He Hides the Hook!
Satan uses various devices to deceive and lead people into sin, hiding the consequences and promising them pleasure and profit.
Thomas Brooks warns about the deceptive devices of Satan, who skillfully presents enticing baits while concealing the destructive hooks that follow. He illustrates how Satan lures individuals into sin by showcasing pleasure and profit, much like how he deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. Brooks emphasizes the importance of being aware of these snares, as they can ensnare anyone, regardless of their status or wisdom. He cautions that many have fallen into perdition by succumbing to the allure of the world, which promises much but delivers shame and loss. Ultimately, he calls for vigilance against these traps to protect our souls.
Text
"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we
are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Corinthians 2:11
Satan has his several devices to deceive, entangle,
and undo the souls of men. Satan has . . .
snares for the wise, and snares for the simple;
snares for hypocrites, and snares for the upright;
snares for brave, and snares for the timorous;
snares for the rich, and snares for the poor;
snares for the aged, and snares for youth.
Happy are those souls which are not captured
and held in the snares that he has laid!
Satan's first device to draw the soul into sin is,
to present the bait--and hide the hook;
to present the golden cup--and hide the poison;
to present the sweet, the pleasure, and the profit
that may flow in upon the soul by yielding to sin--
and to hide from the soul the wrath and misery
that will certainly follow the committing of sin!
By this device he deceived our first parents, "And the
serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die
--for God knows, that in the day you eat thereof, then
your eyes shall be opened; and you shall be as gods."
Your eyes shall he opened, and you shall be as gods!
Here is the bait, the sweet, the pleasure, the profit.
Oh--but he hides the hook--the shame, the wrath,
and the loss that would certainly follow! So Satan
cheats them--giving them an apple in exchange for
a paradise!
Satan with ease pawns falsehoods upon us, by his
golden baits, and then he leads us and leaves us
in a fool's paradise. He promises the soul honor,
pleasure, profit--but pays the soul with the greatest
contempt, shame, and loss that can be!
Alas! Many have fallen forever by this vile strumpet,
the world, who, by showing forth her two fair breasts
of PROFIT and PLEASURE, has wounded their souls,
and cast them down into utter perdition! She has,
by the glistening of her pomp and preferment,
slain millions!
Sermon Outline
- Satan's Devices
- Satan's snares for different types of people
- Satan's snares for the wise and the simple
- Satan's snares for hypocrites and the upright
Key Quotes
“Satan has his several devices to deceive, entangle, and undo the souls of men.” — Thomas Brooks
“Satan's first device to draw the soul into sin is, to present the bait--and hide the hook;” — Thomas Brooks
“Alas! Many have fallen forever by this vile strumpet, the world, who, by showing forth her two fair breasts of PROFIT and PLEASURE, has wounded their souls, and cast them down into utter perdition!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Be aware of Satan's devices and the consequences of sin, and avoid falling into temptation.
- Do not be deceived by the world's promise of profit and pleasure, as it can lead to spiritual destruction.
- Seek to understand the true nature of sin and its consequences, and avoid being led astray by Satan's deception.