Sunday, April 21, 2013

He never lacks an apple for an Eve

("The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod" or, "The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes" by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London.)

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour!" 1 Peter 5:8

The devil is . . .
not a lamb — but a lion;
not a sleeping lion — but a roaring lion;
not a lion standing still — but a lion prowling around to devour!
He is not satisfied with the prey he has already gotten, but is restless in his designs to fill Hell with damned souls.

He never lacks . . .
an apple for an Eve
,
nor a grape for a Noah,
nor a change of clothing for a Gehazi,
nor a wedge of gold for an Achan,
nor a crown for an Absalom,
nor a bag of silver for a Judas,
nor a world for a Demas!

If you look into . . .
one company — you shall find Satan a-dishing out his dainties to every palate.
another company — you shall find him fitting a lace to every shoe.
a third company — you shall find him suiting a garment to every back.

Here, with Jael, he allures poor souls in with milk — and murders them with a nail!
There, with Joab, he embraces with one hand — and stabs with another!
Here with Judas, he kisses — and betrays!
And there, with the whore of Babylon, he presents a golden cup — with poison in it!

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour!" 1 Peter 5:8

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