Nibbling at Satan's golden baits!

(Thomas Brooks, "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices" 1652)

"That none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:13

Sin is of a very deceitful and bewitching nature.

Sin is from the greatest deceiver — it is the source of all the deceit in the world, and it is in its own nature exceeding deceitful. It will kiss the soul, and pretend good to the soul — and yet betray the soul forever!

It will with Delilah smile upon us, that it may betray us into the hands of the devil — as she betrayed Samson into the hands of the Philistines.

Tell the bewitched soul . . .
  that sin is a viper which will certainly kill it,
  that sin often kills secretly, insensibly, eternally;
yet the bewitched soul cannot, and will not, cease from sin!

That man is bewitched with sin — who had rather lose God, Christ, heaven, and his own soul — than part with his sin!

Sin promises the best — but pays with the worst.
Sin promises honor — and pays with disgrace.
Sin promises pleasure — and pays with pain.
Sin promises profit — and pays with loss.
Sin promises life — and pays with death!

A little hole in the ship — will sink it.
A little stab at the heart — will kill a man.
A little sin, without a great deal of mercy — will damn a man!

Oh, therefore, forever take heed of playing with, or nibbling at Satan's golden baits!