("The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod" or,
"The Silent Soul with Sovereign Antidotes" by Thomas Brooks, 1659, London.)
great enemy, the devil. He prowls
around like a roaring lion, looking
for someone to devour!" 1 Peter 5:8
The devil is . . .
not a lamb--but a lion;
not a sleeping lion--but a roaring lion;
not a lion standing still--
but a lion prowling around to devour!
He is not satisfied with the prey
he has already gotten, but
is restless in his designs
to fill Hell with damned souls.
He never lacks . . .
an apple for an Eve,
an apple for an Eve,
nor a grape for a Noah,
nor a change of clothing for a Gehazi,
nor a wedge of gold for an Achan,
nor a crown for an Absalom,
nor a bag of silver for a Judas,
nor a world for a Demas!
If you look into . . .
one company--you shall
find satan a-dishing out
his dainties to every palate.
another company--
you shall find him fitting
a lace to every shoe.
a third company--
you shall find him suiting
a garment to every back.
Here, with Jael, he allures
poor souls in with milk--
and murders them with a nail!
There, with Joab, he embraces
with one hand--and stabs with another!
Here with Judas, he kisses--and betrays!
And there, with the whore of Babylon,
he presents a golden cup--
with poison in it!
enemy, the devil. He prowls around
like a roaring lion, looking for someone
to devour!" 1 Peter 5:8
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GraceGems has published Timothy Shay Arthur's short story,
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