'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — August 9

One of Satan's devices to draw you into sin is to get you to consider the sins of the best men, and hide their virtues. He shows the adultery of David, the pride of Hezekiah, the impatience of Job, the drunkenness of Noah, and the blasphemy of Peter, but he hides their tears, sighs, groans, and repentance. David fell fearfully and Peter dreadfully, but they rose sweetly by repentance. Many sin like them who never repent like them and so perish forever. These saints did not make a habit of sin. They fell once or twice, and rose by repentance, that they might keep closer to Christ forever. They sinned accidentally, occasionally, and with much reluctance. To use their fall to sin on purpose is to sin readily, obstinately, presumptuously, delightfully, and customarily. If you wilfully trade in sin, you promote sin's necessity in your soul. If one tasted poison once, and yet narrowly escaped, is it sound reason to assume that if I drink poison every day I shall escape? We need also to consider that though God does not, nor ever will disinherit his people for their sins, yet he has severely punished them. David sinned, and God broke his bones for it (Psa. 51:8). The reason God records the failures of his saints, is to encourage others who have fallen by weakness and infirmity from fainting, sinking, and despairing under the burden of their sins. He also records them as landmarks to warn others that are standing, to take heed lest they fall. It never entered the heart of God to record his children's sins that others might be encouraged to sin. He would have us hold closer to the skirts of Christ, and avoid all occasions and temptations that may give us an occasion to fall. Others' sins are landmarks to warn his people about the rocks and snares as they sail through the ocean of this sinful troublesome world.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Brooks, Works, I:24-27
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