More Special Helps Against Satan's Devices

In the last post, I gave the first five of "ten special helps and rules against Satan's devices,"  taken from Thomas Brooks' Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices (Banner of Truth, p. 243ff). Now here are the last five (again, the italics are the author's, followed by two or three sentences of my choosing from each point that seem to communicate well each help):

6. The sixth help. If you would not be taken in any of Satan's snares, then keep humble. Humility keeps the soul free from many darts of Satan's casting, and snares of his spreading. . . . The devil hath least power to fasten a temptation on him that is most humble.

7. The seventh help. If you would not be taken in any of Satan's snares, then keep a strong, close, and constant watch (1 Thess. 5:6; cf. Matt. 26:41; Col. 4:2: 1 Pet. 4:7). That soul that will not watch against temptations, will certainly fall before the power of temptations. . . .The best way to be safe and secure from all Satan's assaults is, with Nehemiah and the Jews, to watch and pray, and pray and watch. . . . Watchfulness includes a waking, a rousing up of the soul. It is a continual, careful observing of our hearts and ways, in all the turnings of our lives, that we still keep close to God and his Word.

8. The eighth help. If you would not be taken with any of Satan's snares and devices, then keep up your communion with God. Your strength to stand and withstand Satan's fiery darts is from your communion with God. A soul high in communion with God may be tempted, but will not easily be conquered. Such a soul will fight it out to the death.

9. The ninth help. If you would not be taken in any of Satan's snares, then engage not against Satan in your own strength, but be every day drawing new virtue and strength from the Lord Jesus. Ah, souls! when the snare is spread, look up to Jesus Christ, who is lifted up in the gospel, as the brazen serpent was in the wilderness [Jn. 3:14-15], and say to him, Dear Lord! here is a new snare laid to catch my soul, and grace formerly received, without fresh supplies from thy blessed bosom, will not deliver me from this snare. Oh! give me new strength , new power, new influences, new measures of grace, that so I may escape the snares.

10. The tenth help. If you would not be taken in any of Satan's snares, then be much in prayer. Prayer is a shelter to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to the devil. . . . Prayer is the gate of heaven, a key to let us into paradise. There is nothing that renders plots fruitless like prayer; therefore saith Christ; "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation" (Matt. 26:41). You must watch and pray, and pray and watch, if you would not enter into temptation.

Brooks has a footnote with this tenth help, which says: "It was said of Charles the Great that he spake more with God than with men. Ah! that I could say so of the Christians in our days." And my response: Oh that we could say so of ourselves in these days!

So I end now these two posts on "Special Helps Against Satan's Devices" with this longing and prayer:

O God in heaven, Lord and Lover of the Church's soul, keep us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Waken us to speak more with you than we speak with people. Forgive us for neglecting Jesus' instruction to "watch and pray." We've been so often so easily seduced by Satan's devices. But you've not left us ignorant without instruction. And you've not left us without a great Savior. So pardon our sins, empower our lives, and give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ —all for your great honor and glory. Amen.