Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices

by Thomas Brooks

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

To his most dear and precious ones, the sons and daughters of the Most High God, over whom the Holy Spirit has made him a Watchman.

Beloved in our dearest Lord,
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; which I have endeavored to do in the following discourse, according to that measure of grace which I have received from the Lord. God once accepted a handful of meal for a sacrifice (Lev. 2:2; 5:12), and a small quantity of goat's hair for an oblation; and I know that you have not so "learned the Father," as to despise "the day of small things" (Zech. 4:10).

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; he being shut out of heaven, and shut up "under the chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6), makes use of all his power and skill to bring all the sons of men 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 and finery 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.

If David is proud of his people, Satan will provoke him to number them, that he may be yet prouder (2 Sam. 24). If Peter is slavishly fearful, Satan will put him upon rebuking and denying of Christ, to save his own skin (Matt. 16:22; 26:69-75). If Ahab's prophets are given to flatter, the devil will immediately become a lying spirit in the mouths of four hundred of them, and they shall flatter Ahab to his ruin (2 Kings 22). If Judas will be a traitor, Satan will quickly enter into his heart, and make him sell his master for money, which some heathen would never have done (John 13:2). If Ananias will lie for advantage, Satan will fill his heart that he may lie, with a witness, to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). Satan loves to sail with the wind, and to suit men's temptations to their conditions and inclinations. If they be in prosperity, he will tempt them to deny God (Proverbs 30:9); if they be in adversity, he will tempt them to distrust God; if their knowledge be weak, he will tempt them to have low thoughts of God; if their conscience be tender, he will tempt to scrupulosity; if large, to carnal security; if bold-spirited, he will tempt to presumption; if timorous, to desperation; if flexible, to inconstancy; if stiff, to impenitency.

From the power, malice and skill of Satan--proceeds all the soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems and machinations, which are in the world. Several devices he has to draw souls to sin, and several plots he has to keep souls from all holy and heavenly services, and several stratagems he has to keep souls in a mourning, staggering, doubting and questioning condition.

He has several devices to destroy the great and honorable, the wise and learned, the blind and ignorant, the rich and the poor, the real and the nominal Christians.

At one time, he will restrain from tempting, that we may think ourselves secure, and neglect our watch. At another time he will seem to flee, that he may make us proud of the victory. At one time he will fix men's eyes on others' sins than their own, that he may puff them up. At another time he may fix their eyes more on others' graces than their own, that he may discourage them. A man may as well count the stars, and number the sands of the sea, as reckon up all the Devices of Satan; yet those which are most considerable, and by which he does most mischief to the precious souls of men, are in the following treatise discovered, and the Remedies against them prescribed.

Beloved, I think it necessary to give you and the world a faithful account of the reasons moving me to appear in print, in these days, wherein we may say, there was never more writing and yet never less practicing, and they are these that

Reason 1. Because Satan has a greater influence upon men, and higher advantages over them than they think he has--and the knowledge of his high advantage is the highway to disappoint him, and to render the soul strong in resisting, and happy in conquering.

Reason 2. Your importunity, and the importunity of many other "precious sons of Zi...

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Christianity, Faith, Religion

ebook

First published January 1, 1652

About the author

Little is known about Thomas Brooks as a man, other than can be ascertained from his many writings. Born, probably of well-to-do parents, in 1608, Brooks entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1625. He was licensed as a preacher of the gospel by 1640 at the latest. Before that date he seems to have spent a number of years at sea, probably as a chaplain with the fleet. After the Civil War, Brooks became minister at Thomas Apostle s, London, and was sufficiently renowned to be chosen as preacher before the House of Commons on 26 December, 1648. Three or four years later he moved to St Margaret s, Fish-street Hill, London, but encountered considerable opposition as he refused baptism and the Lord s Supper to those clearly unworthy of such privileges. The following years were filled with written as well as spoken ministry. In 1662 he fell victim to the notorious Act of Uniformity, but he appears to have remained in his parish and to have preached the Word as opportunity offered. Treatises continued to flow from his agile pen. In 1677 or 1678 he married for the second time, 'she spring-young, he winter-old'. Two years later he went home to his Lord.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently this book was nightlty reading after the bible for Charles Spurgeon. He said it greatly helped him in his battle against satan. This book is essential reading to the Christian wishing to wage war against satan & his schemes. Brooks has a gift for expositing the scriptures on this topic & uncovers many hidden gems to better equip us for victory. I also keep this book on hand regularly & pick it up again & again for reminders & refreshment when I feel like I'm sinking into the mire of discouragment & defeat.

[Kevin Halloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the table of contents in this book is more spiritually beneficial than 95% of Christian books. Truly a goldmine of spiritual insight worthy of the name 'precious.'

[Scott Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always come back to this book for its outstanding Puritan organization, its opening outline and how helpful it is in a very practical sense. Its both a book to simply be read, and a resource to visit in various times of need. I use this book in sermon preparation frequently, it provides practical application of many themes that help the Christian overcome temptation to sin. This is an exceptionally rich and application-rich work of deep theological goodness.

[MC · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a friend of mine said in her review of this book, the title Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices doesn't quite give you a great impression. It sounds either overly charismatic, or way, WAY too “lovey-dovey”, and thus not truly biblical. Yet she read the book and spoke quite convincingly of the edifying, Scriptural tone of the work. So I decided to look into the book myself.

Precious Remedies was published in 1652 by Puritan author Thomas Brooks. Those who have read the book Amazing Grace (Eric Metaxas' biography of William Wilberforce), or else another good book on the history of Great Britain, may have some idea of what was and had been going on for a while. War, disillusionment with religion, and so on. It was in this very difficult time that Brooks wrote his work.

Of note is that Brooks was possessed of a very powerful intellect, and a sense of propriety and love that would have served others at times. Though not afraid to challenge the prevailing attitudes of his day, he did so in a way that seemed designed to balance standing up for the truth with avoiding unnecessarily antagonizing those who were outside of Christ, and thus to whom he was supposed to be witnessing. I bring this up just to contrast Brooks with John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim's Progress, who seemed to positively revel in being as offensive as possible to those with whom he disagreed. About anything. This showed itself in how Brooks wrote of never allowing theological debates to sidetrack the love that those who were true Christians (or as some would later term it, those who had accepted the “fundamentals of the faith”) were supposed to have for each other, or allowing such debates to cause discord and friction in the Body of Christ. Not that such debates were not important. They are, but they aren't important enough to justify dislike and genuine discord among believers. This is in sharp contrast to Bunyan who seemed to paint every group with whom he disagreed in even the smallest way as full of anti-Christs.

The above is important for me to mention not because I want to trash Bunyan or caricature him, but because it gives the difference between this religious treatise and that of Bunyan and many others of the era. Brooks didn't even try to vent any frustrations, or try to single-handedly “fix” anything in society or the church at the time. He simply put forth his viewpoints and allowed his readers to be guided by God's Holy Spirit to the betterment of themselves, the Church, and society. Not that Brooks didn't care, so much as he seemed (my opinion alone) to have decided to focus on perennial problems the Church may have and not to allow any sarcasm to enter his work. Precious Remedies was about exhorting, converting, so on. This is why I believe he was so much more effective than Bunyan and others of their day.

The basic format of the work is that Brooks would name and discuss various devices (or “tactics”) that the Devil uses on the spiritual battlefield to trip up souls with one of two goals. Satan wants to keep souls that are unregenerate on the road to Hell, and he wants to keep souls that have been saved by Christ's blood from having joy and victory over sin. Brooks makes no bones about how much more intelligent, powerful, “wise” (in an evil, witty, but blasphemous sort of perversion of wisdom), and experienced the Devil is than we are. The only way to escape the Enemy is to turn to Scripture and the Author of Scripture, Father God. We are weaker than the Devil, but God is stronger, infinitely stronger, than Satan, us, or any other created being. With His help, we can have triumph in spiritual warfare.

The writing was a bit archaic for modern audiences, with many of the “thees”, “thous”, and so on that we read in the KJV version of the Holy Bible, yet once you get used to the language style, the book is just practically bursting at the seams with edifying information. There were times when I would actually marvel that some of the struggles in the faith that have robbed me of joy in my life, and some of the excuses for sin I have personally used, were right there written nearly four and a half centuries ago.

The thing is, none of this came from Brooks head originally. Oh, he identified common issues he noticed in Christians, but he quoted the Holy Scriptures extensively. ALL of these problems and the solutions to them (including those I have struggled with) are dealt with right there in the Scriptures. God's Word is timeless, and the connections between the original documents written over thousands of years ending around 70 AD, to Thomas Brooks in 1652, to me today in 2012, is just amazing! Absolutely AMAZING.

I can not praise this book enough.

Highly Recommended.

[Gabie Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for all Christians. This is a great book for Lord's Supper preparation and overall mortifying sin. I appreciate Brooks' practical help against sin, applying the scriptures to our everyday walk.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooks’ illustrations, biblical connections, and wise insights are thrilling. A most worthy read that can be put on a revolving or recurring annual plan (H/T Charles Spurgeon).

Note - Brooks rightly relates Behemoth (Job 40) to Satan. That’s a rich insight that I wasn’t expecting to find!

[Matthew Bloomquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooks is to the heart of man as Goodwin is to the heart of Christ. Such a deep exposition of the various ways Satan seeks to devour the souls of believers and unbelievers alike. A little repetitive but so helpful nonetheless. Definitely a great resource to go back to for preaching to better discriminate your applications to the various heart conditions and tendencies of the flock.

Loved all of his historical illustrations. Stoked to read some Plutarch

[Eric Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

June was Thomas Brook's month in my Ancient Mentors reading schedule. I underestimated the time it would take to get through this precious Puritan, which is why I finished in July. Apparently, Precious Remedies was the book Spurgeon read every night other than the Bible (I don't remember where I heard this). It's basically the seventeenth-century version of Lewis' Screwtape Letters.

Brooks prefaces the work by suggesting that Christ, the Scriptures, our own hearts, and Satan's tactics are the four prime things we should sink our teeth into. Brooks' goal is to counsel Christ-followers in the last of those four by actually employing the first three. Our sinful hearts Satan helps forward, i.e. he sails with the wind, and ultimately its Jesus revealed in Scripture that is The Precious Remedy to his wily ways. In short, Brooks teaches that the emptiness of the creature is no match for the snares of the deceiver, but the remedy is in the fulness of Christ, the Redeemer.

It would nearly be impossible for me to summarize Brooks' classic. My small-print collected works version was about 150 pages. It was a lot longer than I expected. Basically the work breaks down into five sections. First, how does the Enemy provoke and lead me into sin? Second, how does the Enemy keep me from doing what's required of me, especially in regards to worship? Third, how does the Enemy keep me sad and doubting? Fourth, how does Satan use and destroy those in leadership? Fifth, in an appendix Brooks shows how the Enemy attempts to keep us from resting in and receiving the gospel.

Some thoughts: Brooks' knows the Bible. This dude's mastery of Scripture, or rather Scripture's mastery of this dude, is incredible. This work is a counselor's compendium. There was hardly any issue in the Christian life that Brooks didn't address. It was all there: sin, doubt, unbelief, affliction. It's a work that should be close by any biblical counselor.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Read this with my morning devotions. One I will be coming back to over and over again. One of the things we have lost in the modern church is deep reflection over the schemes of Satan. This work is helpful in this respect.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the name of this book sounds odd to the contemporary ear, the content strikes in the center of the heart. This is one of those books that makes you realize that you're nowhere near as good a person as you thought and that other people, such as the author, have an understanding and sincerity that far exceeds your own. One of the best things about this book is that, in addition to clarifying your own faults, Brooks tells you what you can do to effect improvement. And it's not just one thing; for every one thing you're doing wrong, there are several different suggestions about how to improve—and they all make sense.

[Amy Kannel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this was probably 4.5-5 stars. I underlined lots and lots of passages--really insightful, penetrating thoughts about fighting against sin and walking faithfully with Christ. But it got so, so repetitive that I had a hard time finishing. Some of the middle-to-latter parts seemed less relevant/helpful, and it began to feel like he just kept saying the same things, using the same examples, etc.

At any rate, I think it's good for me to read old books like this instead of exclusively immersing myself in relatively current books. On the whole I'd recommend this one, just not necessarily *all* of it.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was brilliant. I found a group online who were reading together and I just took bites each day with them and it was simply perfect. I love the author’s pithiness and pointedness. Very good book

[Wilson Porte Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

De uma maneira muita prática, o autor nos apresenta caminhos para resistirmos diante da tentação. Indico com muita urgência este livro a todos que desejam uma vida de maior santidade.

[Rachel Ekberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly some very precious truths in this book.

Not a book that can be read quickly, as evidenced by the fact that the March puritan book of the month was finished in May, but so much helpful wisdom.

Brooks takes one after another of Satan’s many “devices” to attack Christians and gives numerous “precious remedies” for each one. There are definitely a few specific of the devices and remedies I can see myself referring back to often, although some did prove a bit repetitive or confusing.

So often reading can be just a knowledge gathering activity for me, so I loved how Brooks framed the need for meditation and application from the very beginning.

“It is not hasty reading--but serious meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that make them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bee’s touching of the flower, which gathers honey--but her abiding for a time upon the flower, which draws out the sweet. It is not he who reads most--but he who meditates most, who will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.”

One sometimes amusing, sometimes annoying refrain Brooks repeats is “I will leave you to make the application” or “you are wise and know how to apply it” at the end of a section. Thanks Thomas but actually I’m not that wise and am a little lost. Please elaborate. That’s just my minor complaint though.

[Jessica Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was first published in 1652 and gives a list of lies (“devices”) Satan tries to convince us of to make us ineffective in our walk or witness of Christ - and I think it was most shocking how, close to four hundred years after being written, pretty much every lie is still being used.
The “precious remedies” against these lies are truths from God’s word that we can use to combat the lies that creep in to our mind.
This is a very practical and thoughtful fleshing out of the verse “Take every thought captive.”
This was a slow read, but a very thought provoking one and it came up in conversations SO MANY TIMES.

[Ben Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used Logos to break this one into small, manageable chunks to read daily. I will continue to recommend this approach to reading the puritans! Brooks packs so much depth into every sentence, you get a spiritual feast within a word-count famine---a little goes a long way.

In this classic work from Thomas Brooks, he unpacks in great detail the many means by which the enemy brings temptation and sin to the doorstep of the Christian and the corresponding theological answers to gain victory. Eye-opening and convicting, Brooks lays bare the human heart but does so while proclaiming full confidence in the victory offered in the shed blood of Christ.

[Cole Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooks labors to show the numerous ways that Satan attempts to lure and entice Saints into sin, and provides valuable remedies against Satan’s schemes. The puritans knew human nature so well that their words and counsel still hold true today. Satan has snares in everything, and the believer must always be watchful, longing to be at home with the Lord.

[Nathan Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title defines the work. This is a perfect book to have with you during morning devotions. Read a few pages each day. A wonderful read.

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good tonic for the soul. I couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance in writing style between Thomas Brooks and Thomas Watson.

[Anete Ābola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of a kind!
Author says we must study four things in this life - Christ, Scripture, our own hearts and satan's devices. By satan's devices he means the ways he tempts people. Author very practically gives "remedies" for different kinds of temptations one faces in this life. This is like a classic and basic practical theology two-in-one. Highly recommended.

[Troy Lizenby · Rating 5 out of 5]

C. S. Lewis recommended in his essay, “On The Reading Of Old Books”, that the reading of a modern book should be followed by the reading of an old book, before reading another modern one. Having finished Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, I took his advice and sought for an old book that dealt with the same topic, spiritual warfare. Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks was first published in 1652, nearly 300 years before Lewis’ treatment of the personal forces of evil.
Brooks wrote before the onset of the Enlightenment, when there was little doubt about things invisible and an eternal destiny; when belief in demons, principalities and spiritual dominions was common and unquestioned; when Satan was believed to be a spiritual person, fallen from an angel to a devil, full of malice and envy, who employed his powers to make others eternally miserable as himself. Thusly Brooks writes, “From the power, malice, and skill of Satan proceeds all the soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems, and machinations that are in the world. Several devices he has to draw souls to sin and several plots he has to keep souls from all holy and heavenly services, and several stratagems he has to keep souls in a mourning, staggering, doubting, and questioning condition. He has several devices to destroy the great and honorable, the wise and learned, the blind and ignorant, the rich and the poor, the real and the nominal saints.”
Brooks’ publication precedes John Bunyan’s Holy War, but it details the same reasons Bunyan gave on why saints are not immediately delivered from the presence of sin while still on earth: to keep us humble, as a reminder of God’s grace, to put us on reliance upon divine help, to live upon Christ for our sanctification, to keep us wakeful and watchful, and to show the imperative of keeping our armor on and our weapons always in our hands.
Many parallel truths and experiences can be observed in Lewis’ and Brooks’ works. A worthy project for a Christian publisher would be a critical edition containing both works with cross-references to parallel passages.
One encouraging aspect found in Brooks’ work is his clear and hearty confession of the Puritan hope of the ultimate success of the gospel over the whole world. (see pp. 132 – 152; p. 240)
After offering numerous helps against the various stratagems of Satan, Brooks closes with several rules and helps to the Christian in his fight against Satan’s devices: keep humble; keep a strong, close, and constant watch; keep up your communion with God; engage Satan not in your own strength, but every day draw new virtue and strength from the Lord Jesus; be much in prayer; labor to be filled with the Spirit; resist Satan at his first motions; labor for more heavenly wisdom; take heed to not vex and grieve the Holy Spirit; and, walk according to the rule of the Word.
After reading Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices I can understand why Charles Spurgeon highly esteemed Thomas Brooks’ writings. He compiled an entire book of quotations from Brooks and gave it the title of Smooth Stones From Flowing Brooks.

[Ben Hegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Like Gurnall's classic volume. Good on every page. Deep. Intensely practical. The puritans know the soul and Christ so well. Just epic. Loved this! Highly recommended!

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very worthwhile book. All of these books in the Puritan challenge books for 2008 are not light reading. They are very dense and packed in every sentence with meaning and much thought. I am amazed at the Biblical literacy of these men who wrote these books, in the days before exhaustive concordances and dictionaries and "look up tools" such as we have now. They really read, studied, and knew their Bibles.

This set of sermons goes in a very logical way to address all aspects of a believer's struggles. Satan's devices are mostly in the area of doubt... doubt about why I suffer, doubt about whether I am truly saved, doubt about how could I do X if I really am a believer so maybe I am not?... and on and on. Also in keeping you from reading and studying God's word and thus "seeing the light that tend eminently to shake and break his (Satan's) kingdom of darkness".

Read the book, it will strengthen your walk with the Lord and help you indeed have remedies against Satan's devices.

[Derric · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Watchfulness is nothing else but the soul running up and down, to and fro, busy everywhere; it is the heart busied and employed with diligent observation of what comes from within us, and of what comes from without us and into us."

This was good and helpful and I'm sure it is something I will come back to for encouragement as I press on toward the goal for the prize. I give it 5 stars! This book is a must-read for all if only because it covers a rare topic. It is supposed to be true of us that "we are not ignorant of his devices" yet this is the first explanation I've received of them in my entire life.

[Zach Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooks writes a timeless piece on Satan’s various means of tempting Christians in different phases of their Christian life. His expanded commentary on Satan’s activity is far more insightful and remedial than any modern book on the subject, for he understands Satan’s work as far more a part of the warp and woof of the Christian life. His remedies also touch on the very turnings of the soul.

In hindsight, this is a book better read in smaller, daily portions. Some of the illustrations are repeated, along with some of Satan’s devices and God’s remedies. This would not feel quite as repetitive if spaced out over months, instead of days. Otherwise, this is a great book for soul care.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will not have to dig deep in this book to find gold. Brooks has mined the experiences of Christians and the riches of Scripture to discover the devices of Satan and the multitude of precious remedies against them. Here precious jewels are strewn upon the ground waiting for even the most casual reader to discover and apply. Saints suffering under Satan's wiles will find a soothing tonic in this priceless work. I know of nothing like it and am grateful the church is not without it. Read and be helped.

*I read a kindle edition

[Becky Pliego · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.

[Blue Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one book that Charles Spurgeon famously kept by his bedside was Thomas Brooks’ Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices. We could end the review there and simply conclude that if this book was so vital to the beloved “prince of preachers” then surely it belongs at a very minimum on your bookshelf. But we can’t stop there, for what Read the Puritans lists as one of the top-10 essential Puritan books deserves a solid (albeit brief) review.

If I could rename Precious Remedies, I would title it “The Spiritual Art of War.” As a military planner, I’ve read and applied countless theorists from the likes of Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, Jomini, Moltke, Hart, Boyd, etc. Hence, what I found so fascinating about Brooks is just how similar this book reads compared to the strategic guidance offered by many of these men.

For example, listen to what Sun Tzu writes about knowledge of yourself and your adversary: "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” He goes on to write that if you know only one of the two, you’ll find success about half of the time, while failure to know either almost always results in failure. This principle is precisely where Brooks begins Precious Remedies by charging Christians to know themselves by discovering the “fullness of Christ” and “emptiness of the creature,” while at the same time, becoming intimately familiar with “the snares of the great deceiver.” How many Christians today would be spared myriad spiritual defeats if they disciplined themselves to daily consider the depths of their own hearts, the beauty of Christ & His promises, and the schemes of the adversary? Listen to how Brooks applies our familiarity and communion with Christ against one particular device of Satan: “Is not he [Christ] the crown of crowns, the glory of glories, and the heaven of heavens? Oh then, be still a-longing after a full, clear, and constant enjoyment of Christ in heaven; for till then, Satan will still have plots and designs upon you.”

Another renowned military theorist is the great Prussian Carl von Clausewitz. In his famous “Art of War” he writes that while the nature of war always remains the same, the character of war, like a chameleon, is always evolving. The implication is that to be successful, one must always re-evaluate what “kind” of war is being fought, knowing that the character of the conflict is changing over time. This reality is what precipitated von Moltke the elder (another dead Prussian) to famously write “Kein Plan überlebt den ersten Kontakt mit dem Feind” or “no plan survives first contact with the enemy.” This reality is precisely what Brooks is continually emphasizing throughout Precious Remedies when he describes how Satan is always adapting his strategies, at times even using the most mundane and neutral means to entrap believers in sin: “This world, this wilderness, is full of snares … there are snares about our tables and snares about our beds; yea, Satan is so powerful and subtle that he will oftentimes make our greatest, nearest, and dearest mercies to become our greatest snares.” I’ve seen this countless times in my own life where even the good things like family, church, ministry, and even dare I say the word of God itself, have become their own self-serving “snares” against me, feeding my “idol-factory” prone heart. I love how Brooks closes his book with a warning that this conflict will never cease until the day when believers receive their ultimate rest: “He [Satan] acts by an untired [relentless] power, and will never let you rest till you are taken up to an everlasting rest in the bosom of Christ.”

Finally, as an antithesis to the changing character of war, Antoine Henri Jomini, the Swiss strategist who lived in the same era as Clausewitz, identifies those unchanging and fundamental principles of war, boiling warfare down to a timeless scientific approach. In fact, much of what he writes in his own version of the “Art of War” has become the modern doctrinal framework used by the US Military to this day. Yet remarkably, Brooks is also very “Jominian” in his approach as well, codifying proven and timeless stratagems for the Christian’s war against the “unholy” trinity of self, the world, and Satan. Brooks is surgical, describing 38 timeless adversarial devices while prescribing no less than196 tactical remedies for the believer to add to his arsenal. No wonder the Puritans were originally called the Precisionists. At the risk of violating my own desire for brevity, I think an example of one of Brooks’ “precision-guided counseling” would be most helpful here. In Section 4, “Satan’s Devices to Keep Saints in a Sad, Doubting, Questioning and Uncomfortable Condition,” look at Brooks’ strategy against just one of eight common devices I’ve witnessed countless times in the church today:

Device #7: Satan reminds the saints of their “frequent relapses into sin formerly repented of and prayed against” (ever felt this attack?)

Remedies:

1) Many scriptures show that such relapses have troubled saints

2) God nowhere promises that such relapses will not happen

3) The most renowned of glorified saints have, on earth, experienced such relapses

4) Relapses into enormities must be distinguished from relapses into infirmities

5) Involuntary and voluntary relapses must be distinguished

6) No experience of the soul, however deep or high, can in itself secure the soul against relapses

As an aside, for those who are fans of CS Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, the fictional account of a senior demon’s correspondence with his apprentice, I would not be surprised in the least if Lewis borrowed from Precious Remedies to inform the demonic strategy of his principal characters. The are many similarities between the two.

And finally, as is common with the Puritans, it is fitting to end this review with where Brooks began his book in reiterating his pastoral concern for the reader. Read the Puritans echoes the urgency and shepherding plea of Brooks when he pens these introductory words: “Not knowing how soon my glass may be out … when I put off this earthly tabernacle … I shall leave this book with you as legacy of my dearest love, desiring the Lord to make it a far greater and sweeter legacy than all those carnal legacies that are left by the high and mighty ones of the earth.” May you pick up this “Spiritual Art of War” and may it be to you an enormous means of grace as you wage war and in the words of another Puritan named Thomas, “take heaven by storm.”

See full review and others at:
https://readthepuritans.org/articles-...

[Josh Kannard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best Christian books I've ever read. This has been my first encounter with Brooks, and I hope for many more. In classic Puritan fashion, Brooks proceeds in a thorough manner and leaves no stones unturned, demonstrating a scholarly mastery of Scripture AND a pastoral mastery of the human heart. There is something to be said about the beauty of his style of writing and the images he employs to make his points. This makes Precious Remedies a treasure not just for its theological content, but as a beautiful model for preachers and writers who desire to apply that content in meaningful ways. I will need to come back to this time and time again as I grow in the Lord and keep a watchful heart. The battle is hard and long, but Christ's grace will sustain.

"You are wise and know how to apply it."

[Linn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maravilhoso! Um livro de grande auxílio na luta contra o pecado e no reconhecimento das artimanhas de Satanás em sua tentativa de induzir-nos a pecar. Difícil não identificar-se em alguma das situações, grifar e anotar todos os "remédios" para as batalhas que enfrentamos. Brooks faz um estudo completo e equilibrado sobre a guerra que acontece em nossas mentes todos os dias. De fato, nossa mente é um campo de batalha que precisa estar constantemente cheio da Palavra de Deus. Como o autor bem disse, ter pensamentos errados sobre Deus e sobre a obra de Cristo é, com certeza, um artifício que Satanás usa para pecarmos. Entender mais sobre Deus, sobre nós mesmos e sobre nosso inimigo fortalece-nos na luta constante que enfrentamos neste mundo. Com toda a certeza, é um livro que todo cristão deveria ler.