Required reading
A treatise on Satan's temptations by Richard Gilpin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 18.
My summary
Today Gilpin shows us how Satan spoils and depraves our religious duties.
Satan spoils our services:
(i) in the ways we attempt or set about in them;
(ii) in the ways we perform them;
(iii) by some after-miscarriage of ours in reference to these services.
What grabbed me
Some excellent points today, particularly this one: 'When he makes us proud of them. We can scarce perform any service with a tolerable suitableness, but Satan is at hand to instil thoughts of applause, vainglory, and boasting : and we readily begin to think highly of ourselves and performances ; as if we were better than others, whom we are apt to censure as low and weak in comparison of ourselves. Though this be an apparent deceit, yet it is a wonder how much the minds, even of the best, are apt to be tainted with it ; even where there are considerable endeavours for humility and self-denial, these thoughts are apt to get too much entertainment. Now though we run well, and attain some comfortable strength and watchfulness in the services of God ; yet if they be afterward fly-blown with pride, or if we think to embalm them with praises, or reserve them as matter of ostentation ; though they be angels' food, yet, like the manna of the Israelites when kept too long, they will putrify and breed worms, and so be good for nothing, after that we have been at the pains of gathering it. '
Pride easily makes our service to God unclean.
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 1 of Part 2.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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