Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 5, Section III (Device against the saints).
My notes and thoughts
Device: 'By working them first to be strange, and then to divide, and then to be bitter and jealous...' This section was excellent. The device is a serious problem in all churches and the remedies were simply top notch.
Highlights include:
- '...is it not a more sweet, comfortable, and delightful thing to look more upone one another's graces than upone one another's infirmities?'
- 'Unity is the best bond of safety in every church and commonwealth.'
- 'Christians, it is not matter of liberty whether you will or you will not pursue after peace, but it is matter of duty that lies upon you;'
- 'Ah! Christians, God loses much, and you lose much, and Satan gains much by this, that you do not, that you will not, walk lovingly together so far as your ways lie together.'
- 'An humble soul always finds three things on this side heaven: the soul to be empty, Christ to be full, and every mercy and duty to be sweet wherein God is enjoyed.'
The whole section should probably be excised and made compulsory public reading before every church members' meeting!
By the way, I've decided that The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs will be our next text. I have a Sovereign Grace copy but the Banner of Truth edition is in print. Lord willing, we'll be starting it next week.
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