Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 4, Devices 5, 6 and 7.
My notes and thoughts
Device 5: 'By suggesting to them, that that conflict that is in them, is not a conflict that is only in saints, but such a conflict that is to be found in hypocrites and profane souls.' Brooks' remedies affirm that the Christian will still be plagued by a conflict against sin. I like the image he draws at the end of this section: 'As a man that is mortally wounded dies by little and little, so doth sin in the heart of a saint...it is wounded and brought down, but not wholly slain; something is still left as a monument of divine grace, and to keep us humble, wakeful and watchful, and that our armour may be still kept on, and our weapons always in our hands.' I feel like I'm a soldier in front of a slowly dying dragon called 'sin'. I am a victor but need to watch out as it lashes out in the throes of death.
Device 6: 'By suggesting to the soul, that surely his estate is not good, because he cannot joy and rejoice in Christ as he could...' Brooks primarily aims at not trusting our experiences for assurance.
Device 7: 'By suggesting to the soul his often relapses into the same sin which formerly he hath pursued with particular sorrow, grief, shame, and tears, and prayed, complained, and resolved against.' This is a section on backsliding. Brooks is full of wisdom when he instructs us that God never promises we won't fall back into a prior sin, yet nevertheless finishes the section by warning us: 'And God hath made even his dearest ones dearly smart for their relapses, as may be seen by his dealings with Samson, Jehoshaphat and Peter.
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