Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices (Thomas Brooks) (#11)

Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices

‘Christ, the Scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched…’

The detailed analysis of Scripture together with the malfunctions, diseases, and spiritual cares of members of the body of Christ found in Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices is an outstanding example of Thomas Brooks’ deep knowledge and understanding. Many have benefited from his insights into gospel antidotes to the means Satan employs in unsettling God’s people.

Alexander Grosart, editor of the nineteenth-century edition of Brooks Works, records the words of a missionary who had become deeply perplexed by a situation in which she found herself:

‘I…turned to my closet for an hour, giving the time to prayer and to my dear little help-book ‘Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices’. In that time God taught me what to do, and strength was given for the day.’

Precious Remedies continues to be a ‘help-book’ to Christians today. Pastors will find its insights valuable in caring for Christ’s flock.

About Author Thomas Brooks

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.

Key Portions of the Table of Contents

Thomas Brooks wisely includes:

• Satan’s Devices to Draw the Soul Into Sin
• He Presents the Bait and Hides the Hook
• Satan Keeps Souls from Holy Duties by Presenting the World in a Garb that Ensnares the Soul
• He Knows how to Keep the Soul in a Sad, Doubting State
• He Knows how to Discourage the Saints by Dividing them Against One Another
• Satan Employs False Teachers to Dishearten and Distract the Saints