way that others that have better heads and hearts may be the more stirred to improve their Talents in a further discovery of Satans Devices and in the making knowne of such choice Remedies as may inable the soules of men to triumph over all his plots and stratagems c. I have many precious friends in 6 Reason severall Countries who are not a little desirous that my pen may reach them now my voice cannot I have formerly been by the help of the mightie God of Jacob a weake instrument of good to them and cannot but hope and beleeve that the Lord will also blesse these labours to them they being in part the fruit of their desires and prayers c. Lastly not knowing how soon 7. Reason my Glasse may be out and how soone I may be cut off by a hand of death from all opportunities of doing further service for Christ or your soules in this world I was willing to sow a little handfull of spirituall seed among you that so when I put off this earthly Tabernacle my love to you and that deare remembrance of you which I have in my soule may strongly engage your minds and spirits to make this Book your Companion and under all externall or internall changes to make use of this heavenly Salve which I hope will by the blessing of the Lord be as effectuall for the healing of all your Wounds as their looking up to the brazen Serpent was effectuall to heale theirs that were bit and stung with fiery Serpents I shall leave this Book with you as a Legacie of my dearest Love desiring the Lord to make it a far greater and sweeter Legacie then all those carnall Legacies are that are left by the high and mighty ones of the earth to their nearest and dearest relations c. Beloved I would not have affection carrie my pen too much beyond my intention therefore onely give me leave to signifie my desires for you and my desires to you and I shall draw to a close My desires for you are That he would grant you according to the riches Ephes 3. of his glory to be strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner Vers 17. man That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love May be able to Vers 18. comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth Vers 19. and height And to know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge That ye might be filled with all the fullnesse of God And that yee might walke Colos 1. 10. worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitfull in every good worke and increased in the knowledge of God Strengthned with all might according Vers 11. to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfullnesse That ye doe no evill That 2 Cor. 13. 7. your love may abound yet more and more in Knowledge and in all Judgement Phil. 1. 9. That yee may approve things that are excellent that ye may be sincere Vers 10. and without offence till the day of Christ And that our God would 2 Thess 1. 11. count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse and the worke of Faith with Vers 12. power That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ And that you may be eminent in Psal 93. 5. Sanctitie Sanctitie being Zions glory that your hearts may be kept upright your judgements sound and your lives unblamable That as you are now my joy so in the day of Christ you may be my Crown That I may see my labours in your lives that your conversation may not be earthly when the things you heare are heavenly but that it may be as becomes the Gospel That as the Fishes which live in the salt Sea yet are fresh so you though you live in an uncharitable world may yet be charitable and loving That ye may like the Bee suck Honey out of every Flower That ye may shine in a sea of troubles as the Pearle shines in the skie though it grows in the Sea That in all your trials you may be like the stone in Thracia that neither burneth in the fire nor sinketh in the water That ye may be like the Heavens excellent in substance and beautifull in appearance that so you may meet me with joy in that day wherein Christ shall say to his Father Loe here am I and the children that thou hast given me My desires to you are That you would make it your businesse to study Christ his Word your own Hearts Satans Plots and Eternity more then ever that ye would endeavour more to be inwardly sincere then outwardly glorious to live then to have a name to live That yee would labour with all your might to be thankfull under Mercies and faithfull in your Places and humble under Divine Appearances and fruitfull under precious Ordinances that as your meanes and mercies are greater then others so your account before God may not prove worse then others That ye would pray for me who am not worthy to be named among the Saints that I may be a precious instrument in the hand of Christ to bring in many soules unto him and to build up those that are brought in in their most holy Faith And that Utterance may be given to me that I may make knowne all the will of God That 2 Cor. 11. 23 24 25 26 27 28. I may be sincere faithfull frequent fervent and constant in the worke of the Lord and that my labour be not in vaine in the Lord That my Labours may be accepted of the Lord and his Saints and I may daily see the travell of my soule

by why shouldest thou set thine eyes upon that which is not saith Solomon and saith the Apostle the fashion of this world passeth away Heaven 1 Cor. 7. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intimateth that there is nothing of any firmnesse or solid consistence in the creature onely hath a foundation earth hath none but is hanged upon nothing as Job speaks The Apostle willed Tymothie to charge rich men that they be not high minded nor put their trust in uncertaine riches They are like bad servants whose shooes are made of running leather and will never tarrie long with one Master as a bird hoppeth from tree to tree so doe the honors and riches of this world from man to man let Job and Nebuchadnezzar testifie this truth who fell The most renowned Frederick lost all and sued to be made but Sexton of the Church that himselfe had built I have re●d of a poore fisherman who while his nets were ad●ying sl●pt upon the Rock and dreamed that he was made a King on a sudden starts up and leaping for joy falls down f●o● the Rock and in the place of his imagina●y felicities loses his little portion of pleasures from great wealth to great want No man can promise himself to be wealthie till night one storme at Sea one coal of fire one false friend one unadvised word one false witnesse may make thee a begger and a prisoner all at once All the riches and glory of this world is but as smoke and chaff that vanisheth as a dreame and vision in the night that tarrieth not as if an hungrie man dreameth and thinketh that he eateth and when he awaketh his soule is emptie and like a thirstie man which thinketh he drinketh and behold when he is awaked his soule is faint as the Prophet Esay saith Where is the glory of Solomon the sumptuous buildings of Nebuchadnezzar the nine hundred Chariots of Sisera the power of Alexander the authority of Augustus that commanded the whole world to be taxed Those that have been the most glorious in what men generally account glorious and excellent have had inglorious ends As Sampson for strength Absolom for beauty Achitophel for policie Hamon for favour Asael for swiftnesse Alexander for great conquest and yet after twelve yeares poysoned the same you may see in the mighty foure Kingdomes The Caldean Persian Grecian and Romane The pompe of this world Iohn compareth to the Moone which crescit decrescit increaseth and decreaseth Apoc. 12. v. 1. how soone were they gone and forgotten Now rich now poore now full now emptie now in favour anon out of favour now honourable now despised now health now sicknesse now strength now weaknesse Oh! let not these uncertaine things keep thee from those holy services and heavenly imployments that may make thee happy for ever and render thy soule eternally blessed and at ease when all these transitory things shall bid thy soule an everlasting farewell The fourth Remedie against this Device 4. Remedie of Satan is to consider that the great things of this world are very hurtfull and dangerous to the outward and inward man thorough the Henry the second hearing Menz his chiefe City to be taken used this blasphemous speech I shall never saith he love God any more that suffered a City so dear to mee to be taken from me When one presented Antipater King of Macedonia with a book treating of happinesse his answer ou scholazo I have no leasure corruptions that be in the hearts of men oh the rest the peace the comfort the content that the things of this world doe strip many men off Oh the feares the cares the envie the malice the dangers the mischiefs that they subject men to They oftentimes make men carnally confident The rich mans riches are a strong tower in his imagination I said in my prosperity I should never be moved They often swell the heart with pride and make men forget God and neglect God and despise the Rock of their salvation when Jesurum waxed fat and was grown thick and covered with fatnesse then he forgot God and forsooke God that made him and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation as Moses spake ah the time the thoughts the spirits that the things of the world consumes and spends Oh! how doe they hinder the actings of faith upon God how doe they interrupt our sweet communion with God how doe they abate our love to the people of God and coole our love to the things of God and worke us to act like those that are most unlike to God oh the deadnesse the dulnesse the barrennesse that doth attend 〈…〉 n under great outward mercies Oh! the riches of the world chokes That foure good mothers beget foure bad daughters great familiarity begets contempt truth hatred vertue envie riches ignonorance is a french Proverb Gen. 13. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Policrates bestowed five talents for a gift upon one Anacrion who for two nights after was so troubled with care how to keep them and how to bestow them as he carried them back againe to Policrates saying they were not worth the paines which he had already taken for them the word that men live under the most soule-searching and soule in riching meanes with leane soules though they have full purses though their chests are full of silver yet their hearts are emptie of grace In the 13. Gen. 2. It is said that Abraham was very rich in cattell in silver and in gold according to the Hebrew Chabbedh 't is Abraham was very heavie to shew that riches are a heavie burden and a hinderance many times to heaven and happinesse King Henry the fourth asked the Duke of Alva if he had observed the great Ecclipse of the Sun which had lately hapned no said the Duke I have so much to doe on earth that I have no leasure to looke up to Heaven ah that this were not true of most Professors in these dayes 't is very sad to thinke how their hearts and time is so much taken up with earthly things that they have scarce any leasure to looke up to Heaven or to looke after Christ and the things that belong to their everlasting peace Riches though well got yet are but like to Manna those that gathered lesse bad no want and those that gathered more 't was but a trouble and annoyance to them The world is troublesome and yet it is loved what would it be if it were peaceable you imbrace it though it be filthy what would you doe if it were beautifull you cannot keep your hands from the thornes how earnest would you be then in gathering the flowers The world may be fitly likened to the Serpent Scytale whereof it is reported that Sicily is so full of sweet flowers that dogs cannot hunt there and what doe all the sweet contents of this world but make us loose the sent of Heaven when she cannot overtake the flying passengers she

have Christ the Conquerour on our side Isa 40. ult 3. Remedy It is not fit sith the head was crowned with thorns that the members should be crowned with rose-buds saith Zanch. the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite and Geshem the Arabian heard it they laughed us to scorn and despised us and said what is this thing that ye do will ye rebell against the King Then answered I them and said unto them the God of heaven he will prosper us therefore we his servants will arise and build but you have no right nor portion nor memoriall in Jerusalem Ah souls while you are in the very service of the Lord you shall find by experience that the God of Heaven will prosper you and support you and incourage and strengthen you and carry you through the hardest service with the greatest sweetnesse and cheerfulnesse that can be Remember this that God will suit your strength to your worke and in the hardest service you shall have the choisest assistance The third Remedie against this device of Satan is to dwel upon the hard and difficult things that the Lord Jesus Christ hath past through for your temporall spirituall and eternall good Ah! what a sea of blood a sea of wrath of sinne of sorrow and misery did the Lord Jesus wade through for your internal and eternall good Christ did not plead this Crosse is too heavy for me to beare this wrath is too great for me to lie under this Cup which hath in it all the ingredients of divine displeasure is too bitter for me to sip off how much more to drink the very dregs of it no Christ stands not upon this he pleads not the difficulty of the service but resolutely and bravely wades through all as the Prophet Isa shews The Lord God hath opened my ear and I was not rebellious neither turned away back I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the haire I hid not my face from shame and spitting Christ makes nothing of his Fathers wrath the burden of your sins the malice Godfrey of Bullen first K. of Ierusalem refused to be crowned with a crowne of gold saying it became not a Christian there to wear a crown of gold where Christ for our salvation had sometime were a crown of thorns of Satan and the rage of the world but sweetly and triumphantly passes through all Ah soules if this consideration will not raise up your spirits above all the discouragements that you meet with to owne Christ and his service and to stick and cleave to Christ and his service I am afraid nothing will A soule not stir'd by this not rais'd and lifted up by this to be resolute and brave in the service of God notwithstanding all dangers and difficulties is a soule left of God to much blindnesse and hardnesse The 4. Remedy against this Device of 4. Remedie Satan is to consider that religious duties holy and heavenly exercises are only difficult to the worser to the ignoble part of a Saint they are not to the noble and better part of a Saint to the noble part the soule and the renewed affections of a Saint holy exercises are a heavenly pleasure and recreation as the Apostle speaks I delight in the Law of God after the inward As every flowr hath its sweet savour so every good duty carries meat in the mouth comfort in the performance of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. my yoke is a benigne a gracious a pleasant a good and a gainfull yoke opposed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 painfull tedious man With my minde I serve the Law of God though with my flesh the law of sinne To the noble part of a Saint Christs yoke is easie and his burden is light all the commands and wayes of Christ even those that tend to the pulling out of right eyes and cutting off of right hands are joyous and not grievous to the noble part of a Saint all the wayes and services of Christ are pleasantnesse in the abstract to the better part of a Saint a Saint so far as he is renewed is alwayes best when he sees most of God when he tasts most of God when he is highest in his injoyments of God and most warme and lively in the service of God oh saith the noble part of a Saint that it might be alwayes thus oh that my strength were the strength of stones and my flesh as brasse that my worser part might be more serviceable to my noble part that I might act by an untired power in that service that is a pleasure a Paradise to me The fifth Remedy against this Device 5 Remedie of Satan is solemnly to consider that great reward and glorious recompence that doth attend those that cleave to the service of the Lord in the Basil speaks of some Martyrs that were cast out all night naked in a cold frosty time were to be burned the next day how they comforted themselves in this manner The winter is sharp but Paradise is sweet here we shiver for cold but the bosome of Abraham will make amends for all face of all difficulties and discouragements though the work be hard yet the wag●s is great Heaven will make amends for all I one hours being in heaven will abundantly recompence you for cleaving to the Lord and his wayes in the face of all difficulties This carried the Apostle through the greatest difficulties hee had an eye to the recompence of reward he look't for a house that had foundations whose builder and maker was God and for a heavenly countrey yea this bore up the Spirit of Christ in the face of all difficulties and discouragements Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Crosse despising the shame and is set downe at the right hand of the Throne of God Christians that would hold on in the service of the Lord must look more upon the Crown then upon the Crosse more upon their future glory then their present misery more upon their incouragements then upon their discouragements Gods very service is wages his wayes are strewed with roses and paved with joy that is unspeakable This is praemium ante praemium a sure reward of wel doing in doing thereof not only for doing thereof there is great reward Psal 19. v. 11. and ful of glory and with peace that passeth understanding Some degree of comfort follows every good action as heate accompanies fire as beames and influences issue from the Sun Moreover by them is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward not only for keeping but in keeping of them there is great reward the joy the rest the refreshing the comforts the contents the smiles the incomes that Saints now injoy in the wayes of God are so precious and glorious in their eyes that they would not exchange them for ten

those that are drawn from the consideration of the great and glorious things that Christ hath done for you and if such arguments will not take yee and win upon yee I do● think the throwing of hell fire in your faces will never do it The third Remedie against this device 3. Remedy of Satan is solemnly to consider that those precious souls which Jesus Christ The Saints Motto in all ages hath been Laboremus let 's be doing hath done and suffered as much for as he hath for you have been exceeding active and lively in all religious services and heavenly performances he did as much and suffered as much for David God loves curristas not quaristas the runner not the questioner or disputer saith Luther a● for you and yet who more in praying and praysing God then David seven times a day will I praise the Lord who more in the studying and meditating on the word then David Thy law is my meditation day and night The same truth you may run and read in Jacob Moses Job Daniel and in the rest of the holy Prophets and Apostles for whom Christ hath done as much for as for you ah how have all those Worthies abounded in works of righteousnesse and holinesse to the praise of free grace Certainly Satan hath got the upper hand of those souls that do argue thus The day is at hand when God will require of men non quid legerint sed quid egerint nec quid dixerint sed quomodo vixerin● He that talks of heaven but doth not the will of God is like him that gazed upon the Moon but fell into the pit Christ hath done such and such glorious things for us therefore wee need not make any care or conscience of d●ing such and such religious services as men say the word calls for if this Logick be not from Hell what is ah were the holy Prophets and Apostles alive to heare such Logick come out of the mouths of such as professe themselves to be interested in the great and glorious things that Jesus Christ hath done for his chosen ones how would they blush to look upon such souls and how would their hearts grieve and break within them to heare the language and to observe the actings of such soules The fourth Remedy against this device 4. Remedy of Satan is seriously to consider this that those that doe not walk in ways of righteousnesse and holines that do not wait upon God in the several duties and services that are commanded by him cannot have that evidence to their own soules of their righteousnesse before God of their fellowship and communion Certainly 't is one thing to judg by our graces another thing to rest or put our trust in them There is a great deal of difference betwixt declaring and deserving on with God of their blessednesse here and their happinesse hereafter as those soules have that love and delight in the wayes of the Lord that are always best when they are most in the works and service of the Lord. Little children saith the Apostle let no man deceive you he that doth righteousnesse is righteous even as he is righteous In this saith the same Apostle the children of God are manifest and the children of the Devill whosoever doth not righteousnesse is not of God neither hee As Davids daughters were known by their garments of divers colours so are Gods children by their piety and sanctity that loveth not his brother If ye know that he is righteous saith the same Apostle ye know that every one that doth righteousnes● is born of him He that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandements is a lyer and the truth is not in him But who soever keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him He that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe also to walke even as he A Christians embleme should be an house walking towards Heaven High words surely make a man neither holy nor just but a vertuous life a circumspect walking makes him deare to God A tree that is not fruitful is for the fire Christianity is not a talking but a walking with God who will not be put off with words if he misse of fruit he will take up his axe and then the soul is cut off for ever walked If wee say that we have fellowship with him and walk i● darknesse we lie and doe not the truth but if we walk in the light as he is in the light wee have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin saith the same Apostle So James in his second chapter What doth it profit my brethren though a man say he hath faith and have no workes can faith save him i. e. it cannot for as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead To looke after holy and heavenly works is the best way to preserve the soule from being deceived and deluded by Satans delusions and by sudden flashes of joy and comfort holy works being a more sensible and constant pledge of the precious spirit begetting and maintaining in the soule more solid pure clear strong and lasting joy Ah souls as you would have in your selves a constant and blessed evidence of your fellowship with the Father and the Sonne and of the truth of grace and of your future happinesse look that you cleave close to holy services and that you turne not your backs upon religious duties The fifth Remedy against this device 5 Remedie of Satan is solemnly to consider that 'T is a precious truth never to be forgotten Quod non actibus sed finibus pensantur officia that duties are esteemed not by their acts but by their ends there are other choice and glorious ends for the Saints performance of religious duties then for the justifying of their persons before God or for their satisfying of the Law or justice of God or for the purchasing of the pardon of sin c. viz. to testifie their justification a good tree cannot but bring forth good fruit to testifie their love to God and their sincere obedience to th● commands of God to testifie their deliverance from spirituall bondage to evidence the indwellings Finis move● ad agendum the end moves to doing of the spirit to stop the mouths of the worst of men and to glad those righteous souls that God would not have sadded These and abundance of other choise ends there be why those that have an interest in the glorious doings of Christ should notwithstanding that keep close to the holy duties and religious services that are commanded Tene mensuram respice sinem keep thy selfe within compasse and have an eye always to the end of thy life and actions was Maximimilians the Emperours Motto by Christ And if these considerations will not prevail with you to wait upon God in

righteousnesse and let this suffice for the first answer The second Remedie against this Device 2. Remedie of Satan is solemnly to consider that God in the Scriptures doth define John 1. 12. faith otherwise God defines faith to be a ●●ceiving of Christ As many as received him to them he gave this priviledge to be Act. 11. 23. the sons of God to as many as beleeved on his name to be a cleaving of the soule unto God though no joy but afflictions attend the soule Yea the Lord defines faith to be a coming to God in Christ Mat. 11. 28. John 6. 37. Heb. 7. 25. 26. Isa 3. 4 c. and often to a resting and staying or rouling of the soule upon Christ 'T is safest and sweetest to define as God defines both vices and graces this is the only way to settle the soule and to secure it against all the wiles of men and devills who labour by false definitions of grace to keepe precious soules in a doubting staggering and languishing condition and so make their lives a burden a hell unto them The third Remedie against this device 3 Remedie of Satan is seriously to consider this that there may be true faith where there Mat. 6. 30. chap. 14. 31. chap. 16. 8. is much doubtings witnesse those frequent sayings of Christ to his Disciples Why are yee afraid oh yee of little faith Luke 12. 28. Persons may be truly believing who neverthelesse are sometimes doubting in the same persons that the fore-mentioned Scriptures speak of you may see their faith commended and their doubts condemned which doth necessarily suppose a presence of both The fourth Remedie against this device 4 Remedy of Satan is solemnly to consider that assurance is an effect of faith therefore it cannot be faith The cause cannot be the effect nor the root the fruit as the effect slowes from the cause the fruit from the root the stream from the fountain so doth the assurance flow from faith this truth I shall make good thus The assurance of our salvation and pardon of sin doth primarily arise from the witnesse of the spirit of God that Ephes 1. 13. Gal. 5. 6. we are the children of God And the spirit never witnesseth this till we are beleevers for we are sonnes by faith in Gal. 4 6. Christ Jesus therefore assurance is not faith but followes it as the effect follows the cause Againe no man can be assured and perswaded of his salvation till he be united to Christ till he be ingrafted into Christ and a man cannot be ingrafted into Christ till he hath faith hee must first be ingrafted into Christ by faith before he can have assurance of his salvation which doth clearly evidence that assurance is not faith but an effect and fruit of faith c. Again faith cannot be lost but assurance may therefore assurance is not faith Though assurance be a precious Psal 51. 12. Psal 30. 6 7. flower in the garden of a Saint and is more infinitely sweet and delightful to the soule then all outward comforts Cant. 5. 6. Isa 8. 17. and contents yet 't is but a flower that is subject to fade and to loose its freshnesse There is many thousand precious souls of whom this world is not worthy that have the ●aith of reliance yet want assurance and the effects of it as high joy glorious peace and vehement longings after the coming of Christ and beauty as Saints by sad experience finde c. Againe a man must first have faith before he can have assurance therefore assurance is not faith and that a man must first have faith before he can have assurance is cleare by this a man must first be saved before he can be assured of his salvation for he cannot be assured of that which is not and a man must first have a saving faith before he can be saved by faith for he cannot be saved by that which he hath not therefore a man must first have faith before he can have assurance and so it roundly followes that assurance is not faith c. The third Device that Satan 3 Device hath to keepe the soul in a sad doubting and questioning condition is BY working the soule to make false Psal 77. 7. 11. Psal 88. 1. ult Psal 73. 2. 23. inferences from the crosse actings of providence saith Satan dost thou not see how Providence crosses thy prayers and crosses thy desires thy teares thy hopes thy endeavours surely if his love were toward thee if his soule did delight and take pleasure in thee he would not deale thus with thee c. Now the remedies against this Device of Satan are these that follow THe first Remedie against this device 1 Remedie of Satan is solemnly to consider that many things may be crosse to our desires that are not crosse to our good Abraham Jacob David Job Moses Jeremiah The Circumcellians being not able to withstand the preaching writing of Augustine sought his destruction having beset the way he was to goe his visitation but by Gods providence he missing his way escaped the danger Jonah Paul c. met with many things that were contrary to their de fires and endeavours that were not contrary to their good as all know that have wisely compared their desires and endeavours and Gods actings together Physick often works contrary to the Patients desires when it doth not work contrary to their good I remember a story of a godly man who had a great desire to goe to France and as he was going to take shipping he broke his leg and it pleased providence so to order it that the ship that he should have gone in at that very same time was cast away and not a man saved and so by breaking a bone his life was saved Though Providence did worke crosse to his desires yet it did not work cross to his good c. The second Remedie against this device 2 Remedy of Satan is solemnly to consider that the hand of God may be against a man when the love and heart of God is much set upon a man No man can conclude how the heart of God stands by his hand The hand of God was against Ephraim and yet his love his heart was Ier. 31. 18 19 20. Gods providentiall hand may be with persons when his heart is set against them Gods providentiall hand was for a time with Saul Haman Ashur Iehu and yet his heart was set against them No man knoweth love or hatred by all that is before them Eccles 9. 1 2. dearly set upon Ephraim I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himselfe thus thou hast chastised mee and I was chastised as a bullocke unaccustomed to the yoke turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh

3 4 5. the Devil had malice enough to destroy him yet he had not so much as power to touch him till God gave him a Commission They could not so much as enter into Luke 8. 32. the swine without leave from Christ Satan would faine have combated with Peter but this could not he doe without leave Satan hath desired to have you Luke 22. 13. to winnow you So Satan could never have overthrown Ahab and Saul but by 1 Kings 22. a commission from God Ah! what a cordiall what a comfort should this be to the Saints that their greatest subtilest and watchfullest enemie cannot hurt nor harme them without leave from him who is their sweetest Saviour their dearest husband and their choysest friend And as Satan must have leave from Adversaria po●e 〈…〉 non habet vim c●gendi sed persuadendi Is●do●e God so he must have leave of us when he tempts we must assent when hee makes offers we must hearken when he commands we must obey or else all his labour and temptations will be frustrate and the evill that he tempts us to shall be put down only to his account that 's a remarkable passage of the Apostle in Acts 5. 3. Why hath Satan Acts 5. 3. filled thy heart to lie to the holy Ghost c. He doth not expostulate the matter with Satan he doth not say Satan why They are the wor●● and grossest lyars who pretend Re●igion and the Spirit and yet are acted onley by carnall principles to carnal ends host thou filled Ananias heart to make him lie to the holy Ghost but he expostulates the case with Ananias Peter said Ananias why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the holy Ghost Why hast thou given him an advantage to fill thy heart with infidelity hypocrisie and obstinate audacity to lie to the holy Ghost as If he had said Satan could never have done this in thee which will now for ever undoe thee unlesse thou hadst first given him leave If when a temptation comes a man cries out and saith ah Lord here is a temptation that would force me that would deflowr my soul and I have no strength to with-stand it oh help help for thy honours sake for thy Sonnes sake for thy promise sake 't is a signe that Satan hath not gained your consent but committed a rape upon your soules which he shall dearly pay for The fourth Proposition is this That no weapons but spirituall 4 Proposition weapons will be usefull and serviceable to the soule in fighting and combating with the Devill this the Apostle shewes VVherefore take unto you saith Ephes 6. 13. he the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand in the evill day and having done all to stand So the same Apostle tells you that the weapons of your warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to 2 Cor. 10. 4. the casting downe of strong bolds you have not to do with a weak but with a mighty We read of many that out of greatnesse of spirit could offer violence to nature but were at a loss when they come to deale with a corruption or a temptation enemy and therefore you had need look to it that your weapons are mighty and that they cannot be unlesse they are spirituall carnall weapons have no might nor spirit in them towards the making of a conquest upon Satan 'T was not Davids sling nor stone that gave him the honor advantage of setting his feet upon Goliah but his faith in the name of the Lord of Hosts Thou comest 1 Sam. 17. 45. to me with a sword with a speare and with a shield but I am come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts the God of the Armies of Israel whom thou hast defied Hee that Heraclius his Motto was a Deo victoria it is God that gives victories and that should be every Christians Motto fights against Satan in the strength of his owne resolutions constitution or education will certainely flie and fall before him Satan will be too hard for such a soule and lead him captive at his pleasure The onely way to stand conquer and triumph is still to plead 't is written as Christ did There is no sword but the two-edged sword of the Mat. 4. 10. Spirit that will be found to be mettle of proofe when a soule comes to engage against Satan Therefore when you are tempted to uncleannesse plead 't is written Be ye holy as I am holy And 1 Pet. 15. 16● 2 Cor. 5. 7. Chap. 1. l●t us cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in the ●eare of the Lord. If he tempts● you to distrust Gods providence and fatherly care of you plead 't is written They Psal 34. 9. that feare the Lord shall want nothing that is good 'T is written The Lord will give Psal 84. 11. grace and glory and no good thing will hee with-hold from them that purlely live If he tempt you to feare that you shall faint and fall and never be able to run to the end of the race that is set before Iob 17. 9. you plead 't is written The righteous shall hold on his way and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger 'T is written I will make an everlasting covevenant with them that I will not turne away Ier. 32. 40. from them to doe them good but I wil put my feare in their hearts that they shall not depart from me 'T is written They that wait upon the Lord they shall renew their Isa 40. 31. strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary and they shall walke and not ●aint If Satan tempt you to think that because your sunne for the present is set in a cloud that therefore 't will rise no more and that the face of God will shine no more upon you that your best days are now at an end and that you must spend all your time in sorrow and fighing plead 't is written He will turn again he Mica 7. 19. will have compassion upon us and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea 'T is written For a small moment have I forsaken Isa 54. 7. thee but with great mercies will I gather Verse 8. thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer 'T is written The mountaines shall depart and the hills be Verse 10. removed but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercie on thee 'T is written Can a woman Isa 49. 15. forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will not I forget