by Richard Gilpin
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Richard Gilpin’s Daemonologia Sacra: A Treatise of Satan’s Temptation is a masterful work of Puritan theology that systematically explores the strategies and devices of Satan in his attempts to ensnare and destroy souls. Written in 1677, this treatise is not merely an academic examination but a deeply pastoral and experiential guide aimed at equipping believers to withstand the wiles of the devil. Drawing from Scripture, historical accounts, and the wisdom of Reformed divines, Gilpin meticulously unveils the malice, cunning, and relentless pursuit of the adversary, offering both an exposition of Satan’s stratagems and practical remedies to resist them.
One of the book’s great strengths is its robust theological foundation. Gilpin presents a thoroughly biblical doctrine of Satan, neither underestimating his power nor granting him undue sovereignty. The Puritan view of spiritual warfare is clearly articulated: while Satan has been defeated by Christ, he remains a formidable enemy, actively seeking to undermine the faith and obedience of God’s people. Gilpin exposes the intricate methods of temptation, tracing how sin is conceived in the heart and demonstrating the subtleties of the devil’s deception. His analysis of how Satan seeks to hinder spiritual duties, corrupt affections, and instill despair is particularly insightful, offering a much-needed corrective to modern superficial treatments of spiritual warfare.
What makes Daemonologia Sacra compelling is its pastoral concern. Gilpin does not write as a detached observer but as a shepherd burdened for the welfare of the flock. His exhortations to vigilance, prayer, and the diligent use of the means of grace are deeply convicting and practical. He urges believers to take the enemy seriously without falling into fear or superstition, always anchoring his counsel in the sovereign power of Christ, who has triumphed over the devil. This balance makes the work both a sobering warning and a source of great encouragement.
Readers who appreciate the works of Thomas Brooks (Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices) or William Gurnall (The Christian in Complete Armour) will find Daemonologia Sacra to be a rich and edifying addition to their library. Gilpin’s depth of insight, combined with his pastoral warmth, ensures that this book remains as relevant today as it was in the seventeenth century. In an era where spiritual warfare is often trivialized or misunderstood, this classic Puritan work provides a much-needed return to biblical clarity and depth.
About the Author:
Richard Gilpin (1625–1700) was an English Puritan minister and physician, deeply concerned with the spiritual health of believers. His writings reflect the rich theological heritage of Reformed orthodoxy, particularly in the areas of practical godliness and the believer’s battle against sin and temptation. Daemonologia Sacra remains his most well-known work, offering timeless wisdom for those engaged in the spiritual fight of faith.
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Table of Contents
TO THE READER
PART I. - Containing a discourse of the malice, power, cruelty and diligence of Satan.
CHAPTER I. - Introduction
CHAPTER II. - Of the Malice of Satan in particular.
CHAPTER III. - Of Satan's Power.
CHAPTER IV. - Of Satan's Knowledge Natural, Experimental, and Accessory.
CHAPTER V. - Instances of Satan's Power.
CHAPTER VI. - Of Satan's Cruelty.
CHAPTER VII. - Of Satan's Diligence in several Instances.
CHAPTER VIII. - Of Satan's Cunning and Craft in the general.
CHAPTER IX. - Of Satan's Deceits in particular.
CHAPTER X. - That Satan enticeth by our Lust.
CHAPTER XI. - That Lust darkens the Mind.
CHAPTER XII. - Of Satan's perverting our Reason.
CHAPTER XIII. - Of Satan's diverting our Reason
CHAPTER XIV. - Of Satan's maintaining his Possession
CHAPTER XV. - Of Satan's keeping all in quiet
CHAPTER XVI. - Of Satan's third grand Policy for maintaining his Possession
CHAPTER XVII. - Satan's Deceits against Religious Services and Duties.
CHAPTER XVIII. - Satan's second grand design against Duties, is to spoil them.
PART II: - Containing the manifold subtilties and stratagems of Satan
CHAPTER I. - That it is Satan's grand Design to corrupt the Minds of Men with Error.
CHAPTER II. Of the Advantages which Satan hath, and useth, for the Introduction of Error
CHAPTER III. - Of Satan's improving these Advantages for Error.
CHAPTER IV. - Of Satan's second way of improving his Advantages
CHAPTER V. - Satan's Attempts against the Peace of God's Children
CHAPTER VI. - Of the various Ways by which he hinders Peace.
CHAPTER VII. - Of the second way to hinder Peace.
CHAPTER VIII. - Of Satan's third way to hinder Peace by Spiritual Sadness.
CHAPTER IX. - Of his fourth way to hinder Peace, by Spiritual Distresses.
PART III: - Containing an account of the combat betwixt Christ and Satan
CHAPTER I. - The First circumstance of the Combat. The time when it happened.
CHAPTER II. - The second Circumstance, Christ's being led by the Spirit.
CHAPTER III. - The Third Circumstance, the place of the Combat.
CHAPTER IV. - The Fourth Circumstance, The end wherefore Christ was led to the Wilderness
CHAPTER V. - Of Christ's Fast, with the Design thereof.
CHAPTER VI. - That Christ's Temptations were real and not in Vision
CHAPTER VII. - The general view of these Temptations.
CHAPTER VIII. - The rise of Christ's first Temptation.
CHAPTER IX. - A particular consideration of the matter of the first Temptation
CHAPTER X. Of Satan's chief end in this Temptation
CHAPTER XI. - Of the Temptation to distrust upon the failure of Ordinary Means.
CHAPTER XII. - Of Satan's proceeding to infer Distrust of Sonship from Distrust of Providences
CHAPTER XIII. - The preparation to the second Temptation.
CHAPTER XIV. - That presumption was the chief design of this Temptation.
CHAPTER XV. - Self-Murder another of his Designs in this Temptation.
CHAPTER XVI. - Of Pride, Satan's chief Engine to bring on Presumption
CHAPTER XVII. - Of Satan's subtlety in urging that of Psal. 91. 11, 12. to Christ.
CHAPTER XVIII. - The manner of Satan's showing the Kingdoms of the World
CHAPTER XIX. - Satan's ends in tempting Christ to fall down and worship him.
CHAPTER XX. - The Nature of Idolatry.
CHAPTER XXI. - Of Worldly Pleasure.
CHAPTER XXII. Of Christ's Answer in the general.
CHAPTER XXIII. - The second Direction, that Temptations are not to be disputed.
CHAPTER XXIV. - The third Direction of repelling a Temptation without delay
CHAPTER XXV. - The fourth Direction. Of repelling a Temptation by Scripture Arguments.
CHAPTER XXVI. - The fifth Direction of Prayer