Required reading
A treatise on Satan's temptations by Richard Gilpin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 8 of Part 2 by reading up to the paragraph beginning '4. I have one thing more to add for these discoveries of these spiritual troubles, and that is to shew you the engines by which Satan works them...'
My summary
This week Gilpin continues to explore the various ways by which Satan undermines the people of God.
We see, thirdly, that Satan molests the people of God by spiritual sadness.
Gilpin teaches us:
(i) the degrees of spiritual sadness for God's children;
(ii) the frequency of spiritual sadness for God's children;
(iii) the usual occasions that invite Satan to give spiritual sadness to God's children.
What grabbed me
I found helpful Gilpin's list of times that Satan usually troubles God's people with sadness, including when we are afflicted: 'Satan watcheth the discomposures of the spirits of God's children, under some grievous cross or affliction. This occasion also falls fit for his design of wounding the conscience. When the hand of the Lord is lifted up against them, and their thoughts disordered by the stroke, suggesting at that time God's anger to them and their sins, he can easily frame an argument from these grounds, that they are not reconciled to God, and that they are dealt withal as enemies. David seldom met with outward trouble, but he at the same time had a conflict with Satan about his spiritual condition or state, as his frequent deprecations of divine wrath at such times do testify ; ' Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath,' &c. There is indeed but a step betwixt discomposure of spirit and spiritual troubles, as hath been proved before. '
When we suffer we will often doubt God's goodness toward us which compounds the affliction with sadness.
Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 8 of Part 2.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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