PRASD, Part 1--Device 4

Device 4--Satan will present to your mind and heart the sins of the great saints, but hiding from you their sorrow and repentance.

He will show you David's adultery, but hide his loss. He will show you Peter's blasphemy, but hide his secret anguish.

Remedy 1

Remember how the Scriptures record not just the fallings of the saints, but also their rising out of sin into repentance.

David's repentance is whole-hearted, as is Job's, Peter's, etc.

Remedy 2

Remember that these saints fell on singular occasions, not as a habit or trade.

Satan will present these things to you so that you can walk in sin with a free conscience, but remember that the incidents recorded in the Scriptures were not habitual.

Remedy 3

Remember that though God did not disinherit these men for their sins (nor will he ever disinherit his people), yet he did often greatly punish his people for their sins.

David lost his first-born by Bathsheeba. Moses was barred from the Promised Land. Etc. As Brooks says, "O my soul! if thou sinnest with David, thou must suffer with David."

Remedy 4

Remember that there are two purposes for the recording of these sins. The first is to encourage men when they feel they weight of their sin to come to Christ. The second is to warn those that think they are standing firm, that they take heed, lest they fall.

To use these Scriptures for any other reason is to misuse Scripture. Do you think the Holy Spirit recorded these men's sins so that future generations would be encouraged to sin by reading of them?