Remedy #8 and Devices

"By representing to the soul the outward mercies that vain men enjoy, and the outward miseries that they are freed from, whilst they have walked in the ways of sin."

In a perfect world bad things would happen to bad people and good things would happen to people that aren't quite so bad. Or at least that is the way we envision it should be. A common device that Satan uses is to point out the seemingly joyous exuberance of a man in a hellish condition whereas he makes our own personal discontentedness stick out like a sore thumb. In other words Satan confuses us into thinking that "following Christ simply doesn't work, look at the happiness of that man that does not follow Christ, what say you?" For remedies consider that:

• No man knows how the heart of God stands by his hand.
• There is nothing in the world that doth so provoke God to be wroth and angry, as men's taking encouragement from God's goodness and mercy to do wickedly.
• There is no greater misery in this life, than not to be in misery; no greater affliction, than not to be afflicted.
• That the wants of wicked men, under all their outward mercy and freedom from adversity, is far greater than all their outward enjoyments. [In other words they are never satisfied]
• That outward things are not as they seem and are esteemed.
• The end and the design of God in heaping up mercy upon the heads of the wicked, and in giving them...rest and quiet from those sorrows and suffering that others sigh under.
• That God doth often most plague and punish those whom others think he doth most spare and love.
• To dwell more upon that strict account that vain men must make for all that good that they do enjoy.

Quick Thoughts:

Brooks' point is really rather simple: Things are not as they seem. To look at the happiness of a man without Christ is to look at a mirage. Even if the Lord has given him this mercy it will soon fade. Often the happiness that is outward is only a mask for the deep pain that is inward. The man apart from Christ is never satisfied, and though he have all of this outward mercy he is still not fulfilled. Rather than focusing on the mirage of the lost man I would have rather Brooks' compared the glories of this world to the glory of heaven. Nevertheless, his points are effective.

Extracted Elixir's:

"No man knoweth either love or hatred by outward mercy or misery; for all things come alike to all, to the righteous and the unrighteous, to the good and the bad, to the clean and the unclean." (72)

"To render good for evil is divine, to render good for good is human, to render evil for evil is brutish; but to render evil for good is devilish; and from this evil deliver my soul, O God." (73)

"What is honor, and riches, and the favor of creatures, so long as I [lack] the favor of God, the pardon of my sins, an interest in Christ, and the hopes of glory! O Lord, give me these, or I die; give me these, or else I shall eternally die." (75)

Remedy #7 and Devices

"By making the soul bold to venture upon the occasions of sin"

In other words Satan tempts us to flirt with sin. This is Satan tempting us to walk by the harlot's door while assuring us that we will not enter in. For remedies:

• Dwell upon those scriptures that do expressly command us to avoid the occasions of sin, and the least appearance of evil. (1 Thess. 5:22)
• Consider that ordinarily there is no conquest over sin, without the soul turning from the occasion of sin. (In other words the alcoholic probably will not quit drinking until he stops visiting bars)
• Consider that other precious saints, that were once glorious on earth, and are now triumphing in heaven, have turned from the occasions of sin, as hell itself
• Consider that the occasions of sin, is an evidence of grace, and that which lifts up a man above most other men in the world.

Quick Thoughts:

Since reading this chapter a couple of months ago the Lord has used this section frequently to combat sin in my life. If Satan can get us to walk by the harlot's door, to sit with the drunkard, to dwell upon evil thoughts, etc. then he will soon have us ensnared by those things. The advice Brooks gives in this chapter is wonderful. The thing that has stuck with me most is remedy number two: We will not get conquest over sin until we forsake the occasion for the sin. If you know when you are more apt to fall it is a good idea to avoid those situations. Simple, yet profound.

Extracted Elixir's:

"We must shun and be shy of the very show and shadow of sin, if either we tender our credit abroad, or our comfort at home." (66)

"God will not remove the temptation, except you turn from the occasion." (67)

"To rush upon the occasions of sin is both to tempt ourselves, and to tempt Satan to tempt our souls." (68)

Device #6 and Remedies


"By persuading the soul that hte work of repentance is an easy work, and that therefore the soul need not make such a matter of sin."


It is worth repeating Brooks' explanation of this device: "Why! Suppose you do sin, saith Satan, it is no such difficult thing to return, and confess, and be sorrowful, and beg pardon, and cry, 'Lord, have mercy upon me!' and if you do but this, God will cut the score, and pardon your sins, and save your souls. By this device Satan draws many a soul to sin, and makes many millions of souls servants or rather slaves to sin." To combat this device consider:

• That repentance is a mighty work, a difficult work, a work that is above our power.
• The nature of true repentance. By this Brooks means, 1) The formal act of repentance is a changing and converting. 2) The subject changed and converted is the whole man. 3) The terms of this change and conversion, from which and to which both heart and life must be changed; from sin to God.
• That repentance is a continued act
• That if the work of repentance were such an easy work as Satan would make it to be, then certainly so many would not lie roaring and crying out of wrath and eternal ruin under the horrors and terrors of conscience, for not repenting; yea, doubtless, so many millions would not go to hell for not repenting, if it were such an easy thing to repent.
• That to repent of sin is as great a work of grace as not to sin.
• That he that now tempts thee to sin upon this account, that repentance is easy, will, ere long, to work thee to despair, and for ever to break the neck of thy soul, present repentance as the difficultest and hardest work in the world.

Quick Thoughts:

This is, perhaps, one of the most important sections in the entire book. If one comes to understand that repentance is a work of grace and is not an "easy" thing to do then it disarms Satan of one of his favorite weapons. How often have you taken sin lightly becasue you assumed that you could repent later? Recently, I had the opportunity to counsel a teenager that was flirting with the things of the world. This person was very close to forsaking the gospel (at least for a season in her mind) and run after the pleasures of the world. I used some of Brooks' thoughts here as well as numerous Scriptures, helping her see that such a decision puts her on really shaky ground. How do you know God will allow you to come to repentance? May we tremble at the prospect of sin.

Extracted Elixir's:

"Thou art as well able to melt a [diamond], as to melt thine own heart; to turn a flint into flesh, as to turn thine own heart to the Lord; to raise the dead and to make a world, as to repent." (56)

"Repentance for sin is nothing worth without repentance from sin." (57, footnote)

"Every sin strikes at the honor of God, the being of God, the glory of God, the heart of Christ, the joy of the Spirit, and the peace of a man's conscience; and therefore a soul truly penitent strikes at all, hates all, conflicts with all, and will labor to draw strength from a crucified Christ to crucify all." (58)

"Repentance is no transient act, but a continued act of the soul." (61)

Device #5 and Remedies:

"To present God to the soul as one made up of all mercy."

This device is one that is fairly obvious to see in our current church climate (especially speaking of the Western world). "Go ahead and sin", says Satan, "God is a God of mercy." Satan tricks us into only seeing God's mercy and not his wrath. For remedies consider:

• That it is the sorest judgment in the world to be left to sin upon any pretence whatsoever.
• That God is as just as he is merciful.
• That sins against mercy will bring the greatest and sorest judgments upon men's heads and hearts.
• That though God's general mercy be over all his works, yet his special mercy is confined to those that are divinely qualified.
• That those that were once glorious on earth, and are now triumphing in heaven, did look upon the mercy of God as the most powerful argument to preserve them from sin, and to fence their souls against sin, and not as an encouragement to sin.

Quick Thoughts:

At first glance the first consideration may seem to not fit. However, when you really understand what Brooks is saying it becomes clear. If God does but "wink" at your sins it is a most horrible condition. This is a mark of not being a child of God and though he "winks" now he will come in wrath later. The rest of the devices are reminders that God is just towards sin and also that his mercy is to be used not to continue sinning but as a motivator to turn away from sin.

Extracted Elixir's

"A soul given up to sin is a soul ripe for hell, a soul posting to destruction." (50)

"When mercy is despised then justice takes the throne." (51)

"There is nothing in the world that renders a man more unlike to a saint, and more like to Satan, than to argue from mercy to sinful liberty; from divine goodness to licentiousness. This is the devil's logic, and in whomsoever you find it, you may write, 'This soul is lost.'"

"

Device #4 and Remedies

"By presenting to the soul the best men's sins and by hiding from their soul their virtures; by showing the soul their sins, and by hiding from the soul their sorrows and repentance."

What Brooks means by this is that Satan will show us the sins of such great saints (such as David in his adultery, Noah in his drunkenness, Peter in his blasphemy, etc.) so that when we look at them we can say, "See there is a man that struggles just like I, and he turned out okay". However, what we fail to see is the pain of David losing his son, the shame of Noah, the bitter weeping of Peter. We see them in their restored state and forget the deep hurt that brought them to that precious condition. For remedies consider:

• That that the Spirit of the Lord has been as careful to note the saints' rising by repentance of sin, as he has to note their falling into sins.
• That these saints did not make a trade of sin. (They were not habitual sinners)
• That though God does not, nor never will, disinherit his people for their sins, yet he has severely punished his people for their sins.
• That there are but two main ends of God's recording of the falls of his saints. 1) To strenghten the weak by their example 2) To provide an example lest we also fall in the same manner.

Quick Thoughts:

Again with piercing insight Brooks uncovers one of the devices of Satan. How often may we be tempted to look at the fraility of this dear saints, acknowledget that they (and we) are but dust, and then sin accordingly. Our authors advice is also quite fitting. He reminds us of the Scripture's speaking of their repentance and also reminds us that these falls are not the usual behavior of these mighty men of God. His third point may sound foreign to our contemporary ears--yet we do see throughout Scripture that God will discipline his children.

What do you think about this remark by Brooks? "God is most angry when he shows no anger. God keep me from this mercy; this kind of mercy is worse than all other kind of misery."

It is also worth noting a story Brooks quotes from Clement concerning Peter. "Clement notes that Peter so repented, that all his life after, every night when he heard a [rooster] crow, he would fall upon his knees, and, weeping bitterly, would beg pardon of his sin."

Extracted Elixirs:

"Ah, souls, you can easily sin as the saints, but can you repent with the saints?" (46)

"The saints cannot sin with a whole will, but, as it were, with a half will, an unwillingness; not with a full consent, but with a dissenting consent." (47, ed. note)

"It is a mercy that our affliction is not execution, but a correction." (48)

Device #3 and Remedies

"By extenuating and lessining of sin"

Satan puts degrees upon sin and makes them seem not as bad as they really are. "Ah! saith Satan, it is but a little pride, a little worldliness, a little uncleanness, a little drunkenness, etc." (38) For remedies consider:

• That those sins which we are apt to account small, have brought upon men the greatest wrath of God.
• That the giving way to a less sin makes for a committing of a greater.
• That it is sad to stand with God for a trifle.
• That there is great danger, yea, many times most danger, in the smallest sins.
• That other saints have chosen to suffer the worst of torments, rather than they would commit the least sin.
• That the soul is never able to stand under the guilt and weight of the least sin, when God shall set it home upon the soul.
• That there is more evil in the least sin than the greatest affliction

Quick Thoughts:

Brooks' advice here is rather simple--that which you consider to be small is actually quite large. It may start small but will make room for the greater sins. If sin as an offense to God then a "small" sin is an offense just as a "great" one. The modern church, myself included, should hear this well. While we lambast such atrocities as homosexuality, pornography, abortion, gambling, etc. (and we should) let us not forget to also have fervor in rooting out of our midst pride, greed, slander, gluttony and all other forms of "respectable" sins.

Extracted Elixir's:

"Satan will first draw thee to sit with the drunkard, and then to sip with the drunkard, and then at last to be drunk with the drunkard." (39)

"The debates of the soul are quick, and soon ended, and that may be done in a moment that may undo a man for ever." (40)

"Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and undiscernibly in the soul, till they come to be so strong, as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul." (42)

"Oh! how should this make us tremble, as much at the least spark of lust as at hell itself; considering that God the Father would not spare his bosom Son, no, not for the least sin, but would make him drink the dregs of his wrath." (45)

Device #2 and Remedies

"By painting sin with virtues colors"

Brooks is saying here that this device of Satan is to paint a different picture of sin that what it really is. "Pride, he presents to the soul under the name and notion of neatness and cleanliness, and covetousness to be but good husbandry; and drunkeness as good fellowship, and riotousness under the name and notion of liberality, and wantonness as a trick of youth." (34) For remedies:

• Consider that sin is never a whit the less filthy, vile, and abominable, by its being colored and painted with virtue's colors.
• That the more sin is painted forth under the color of virtue, the more dangerous it is to the souls of men.
• To look on sin with that eye [with] which within a few hours we shall it. (In other words, look at sin with the eyes of dying man)
• Seriously to consider, that even those very sins that Satan paints, and puts new names and colors upon, cost the best blood, the noblest blood, the life-blood, the heart-blood, of the Lord Jesus.

Quick Thoughts:

Call sin what it is. Satan is in the business of toning down sin and our flesh is comforted by such a thing. Our hearts shun conviction when we paint gossip as a "prayer concern". Is it "having an affair" or is it committing adultery? Brooks, is encouraging us to not join Satan in painting virtue on things that cost Christ his life. Consider what that "little sin" that you are trifling with has cost the Lord. Yes, it is not only for the "gross" sins that Jesus has died but also for the "respectable" ones.

Extracted Elixir's

"A poisonous pill is never a whit the less poisonous because it is gilded over with gold..." (34)

"...look upon sin now as you must look upon it to all eternity." (36)

Chapter 2 is a rather long chapter. I will be breaking it up into each device and give the remedies, a brief discussion, and then a few notable quotes. These devices are particularly those that Satan uses to draw the soul to sin.

Device #1 and Remedies

"To present the bait and hide the hook"

In other words Satan presents the pleasure of sin but not the painful after affects. "There is an opening of the mind to contemplation and joy, and there is an opening of the eyes of the body to shame and confusion. He promiseth them the former, but intends the latter, and so cheats them--giving them an apple in exchange for a paradise, as he deals by thousands now-a-days." (29) For remedies:

• Keep at a great distance from sin, and from playing with the golden bait that Satan holds forth to catch you
• Consider that sin is but a bitter sweet
• Consider that sin will usher in the greatest and saddest losses that can be upon our souls
• Consider that sin is of a very deceitful and bewitching nature

Quick Thoughts:

This is a fitting first device because it seems to be the one that Satan most often employs. He makes sin look sweet and hides the destruction it brings. I have witnessed countless youth dabble with sin only to find themselves ensnared by it. Brooks' remedies are also helpful. If we would consistently remember to call sin what it is, remove the pretty looking bait, and observe the hook, then we would be less likely to fall into these traps Satan sets before us.

Extracted Elixir's (I know it's a stretch!)

"Adversity hath slain her thousand, but prosperity her ten thousand". (30)

"If there were the least real delight in sin, there could be no perfect hell, where men shall most perfectly be tormented with their sin." (32)

"Sin so bewitches the soul, that it makes the soul call evil good, and good evil..." (33)

"...a man bewitched with sin had rather lose God, Christ, heaven, and his own soul than part with his sin." (34)

The main observation that Brooks hopes to prove in this book is that, "Satan hath his several devices to deceive, entangle, and undo the souls of men."

In the first chapter Brooks aims to merely prove his point. To do this the author takes us to a few choice Scriptures. From Ephesians 6:11 we see the following observations taken from the word 'wiles':

• "It signifies such snares as are laid behind one, such treacheries as come upon one's back at unawares...the word signifies an ambushment or stratagem of war..."
• "It signifies such snares as are set to catch one in one's road."
• "It signifies such as are purposely...and craftily set for the taking of the prey....Satan doth more hurt in sheep's skin than by roaring like a lion."

From 2 Timothy 2:26 we observe:

• "The word for 'taken captive' signifies being taken alive...[it is] properly a warlike word..."
• Satan hath snares for all manner of people. The wise and simple, the hypocrite and the upright, the rich and the poor, etc.

From Revelation 2:24 we observe:

• That souls can be so deceived that they believe their opinions to be from the depths of God but they are really from the depths of Satan.

Next time we will begin looking at the several devices Satan uses to draw the soul to sin.

This would perhaps be better titled Today and Yesterday in Blogworld. Business did not allow me to do as much posting yesterday.

Steve Camp has an excellent, though somewhat lengthy, article on holiness. I love how Steve introduces this: "They say when Leonardo Davinci painted his famous Last Supper he had little difficulty with any of it except the faces. Then he painted the faces in without too much trouble except one. He did not feel himself worthy to paint the face of Jesus. He held off and kept holding off, unwilling to approach it but knowing he must. Then in the impulsive carelessness of despair, he just painted it quickly and let it go. “There is no use,” he said. “I can’t paint Him.”I feel very much the same way about explaining the holiness of God. I think that same sense of despair is on my heart. There isn’t any use for anybody to try to explain holiness. The greatest speakers on this subject can play their oratorical harps, but it sounds tinny and unreal, and when they are through you’ve listened to music but you haven’t seen God."

Thabiti has a couple of good posts. One is on Jerry Bridges Four Ways to Live. The other discusses Carefulness in Treating Sin.

Jonathan Leeman continues blogging through REVEAL. Today we are treated to Part 7 and Part 8.

Scott Lee discusses the Task of a Faithful Shepherd and John MacArthur discusses the pastor's job as More Than Just a Preacher.

Here are a couple of good quotes one by MLJ the other by Thomas Brooks. Martyn Lloyd-Jones quote hits me pretty hard. "You can be so interested in great theological and intellectual and philosophical problems that you tend to forget that you are going to die." (HT: DG)Brooks tells us the mark of true humility. “Remember this—all the sighing, mourning, sobbing, and complaining in the world, does not so undeniably evidence a man to be humble, as his overlooking his own righteousness, and living really and purely upon the righteousness of Christ.” (HT: Of First Importance)

Jimmy, actually a guy I went to college with, has a great post on lessons from The Young Physician. No, not Jesus. He is referring to a Resident Doctor that had learning unconnected with real life. Jimmy uses this experience to give sound advice to us young ministers.

Terry Rayburn asks whether or not we have two natures. His answer is no. This keeps coming up I am sensing that the Lord is prodding me to study this in depth.

And lastly, Denny Burk absolutely disgusts me. OK, not actually him, he is pretty cool. What disgusts me is the truth of his latest article: Yale Students Celebrate Abortion Rights. Apparently they celebrated with comedy skits and mock abortions. Truly disgusting.