Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
by Thomas Brooks
Banner of Truth Trust, Carlisle, PA: 1990.
253 Pages, Paperback (Puritan Paperback Series)

Most of the Puritans knew Satan better than they knew their best friend.  Not that they were intimate with the Devil, but they knew his devices so well and with such clarity that it would have almost seemed they could, by the power of the Spirit, expose every one of his hell-deserving schemes.  In this small book, Thomas Brooks teaches the Christian that Satan is alive and well, and desires to destroy the Christian by his many devices.  However, Brooks arms the Christians not only with that knowledge but also that the devices have remedies which may put to them.  The Christian has weapons for the war.  There are precious remedies which flow from the throne of grace into the minds and hearts of the saints to fight against the wiles of the devil.  And hopefully, we may say with Paul “we are not unaware of his devices.”

Brooks covers 12 of Satan’s devices to draw the soul away to sin, and their remedies; 8 of Satan’s devices to keep souls from holy duties, to hinder souls in holy services, to keep them from off religious performances, and their remedies;  8 of Satan’s devices to keep saints in a sad, doubting, questioning and uncomfortable condition, and their remedies; 5 devices of Satan to destroy and ensnare all sorts and ranks of men in the world, and their remedies; an appendix covering 5 extra devices of the devil and the remedies for them, seven characters of a false teacher, six propositions concerning Satan and his devices, and a conclusion with 10 special helps against the devices of the devil.

This small book is such a great help to those struggling against sin and the devil, and desiring to please God (and that is everyone.)  Though having the knowledge of the wiles of the devil is important, it is equally important in knowing how to deal with those devices and how to overcome them.  What will the Christian do when Satan dangles the bait in front of his desires but hides the hook in the bait?  How will the Christian know that such a temptation is after him?  This idea, and many others like it, are covered in this pastoral work for the soul of ever believer.  Satan would love to rid the earth of this small but effective book.

Some quotes:

“Beloved, Satan being fallen from light to darkness, from felicity to misery, from heaven to hell, from an angel to a devil, is so full of malice and envy that he will leave no means unattempted, whereby he may make all others eternally miserable with himself.”

“If it be not strong upon they heart to practice what thou readest, to what end dost thou read?”

“…those sins which we are apt to account small, have brought upon men the greatest wrath of God.”

“A soul given up to sin is a soul ripe for hell, a soul posting to destruction.”

“There is no solid joy, nor lasting peace, nor pure comfort, that attends sinners in their sinful ways.”

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