Thomas Brooks, seventeenth century Puritan preacher, wrote much during his time on earth. One of these is his book: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices. According to Ligonier, Brooks said, among other reasons, he wrote it because:

Satan has a greater influence upon men, and higher advantages over them than they think he has, and the knowledge of his high advantage is the highway to disappoint him, and to render the soul strong in resisting, and happy in conquering.

We Stand United is a brief excerpt from his larger work.

In We Stand United, Brooks discusses twelve remedies for the ways in which the adversary divides Christ’s body, that is, you and me. He bases this portion on the scripture:

If you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Galatians 5:15 English Standard Version (ESV)

And motivates his readers with the statement that one device by which Satan destroys the Saints is:

By working them first to be [strangers,] and then to divide, and then to be bitter and jealous, and then ‘to bite and devour one another.’

The remedies listed are:

1. Dwell more upon one another’s graces than upon one another’s weaknesses and infirmities.
2. Consider that love and union make most for your own safety and security.
3. Dwell upon those commands of God that do require you to love one another.
4. Dwell more upon these choice and sweet things wherein you agree, than upon those things wherein you differ.
5. Consider that God delights to be styled Deus pacis, the God of peace; and Christ to be styled Princeps pacis, the Prince of peace, and King of Salem, that is King of peace; and the Spirit is the Spirit of peace. ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace’ (Gal. 5:22).
6. Make more care and conscience of keeping up our peace with God.
7. Dwell much upon that near relation and union that is between you.
8. Dwell upon the miseries of discord.
9. Consider that it is no disparagement to you to be first in seeking peace and reconcilement, but rather an honor to you, that you have begun to seek peace.
10. Join together and walk together in the ways of grace and holiness so far as the saints do agree, making the Word their only touchstone and judge of their actions.
11. Be much in self-judging: ‘Judge yourselves, and you shall not be judged of the Lord’ (1 Cor. 11:31).
12. And this, above all, labor to be clothed with humility.

Please take the opportunity to read Brook’s pamphlet. His exposition is very encouraging.