PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks — Volume 1
Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680 · 335,539 words · 276 reading sections
Section 61
* In this day men shall give an account (De bonis commissis, de bonis dimissis, de malis commissis, de malis permissis) of good things committed unto them, of good things 2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 47 upon that account that they must ere long give for all the mercies that they have enjoyed, and for all …
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2 COK. II. 11.] AGAINST SATAN'S DEVICES. 49 wait to mischief him.1 If afflictions did not put us out of our way, we should many times meet with some sin or other that would mis- chief our precious souls. Again, They will work the saints to be more fruitful in holiness : Heb. xii. 10, 11, ' But he afflicts us for our …
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2 COR. II. 11.] AGAINST SATAN'S DEVICES. 51 cayed graces. The more saints are beaten with the hammer of afflic- tions, the more they are made the trumpets of God's praises, and the more are their graces revived and quickened. Adversity abases the loveliness of the world that might entice us ; it abates the lustiness o…
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2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 53 despised by others ; but behold him seated in his royal throne, and dying in his bed of honour, and his son Solomon and all his glister- ing nobles about him. Afflictions, they are but as a dark entry into your Father's house ; they are but as a dirty lane to a royal palace.…
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* Sin brings in sorrow and sickness, &c. The Rabbins say, that when Adam tasted the forbidden fruit, hi.s head ached. Sirens arc said to sing curiously while they live, but to roar horribly when they die. So do the wicked. 3 Allusion is to Damocles. — G. 2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 55 and not a beam in …
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1 It was a good saying of Chrysostom, speaking of hell : Ne quceramus ubi sit, sed quomodo illamfugiamus, let us not seek where it is, but how we shall escape it. 2 Surely one good means to escape hell is to take a turn or two in hell by our dail meditations. 8 A blind eye is worse than a lame foot. 4 The breath of t…
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1 Veritas vincit, Truth at last triumphs. Veritas stat in aperto campo, Truth stands in the open fields; ay, and it makes those souls stand in whom it dwells, when others fall as stars from heaven. * Error as a glass is bright, but brittle, and cannot endure the hammer, or fire, as gold can, which, though rubbed or me…
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8 I have read of one who, seeing in a vision so many snares of the devil spread upon the earth, he sat down mourning, and said within himself, Quis pertransiet ista, who shall pass through these? whereunto he heard a voice answering, llumilitas pertransiet, humility shall pass through them. 4 Ps. xxv. 9, D*13y, Gnanav…
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2 2 Tim. iv. 17, Isa. xi. 7, Ezek. iii. 10, Mat. vii. 6, Rev. xxii. 15, Luke xiii. 32, Isa. x. 17, Ezek. ii. G, Judges ix. 14, Job xxi. 18, Ps. lxxxiii. 13, Ps. xviii. 42, Ezek. xxii. IS. 19, Isa. lxv. 5, Ezek. xxiv. 6. 3 Lactantius says of Lucian [nee diis, nee hominibvs jiqiereil). he spared neither God nor man ; su…
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- Gilemex, king of Vandals, led in triumph by Belisarius, cried out, ' Vanity of vanity, all is vanity.' The fancy of Lucian, who placeth Charon on the top of an high hill, viewing all the aft'airs of men living, and looking on their greatest cities as little birds' nests, is very pleasant. * Oh the imperfection, the …
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3 Henry the Second hearing Mentz his chief city to be taken, used this blasphemous speech : I shall never, saith he, love God any more, that suffered a city so dear to me to be taken from me. 4 When one presented Antipater, king of Macedonia, with a book treating on happi- ness, his answer was («« <r^oXa^s/), I have n…
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It was an excellent saying of Lewis of Bavyer, emperor of Genrianv, Such goods are worth getting and owning, as will not sink or wash away if a shipwreck happen, but will wade and swim out with us.'1 It is recorded of Lazarus, that after his resurrection from the dead, he was never seen to laugh, his thoughts and affec…
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I have been the longer upon the remedies that may help us against this dangerous device of Satan, because he doth usually more hurt to the souls of nun by this device than he doth by all other devices. For a close, I wish, as once Chrysostom did, that that sentence, Eccles. ii. 11, 'Then I looked on all the works that …
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solemnly to consider, That all the troubles and dangers that do attend the performance of all hoi// duties and heavenly services are but temporal and momentary, but the neglect of them may lay thee open to all temporal, spiritual, and eternal dangers. ' How shall we escape, it' we neglect so great salvation?' J lei), i…
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3 When the noble General Zedislaus had lost his hand in the wars of the king of Poland, the king sent him a golden hand for it. What we lose in Christ's service he will make up, by giving us some golden mercies. Though the cross be bitter, yet it is but short ; a little storm, as one said of Julian's persecution, and a…
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1 Luther speaks excellently to Melancthon, who was apt to be discouraged with doubts and difficulties, and fear from foes, and to cease the service they had undertaken. ' If the work be not good, why did we ever own it ? If it be good, why should we ever de- cline it ? Why, saith he, should we fear the conquered world,…
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Remedy (1). The first remedy against this device of Satan is, To dwell as muck on those scriptures that shew you, the duties and services that Christ requires of you, as upon those scriptures that declare to you the precious and glorious things that Christ hath clone for you.* It is a sad and dangerous thing to have tw…
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Remedy (3). The third remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That those precious souls which Jesus Christ 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.2 He did as much and suffered as much for Dav…
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duties. I am afraid if one should rise from the dead, his arguments would not win upon you, but you would hold on in your sins, and ne- glect his service, though you lost your souls for ever, &C.1 The fifth device Satan hath to draw souls off from religious ser- vices, and to keep souls off from holy duties, is, Devi…
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* Luke xii. 32, Isaiah i. 9, Canticles iv. 12, Judges viii. 2, and Jeremiah iii. 14.— G. 6 When Fulgentius saw the nobility of Rome sit mounted in their bravery, it mounted his meditations to the heavenly Jerusalom. 2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 83 day, oh ! how will the great and the rich, the learned an…
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Device (6). By presenting before them the examples of the greatest part of the world, that walk in the ways of their own hearts, << u<l that make light and slight of the ways of the Lord.1 Why, saith Satan, do not you see that the great and the rich, the noble and the honour- able, the learned and the wise, even the gr…
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1 What wise man would fetch gold out of a fiery crucible, hazard his immortal soul, to gain the world, by following a multitude in those steps that lead to the chambers of death and darkness '? - Vellem servire Domino, sed cogitatioms non patiuntur ; Lord, now how fain would I serve thee, and vain thoughts will not su…
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Remedy (5). The fifth remedy against this device of Satan is, To labour more and more to be filled with tlie fulness of God, and to be enriched with all spiritual and heavenly things. What is the reason that the angels in heaven have not so much as an idle thought ? It is because they are filled with the fulness of God…
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Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan is, To dwell much upon the necessity and excellency of that resting-p)lace that God hath provided for you. Above all other resting-places him- self is your resting-place ; his free mercy and love is your resting-place ; the pure, glorious, matchless, and spotle…
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Remedy (3). The third remedy against this device of Satan is, Constantly to keep one eye upon the promises of remission of sin, as well as the otlter eye upon the inward operations of sin. This is the most certain truth, that God would graciously pardon those sins to his people that he will not in this life fully subdu…
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Remedy (5). The fifth remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly to consider, Of the reasons why the Lord is pleased to have his people exercised, troubled, and vexed with the operations of sinful corrup- tions; and they are these : partly to keep them humble and low in their own eyes ;2 and partly to put them up…
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in whom also, after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,' Eph. i. 1 3. So Micah : ' Rejoice not against me, O my enemy : for when I shall fall, I shall rise ; when I shall sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, be- cause I have sinned,' &c.,…
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to the yoke. Turn tliou me, and I shall be turned ; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely, after that I was returned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh ; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did hear the reproach of my youth. Ephraim is my dear Son, lie is a pleasant child; for…
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(laughter 18 all glorious within ; her raiment is of wrought gold,' Ps. xlv. 13. True grace makes the understanding glorious, the affections glorioua It casts a general glory upon all the noble parts of the soul : ' The King's daughter is all glorious wilhin.' And as it makes the inside glorious, bo ii makes the outsid…
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3 Few are of Jerome's mind, that had rather have St Paul's coat with his heavenly graces, than the purple of kings with their kingdoms. The king of Navarre told Beza, that in the cause of religion he would launch no further into their sea, than he might be sure to return safe to the haven. [Henry IV., afterwards the Ap…
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[10.] True grace will enable a soul to sit down satisfied and con- tented with the naked enjoyments of Christ. The enjoyment of Christ without honour will satisfy the soul ; the enjoyment of Christ without riches, the enjoyment of Christ without pleasures, and without the smiles of creatures, will content and satisfy t…
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[2.] A saint conflicts against sin universally, the least as ivell as the greatest ; the most profitable and the most pleasing sin, as well as against those that are less pleasing and profitable. He will combat with all, though he cannot conquer one as he should, and as he would. He knows that all sin strikes at God's …
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[6.] The conflict that is in the saints, is a more blessed, successful, and prevailing conflict. A saint, by his conflict with sin, gains ground upon his sin : ' They that are Christ's/ saith the apostle, ' have crucified the world with the affections and lusts/ Gal. v. 24<. Christ puts to his hand and helps them to le…
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- Spiritual joy is a sun that is often clouded ; though it be as precious a flower as most paradise affords, yet it is subject to fade ami wither. •'■ When one objected to Faninus his cheerfulness to Christ's agony and sadness, he answered, Christ was sad, that 1 might be merry ; he had my sins, and 1 have his right- …
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Remedy (1). The first remedy against this device of Satan is. solemnly to consider, That there are many scriptures that do dearM evidence a possibility of the sai/nts fallvng i/nto the same sins wfa recm they here formerly repented. 'I will heal their backslidiugs, I will love them freely : for mine anger is turned awa…
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Remedy (5). The fifth remedy against this device of Satan is, to consider, That there are vrwolwntary relapses, and there are volun- tary relapses. Involuntary relapses are, when the resolution and full bent of the heart is against sin, when the soul strives with all its might against sin, by sighs and groans, by praye…
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Paul had the honour of being exalted as high as heaven, and of seeing that glory that could not be expressed ; and yet he was no sooner stepped out of heaven, but he is buffeted by Satan, ' lest he should be exalted above measure,' 2 Cor. xii. 2, 7. If these, that were so really, so glo- riously, so eminently beloved o…
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Make present and peremptory resistance against Satan's temptations, bid defiance to the temptation at first sight. It is safe to resist, it is dangerous to dispute. Eve lost herself and her posterity by falling into lists1 of dispute, when she should have resisted, and stood upon terms of defiance with Satan. He that w…
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the earth is, By worhmg them to make it /heir business to seek them- selves, to seek hotr in r/reat&n themselves, to raise themselves, to enrich themselves, to secure themselves, &c., as you may see in Pharaoh, Ahab, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Absalom, Joab, Hainan, &C.1 But were the Scripture silent, our own experiences do a…
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1 Crassus, a very rich Roman, and a great self-seeker, for greedy desire of gold, he managed war against the Parthians, by whom both he and thirty thousand Romans were slain. And bpcause the barbarians conjectured that he made this assault upon them for their gold, therefore they melted gold, and poured it into his dea…
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Macrobius writes of Augustus Csesar, in whose time Christ was born, that he carried such an entire and fatherly affection to the common- wealth, that he called it filiam suam, his own daughter ; and therefore refused to be called Dominus, the lord or master of his country, and would only be called Pater patriae, father…
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Remedy (1). The first remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly to consider, That none have engaged against the saints, but have been ruined by the God of saints. Divine justice hath been too hard for all that have opposed and engaged against the saints, as is evident in Saul, Pharaoh, Hainan, &c : ' He reproved…
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Ah ! had not the saints many a time cast themselves into the breach betwixt God's wrath and you, you had been cut off from the land of the living, and had had your portion with those whose names are written in the dust.1 Many a nation, many a city, and many a family, is sur- rounded with blessings for the Josephs' sake…
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2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 127 not so rich in lead or iron as he, when he is a thousand thousand times richer in silver and gold, in jewels and in pearls, than he ? And is it not madness and folly with a witness, in those that have greater parts and abilities than others, to slight them upon that account…
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2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 129 member the patience of Job,' not a word of his impatience, James v. 11. He that drew Alexander whilst he had a scar upon his face, drew him with his finger upon the scar. God puts his fingers upon his people's scars, that no blemish may appear. Ah ! saints, that you would m…
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■ What a Bad thing was it thai a heathen should say, No beasts are so mischievous to men as Christians are one to another. 2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 131 peace, as those precious souls have that follow after the things that make for love and peace. The very name of peace is sweet and com- fortable ; the…
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- Rev. xii. 7, 8; Ileh. ii. 10; Rev. ii. 10; John xv. 19,20; Heb. xii. 14, xiii. 4; Bom. viii. 15-17. 1 Our dissensions are one of the Jews' greatest stumbling-blocks. Can you think of it, aud your hearts uot bleed ? 2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 133 recorded as his honour.1 Ah ! how doth the God of peace…
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- (in at is the power of joint prayer. Mary Queen of Scots, that was mother of king James, was wont to Bay that she feared Master Knox's prayer more than an army of ten thousand men. [Already used in this treatise: of. page 126.— G.] * Nee ejo (e, rue lu me, zed umbo audiamus Aj/oslvlum. 2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan…
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By drawing them to affect ignorance, and to neglect, slight, and despise the means of knowledge. Ignorance is the mother of mistake, the cause of trouble, error, and of terror ; it is the highway to hell, and it makes a man both a prisoner and a slave to the devil at once.3 Ig- Qorance unmans a man ; it makes a man a b…
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His first device to keep the soul from believing in Christ is, Device (1). By suggesting to the soul the greatness and vileness of his sins. 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 tenders1 of grace ? th…
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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 fulness of grace, mercy, and glory in himself ? Surely his bowels do yearn towards the worst of rebels. Ah ! if you still but come in, you will find him ready to pardon, yea, one m…
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Remedy (6). The sixth remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That the longer you keep off from Christ, the greater and stronger your sins will grow. All divine power and strength against sin flows from the soul's union and communion with Christ, Rom. viii. 1 0, 1 John i. 6, 7. While you keep off…
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Remedy (2). The second remedy against this device of Satan is, wisely to consider, That none ever received Christ, embraced Christ, and obtained mercy and pardon from Christ, but unworthy sotds. Pray, what worthiness was in Matthew, Zaccheus, Mary Magdalene, Manasseh, Paul, and Lydia, before their coming to Christ, bef…
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Obj. But does not Christ say, ' Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ' ? Mat. xi. 28. To this I shall give these three answers : (1.) That though the invitation be to such that 'labour and are- heavy laden,' yet the promise of giving rest, it is made over to ' coming,' to 'bel…
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Remedy (2). The second remedy against this device of Satan is, To meddle with that which thou hast to do. ' Secret things belong to the Lord, but revealed things belong to thee/ Deut. xxix. 29. Thy work, sinner, is, to be peremptory in believing, and in returning to the Lord ; thy work is to cast thyself upon Christ, l…
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out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned ; from which some having swerved, have turned aside unto vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, and understand neither what they say nor whereof they affirm.' Mat. xxiii. 2, 3, ' Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye pa…
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2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 153 he cannot hurt us. Our hearts carry the greatest stroke in every sin. Satan can never undo a man without himself; but a man may easily undo himself without Satan. Satan can only present the golden cup, but he hath no power to force us to drink the poison that is in the cup …
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5 We read of many that, out of greatness of spirit, could offer violence to nature, hut were at a loss when they came to deal with a corruption or a temptation. Heraclitus [Heraclius] his motto was, A Deo victoria, It is God that gives victory; and that should be every Christian's motto. 2 COK. II. 11.] AGAINST SATAN'…
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1 Rom. xvi. '20, ri/vrj/x^u, from vvfrpifia. The Greek word signifies to break or crush a tiling to pieces. Being applied to the feet, it noteth that breaking or crushing which is by stamping upon a thing. s The philosopher had a ball of brass in his hand, which, if he chanced to sleep with, the fall into a basin awak…
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3 Isa. lxiii. 10 ; Ps. lxxiii. 23 ; 1 Thes. v. 19 ; Acts ii. 13. 4 If men could but see the fair face of wisdom with mortal eyes, they would be in love with her, saith Plato. 6 Sine prudentia simplicitas stultitiaest — Drusius. 6 Malim prxidentice guttam qnam fozeundioris fortunes pelagus, said Nazianzen. A ser- pent…
1,263 wordsSource & rights
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.