LIDIARY OF THE

Union Theolwale Seminary

NEW YORK CITY

PRESENTEL

Y

Anna w. Bond

JUL 79 1321

J. RAKESTRAW, PRINTER.

887 1810

PREFACE.

Beloved in our dearest Lord,

CHRIST, the Scripture, your own Hearts, and Satan's Devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched; if any cast off the study of these, they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter. *It is my work, as a Christian, but much more as a Watchman, to do my best, to discover the fulness of Christ, the emptiness of the creature, and the snares of the great deceiver; which I have endeavoured to do, in the following discourse, according to that measure of grace which I have received from the Lord. God once accepted a handful of meat for a sacrifice, and a gripe of goat's hair 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 darkness; from felicity to misery; from heaven to hell; from an angel to a devil, is so full of

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 find employment enough for them all.

malice and envy, that he will leave no means unattempted, whereby he may make all others eternally miserable with himself; he being shut out of heaven, and reserved under chains of darkness till the judgment 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 himself. Satan hath cast such sinful seed into our souls, that now he no sooner tempts, but we are ready to assent; he no sooner has a plot, but he makes a conquest; if he do but shew men a little of the glory of the world, how ready are they to fall down and worship him.

Whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, that the devil will help forward. If Peter be slavishly fearful, Satan will put him upon rebuking and denying of Christ to save his own skin.

A man may as well tell the stars, and number the sands of the sea, as reckon up all the devices of Satan; vet those which are most considerable, and by which he doth most mischief to the precious souls of men, are in the following Trea tise discovered, and the remedies against them prescribed.

From the power, malice, and skill of Satan, doth proceed all the soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems, and machinations, that are in the world. Several devices he hath to draw souls to sin, and several plots he hath to keep souls from all holy and heavenly services; and also

numberless stratagems to keep them in a mourning, staggering, and doubting condition.

Beloved, give me leave to signify my desires for, and to you, and I shall draw to a close.

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My desires for you are, That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. 'That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith,' &c. Ephes. iii. 16,-19. And that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work,' &c. Col. i. 10, 11. That your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all judgment,' &c. Phil. i. 9, 10. ' And that thou mayest be eminent in holiness: Ps. xciii. 5. Holiness being Zion's glory, that your hearts may be kept upright, your judgments sound, and your lives unblameable. That as ye 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 hear 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 pearl shines in the sky, though it grow in the sea; that in all your trials, you may be like the stones

in Thracia, that neither burn in the fire, nor sink in the water. That ye may be like the heavens, excellent in substance, and beautiful in appearance; that so you may meet me with joy, in that day, wherein Christ shall say to his Father,' Lo! here am I, and the children which thou hast given

me!

Finally, remember this, that your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore faint not, hold on, and hold up in ways of well doing, and heaven shall make amends for all.

I shall now take leave of you, when my heart hath by my hand subscribed, that I am,

Your loving pastor under Christ, according to all pastoral affections and engagements in our dearest Lord.

THOMAS BROOKS.