2 Cor 2:11-12 KJV
Device (1). To present and hide .
Device (2). By painting sin with
Satan knows that if he should present sin in its own nature and dress, the soul would rather fly from it than yield to it; and therefore he presents it unto us, not in its own proper colours, but painted and gilded over with the name and show of virtue, that we may the more easily be overcome by it, and take the more pleasure in committing of it. Pride, he presents to the soul under the name and notion of neatness and cleanliness, and covetousness (which the apostle condemns for idolatry) to be but good husbandry; and drunkenness to be good fellowship, and riotousness under the name and notion of liberality, and wantonness as a trick of youth. [Look at it from ]
Device (3). By partially excusing or justifying and lessening of sin. Ah! saith Satan, it is but a little pride, a little worldliness, a little uncleanness, a little drunkenness, &c. As Lot said of Zoar, ‘It is but a little one, and my soul shall live’ Gen. 19:20. Alas! saith Satan, that you stick so at. You may commit it without any danger to your soul. It is but a little one; you may commit it, and yet your soul shall live.
Device (4). By presenting to the soul and by hiding from the soul their virtues; by shewing the soul their sins, and by hiding from the soul their sorrows and repentance.
Device (5). To present God to the soul as one made up Rom 2:4
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. [At worst you will become a slave to sin, at best you will be a slave to the cycle of sin and repent with all the shame and grief of conscience] John 8:34
Device (7). By making the soul bold to venture upon the occasions of sin. [2 Sam 11:20,21 David “Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city ~ why went ye nigh the wall?] Rom 13:14 the place, the time, the people
Device (8). By representing to the soul the outward mercies that vain men enjoy, and the outward miseries that they are freed from, whilst they have walked in the ways of sin. By this stratagem the devil took those in Jer. 44:16–18; Ps 73:2,3,17,18; Hosea 4:17; Isa 1:5; Hos 13:2
Device (9). By presenting to the soul the crosses, losses, reproaches, sorrows, and sufferings that do daily attend those that walk in the ways of holiness. [profit and loss, now and then]
Device (10). By working them to be frequent in comparing themselves and their ways with those that are reputed or reported to be worse than themselves. [2 Corinthians 10:12 “not wise, compare to God’s word and example]
Device (11). By polluting and defiling the souls and judgments of men with such dangerous errors, that do in their proper tendency tend to carry the souls of men to all looseness and wickedness, as woeful experience doth abundantly evidence. [“Being Berean” To receive the truth affectionately, and let it dwell in your souls plenteously Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.]
Device (12). To affect wicked company, to keep wicked society. [shun the, society of the wicked: Ac 2:40; Eph. 5:11; Prov. 4:14–15; 1 Cor. 5:9–10,11; 2 Thes. 3:6; Prov. 1:10]
Devices of Satan
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