I discovered Puritan’s writings late last year. An Instagram book reviewer shared a series of posts on Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks, and it intrigued me. Before that, all I knew about the Puritans was their strictness in worship. And as I learned more about their history, piety, and high view of Scripture, I eagerly wanted to read their works. Now that I have finished my first puritan book (second if you count Pilgrim’s Progress), I understand the hype.
About the book
C.S Lewis famously said, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”
At first glance, a book about Satan’s devices seems to fall in the second error category, but it isn’t the case with Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices. Brooks’ interest in the devil and his schemes is biblical. It’s based on 2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV, which says, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
If we can anticipate the enemy’s moves, he will not have an advantage over us. Hence Brooks wrote this book so we may know Satan’s devices that “deceive, entangle and undo the souls of men.”
He said, “Satan hath a greater influence upon men, and higher advantages over them (having the wind and the hill, as it were), than they think he hath, and the knowledge of his high advantage is the highway to disappoint him, and to render the soul strong in resting and happy in conquering.”
Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices begins with many Scriptures that prove the devil has several devices to snare us, such as Ephesians 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:26, and Revelation 2:24. Then Brooks lists Satan’s devices and their biblical prescription. The devices are divided broadly into four categories: Satan’s devices to draw the soul to sin, to keep the soul from holy duties, to keep Saints in a sad, doubting, questioning, and uncomfortable condition, and to destroy and ensnare all sorts and ranks of men in the world. Each category has multiple devices, and each device has multiple remedies.
My thoughts
Brooks masterfully exposed Satan’s moves and provided biblically and Christ-centered remedies. I was impressed with the wealth of knowledge crammed into this little 288-page book. The devices featured in the book were all too relatable. I recognized snares the enemy has used on me and was encouraged by their sweet remedies.
The remedies are my favorite aspect of the book. Knowing Satan’s devices is great, but what makes this book excellent are the precious remedies filled with precious and timeless truths about the triune God.
Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices also encouraged me to be sober-minded and vigilant as commanded by Scripture (1 Peter 5:8). I admit, before reading this book, I didn’t give much thought to spiritual warfare. Reading all the strategies from the enemy, reminded me that the Christian life is a war, and I must always be ready.
It took me a while to finish it (two months to be exact). It was so rich in truths and a bit dense that I could only read it bits at a time. But that’s the best approach. As Brooks said in the preface, “remember it isn’t hasty reading, but serious meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul.”
My recommendation
I highly recommend having a copy of Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices and reading it over and over. It’s a fantastic guide that will assist you in spiritual warfare.
Favorite Quotes
The least sin is contrary to the law of God, the nature of God, the being of God, and the glory of God; and therefore it is often punished severely by God.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
To render good for evil is divine, to render good for good is human, to render evil for evil is brutish; but to render evil for good is devilish; and from this evil deliver my soul, O God.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
Afflictions are God’s furnace, by which he cleanses his people from their dross. Affliction is a fire to purge out our dross, and to make a virtue shine; it is a potion to carry away ill humours, better than all the benedictum medicamentum (commended remedies), as physicians call them.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
God had one Son without corruption, but no son without correction. A gracious soul may look through the darkest cloud, and see a God smiling on him. We must look through the anger of his correction to the sweetness of his countenance; even as by the rainbow we see the beautiful image of the sun’s light in the midst of a dark and waterish cloud.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
If meeting with God, who is goodness itself, beauty itself, strength itself, glory itself, will not sweeten his service to thy soul, nothing in heaven or earth will.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
Is it not better to walk in a straight way alone than to wander into crooked ways with company? Sure it is better to go to heaven alone than to hell with company.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
We have all thing in Christ, and Christ is all things to a Christian. If we are sick, he is a physician; if we thirst, he is a fountain; if our sins trouble us, he is our righteousness; if we stand in need of help, he is mighty to save, if we fear death, he is life; if we be in darkness, he is light; if we be weak, he is strength; if we be in poverty, he is plenty; if we desire heaven, he is the way. The soul cannot say, this I would have, and that I would have; but saith Christ, it is in me, it is in me eminently, perfectly, eternally.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
Temptation is God’s school, wherein he gives his people the clearest and sweetest discoveries of his love; a school wherein God teaches his people to be more frequent and fervent in duty…a school wherein God teaches his people to be more tender, meek, and compassionate to other people, tempted souls than ever; a school wherein God teaches his people to see greater evil in sin than ever, and a greater emptiness in the creature than ever, and a greater need of Christ and free grace than ever; a school wherein God will teach his people that all temptations are but his goldsmiths, by which he will try and refine, and make his people more bright and glorious.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
Christians, it is not matter of liberty whether you will or you will not pursue after peace, but it is a matter of duty that lies upon you; you are bound by express precept to follow after peace; and though it may seem to fly from you, yet you must pursue after it.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
Ah were Christians’ hearts more taken up in judging themselves and condemning themselves, they would not be so apt to judge and censure others, and to carry it sourly and bitterly towards others that differ from them.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
Ignorance is the mother of mistake, the cause of trouble, error, and of terror; it is the highway to hell, and it makes a man both a prisoner and a slave to the devil at once.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
Our hearts carry the greatest stroke in every sin. Satan can never undo a man without himself, but a man may easily undo himself without Satan. Satan can only present the golden cup, but he hath no power to force us to drink the poison that is in the cup; he can only present to us the glory of the world, he cannot force us to fall down and worship him, to enjoy the world, he can only spread his snares, he hath no power to force us to walk in the midst of his snares.
Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
