Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices (Thomas Brooks)

Description

‘Christ, the Scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched…’

The detailed analysis of Scripture together with the malfunctions, diseases, and spiritual cares of members of the body of Christ found in Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices is an outstanding example of Thomas Brooks' deep knowledge and understanding. Many have benefited from his insights into gospel antidotes to the means Satan employs in unsettling God's people.

Alexander Grosart, editor of the nineteenth-century edition of Brooks Works, records the words of a missionary who had become deeply perplexed by a situation in which she found herself:

'I…turned to my closet for an hour, giving the time to prayer and to my dear little help-book 'Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices'. In that time God taught me what to do, and strength was given for the day. '

Precious Remedies continues to be a ‘help-book’ to Christians today. Pastors will find its insights valuable in caring for Christ’s flock.

Endorsements

‘If you are looking for a book to be your companion in the lifelong fight for joy and against sin…then I don’t have a better uninspired nomination for you than Precious Remedies.’ — LIGON DUNCAN

Table of Contents

Thomas Brooks - a Brief Biography 11

The Epistle Dedicatory 15

A Word to the Reader 21

Introduction 25

THE PROOF OF THE POINT 27

SATAN'S DEVICES TO DRAW THE SOUL TO SIN

[12 devices and their remedies]

1 By presenting the bait and hiding the hook 29

2 By painting sin with virtue's colors 34

3 By the extenuating and lessening of sin 38

4 By showing to the soul the best men's sins and by hiding from the soul their virtues, their sorrows, and their repentance 45

5 By presenting God to the soul as One made up all of mercy 50

6 By persuading the soul that repentance is easy and that therefore the soul need not scruple about sinning 55

7 By making the soul bold to venture upon the occasions of sin 66

8 By representing to the soul the outward mercies enjoyed by men walking in sin, and their freedom from outward miseries 70

9 By presenting to the soul the crosses, losses, sorrows and sufferings that daily attend those who walk in the ways of holiness 79

10 By causing saints to compare themselves and their ways with those reputed to be worse than themselves 89

11 By polluting the souls and judgments of men with dangerous errors that lead to looseness and wickedness 92

12 By leading men to choose wicked company 99

SATAN'S DEVICES TO KEEP SOULS FROM HOLY DUTIES, TO HINDER SOULS IN HOLY SERVICES, TO KEEP THEM OFF FROM RELIGIOUS PERFORMANCES

[8 devices and their remedies]

1 By presenting the world in such a garb as to ensnare the soul 102

2 By presenting to the soul the dangers, losses and sufferings that accompany the performance of certain religious duties 112

3 By presenting to the soul the difficulty of performing religious duties 117

4 By causing saints to draw false inferences from the blessed and glorious things that Christ has done 122

5 By presenting to view the fewness and poverty of those who hold to religious practices 127

6 By showing saints that the majority of men make light of God's ways and walk in the ways of their own hearts 133

7 By casting in vain thoughts while the soul is seeking God or waiting on God 135

8 By tempting Christians to rest in their performances 139

SATAN'S DEVICES TO KEEP SAINTS IN A SAD, DOUBTING, QUESTIONING AND UNCOMFORTABLE CONDITION

[8 devices and their remedies] 142

1 By causing saints to remember their sins more than their Savior, yea, even to forget and neglect their Savior 142

2 By causing saints to make false definitions of their graces 148

3 By causing saints to make false inferences from the cross actions of Providence 151

4 By suggesting to saints that their graces are not true, but counterfeit 154

5 By suggesting to saints that the conflict that is in them is found also in hypocrites and profane souls 162

6 By suggesting to the saint who has lost joy and comfort that his state is not good 167

7 By reminding the saint of his frequent relapses into sin formerly repented of and prayed against 171

8 By persuading saints that their state is not good nor their graces sound 176

SATAN'S DEVICES TO DESTROY AND ENSNARE ALL SORTS AND RANKS OF MEN IN THE WORLD

[5 devices and their remedies]

I DEVICES AGAINST THE GREAT AND HONOURABLE OF THE EARTH

1 By causing them to seek greatness, position, riches and security 183

2 By causing them to act against the people of the Most High 190

II DEVICE AGAINST THE LEARNED AND THE WISE 194

By moving them to pride themselves on their parts and abilities, and to despise men of greater grace but inferior abilities 194

III DEVICE AGAINST THE SAINTS

By dividing them and causing them to 'bite and devour one another' 198

IV DEVICE AGAINST POOR AND IGNORANT SOULS

By causing them to affect ignorance and to neglect and despise the means of knowledge 211

APPENDIX

TOUCHING FIVE MORE OF SATAN'S DEVICES 214

1 By suggesting to men the greatness and vileness of their sins 214

2 By suggesting to sinners their unworthiness 222

3 By suggesting to sinners their want of certain preparations and qualifications 224

4 By suggesting to sinners that Christ is unwilling to save them 228

5 By causing sinners to give more attention to the secret decrees and counsels of God than to their own duty 229

SEVEN CHARACTERS OF FALSE TEACHERS 230

SIX PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING SATAN AND HIS DEVICES 234

[Five reasons of the point added] 240

CONCLUSION - CHIEFLY, TEN SPECIAL HELPS AND RULES AGAINST SATAN'S DEVICES 243

Product Details

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices

Author: Thomas Brooks

Publisher: Banner of Truth

Pages: 344

Binding: Paperback

Size: 18.1 x 12.0 x 1.8 cm

ISBN: 9781800401679