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By Thomas Brooks 1608-1680
"Observe what particular sin that is that doth most hinder thee in holy duties and services, and that doth most interrupt thee in thy communion with God. Inquire what particular sin that is that thy heart is most apt to run after when thou art on the mount of holy duties (Eze 33:31). Whilst the disciples were healing diseases and casting devils out of other men’s bodies, the proud white devil (a) was stirring in their own souls, as is evident by that gentle rebuke that our Savior gives them: “In this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luk 10:20). There is no duty that a Christian performs but one white devil or another, one lust or another, will be still dogging and following of him to that duty. There is no public duty, there is no family duty, there is no private duty that a Christian performs, but either that white devil pride, or that white devil hypocrisy, or that white devil vainglory, (b) or else some one or another white devil will follow the soul, hard at heel to it. Now, mark what that particular sin is that most haunts thy soul when thou art in religious duties and services; and it may be that is the very sin that God would have subdued by the rod."
(a) white devil – Martin Luther used this term to mean that the devil often deceives the world under the external appearance of goodness: “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2Co 11:14): Lectures on Galatians, Luther’s Works, Vol. 26: ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999), 41. In 1612, John Webster (c.1580-c.1625) wrote a play entitled The White Devil (1612), using a similar theme about people who are “pure” (white) on the outside but devils on the inside; Brooks seems to use it here for Christians discovering sins in themselves when they would do good.
(b)vainglory – unwarranted pride in one’s accomplishments or character.
Full Message Here:
www.chapellibrary.org
(I found the particular paragraph I posted to be convicting, and in fact a similar message was preached in church yesterday and emphasis on spiritual pride and vanity that needs cut off. Oft times things like this, those "white devils" beset a Christian whom has victory over the more obvious sins, and outward sins. these inner sins tend to be the bane of those maturing in the faith, but must be cut out as well, or else dealt with by the rod.)
"Observe what particular sin that is that doth most hinder thee in holy duties and services, and that doth most interrupt thee in thy communion with God. Inquire what particular sin that is that thy heart is most apt to run after when thou art on the mount of holy duties (Eze 33:31). Whilst the disciples were healing diseases and casting devils out of other men’s bodies, the proud white devil (a) was stirring in their own souls, as is evident by that gentle rebuke that our Savior gives them: “In this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luk 10:20). There is no duty that a Christian performs but one white devil or another, one lust or another, will be still dogging and following of him to that duty. There is no public duty, there is no family duty, there is no private duty that a Christian performs, but either that white devil pride, or that white devil hypocrisy, or that white devil vainglory, (b) or else some one or another white devil will follow the soul, hard at heel to it. Now, mark what that particular sin is that most haunts thy soul when thou art in religious duties and services; and it may be that is the very sin that God would have subdued by the rod."
(a) white devil – Martin Luther used this term to mean that the devil often deceives the world under the external appearance of goodness: “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2Co 11:14): Lectures on Galatians, Luther’s Works, Vol. 26: ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999), 41. In 1612, John Webster (c.1580-c.1625) wrote a play entitled The White Devil (1612), using a similar theme about people who are “pure” (white) on the outside but devils on the inside; Brooks seems to use it here for Christians discovering sins in themselves when they would do good.
(b)vainglory – unwarranted pride in one’s accomplishments or character.
Full Message Here:
Chapel Library
(I found the particular paragraph I posted to be convicting, and in fact a similar message was preached in church yesterday and emphasis on spiritual pride and vanity that needs cut off. Oft times things like this, those "white devils" beset a Christian whom has victory over the more obvious sins, and outward sins. these inner sins tend to be the bane of those maturing in the faith, but must be cut out as well, or else dealt with by the rod.)
