Quotes from Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks (1608 – 1680)

DEVICE 5: TO PRESENT GOD TO THE SOUL AS ONE MADE UP ALL OF MERCY

Oh! says Satan, you need not make such a matter of sin, you need not be so fearful of sin, not so unwilling to sin; for God is a God of mercy, a God full of mercy, a God that delights in mercy, a God that is ready to show mercy, a God that is never weary of showing mercy, a God more prone to pardon his people than to punish his people; and therefore he will not take advantage against the soul; and why then, says Satan, should you make such a matter of sin?

DEVICE 6: By persuading the soul that the work of repentance is an easy work; and that therefore the soul need not make such a matter of sin. Why! Suppose you do sin, says Satan, it is no such difficult thing to return, and confess, and be sorrowful, and beg pardon, and cry, ‘Lord, have mercy upon me!’ and if you do but this, God will forgive your debt, and pardon your sins, and save your souls. By this device Satan draws many a soul to sin, and makes many millions of souls servants of sin, or rather slaves to sin.

Remedy (1). The first remedy is, seriously to consider, That repentance is a mighty work, a difficult work, a work that is above our power. There is no power below…which can break the heart of a sinner, or turn the heart of a sinner. You are as well able .. to turn a flint into flesh, as to turn your own heart to the Lord… Repentance is a flower which does not grow in nature’s garden…Repentance is a gift that comes down from above. Men are not born with repentance in their hearts, as they are born with tongues in their mouths…It is not in the power of any mortal to repent at pleasure.

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