Soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems & machinations! – Thomas Brooks

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11

Christ,
the Scripture,
your own hearts,
and Satan’s devices,
are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these, they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter. It is my work as a Christian, but much more as I am a Watchman, to do my best to discover . . .
the fullness of Christ,
the emptiness of the creature,
and the snares of the great deceiver.

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. He being shut out of heaven, and shut up “under the chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day,” makes use of all his power and skill to bring all people into the same condition and condemnation with himself. Satan has cast such sinful seed into our souls, that now he can no sooner tempt, but we are ready to assent; he can no sooner have a plot upon us, but he makes a conquest of us. If he does but show men a little of the beauty of the world, how ready are they to fall down and worship him! Whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, that the devil will help forward! Satan loves to sail with the wind, and to suit men’s temptations to their conditions and inclinations.

From the power, malice and skill of Satan proceeds all the soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems and machinations, which are in the world. A man may as well count the stars, and number the sands of the sea, as reckon up all the devices of Satan!

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11