Flee from the occasions of sin! – Thomas Brooks

Whatever has the least appearance of evil, shun it, as you would do a serpent in your way, or poison in your food.

To venture upon the occasion of sin, and then to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation,’ is as to thrust your finger into the fire, and then to pray that it might not be burnt.

There is no conquest over sin, without the soul turning from the occasion of sin. It is impossible for that man to get the conquest of sin who plays and sports with the occasions of sin. God will not remove the temptation to sin, except you turn from the occasion of sin. It is a just and righteous thing with God, that he should fall into the pit who will adventure to dance upon the brink of the pit; and that he should be a slave to sin who will not flee from the occasions of sin.

As long as there is fuel in our hearts for a temptation, we cannot be secure. He who has gunpowder about him had need keep far enough away from sparks!

To rush upon the occasions of sin is both to tempt ourselves, and to tempt Satan to tempt our souls!

It is very rare that any soul plays with the occasions of sin but that soul is then ensnared by sin!

It is seldom that God keeps that soul from the acts of sin, who will not keep off from the occasions of sin. He who adventures upon the occasions of sin, is as he who would quench the fire with gasoline!

Ah, souls, often remember how frequently you have been overcome by sin, when you have boldly gone upon the occasions of sin! Look back, souls, to the days of your vanity, wherein you have been as easily conquered as tempted, vanquished as assaulted when you have played with the occasions of sin.

As you would for the future be kept from the acting of sin, and be made victorious over sin, oh! flee from the occasions of sin!