Required reading
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Appendix, Section I, Devices 2, 3, 4, 5; All of Section II.
My notes and thoughts
Device 2 ('By suggesting to sinners their unworthiness') and Device 3 ('By suggesting to sinners the want of such and such preparations and qualifications') are very similar to Device 1 dealt with yesterday.
Device 4: 'By suggesting to a sinner Christ's unwillingness to save.' To me, this device doesn't seem that difficult to refute and so isn't very dangerous. Christ is obviously willing to save, otherwise he wouldn't have endured the cross.
Device 5: 'By working a sinner to mind more the secret decrees and counsels of God.' This device and its remedies seems tacked on. The issue of the responsibility of man and the sovereignty of God in the salvation of man is indeed a mystery. But it is one that man will continue to try to understand and even use as an excuse for unbelief. I think Brooks, as the theological heavyweight that he is, could have flexed a bit more of his God given muscle - two brief paragraphs is weak and not representative of the Brooks we know and love.
Section II: Seven characters of false teachers. This is a helpful appendix. The first is a particular give away - false teachers are men-pleasers. As a teacher myself, it is easy to degenerate into people pleasing rather than God pleasing. Good to be reminded that if I do so, I become a false teacher.
(As an aside, does anyone know if this footnote of Brooks' is true: 'While an ass is stroked under the belly, you may lay on his back what burden you please.' Unfortunately I don't have a donkey of my own to try it out!)
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