Today in Blogworld 11/06

There are about a million links on the Obama election and pre-Obama election. You can find those elsewhere. There is one that you absoultely must check out. It was written by Dr. Wyman Richardson, it is a true/false test that puts all of this election stuff in perspective. Please read it, especially if you are discouraged. Okay, actually one more that is a good read: Dan Phillips' Lament for America

Funny story posted by Josh Harris about Terrorist and the Time Changes.

This one is funny, I'd post the video but I am substitute teaching again and cannot post videos. It's a new techonoly to take your preaching to the next level. Watch it here.

Speak of preaching great words from Piper a few days ago: Is it true and is it precious? Preach what is both. If it is true, preach it with authority. If it is precious, preach it with passion. Read the rest...

Great reminder from William Gurnall on Christ's Love for Tempted Saints.

Precious Remedies Chap 2.2

Device #2 and Remedies

"By painting sin with virtues colors"

Brooks is saying here that this device of Satan is to paint a different picture of sin that what it really is. "Pride, he presents to the soul under the name and notion of neatness and cleanliness, and covetousness to be but good husbandry; and drunkeness as good fellowship, and riotousness under the name and notion of liberality, and wantonness as a trick of youth." (34) For remedies:

• Consider that sin is never a whit the less filthy, vile, and abominable, by its being colored and painted with virtue's colors.
• That the more sin is painted forth under the color of virtue, the more dangerous it is to the souls of men.
• To look on sin with that eye [with] which within a few hours we shall it. (In other words, look at sin with the eyes of dying man)
• Seriously to consider, that even those very sins that Satan paints, and puts new names and colors upon, cost the best blood, the noblest blood, the life-blood, the heart-blood, of the Lord Jesus.

Quick Thoughts:

Call sin what it is. Satan is in the business of toning down sin and our flesh is comforted by such a thing. Our hearts shun conviction when we paint gossip as a "prayer concern". Is it "having an affair" or is it committing adultery? Brooks, is encouraging us to not join Satan in painting virtue on things that cost Christ his life. Consider what that "little sin" that you are trifling with has cost the Lord. Yes, it is not only for the "gross" sins that Jesus has died but also for the "respectable" ones.

Extracted Elixir's

"A poisonous pill is never a whit the less poisonous because it is gilded over with gold..." (34)

"...look upon sin now as you must look upon it to all eternity." (36)

Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices Chap. 2.1

Chapter 2 is a rather long chapter. I will be breaking it up into each device and give the remedies, a brief discussion, and then a few notable quotes. These devices are particularly those that Satan uses to draw the soul to sin.

Device #1 and Remedies

"To present the bait and hide the hook"

In other words Satan presents the pleasure of sin but not the painful after affects. "There is an opening of the mind to contemplation and joy, and there is an opening of the eyes of the body to shame and confusion. He promiseth them the former, but intends the latter, and so cheats them--giving them an apple in exchange for a paradise, as he deals by thousands now-a-days." (29) For remedies:

• Keep at a great distance from sin, and from playing with the golden bait that Satan holds forth to catch you
• Consider that sin is but a bitter sweet
• Consider that sin will usher in the greatest and saddest losses that can be upon our souls
• Consider that sin is of a very deceitful and bewitching nature

Quick Thoughts:

This is a fitting first device because it seems to be the one that Satan most often employs. He makes sin look sweet and hides the destruction it brings. I have witnessed countless youth dabble with sin only to find themselves ensnared by it. Brooks' remedies are also helpful. If we would consistently remember to call sin what it is, remove the pretty looking bait, and observe the hook, then we would be less likely to fall into these traps Satan sets before us.

Extracted Elixir's (I know it's a stretch!)

"Adversity hath slain her thousand, but prosperity her ten thousand". (30)

"If there were the least real delight in sin, there could be no perfect hell, where men shall most perfectly be tormented with their sin." (32)

"Sin so bewitches the soul, that it makes the soul call evil good, and good evil..." (33)

"...a man bewitched with sin had rather lose God, Christ, heaven, and his own soul than part with his sin." (34)

Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices Chap. 1

The main observation that Brooks hopes to prove in this book is that, "Satan hath his several devices to deceive, entangle, and undo the souls of men."

In the first chapter Brooks aims to merely prove his point. To do this the author takes us to a few choice Scriptures. From Ephesians 6:11 we see the following observations taken from the word 'wiles':

• "It signifies such snares as are laid behind one, such treacheries as come upon one's back at unawares...the word signifies an ambushment or stratagem of war..."
• "It signifies such snares as are set to catch one in one's road."
• "It signifies such as are purposely...and craftily set for the taking of the prey....Satan doth more hurt in sheep's skin than by roaring like a lion."

From 2 Timothy 2:26 we observe:

• "The word for 'taken captive' signifies being taken alive...[it is] properly a warlike word..."
• Satan hath snares for all manner of people. The wise and simple, the hypocrite and the upright, the rich and the poor, etc.

From Revelation 2:24 we observe:

• That souls can be so deceived that they believe their opinions to be from the depths of God but they are really from the depths of Satan.

Next time we will begin looking at the several devices Satan uses to draw the soul to sin.

Today in Blogworld 11/02

Ok, saying "Today" in blogworld is a bit deceptive but here are a few links for you to consider.

The audio for the Total Church Conference is now available. I may have linked to this before--but this appears to be more audio.

Here is a great offer for The Reformation Study Bible. Give any donation to Ligonier and get a free Leather Reformation Study Bible.

Jared Wilson gives us his 95 Theses for the American Church.

My favorite Christian rapper, Flame, gets a shout out from his college dean Denny Burk.

Abraham Piper gives 22 ways for new bloggers to improve.

John Piper reminds us that Bad Times are Good for Missions.

Great talk by Paul Washer:


HT: John