The First Help.
If you would not be taken by any of Satan's devices, then walk by rule. He that walks by rule, walks most safely: he that walks by rule, walks most honourably: he that walks by rule, walks most sweetly. When men throw off the Word, then God throws off them, and then Satan takes them by the hand, and leads them into snares at his pleasure. He that thinks himself too good to be ruled by the Word, will be found too bad to be owned by God. Them that keep to the rule, they shall be kept in the hour of temptation. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the whole earth." (Revelation chapter 3 verse 10).
The Second Help.
As you would not be taken with any of Satan's devices, take heed of vexing and grieving of the Holy Spirit of God. It is the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ that is best able to discover Satan's snares against us. It is only He that can point out all his plots, and discover all his methods, and enable men to escape those pits that he hath digged for their precious souls. Ah! If you set that sweet and blessed Spirit a-mourning (who alone can secure you from Satan's depths) by whom will you be secured? Man is a weak creature, and in no way able to discover Satan's snares, nor avoid them, unless the Spirit of the Lord gives skill and power. Therefore, whoever be grieved, be sure the Spirit is not grieved. It is only the Spirit that makes a man too great for Satan to conquer. "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world". (1st John chapter 4 verse 4).
The Third Help.
If you would not be taken with any of Satan's devices, then labour for more heavenly wisdom. There are many knowing souls, but there are but a few wise souls. There is oftentimes a great deal of knowledge, but there is but a little wisdom to improve that knowledge. Knowledge without wisdom is like mettle in a blind horse, which often is an occasion of the rider's fall, and of his bones being jostled against the walls. It is not the most knowing Christian, but the most wise Christian that sees, avoids, and escapes Satan's snares. Ah, souls you had need of a great deal of heavenly wisdom to see how and where Satan lays his baits and snares; wisdom to find out proper remedies against his devices, and wisdom to apply those remedies seasonably, inwardly, and effectually to your own hearts.
The Fourth Help.
If you would not be taken with any of Satan's devices, then make present resistance against Satan's first motions. It is safe to resist, it is dangerous to dispute. Eve disputes, and falls in paradise; Job resists, and conquers upon a dunghill. He that will play with Satan's bait, will quickly be taken with Satan's hook. The promise of conquest is made over to resisting, not to disputing. "Resist the devil, and he will fly from you" (James chapter 4 verse 7). Ah, souls! Were you better at resisting than at disputing, your temptations would be fewer, and your strength to stand would be greater than now it is.
The Fifth Help.
If you would not be taken with any of Satan's devices, then labour to be filled with the Spirit. The Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of light and power; and what can a soul do without light and power "against spiritual wickedness in high places"? It is not enough that you have the Spirit, but you must be filled with the Spirit, or else Satan, that evil spirit, will be too hard for you, and his plots will prosper against you. He that thinks he has enough of the Holy Spirit will quickly find himself vanquished by the evil spirit. Therefore, labour more to have your hearts filled with the Spirit than to have your heads filled with notions you shops with wares, your chests with silver, or your bags with gold; so shall you escape the snares of the fowler, and triumph over all this plots.