Devotion for August 13, 2008

How the Soul Being Tempted May Answer Satan’s Accusations

The following was taken from Thomas Hooker’s book entitled The Poor Doubting Christian Drawn To Christ ( Old Paths Gospel Press, Choteau, MT., pgs. 95,96). It was so very insightful. I hope you will be encouraged by it to remain faithful to your spiritual duties, especially the keeping of the Word.

When a man hath gotten some comfort, then the devil begins to play the lawyer, in this or the like manner.

  Satan: “Dost thou not see how weak and poor thou art? How destitute of all saving grace, and how contrary thou walkest to God?”
“It is true, (saith the soul,) yet it is as true, that, whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13).
Satan: “But dost thou not see that thou art full of pride and weakness, and secretly unwilling to come to duties?”
Soul: It is true I am so, yet I hate, and desire to forsake this way, and therefore shall find mercy; the Word saith so, Isaiah 55:7.
Satan: “But are you of God’s counsel? Secret things belong to God?”
Soul: “Indeed I know not what God’s secret will is; yet that I know that the Word saith, which is, He hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but invites such daily to come to Him” (Ezekiel 33:11).
Satan: “But many cozen [trick] themselves: mercy is as a black swan, a rare bird; and few obtain it. Moreover, why then may not you be cozened [tricked] as well as others may?
Soul: “But the Lord will not cozen me, and the Lord knows my heart; and the Word knows what the Lord knows.
Satan: “But may not you be deceived in the letter of the word? The Word is true indeed; but how know you that you rightly apply it, and that the Word and your heart suit together?”
Soul: “Why I desire as earnestly to have my sin purged, as I do to have it pardoned. I know my heart by the Word, and to the Word I repair; and the Lord knows that I hate all sin inwardly, and reform it outwardly, to my weak power; and therefore I know I shall find mercy. Show me a place of Scripture that saith I do not rightly apply the Word, and I believe it; but I will not believe thee; for thou art, as thou wast from the beginning a liar.

  Thus hold to the Word, and the devil will be tired, weary, and leave thee. Keep you here, for if he catch you a wandering after sense and feeling, you are gone. The prophet says, Thou, through thy commandments, hast made me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me (Ps 119:98). Satan is wise by long experience; and the flesh, and carnal reason, and the world are wise too. But blessed be our God that makes every poor ignorant servant of His wiser than all these. But how? The Word must ever be in your hands, and the meditation of it in your hearts. It must be always with you; and you must keep it with you daily. For that will make you to know not only what is amiss, but to get ground against corruption, and whatever else may hinder your peace with God and yourselves.