Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 3, Device 1.
My notes and thoughts
A new section in Chapter 3 describes devices used to keep souls from holy duties.
Device 1: 'By presenting the world in such a dress...as to ensnare the soul...'. Satan 'represents the world to them in beauty and bravery, which proves a bewitching sight to the world of men.' Most of Brooks' remedies have some root in the words of Ecclesiastes.
I think Remedy 6 (and Remedy 7 is similar) is one of the most important: 'To get better acquaintance and better assurance of more blessed and glorious things.' Although the world is attractive, the things of God are so much better: 'The main reason why men dote upon the world and damn their souls to get the world, is, because they are not acquainted with a greater glory.' (I'm interested in what Brooks says about Lazarus: 'It is recorded of Lazarus, that after his resurrection from the dead, he was never seen to laugh, his thoughts and affections were so fixed in heaven, though his body was on earth, and therefore he could not but slight temporal things, his heart being so bent and set upon eternals.' I had not heard this before. Does anyone reading this blog know where this is recorded? If so, please reply in the comments section.)
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