Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 2, Devices 10, 11, 12.
My notes and thoughts
Device 10: By comparing themselves with those that are worse. Where Device 4 showed how we look at a good man to encourage our sin, Device 10 is about looking at a bad man to encourage our sin. Oh how sinful is the human heart, no matter who we look at we always see a reason for sin. Remedy 2 for Device 10 is what I think I suggested was missing from the remedies in Device 4 - the fact that we should ultimately only be comparing ourselves to Jesus, not man.
Device 11: By embracing errors. This is an important device. From my experience Christians tend to shrink at the words 'theology' and 'doctrine' as though they are only for the scholar. But as soon as you become a Christian you have become a theologian and if you do not watch your doctrine closely Brooks is clear that you will fall prey to Device 11.
Device 12: To choose wicked company. Although the seriousness of closely associating with the wicked is rightly expressed, I was disappointed that Brooks did not comment on the necessity for believers to still have contact with unbelievers, e.g. Paul teaching that we cannot remove ourselves from the world of unbelievers.
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