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.

Now the first Device that Satan hath to keep the soule off from believing in Christ, from closing with Christ, &c. is,

BY suggesting to the soule the greatnesse and vilenesse of his sinnes: what, saith Satan, dost thou think that thou shalt ever

obtain mercy by Christ, that hast sinned with so high a hand against Christ? that hast slighted the tenders of grace? that hast grieved the spirit of grace? that hast despised the word of grace? that hast trampled under feet the blood of the Covenant, by which thou might'st have been pardoned, purged, justified, and saved? that hast spoken and done all the evill that thou couldst? No, no, saith Satan, he hath mercy for others, but not for thee; pardon for others, but not for thee; righteousnesse for o∣thers, but not for thee, &c. therefore 'tis in vaine for thee to think of belee∣ving in Christ, or resting and leaning thy guilty soule upon Christ.

Now the remedies against this Device of Satan are these that follow.

THe first Remedie against this Device of Satan, is, to consider, that the greater your sinnes are, the more you stand in need of a Saviour; the greater your burthen is, the more you stand in need of one to help to beare it: the dee∣per the wound is, the more need there is of the Surgeon; the more dangerous

the disease is, the more need there is of the Physitian. Who but mad men will argue thus; my burden is great, there-I'le not call out for help; my wound is deepe, therefore I'le not call out for balm; my disease is dangerous, there∣fore I'le not goe to the Physitian. Ah! 'tis spiritua•• ••adnesse; 'tis the Devills Logick to argue thus: My sinnes are great, therefore I'le not goe to Christ; I dare not rest nor leane on Christ, &c. whereas the soule should reason thus; the greater my sins are, the more I stand in need of mercy, of pardon, and there∣fore I will goe to Christ, who delights in mercy, who pardons sinne for his owne name sake; who is as able and as willing to forgive pounds, as pence, thousands, as hundreds.

The second Remedie against this De∣vice of Satan, is, solemnly to consider, that the promise of grace and mercy is to returning soules: and therefore though thou art never so wicked, yet if thou wilt returne, God will be thine, mercy shall be thine, & pardon thine, &c. 2 Chron. 30. 9. For if you turn again unto the Lord, your brethren, and your chil∣dren shall finde compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come a∣gaine into this land; for the Lord your God is gracious and mercifull, and will not turne

away his face from you, if ye returne unto him. So Jer. 3. 12. Goe, and proclaime these words towards the North, and say, returne thou back-sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you; for I am mercifull saith the Lord, and I will not keepe ang〈…〉〈…〉 for ever. So Joel 2. 13. And rent you•• ••••rts, and not your garments, and turne unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and mercifull, slow to anger, and of great kindnesse, and repent∣eth him of the evill. So Isa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forsake his wayes, and the un∣righteous man his thoughts, and let him re∣turne unto the Lord, and he will have mer∣cy upon him, and to our God, for he will a∣bundantly pardon; or as the Hebrew read•• it, he will multiply pardons. So Ezek. Chap. 18.

Ah sinner! 'tis not thy great trans∣gressions that shall exclude thee from mercy; if thou wilt break off thy sins by repentance, and return to the foun∣taine of mercy. Christs heart, Christs armes are wide open to embrace the re∣turning Prodigall. 'Tis not simply the greatest of thy sins, but thy perempto∣ry persisting in sinne that will be thy e∣ternall overthrow.

The third Remedie against this De∣vice of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that the greatest sinners have obtained

mercy, and therefore all the Angells in heaven, all the men on earth, and all the Devils in hell, cannot tell to the contrary, but that thou mayest obtain mercy. Manasseh was a notorious sin∣ner, he erected Altars for Baal, he wor∣shipped and served all the hoast of Hea∣ven; He caused his sonnes to passe through the fire; he gave himselfe to witchcraft and sorcerie; he made Judah to sinn more wick∣edly then the heathen did, whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel; hee caused the streets of Jerusalem to run downe with innocent blood, &c. Ah! what a de∣vill incarnate was he in his actings; and yet when he humbled himselfe, and sought the Lord, the Lord was intrea∣ted of him, and heard his supplicati∣on, and brought him to Jerusalem, and made himselfe known unto him, and crowned him with mercy and loving kindnesse, as you may see in 2 Chron. chap. 33. So Paul was once a blasphe∣mer, a persecutor, and injurious, yet he ob∣tained mercy. So Mary Magdalen was a notorious strumpet, a common whore, one out of whom Christ cast seaven De∣vills, yet she is pardoned by Christ, and dearly beloved of Christ, Luke 7. So in Mar. 16. v. 9. Now when Jesus was ri∣sen early, the first day of the week, he appea∣red first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he

had cast seaven Devills. Jansenius on the place saith, 'tis very observable that our Saviour after his resurrection first appeared to Mary Magdalen, and Peter, that had been grievous sinners; that e∣ven the worst of sinners may be com∣forted and encouraged to come to Christ, to believe in Christ, to rest and stay their soules upon Christ for mercy here, and glory hereafter; that is a very precious word for the worst of sin∣ners, to hang upon Psal. 68. v. 18. The Psalmist speaking of Christ, saith, Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive, thou hast received gifts for men, yea for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

What though thou art a rebellious child, or a rebellious servant? what though thou art a rebellious swearer, a rebellious drunkard, a rebellious Sabbath-breaker, &c. yet Christ hath re∣ceived gifts for thee, even for the rebellious. He hath received the gift of pardon, the gift of righteousnesse; yea all the gifts of the spirit for thee, that thy heart may be made a delightfull house for God to dwell in.

Bodin hath a story concerning a great Rebell that had made a great strong party against a Roman Emperour; the Emperour makes Proclamation, that

who-ever could bring the Rebell dead or alive, he should have such a great summe of money; The Rebell hearing of this, comes and presents himself be∣fore the Emperour, and demands the summ of money; now saith the Empe∣rour, if I should put him to death, the world would say, I did it to save my money, and so he pardons the Rebell, and gives him the money. Ah sinners! shall a Heathen do this, that had but a drop of mercy and compassion in him? and will not Christ do much more, that hath all fulnesse of grace, mercy, and glory in himselfe? Surely his bow∣els doe yerne towards the worst of Re∣bels. Ah! if you will but come in, you will find him ready to pardon, yea one made up of pardoning mercy: Oh! the readinesse and willingnesse of Jesus Christ to receive to favour the greatest Rebels.

The father of mercies did meet, em∣brace, and kisse that prodigall mouth which came from feeding with swine, and kissing of Harlots. Ephraim had committed Idolatry, and was backsli∣den from God; he was guilty of luke∣warmnesse and unbelief, &c. yet saith God, Ephraim is my deare sonne, hee is a pleasant child, my bowels are troubled for him; I will have mercy (or rather as 'tis

in the Originall, I will have mercy, mer∣cy) upon him saith the Lord. Well saith God, Though Ephraim be guilty of crimson sinnes, yet he is a sonne, a deare sonne, a precious sonne, a pleasant childe: Though he be blacke with filth, and red with guilt, yet my bowels are troubled for him, I will have mercy, mercy upon him. Ah sinners! if these bowels of mercy doe not melt, win, and draw you, Justice will be a swift witnesse against you, and make you lye downe in eternall misery, for kicking against the bowels of mercy.

Christ hangs out still, as once that warlike Seythian did, a white flag of grace and mercy to returning sinners that humble themselves at his feete for favour; but if sinners stand out, Christ will put forth his red flag, his bloody flag, and then they shall dye for ever by a hand of Justice. Sinners, there is no way to avoid perishing by Christs iron rod, but by kissing his golden Scep∣ter.

The fourth Remedie against this De∣vice of Satan i••, to consider, that Iesus Christ has no where in all the Scripture excepted against the worst of sinners that are willing to receive him, to be∣live in him, and to rest upon him, for happinesse, and blessedness: Ah sinners! why should you be more cruell and un∣mercifull

to your own soules, then Christ is. Christ hath not excluded you from mercy, why should you ex∣clude your owne soules from mercy? Oh that you would dwell often upon that choise Scripture, John 6. 37. All that the Father giveth me, shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out (or as the Originall hath it) I will not cast out. Well saith Christ, if a∣ny man will come, or is coming to me, let him be more sinfull, or lesse; more unworthy, or lesse; let him be never so guilty, never so filthy, never so rebel∣lious, never so leprous, &c. yet if hee will but come, I will not, not, not cast him off. So much is held forth in that 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10, 11. Know ye not that the un∣righteous shall not inherite the Kingdome of God? Be not deceived: Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with man-kinde. Nor theeves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherite the Kingdome of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sancti∣fied, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the spirit of our God.

Ah sinners! do not thinke that hee that hath received such notorious sin∣ners to mercy, will reject you; Hee is yesterday, and to day, and the same for ever.

Christ was borne in an Inne, to shew that he receives all commers; his gar∣ments were divided into four parts, to shew, that out of what part of the world soever we come, we shall be re∣ceived; If we be naked, Christ hath Robes to cloth us; if we be harbour∣less, Christ hath room to lodg us. That is a choise Scripture, Acts 10. 34, 35. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. But in every Nation, he that fear∣eth him, and worketh righteousnesse, is ac∣cepted with him.

The three Tongues that were writ∣ten upon the Crosse in Greeke, Latine, and Hebrew, to witnesse Christ to be the King of the Jewes, do each of them in their severall Idiom avouch this sin∣gular Axiome, that Christ is an all suffi∣cient Saviour, and a three-fold cord is not easily broken. The Apostle puts this out of doubt in that Heb. 7. v. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the vttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Now he were not an Al-sufficient Savi∣our, if he were not as able to save the greatest, as the least of sinners. Ah sin∣ners, tell Jesus Christ that he hath not excluded you from mercy, and there∣fore you are resolved that you will sit,

waite, weep, and knock at the doore of mercy, til he shall say, souls be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven, your per∣sons are justified, and your soules shall be saved.

The fifth Remedie against this Device of Satan, is, to consider, that the grea∣ter sinner thou art, the dearer thou wil•• be to Christ, when he shall behold thee as the travel of his soule. Isa 53. 11. He shall see of the travell of his soule, and be satisfied. The dearer we pay for any thing, the dearer that thing is to us; Christ hath paid most, and prayed most, and sighed most, and wept most, and bled most for the greatest sinners, and therefore they are dearer to Christ then others that are lesse sinful. Rachel was dearer to Jacob then Leah, because shee cost him more; he obeyed, endured, and suffered more by day and by night for her, then for Leah. Ah sinners! the greatnesse of your sinns does but set off the freenesse and riches of Christs grace, and the freenesse of his love, this ma∣keth Heaven and Earth to ring of his praise, that he loves those that are most unlovely; that hee shewes most favour to them that hath sinned most highly a∣gainst him, as might be shewed by seve∣rall instances in Scripture, as Paul, Mary Magdalene, and others, who sinned more

against Christ then these? and who had sweeter, and choicer manifestations of divine love and favour then these?

The sixth Remedy against this Device of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that the longer you keepe off from Christ, the greater and stronger your sinnes wil grow. All divine power and strength against sin flowes from the souls union and communion with Christ; while you keepe off from Christ, you keep off from that strength and power which is only able to make you trample downe strength, lead captivity captive, and slay the Goliah's that bids defiance to Christ. 'Tis only faith in Christ that makes a man triumph over sin, Satan, Hell, and the world. 'Tis onely faith in Christ that binds the strong man hand and foot; that stops the issue of blood; that makes a man strong in resisting, and happy in conquering. Sin always dies most, where faith lives most; the most believing soule, is the most mortifyed soule. Ah sinner! remember this, there is no way on earth, effectually to be rid of the guilt, filth, and power of sinne, but by believing in a Saviour. 'Tis not resolving, 'tis not complaining, 'tis not mourning, but believing that will make thee divinely victorious over that bodie of sinne that to this day is too

strong for thee, and that will certainly be thy ruine, if it be not ruin'd by a hand of faith.

The seventh Remedie against this De∣vice of Satans, is, wisely to consider, that as there is nothing in Christ to discourage the greatest sinners from be∣lieving in him, so there is every thing in Christ that may encourage the grea∣test sinners to believe in him, to rest and leane upon him for all happinesse, and blessednesse: If you look upon his na∣ture, his disposition, his names, his ti∣tles, his offices, as King, Priest, and Prophet, you shall finde nothing to dis∣courage the greatest sinners to receive him, to believe on him. Christ is the greatest good, the choisest good, the chiefest good, the most sutable good, the most necessary good; he is a pure good, a reall good, a totall good, an eternall good, and a soul-satisfying good. Sinners, are you poor? Christ hath gold to enrich you; are you na∣ked? Christ hath royall robes, hee hath white rayment to cloath you; are you blind? Christ hath eye-salve to enligh∣ten you; are you hungry? Christ will be Manna to feed you; are you thirsty? he will be a Well of living water to re∣fresh

you; are you wounded? hee hath balm under his wings to heale you; are you sick? he is a Physitian to cure you; are you prisoners? he hath laid downe a ran some for you. Ah sinners! tell me, tell me, is there any thing in Christ to keep you off from believing? No, is there not every thing in Christ that may incourage you to believe in him? Yes: O then believe in him, and then though your sinnes be as searlet, they be as white as snow; though they be red like crim∣son, they shall be as wool. Nay then your iniquities shall be forgotten, as well as forgiven, they shall be remembred no more; God will cast them behinde his back, he will hurle them into the bot∣tome of the Sea.

The 8. and last Remedie against this Device of Satan is, seriously to consi∣der the absolute necessity of beleeving in Christ. Heaven is too holy, and too hot to hold unbelievers, their lodging is prepared in hell Revel. 21. 8. But the fear full and unbelieving, &c. shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire & brimstone, which is the second death. If ye believe not that I am he (saith Christ) you shall die in your sins: And he that dyes in his sins, must to judgment, and to hell in his sins. Every unbeliever is a condemned man: He that beleeveth not

(saith John) is condemned already, be∣cause he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten sonne of God. And hee that beleeveth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Ah sinners! the Law, the Gospel, and your owne Consciences has pass'd the sen∣tence of condemnation upon you, and there is no way to reverse the sentence but by believing in Christ; and there∣fore my counsell is this: Stir up your selves to lay hold on the Lord Jesus, and look up to him, and wait on him from whom every good and perfect gift comes, and give him no rest till he hath given thee that Jewell Faith, that is more worth then Heaven and Earth; and that will make thee happy in life, joyfull in death, and glorious in the day of Christ. And thus much for the Remedies against this first Device of Satans, whereby he keeps off thou∣sands from believing in Christ.

Notes

• 1 Device.
• Ierem. 3. 5.
• Remedy.
• Mad Logick.
• Mica. 7. 18.
• Isa. 43. 25.
• 2 Remedie.
• 2 Chron. 30. 9.
• Jer. 3. 12.
• Ioel 2. 13.
• Ezek. ch. 18.
• 3 Remedie.
• 2 King. Chap. 21.
• The Hebrew Doctors write that he slew Isaiah the Prophet, who was his father in law.
• 2 Chron. chap. 33.
• 1 Tim. 1. 13.
• Luke 7.
• Mar. 16. 9.
• Psal. 68. 18.
• Coloss. 1. 19. Chap. 2, 3, 4.
• Nehem. 9. 17. Heb. but thou a god of pardons.
• Hos. 4. 17. 5. 3. 6. 8. 11, 12. 12. 14. 13. 12. vide.
• Jer. 31. 20.
• 4 Remedie.
• Iohn 6. 37.
• 1 Cor! 6. 9. 10, 11.
• Heb. 13. 8.
• Acts 10. 34, 35.
• Iohn 19. 19, 20.
• Heb. 7. 25.
• 5 Remedy.
• Isa. 53. 11.
• Gen. 29. 30.
• 6 Remedie.
• Rom. 8. 10. 1 Iohn 1. 6, 7.
• 1 Iohn 5. 4.
• Mar. 5. 25-35.
• 7 Remedie.
• Cant. 1. 3.
• Coloss. 1. 19. Chap. 2. 3. Cant. 5. 10.
• Rev. 3. 17▪ 18.
• Iohn 6. 48. Iohn 7. 38.
• Mal. 4. 2. Mat. 4. 23. Mat. 20. 28.
• Isa. 1. 18.
• Isa. 43. 25. Isa. 38. 17. Micha 1. 19.
• 8 Remedie.
• Revel. 21. 8.
• Iohn 8. 24.
• Iohn 3. 18.
• Vers. 36.
• Isa. 64. 7.
• James 1. 17. Isa. 62. 7.