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diff --git a/43205-8.txt b/43205-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 106e672..0000000 --- a/43205-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4399 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Is the Devil a Myth?, by C. F. Wimberly - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Is the Devil a Myth? - -Author: C. F. Wimberly - -Release Date: July 12, 2013 [EBook #43205] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IS THE DEVIL A MYTH? *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - - - - Is the Devil a Myth? - - - By C. F. WIMBERLY - _Author of "The Vulture's Claw," "New Clothes for - the Old Man," "The Cry in the Night," "The - Winepress," "The Lost Legacy," Etc., Etc._ - - - NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO - Fleming H. Revell Company - LONDON AND EDINBURGH - - - - - Copyright, 1913, by - FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY - - New York: 158 Fifth Avenue - Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave. - London: 21 Paternoster Square - Edinburgh: 75 Princes Street - - - - - _With the fondest recollections and - appreciation of one, "in age and - feebleness extreme," who taught me - the first lessons about the Being of - these studies; one who contributed - her all to the rearing of noble ideals, - MARTHA M. WIMBERLY, - My Mother, - this book is lovingly dedicated by - the Author_ - - - - -Preface - - -It is the writer's firm conviction, in these days when the most -enthusiastic "bookworm" cannot even keep up with the titles of the book -output, that an earnest, sensible reason should be given for adding -another to the already endless list of books. We have enough books to-day, -"good, bad, indifferent," with which, if they were collected, to build -another Cyclops pyramid. The sage of the Old Testament declared in his -day, concerning the endless making of books; such a statement, compared -with modern writing and publishing of books, sounds amusing. - -Every possible subject, vagary, or ism, for which a book could be written, -is overworked. Bible themes of all grades, from orthodoxy to ultra higher -criticism, have flooded the land. Especially is the iconoclast in much -evidence; he is free lance, and shows no quarters. Cardinal tenets of -Bible faith, so long unquestioned, are being smitten with a merciless -hand. Disintegration is the most obvious fact among us; nothing is too -sacred for the crucible of what is termed "scholarship." - -But why this book? Let us take a little survey. Over against the modern -idea, that the race is endowed with all the inherent elements of goodness -necessary to its regeneration, there is a correspondent belief that _evil_ -is only an error. When the race by social and mental evolution succeeds -in eliminating all the superstitions and false dogmas, the body politic -will be self-curative, like the physical body, restoring itself by means -of inspiration, respiration, exercise, sleep, food, etc., once the causes -of disease are eliminated from the system. - -For several decades we have been approaching the doctrine which denies all -Personalism--either good or bad. When we repudiate the Bible teaching, -that the source of all evil emanates from a great Personality, the Bible -teaching of the Incarnation suffers in the same proportion. - -The title of this book is a question, and one by no means strained, if -considered from the view-point of modern thought. We have undertaken an -answer. If by reason and revelation we can arrive at a satisfactory -conclusion, the gain thereby cannot be overestimated. If the personality -of Satan can be successfully consigned to the religious junk pile, our -Bible is at once thrown into a jumble of contradictions and -inconsistencies. The result will be even worse than our enemies claim for -it now. One of the late recognized writers on the Old Testament says: "The -Old Testament is no longer considered valuable among scholars as a sacred -oracle, but it is valuable in that it is the history of a people." _If the -Devil is a Myth, our Bible can be nothing better than historical chaos._ - -In the preparation of these pages, we wish to acknowledge with deep -gratitude the assistance of Mr. S. D. Gordon, author of "Quiet Talks"; Dr. -I. M. Haldeman, author and preacher; Dr. Gross Alexander, editor, author, -and preacher; Dr. W. B. Godbey, an author of great learning and extensive -travel; Dr. B. Carradine, evangelist and author; Dr. H. C. Morrison, -college president, editor, author, and evangelist; Prof. L. T. Townsend, -and Hon. Philip Mauro. - -If the reading of this book shall bring to any struggling soul helpful -information concerning our common Enemy, we shall be doubly repaid for the -labour of its preparation. We send it forth saturated with prayer. - -C. F. W. - -_Madisonville, Ky._ - - - - -Contents - - - I. THE PROBLEM OF EVIL 11 - - II. THE ORIGIN OF EVIL 16 - - III. LUCIFER 20 - - IV. DEVIL--SATAN--SERPENT--DRAGON 24 - - V. DIABOLUS--DEMONIA--ABADDON-APOLLYON 28 - - VI. THE DEVIL A "BLOCKADE" 31 - - VII. THE GREAT MAGICIAN 34 - - VIII. THE ROARING LION 37 - - IX. AN ANGEL OF LIGHT 41 - - X. THE SOWER OF TARES 46 - - XI. THE ARCH SLANDERER 50 - - XII. THE DOUBLE ACCUSER 54 - - XIII. SATAN A SPY 58 - - XIV. THE QUACK DOCTOR 62 - - XV. THE DEVIL A THEOLOGIAN 66 - - XVI. THE DEVIL A THEOLOGIAN (_Continued_) 71 - - XVII. THE DEVIL'S RIGHTEOUSNESS 75 - - XVIII. THE WORLD'S TEMPTER 80 - - XIX. THE CONFIDENCE MAN 84 - - XX. THE TRAPPER 89 - - XXI. THE INCOMPARABLE ARCHER 93 - - XXII. THE FATHER OF LIARS 96 - - XXIII. THE KINGSHIP OF SATAN 100 - - XXIV. THE DEVIL'S HANDMAIDEN 105 - - XXV. THE ASTUTE AUTHOR 110 - - XXVI. THE HYPNOTIST 114 - - XXVII. DEVIL POSSESSION 119 - - XXVIII. DEVIL OPPRESSION 124 - - XXIX. DEVIL ABDUCTION 129 - - XXX. THE RATIONALE OF SUICIDE 134 - - XXXI. DEVIL WORSHIP 138 - - XXXII. VICTORY THROUGH THE VICTOR 143 - - XXXIII. THE ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT 148 - - XXXIV. THE FINAL CONSUMMATION 152 - - XXXV. SATANIC SYMBOL IN NATURE 156 - - - - -I - -THE PROBLEM OF EVIL - - "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and - that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil - continually."--_Genesis vi. 5._ - - -That we may appreciate this discussion, removed as far as possible from -theological terminology and theories, and get a concrete view-point, the -following head-lines from a single issue of a metropolitan daily will -suffice: "War Clouds Hanging Low;" "Men Higher Up Involved;" "Eighty-seven -Divorces On Docket;" "Blood Flows In the Streets;" "Gaunt Hunger Among -Strikers;" "Arrested For Forgery;" "A White Slave Victim;" "Attempted -Train Robbery;" "Kills Wife and Ends Own Life;" "Two Men Bite Dust;" -"Investigate Bribery." - -This fearful list may be duplicated almost every day in the year. Our land -is deluged with crime, without respect to person or place; its blight -touches all circles from the slum to the four hundred. Wealth and poverty, -culture and ignorance, fame and obscurity, suffer alike from this Pandora -Box scourge. The march of history--the pilgrimage of the race, has enjoyed -but little respite from tears and blood. Those who strive to maintain a -standard of purity, righteousness, and honour, are beset by strange, -powerful, intangible influences, from the cradle to the grave. The child -in swaddling clothes has a predisposition to willfullness, deception, and -disobedience; paroxysms of passion and anger are manifested with the -slightest provocation. - -Notwithstanding the barriers thrown up by the home and society; the -incentives and assurances for noble, industrious living, the dykes are -continually giving way, so that police power and the frowning walls of -penal institutions are insufficient to check the overflow. The Church of -God, with its open Book, ringing out messages of life and hope at every -corner; the object lessons on the "wages of sin," sweeping in full view -before us, like the reel-film of a motion picture--do not seem to lessen -the harvest of moral shipwreck. - -According to some recent police records and statistics, only about -one-half of the country's criminals are apprehended; if this is true of -those who violate the law, a much smaller per cent. of those who break the -perfect moral law, as related to domestic and religious life, are ever -exposed. When these facts are considered, the perspective for the reign of -righteousness is lurid and hopeless. The country has been amazed, -recently, at the revelations of how municipal and national treasuries are -being looted by extortion, extravagance, and misrule, on the part of men -holding positions as a sacred trust. Civilization fosters and maintains a -traffic which has not one redeeming feature; besides killing directly and -indirectly more men daily than were blown up in the battle-ship _Maine_. - -Let us view the problem of evil from another angle: a writer on the -subject of food supplies says the earth each year furnishes an abundant -quantity of fruits, meats, cereals, and vegetables to feed all her -peoples; yet gaunt famine is never entirely removed. Even in America a -surprising per cent. of our people are underfed and underclothed. "Fifty -thousand go to bed hungry every night in New York City," declares a -professor of economics. The same ratio obtains in other large cities of -our land. Scenes of pinching poverty occur within a few blocks of the most -wanton luxury and extravagance. One lady spends fifty thousand -dollars--enough to satisfy all the hungry--on one evening's entertainment. -Oranges rot on the Pacific coast by car-loads, when the children of the -Ghetto scarcely taste them. - -Nature fills her storehouses, and tries to scatter with a prodigal hand, -but her resources are cornered and controlled by a criminal system which -revolves around the "almighty dollar"--the root of all evil. - -Are we to conclude that man's free agency is responsible for this moral -monstrosity? Or, to be theologically particular, shall we say, free agency -dominated by an innate disposition to evil: human depravity, original sin, -the carnal mind? Allowing the fullest latitude to the free moral agency of -the race; allowing the evil nature, like the foul soil producing a -continuous crop of vile weeds, to produce an inexorable bent, or -predisposition to sin, operating on man's free agency--have we a full and -sufficient explanation of the presence and power of Evil? - -The carnal mind is enmity with God, not subject to His laws; but the -carnal mind is in competition with a _human_ nature, wherein are found -emotions and sentiments that are far from being all sinful: sympathy, -tenderness, benevolence, paternal and filial love, sex-love, and honesty. -Again, we rarely find environment as an unmixed evil. Notwithstanding -these hindrances the press almost daily has details and delineations of -crimes so fearful and shocking that no trace of the human appears. -Frequently we hear of a man, who has committed some dreadful outrage, -personified as "beast," "fiend," "inhuman," etc. A young man in his teens, -wishing to marry, but being under age and without sufficient means, -decided that if he could dispose of his father, mother, brother, and -sister--the farm and property would all be his, then, unmolested, could -consummate his matrimonial plans. Whereupon, armed with an axe, at the -midnight hour, he executes his "fiendish" plot. Another man, with a young -and beautiful wife, and the father of two bright children, becomes -infatuated with a young woman in a distant state; he woos and wins her -affections; he returns home to arrange "some business matters" on the day -preceding the wedding. This business matter was to dispose of his wife and -children, which he did; on the following night, led to the marriage altar -an innocent, unsuspecting girl. A young minister commits double murder, -and on the following day enters his pulpit and preaches from the text: -"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable -in Thy sight, O Lord." - -These cases are actual occurrences, mentioned for emphasis only, that the -problem of evil may be studied from life. These examples prove -conclusively that the problem goes deeper than human depravity or free -agency; both are accessories--conditions, binding cords, as it were, but -the jarring stroke comes from a mightier hand. - -The unregenerated heart has been called a "playground," and a "coaling -station" for the headmaster of all villainies. It was more than wounded -pride and vanity that propagated the scheme of Haman, whereby a whole -nation was to be destroyed at a single stroke. Vengeance and hate are -terrible passions, but only as they are fanned by the breath of an -inhabitant of the Inferno can they go to such extremes. It was more than a -desire to crush out heresy that could instigate a "St. Bartholomew's Day," -then sing the Te Deum after the bloody deed was accomplished. - -We shall endeavour in the subsequent pages to throw a few rays of light, -in obscure corners, on the problem of evil through its multiform phases -and ramifications. - - - - -II - -THE ORIGIN OF EVIL - - "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the - Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out - into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."--_Revelation - xii. 9._ - - -It requires but a casual survey of this problem to reach a conclusion that -its hideousness cannot be explained by any other hypothesis than the power -of an invisible Personality. When we scrutinize the footprints of the -race, it will be found that progress has been along a dark, slimy trail; -the infidels and philosophers who are loud in their boastings of inherent -goodness will have difficulty in reconciling this fact. All who think are -confronted with an ever-recurring question--yea, exclamations: why do such -things happen? What meaneth these barbarities, ravages, cruelties? Why so -much domestic discord, ending in ruin--so many suicides? Why do men and -women hurl themselves over the precipice of vice and deadly -indulgences--when even a novice might easily see the inevitable? - -For a parallel we are reminded of an incident in war: log-chains were used -when the cannon-ball supply was exhausted; lanes the width of the chain -length were mowed through the ranks of the opposing army. These chasms of -death were closed up each time, only to be cut down again by the next -discharge. The pathway of ruin is thronged--the "broad road" is easy; -however, there is something stranger than this utter blindness: the -victims laugh and shout on this highway, paved as it is by the macadam of -crushed humanity. - -Now, can there be found a rationale for this dreadful twist in human -affairs--this seeming unfathomable conundrum? We cannot believe that God -would create a "footstool" in which sin, suffering, and misery were to -abound; no such provision could have been in the divine plan. In the Word -of God alone we find the explanation of it all. The Word gives an -unmistakable account of an insurrection in heaven: "Michael and his angels -fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, and -prevailed not." This strange warfare was inaugurated by the great -archangelic leader. - -This "war in heaven" could have but one ending: the complete overthrow of -the disturber and his followers. They were cast out, and are, beyond a -doubt, swarming around this sin-blinded planet--invisible, yet personal -and all but omnipresent. When we remember that one-third of the angelic -population of heaven cast their lot with this chieftain, his strength and -personality can be somewhat understood. It is written: "The tail -(influence) of the dragon drew the third part of the stars (angels) of -heaven, and cast them down to the earth." In their relation to heaven, the -dragon and his angels met with irremediable ruin; now, defeated, -humiliated, maddened, doomed, this fallen archangel and his innumerable -myrmidons are filling the whole earth with every curse that can be -conjured up by their superior, supernatural intelligence. There can be no -room to doubt the truth of this hellish propaganda, as he is called the -"god of this world." - -It must be kept clearly in mind that the powers of darkness can, in no -sense, mean an ethereal, impersonal spirit of evil--or perverseness of -weak human nature; but rather a Being who rules and commands legions upon -legions of subjects--_demons_, each of them endowed with all the powers -and gifts possessed when they were ministering emissaries of God. They are -now "the angels which kept not their first estate." - -We have no way to estimate the size of this satanic army, marshalled for -the destruction of the race and the overthrow of Christ's kingdom. -However, we read in the tenth chapter of Revelation that two hundred -million were turned loose in the earth at one time. Ten thousand were in -the country of the Gadarenes when the Master entered there; no wonder the -entire land was kept in terror, even though their incarnation seemed to -have been limited to one man living in a graveyard. Seven demons were cast -out of one woman. - -We should keep in mind the distinction between "the devil" and demons; -there is but one _Devil_, but the demons are swarming the length and -breadth of the whole earth. Just as God directs His angels in ministeries -of righteousness, so this god of darkness directs his angels to do his -nefarious will. There are feats so daring and important that the Devil, it -seems, will not trust to his underlings. He engineered in person the -temptations of the Master; he entered the heart of Judas, and caused him -to sell his Lord, then commit suicide. - -The Bible undoubtedly teaches that Satan and his cohorts, having access to -our fallen natures (which became so through his contribution of "forbidden -fruit"--his great triumph in the Garden), are inciting this world to all -the crimes known to our criminal dockets. Think of the train wreckers, -rapists, incendiaries, white slavers, riots, strikes, grafters, gamblers, -etc.; and as Paul has catalogued them: "unrighteousness, fornication, -wickedness, maliciousness, envy, deceit, malignity, whisperers, -backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil -things, disobedient to parents, covenant breakers, without natural -affection, implacable, unmerciful." - -No one can consider this long, gruesome list of iniquities without a -feeling that they originated, somehow, in the realm of supernatural -darkness. The worst things that can be said of fallen humanity is its -availability and susceptibility to the machinations of this past master of -the Pit, whose only ambition is to rob the blood of its purchase -possessions by wrecking the souls for whom Christ died. Our sinful nature -responds to his touch; the wonderful gamut of the soul is capable of being -swept its entire length by his skill. A master player on God's greatest -instrument--His masterpiece. All the fearful deeds committed seem to be -acts of volition, and they are; but in the dark background lurks another -superior will responsible for the initiative. - - - - -III - -LUCIFER - - "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How - art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the - nations!"--_Isaiah xiv. 12._ - - "And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, - burning as it were a lamp."--_Revelation viii. 10._ - - "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto - the earth; and to him was given the key of the bottomless - pit."--_Revelation ix. 1._ - - -It is reasonable to believe that all intelligent beings are morally free; -and if free, are on probation. Intelligence, will-power, free agency, and -probation are logically inseparable, regardless of place or environment. -Without question, in the natural world this is true, and therefore must be -true in the spiritual world. That men, angels, archangels, and redeemed -spirits never attain a state of character beyond the possibility of free -choice is a most fearful responsibility. - -But for the imperialism of intelligent will, the _fall of angels_ is -unreasonable, improbable, impossible. Just how temptation can assail the -inhabitants of heaven--the land, we are told, "where the wicked cease from -troubling and the weary are at rest"--is beyond all human comprehension. -Startling as this truth appears to be, the Bible teaches it in -unmistakable language. - -"Lucifer, son of the morning," an archangel, a great being, created in -holiness, standing near the Throne of God. His name means "light bearer," -indicative of his glorious office. We can scarcely imagine such honour, -such power, such distinction. Just what the high-calling of "light bearer" -was, as it was performed under the highest commission in the universe, the -Book fails to tell us; but the office of Lucifer was surely the peer of -Michael or Gabriel, if not above them in rank. Brilliancy and splendour -radiated from his person. - -May we dare, not altogether by the imagination, to venture into that -remote, prehistoric time when the Second Person of the Trinity--the -Anointed One--the Logos, a being of perfection, made in the image of the -invisible God, became a Manifestation. That One of whom "the whole family -in heaven and earth is named"; sharing the glory and honour equally with -the Father, on a throne in the heavenlies. Milton and others believe that -the presence of this Manifestation aroused in Lucifer a consuming spirit -of ambition and envy; he at once aspired to the place and power which God -reserved for His only begotten Son. - -We get still another side-light on the personality of Lucifer, when we -consider his gigantic scheme. Aaron Burr planned the overthrow of his -country, and dreamed of rulership; such a vision were impossible in the -mind of any but a master of assemblies--an empire builder. Lucifer saw -himself a ruler above that of a Creator, as "all things were made by Him." -No wonder the inspired exclamation concerning him: "How art thou fallen, -O Lucifer." When the climax of his overthrow came, he "fell like lightning -out of heaven." The honourable cognomen is now lost forever; the glory of -holiness has given place to the dishonour of despair. In the language of -the poet, he "preferred to rule in hell rather than serve in heaven." This -light bearer of Paradise is still a prince, but in the dark regions of -endless woe; "ruler of the darkness of this world." - -This archangel who felt himself capable of heavenly authority finds an -easier task here below. Speaking to the Master, hear his presumption and -audacity, "all these things (the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of -them) will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." What was -the condition named? The restoration of what he had lost: that the Son of -God pay him homage and obeisance. Baffled in this crowning stroke, he -slunk away only to study the vantage more discreetly, reinforce, and -reassert. - -Let us keep in mind that intelligence and personality are not affected by -the status of character; magnetic power and influence over others are not -lost when the life is wholly given over to evil. Piety and holiness may be -displaced by treachery and hate, but the force of personality remains. If -any change takes place, the individual becomes more subtle and more -insidious in schemes to further selfish interests. If a righteous man, -endowed with unusual powers, fall into a life of sin, he carries over into -his wickedness all his former gifts and faculties--nothing is lost. - -This proposition enables us to further appreciate the marvellous -capabilities of the fallen Lucifer. Besides the Trinity, there are none -superior in the universe. God allows His enemies, both men and devils, to -continue a proprietary control of their talents, whether they be one or -ten. There will be no devestments until the last shifting of the scene. -When we remember all the attributes, previous advantages, and present -opportunities of the greatest of all apostates, the conundrum of human -actions, individually and nationally, begins slowly to unravel. The fight -is not alone with men in sin, but with the "prince of the powers of the -air." - -When Lucifer rebelled and met the just rebuke of God's wrath, all his -glory, power, and brilliancy became demonized. Then, through all the -millenniums there has been not one hour of relaxation; no armistice for -the invisible warfare. Just as saints grow in faith, vision, and divine -illumination, devils sink lower and lower; but at the same time develop in -skill and efficiency by a continual application of their debased energies. - -It is therefore reasonable to believe that our "common Enemy" is far more -formidable than the day he was cast into the earth. Our ability to -encounter him successfully becomes a more hopeless struggle with the -passing days. If, in the days of Paul, it were expedient to have on the -"whole armour of God" to meet him, nothing short of "all the fullness of -God" is the paramount need to-day. - - - - -IV - -DEVIL--SATAN--SERPENT--DRAGON - - "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against - the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; - neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon - was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which - deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his - angels were cast out with him."--_Revelation xii. 7-9._ - - -Names were significant in Bible times; they are given to-day at random, -but then names were indicative of character. When character changed, the -name changed: Jacob to Israel; Saul to Paul, etc. While the subject of -these pages remained the holy, shining light bearer of heaven, he was -Lucifer, but that name was lost to him forever. So varied were his -passions, characteristics, and powers that must be known by appropriate -names, and each, as given, designates some phase of his multiform -personality. - -_Devil._ Not only did Lucifer lose name and character; he exchanged a -brilliant, glorious external appearance (to eyes that penetrate the -invisible) for one ugly, loathsome, beastly. If language can be -interpreted literally, the eye of inspiration and revelation sees him a -_Devil--sair_ in the Hebrew, "hairy one," "he goat," etc. The he goat, in -the Bible, stands for all that is low and base. Those who partake of the -_sair_ nature, in the Last Day, are called _goats_. He divided the sheep -from the goats. God teaches us spiritual lessons in all nature, especially -by the animal kingdom, and as the goat is a synonym for the lowest -instincts of the animal; we find a being created in the highest realm of -spiritual life sinking to the lowest level of brute life. If no further -delineation were given--no other name than Devil--the fall was from one -extreme to the other. - -This cognomen carried further has a second meaning: _spoiler_, one whose -touch soils and besmirches, rearranges; bright spots are smeared with -black soot; flowers with sweet odour, after his blight passes over them, -send out a stench; hearts of purity are defiled and debauched; faces of -beauty become marred and ugly. Whenever and wherever it serves his -purpose, cosmos becomes chaos. He is a spoiler. - -_Satan._ In this familiar title we see him in the character rôle which -dominates all his actions. As Satan he is the _hater_. Of all the evil -passions of the soul, hate is the most terrible. As manifested in human -relationships, the hater is a murderer. Somehow hate seems to be a -resultant of wrath, malice, envy, jealousy, and revenge. Hatred in the -bosom of the weak or cowardly affects only its possessor; but hatred -burning in the soul of one who is strong and courageous, nothing belonging -to the object of his hatred is secure: life, personal property, or -reputation. - -We want carefully to note the full significance of hatred; then place -beside it the one who hates--yes, as no other being in all the universe -can hate. He is the father of haters; the tragedies of all kinds, filling -the world with terror, because of murders, bomb explosions, incendiaries, -poisonings, are but the scattered rays reflected and deflected from this -full orb of hate as he revolves in his sphere of darkness. - -Satan hates God, hates the Holy Ghost, but the full force of his hate, of -necessity, is directed towards the _Son_ of God, his rival for place and -power. The supreme work of the Son was the Atonement; now, the interest -and anxiety of heaven has been transferred to this planet. The supreme -triumph of the Second Person of the Trinity was accomplished on the Cross -where He paid the price of human redemption. His energies are now directed -to the breaking down of all that was accomplished on the Cross. Every -movement, every motive, every virtue, coming directly or indirectly from -the merits of the Atonement, become at once the object of satanic hatred. -Therefore every inch of territory conquered by the gospel propaganda was -and is a victory over his hateful protest. - -_Serpent._ At the very suggestion of this title our nature recoils. The -"nachash," and "zachal," mean "_fearful_"--"_creeper_," therefore a -fearful creeper. The snake is the most repulsive and dangerous of all -reptiles. There is a strange antipathy about a snake; his nature is so -still, so sneaking, so oily; the appearance of one produces an involuntary -shudder. Who has not felt the disgust at seeing men and -women--"charmers"--take a number of the sleek, slimy monsters from a cage, -and wind them around arms, neck, and body? The horror felt towards the -snake is not an accident; it was in the guise of a serpent the downfall of -the race was accomplished. - -Men and women who are subtle, smooth, deceitful, treacherous, secretive -are called "snakes in the grass." Their plans and movements are under -cover; they strike or sting from an hidden covert. The serpent is -synonymous with the hiss, the blazing eye, the forked tongue, the poison; -once it catches the eye of a bird the poor thing may wail and flutter, but -it is powerless to escape. The bird is drawn into the jaws of death by a -strange magnetism. - -This enemy of God and race is a serpent, slipping cautiously, noiselessly -through all the dark, tangled mysteries about us. No one can fathom or -interpret his cunning movements; we are stung, poisoned, charmed, fastened -in the slimy coils, and yet do not know it. We have most to fear from the -enemy who operates in the dark. This fallen archangel is never so -dangerous as when acting in the personification of a serpent. - -_Dragon._ In the Hebrew it is "tannoth," _howler_--_jackal_; making a -noise like the howling jackal in the wilderness. Again we are appalled at -this title. The dragon is represented as a monstrous animal having the -form of a serpent, with crested head, wings, and tremendous claws; -ferocious and dangerous. The Scriptures have appropriated this fabulous -monster--believed to have existed in days of mythology as the most dreaded -creature on land or sea--to enforce and emphasize the danger of him who -seeks our destruction. He is called the "great red dragon"--or fiery -dragon, howling like a vicious jackal. - -It was in this peculiar manifestation that he stood before the woman and -sought to destroy the Man Child as soon as He was born; then cast a flood -after her as she fled from his presence. The dragon incarnates himself, -and King Herod at once seeks to destroy the infant Jesus (Matt. ii.; Rev. -xii. 1-5). - - - - -V - -DIABOLUS--DEMONIA--ABADDON-APOLLYON - - "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye - cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his - angels."--_Matthew xxv. 41._ - - "And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless - pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek - tongue hath his name Apollyon."--_Revelation ix. 11._ - - -We now desire to analyze more minutely the Greek names Diabolus and -Demonia; reference was made to this distinction in a former chapter. In -the Authorized Version the two names are often translated or rather _used_ -interchangeably; devil for demon, and vice versa. We read of a "legion of -devils," "seven devils," "cast out devils," "possessed with devils," etc. -Technically--literally translated, these statements are incorrect. Demonia -should never read devil--but _demon_; diabolus always means, not a devil, -but _the Devil_. - -_Diabolus._ This name designates him more as to his ruling and authority -than to the elements of his character. We have noticed already the meaning -of Devil, but from the original word we get more explicit meaning as to -his rank of authority. As Lucifer we do not know his ruling rank, but in -his lost estate he ranks as Commander-in-chief. Whatever we may say of -him, the prefix, "arch," designating his angel rank, can be logically -attached: archspoiler--arch-deceiver--archaccuser--archslanderer, etc. - -However, if accurately defined, diabolus means -_Calumniator_--archcalumniator; a propagator of calumny. Acting in the -capacity of calumniator, he seeks out and defames the innocent. He sends -out a million rumours daily which would be, if tangible, cases for libel -in any court. - -_Demonia._ A demon--a fallen angel--evil spirit, an imp. Literally, a -_shade_--a dark spot, moving as noiselessly and rapidly as a shadow. The -many references in the New Testament to "devil," and "devils," should -always be _demons_; the great multitude, so often found in one place, come -from the innumerable concourse which constitute the "powers of darkness." -Shadow spirits, men and women who are controlled by these dark, shadowy -imps, "love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil." The -transformation, as we learned, which took place with Lucifer was just as -great and radical with his angel followers; the difference was only that -of degree of rank. - -_Abaddon-Apollyon._ We have coupled the Hebrew and Greek names together, -as each means exactly the same. We call the attention of the reader to the -variety of names, all of which are so nearly alike, but convey a -significant difference. Abaddon-Apollyon means _destroyer_. He has been -discussed as a "spoiler," but one who destroys carries the work farther -than the spoiler. As Abaddon or Apollyon he is the king of the abyss, or -"Bottomless Pit," and when he appears it is with purpose and equipment for -destruction. Just as God sent the "Destroying Angel" throughout Egypt, -bringing a curse upon Pharaoh for his hardness of heart, this mighty -messenger of the Abyss visits his destruction wherever and whenever he -finds, not the absence of the typical blood upon the door, but when he -finds it, or any evidence of allegiance to the One whose sacrificial blood -he seeks to destroy. - -As Abaddon-Apollyon he assumes the part of Finisher of his task; when we -see him a _destroyer_, we have a full-sized photograph--leaving out not a -single line of countenance, or a single character or attribute of his -composite nature. He may soil, spoil, deceive, traduce, accuse, slander, -wound, etc., but the ultimate aim is destruction. "When sin is finished it -bringeth forth death." We see how the two great Rivals stand over against -each other in their respective spheres: "For this cause the Son of God was -manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." With the same -degree of purpose, the Devil seeks to destroy the work of the Son of God. - -The Devil seeks to destroy truth, righteousness, virtue, religion, hope, -faith, visions of God, power of the Blood, thoughts of eternity and -heaven. Every beautiful, holy thing on earth he would destroy, leaving -behind only black, charred cinders where once were the flowers of Eden. -Just as he destroyed the earthly Paradise in the long ago, so he would -blot from our hopes and aspirations the Paradise of the soul. His ambition -and supreme joy would be to turn this world over to God blighted and -wrecked by his finishing touches, while hell echoed with triumphant -shouts--an infernal jubilee. Abaddon-Apollyon: archdestroyer. - - - - -VI - -THE DEVIL A "BLOCKADE" - - "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; - but Satan hindered us."--_1 Thessalonians ii. 18._ - - "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty - days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help - me."--_Daniel x. 13._ - - -We find another striking interpretation couched in the title of devil. The -Church in its organization is called _militant_, because it is engaged in -a moral and religious warfare. The writings of Paul bristle with military -terms, as two mighty armies are contending and contesting for dominion. -Each army is fighting under a leader; the surging campaign has changed its -base of operation--the battle-field has been transferred from heaven to -this planet. The rivalry between Christ and Satan has, many times, changed -_modus operandi_, but the spirit of the contest and the end--all for which -they contend--change not. - -The title-word of this chapter is not a Bible term; we appropriate and -accommodate it because of its military meaning. Strictly in keeping with -the use of terms, the "blockade" belongs to naval operations; but any -movement, reconnoitre, or countermarch, which interferes, hinders, or -hedges up the way of progress, is a blockade. A campaign ends in failure -because of obstructions thrown up, access to base of supplies cut off, -reinforcements thwarted in reaching the scene of activities, etc., convey -the idea set forth in the key Scriptures used giving emphasis to the -chapter heading. - -The Apostle Paul had all the advantages of equipment; his intellectual -attainments the very best; he was a recognized leader of men, a chosen -vessel of the Lord, and full of the Holy Ghost. No man besides the Master -was more able to withstand the opposition of the "prince of darkness." Yet -Satan actually prevents him from going to Thessalonica to comfort and -strengthen the struggling church at that place--literally hedges up the -way. - -A careful examination of the tenth chapter of Daniel gives us a -conversation between the prophet and a "voice,"--a "vision"--having an -appearance "like the similitude of the sons of men"; evidently an angel of -high rank, whose mission was to encourage Daniel, but he also acknowledges -that the "prince of Persia" hindered him from coming twenty days. This -mighty angel, it seems, was helpless trying to reach Daniel, until Michael -came upon the scene. It was Michael who led the triumphant battle against -him when he was overthrown in heaven. He alone was able to meet the -"prince of Persia," the _Devil_. - -We can, therefore, understand how successfully Satan can hinder--blockade -the progress of righteousness wherever he chooses to concentrate his -depraved energies. Volumes would be required to record the worthy -enterprises in the Church of God which went down in failure, yet with no -tangible explanation. Sudden reverses, turning the whole current of -affairs, are daily happenings; revival efforts to reach certain -communities, certain individuals, find insurmountable hindrances. It is -the work of the "blockade." - -Such occurrences are generally regarded as "unfortunate coincidents" -rather than a resultant of some deep-laid plans--invisible and impersonal. -A baby cries at a critical moment, a dog creates an uproar, the fire-bell -rings, the engine becomes disabled; landslides, swollen streams, sudden -illness, and many others similar, which are never credited to the proper -source or cause. The Bible concedes to Satan the dignity of being the god -of this world; therefore he must of necessity control, to some extent, the -physical phenomena, directing them to an advantage. We do not venture a -dogmatic position as to what extent the hindrances in the physical world -are due to his power; but the Bible most clearly teaches that he is an -obstructionist. - -There are hundreds of ways and places where moral and religious blockades -obtain. It would seem that in the blaze of the last century of -civilization war would be impossible. Why could not our Civil War have -been averted? In the retrospect, we can see how easily it might have been -settled without such horror and bloodshed. The Hague with its millions of -endowment is grinding away on international troubles, yet arbitration -fails more often than it succeeds. But war continues, and all efforts in -that direction generally meet a "stone wall of opposition." - -Must we conclude that all these lapses, coming in direct conflict with -human weal and happiness, are just "happen-sos"? Unthinkable! "Satan -hindered," declares the great apostle. "The prince of Persia withstood me -twenty and one days," says the angel. - - - - -VII - -THE GREAT MAGICIAN - - "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against - the wiles of the devil."--_Ephesians vi. 11._ - - "For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth - unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world."--_Revelation xvi. - 14._ - - -From the earliest records of history men have lived who seemed to possess -strange, occult powers. Magicians--performing miracles, setting aside, -apparently, well-known physical laws. Moses met the sorcerers and -magicians of Egypt in close competition. There are men to-day, on lecture -platforms, performing feats which are miracles; there seems to be no -visible explanation. - -"The hand is quicker than the eye," it is said; watches are pounded to -pieces before your eyes, the fragments crammed into a gun; the gun is -discharged, and the watch will be hanging on a hook, running as if nothing -had happened. We once saw a man sewed up in a tarpaulin, placed in a huge -trunk, and the trunk strapped securely. In less than five minutes the man -came out from an enclosure where the trunk was placed; not one buckle -loosened, and not one stitch in the tarpaulin broken. Cannonballs are -taken from hats; live ducks, rabbits, and a dozen tin vessels are drawn -from one hat in rapid succession. Cards are made to jump out of the deck -when called by name. One magician laid his assistant on a table, cut off -his head with a large knife, lifted the gory head by the hair and placed -it on another table; then carried on a conversation with the severed head -in the presence of the astonished audience. - -Every one knows these wonderful feats are done by some kind of magic, but -for all we can see they are done; the most astute observer cannot detect -the secret. The Apostle exhorts the believers to put on the whole armour -of God, to be able to stand (not to be swept away or captured) against the -wiles of the Devil. Then the Devil is a trickster--a sleight-of-hand -performer--a magician. One of his many methods to accomplish his purpose, -we find, is delusion: practicing sleights, tricks, and works of magic on -the gullibility of his victims. - -How many unsophisticated men and boys have been robbed in daylight on a -street corner by some little "game," or trick, by a sharper. Farms have -been deeded away for nothing in return. Now, if we were to catalogue all -the tricks of all the conjurers of all ages, we have in this evil -chieftain a consummation, an embodiment of them all; he is not only a -magician, but the chief of them. He incessantly seeks victims more -astutely than the crook seeks the ignorant with a purpose of robbery. -Observe the text says, "wiles of the devil"; not one, but many; while we -are penetrating and avoiding one of his "wiles," behold, we are in the -meshes of another. Human intellect cannot fathom the feats of magic -performed in friendly entertainment, where every opportunity is given to -examine--then how much more are we at the mercy of séances concocted, not -to entertain, but to delude and capture. - -The astrologers, soothsayers, and magicians; the clairvoyants, ancient and -modern, are insignificant compared with this great magician. Is he not -superior and supernatural, possessed with unearthly powers? Are there any -combinations and hidden laws of which he is unacquainted? Besides, no one -is more familiar with the weaknesses and susceptibility of human nature -than he. So astute and cunning are his "wiles"--tricks of magic--Paul -seems to feel that only the girdings and enduements of God, giving -spiritual illumination to the things invisible, can withstand them. The -antithesis of the Apostle's exhortation leaves no doubt in our mind as to -his meaning: if we strive and contend in our own wisdom, deception and -defeat are inevitable. - -To be explicit, does it not look as if multitudes are under a -delusion--seeing things through distorted and false lenses--when words and -actions, by the best and truest people on earth, are seen as blatant -hypocrisy? Does it not look as if a sleight-of-hand expert were -manipulating the ideals of this pleasure-mad generation; hiding the true -character and dangers which lurk in every indulgence and excess? "Presto, -veto--change;" there you are, safe, satisfied, happy. "Spirits of devils," -declares the seer of Patmos, "working miracles, going to the kings, and to -the whole world." The arena wherein he practices his deadly delusions is -the whole world. No places exempt; no peoples immune. The whole armour of -God is the only sure protection. - - - - -VIII - -THE ROARING LION - - "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring - lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."--_1 Peter v. 8._ - - -Thus far we have studied Diabolus under various titles and cognomens which -deal almost exclusively with the secret side of his nature: the propaganda -of hidden arts. The caption of this chapter will indicate quite a -different proposition. This title swings him into full view, stripped of -all deception and legerdemain. The lion walks up and down the earth, -showing no quarters, making no apologies for his presence. When he roams -in the forests, he is king; he allows no beast to interfere or question -his rights, and none dare to do it. He kills, tears to pieces, and devours -whatever he can catch; his roar strikes terror to all the forest dwellers. - -The lion, therefore, is noisy; his approach is with loud demonstration. -There is something in noise that weakens and frightens; the keen clap of -thunder, the shout of an approaching army, the blast of ram's horns, the -loud proclaiming of the sword of the Lord and Gideon are historical -examples of victories by noise. The lion is also powerful; no other beast -has a chance in a match with him. One stroke with his mighty paw is death. -He walks about conscious of his strength; an ox or a buffalo are no more -his equal than a mouse contending with a cat. The lion is vicious; his -going forth has one definite object--"seeking to devour." - -The lion presupposes that all the earth belongs to him; deer, antelopes, -panthers, buffaloes, horses, cattle, etc., have no rights or possessions -of which he feels under the slightest obligation to respect. The Devil -does not come out _in person_: hoofs, horns, claws, bushy mane--the -make-up of a lion, building up his kingdom by tearing down and destroying -men and institutions opposed to him. He does these things, as a lion, by -incarnating himself in men, evil combines, corrupt politics, vicious -society, the liquor traffic, the White Slave system, etc. As he -appropriates and embodies these institutions by entering in and possessing -the men who are leaders, he no longer acts as a conjurer or snake, but a -_Lion_. The fullness of the earth, and they that dwell therein, belong to -him, to use, desecrate, prostitute, kill, devour, or destroy, just so he -may best serve and satisfy his insatiable appetite. Cities are to be -officered and governed, not for the peaceful protection of their citizens, -but for plunder, boodle, and graft. Men who desire to be public servants -in deed and in truth must fight "a roaring lion." The man who steps to the -front with a desire to question and curtail the exploitations of the -"officials," the "traffic," the "gang," places his life at once in -imminent peril. Threats, black hand letters, pistols, poison, bombs, and -torches are the instruments boldly used to destroy the man or men who do -not believe that these human lions should be allowed to filch and devour -the privileges and possessions of others. - -We find our "adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walking about, -seeking whom he may devour," has three methods which he uses according to -the exigencies of the case. It is first a "roar," a bluff, or bulldoze: -the threat of the "boss," whether he be a political boss, an -ecclesiastical boss, or a liquor boss, accomplishes wonders in coercion; -it frightens and cowers the weak-kneed and backboneless. The crack of the -slave-driver's whip brought the obstreperous negro into humble submission. -Men in office, in pulpits, in editorial rooms, have been awed into silence -by the roar of men "higher up." Then truth, righteousness, justice, and -conscience are crucified; and behind the scene leering devils hold a -jubilee of triumph. - -However, the bluff and bulldoze will not always succeed; and when these -loud, but mild methods fail, the boycott is ordered. Those who can stand -undaunted in the presence of roaring threats will quail before the -prospects of financial ruin. Employees are discharged, patronage cut off, -positions given to others, preachers asked to resign. Somehow evil is so -compactly organized, wires of connection are so completely in touch with -every nook and corner, that the "boss" sits quietly at the switchboard and -issues orders. The "big stick" and boycott have carried many elections; -municipal, state, and national; they have made merchandise of sovereignty, -and bargain counters of conscience. "Your clerk must take his name off -that petition, or we will withdraw our patronage;" "His wife is an active -worker in the W. C. T. U.--you must discharge him," were the identical -words overheard in a private office. Business and public men dread the -boycott. Behind the boycott is our "adversary, the Devil." - -But the bluff and boycott by no means mark the limit when the self-assumed -rights and privileges of the lion are questioned. Few can rise above the -threat and intimidation; but the roaring activities of the boss will not -always suffice. The lion in corrupt politics, in evil traffics, in -priestly bigotry and intolerance, will not hesitate to stab, shoot, or -burn to get rid of an offensive opposer. It is not necessary to discuss -facts so well known as these; but we are investigating the sources; we -want to locate the bacilli rather than examine the pustule. - -We wish to reiterate a previous statement; the "roaring lion" is never -heard if the still fight, the oily snake methods serve to a better -advantage. The Apostle's exhortation is timely: "Be vigilant, be -sober"--be on the alert constantly, and be at your best, as an "adversary" -who knows no boundary lines in his work of subjugation and destruction has -declared war to the end. - - - - -IX - -AN ANGEL OF LIGHT - - "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming - themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan - himself is transformed into an angel of light."--_2 Corinthians xi. - 13-14._ - - -The Devil is a person, with a great personality; but like human beings, he -is not equally endowed in all the attributes of his nature. However, the -Book gives us no information as to his weaknesses. He is all superlative -strength; but if at any point there is a special endowed faculty that -would seem to overshadow the others, it is surely manifested when Satan is -transformed into an _angel of light_. The reason for this is obvious; it -is a return to his old office of "light bearer." When he can effectively -serve his purpose by this startling transformation--darkness to light--he -is at once in a realm where he is familiar with every inch of the -territory. - -A close observation of the signs of the times--the happenings in social -and religious circles--will reveal the fact that _light_ is not only his -most familiar rôle, but his favourite rôle. The world is attracted by -things that are bright, beautiful, cheerful; anything that hides the -sombre side of life, throws a mystic veil over its realities, and helps us -to forget--whether it be books, music, lectures, or the nonentities of -society--outweigh all else in the casting of accounts and in forming -comparative estimates. - -If Satan were allowed to pose for a full sized picture of himself, just as -he wishes to be seen by the children of this generation, no portrait -painter could produce a specimen of rarer beauty; it would grace the walls -of the most exclusive parlour, and attract special attention in any great -art gallery of the world. There would be no sharp angles, no coarse, -sensuous lines, no out-of-date adornment--the traditional fiery-red would -not appear, but rather the most delicate tints and shades of colour. The -features would be the most graceful and artistic combination of curves and -circles. The "hairy one," the jackal, the snake, the lion, the shadow, the -spoiler at once become as "beautiful as a dream." Amazing transformation! - -"The devil of to-day" is not only an apostle of sunshine, but of beauty. -This world is full of beauty; and why should we not forever keep the ugly -and distorted in the background? The development of the beautiful should -be one of the fine arts. Think only of beauty; speak only of beauty; see -only the _beautiful_; then the sinful and unlovely will disappear. An -angel of light--how suggestive! - -As an apostle of sunshine his mission is to flood the world with light, -and he does it; but observe--it is _his_ light; it neither warms nor -illuminates, but for spectacular purposes it answers every demand. It -reveals new standards of duty; proves the wrathful things in the Word of -God to be spurious, and the old plan of salvation obsolete and unsuited to -the present day needs. Such words as self-denial, crucifixion, dead to -sin, judgment day, cross bearing, etc., so prominent in the New Testament, -must not be given a literal interpretation. Such truths cast an -unnecessary gloom over the souls of otherwise happy people. - -"The devil of to-day" believes that ethical culture should be the slogan, -the watchword, the shibboleth of every pulpit and rostrum. Religion -without refinement is absurd; the esthetic taste should be looked after -more than belief in some abstract Bible doctrine; then the race would be -free from the bondage of creed and fear. True religion is nothing more -than a just appreciation of art, literature, science, philosophy, and -nature. God is in all these things rather than some musty, stereotyped -statement of faith. - -He further believes it is a waste of energy for women to be organizing -into societies to study and help conditions among the slums or heathen -lands, and urging upon the hard worked people to pay a tenth of their -income to support missionaries who are better fed and housed than -themselves. Far better devote the time to social clubs, book circles, -euchre and bridge parties, and dressing properly. - -We want to call attention again to a truth often overlooked: the Devil and -demons are never satisfied in a disembodied state; when they cannot enter -the souls of men, they seek something else. They will enter a swine when -there is nothing better available. We believe "the prince of the air" can -wield a powerful influence, unincarnated, _in the air_, but he schemes -and works best when he can possess and direct intelligent flesh and blood. - -Just now the machinery of the Church and all the auxiliaries are devoting -their energies to various branches of social service; this is good, -Christlike, and necessary; the point we raise, germane to this subject, is -not the work, but the abuse of the idea: social service and -humanitarianism are not religion. They are the fruits of the Good -Samaritan spirit in the world, but they cannot take the place of personal -relationship to God. "Though I give my body to be burned, and all my goods -to feed the poor," says Paul, "it profiteth me nothing" without -love--divine love. The angel-of-light gospel places the emphasis on works -without faith. Love the world, enjoy its lusts and allurements, disregard -all Puritanic ideals of life, be a part of all worldliness--but be kind, -cheerful, optimistic, generous, benevolent: help humanity. "Pay the -fiddler," then dance as you please. Do penance when your conscience lashes -you; but buy indulgences by works of supererogation. "On with the dance, -let joy be unconfined." - -A concrete example will illustrate the proposition before us, and also -reveal the power of polished, cultured emissary of "sunshine and smiles." -The little city had a population of about fifteen hundred people; there -were four churches of nearly equal strength. Each congregation had a large -flourishing organization of young people. Scarcely any worldliness -obtained--dancing and card playing rarely ever. The pious, consecrated -young people attracted no little attention. Finally there came to the -place a young woman fresh from college and conservatory as teacher of -music and delsarte. She was an adept at all the niceties of modern -society; things took on new colour at once. The work began with a literary -club, then cards, then the dance. She was beautiful and magnetic; in six -months the "stupid meetin's" of the League and Christian Endeavour were -abandoned for things more exhilarating. The religious foundation which had -been crystallizing for years among the simple hearted boys and girls gave -place to the gayeties imported from the classic circles of city and -college life. She moved among them "an angel of light." - - - - -X - -THE SOWER OF TARES - - "The kingdom of heaven is like a man that sowed good seed in his - field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the - wheat and went away."--_Matthew xiii. 24-25._ - - "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the - kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy - that sowed them is the devil."--_Matthew xiii. 38-39._ - - -The parable of the Sower is one of common-sense appeal; the sensible -farmer sows only good seed. The growing of tares among the wheat is not in -the original plan. Good seed were sown, but behold the tares! Whence came -they? While the servants slept an Enemy came and sowed them. The Master -gives us His own interpretation: He is the sower--the good seed are the -children of the kingdom, men and women into whose hearts the Truth has -entered--the converted part of the Church. The sleeping of the servants is -the unwatchfulness of the Church: coldness, indifference, backslidden. The -Enemy seizes the opportunity--the carelessness of Christ's servants--and -sows _bad seed_. The enemy is the Devil--the Wicked One; the bad seed are -the children of the Devil. Growing side by side in this world-field are -the children of God and the children of the Devil. - -The tare, or cheat, in appearance resembles the wheat; it grows exactly -the same height, and viewed casually, or at a distance, cannot be -detected from the genuine. Only the threshing and sifting bring out the -difference. These tares are the propaganda of the Devil, but a perfect -imitation of the children of the kingdom. They make a profession, adhere -to the same rules and regulations, profess and maintain, outwardly, a -standard of morality, wear all the regalia--even particular about details. -We observe another striking resemblance: strange as it may seem, these -tares--children of the Devil--seek as their guide no books of heathen -philosophy, or twentieth century atheism; they make great capital of the -Bible; the ceremonies and ordinances are carried out to the letter. On a -day of dress parade and review they meekly grade A 1. - -Such an inconsistency is so glaring as to be almost unthinkable; but the -parable teaches it beyond a doubt. The Devil sows into the Church his -children: _a corrupt profession of Jesus Christ_. In a former chapter we -studied the Devil as a _destroyer_; and it will be remembered that in a -preceding parable he came as a vulture devouring the seed; now he seeks to -further weaken and hinder by adulteration. While continuing the -battering-ram process from without, a reversed method is used; he scales -the ramparts and places his cohorts on the inside, and, wherever possible, -assumes leadership in a campaign of self-destruction. We are amazed at -such audacity, but the Master, who is a rival in the field, has -illuminated the parable for us. - -There is a note of optimism ringing out in the land to the effect that the -day of triumph is at hand; doors are opening, walls are crumbling, -conservative nations are studying our religion, municipalities are being -renovated, higher standards in public life are demanded, the Church is -lifting the race out of superstition and prejudice--we are about to see a -"nation born in a day." What does it mean? It means that Satan is being -chained--defeated, etc. This sounds good and plausible; but a closer -inspection will reveal, not a retreat, not an armistice, not a victory, -but a _change of base_. - -Twenty years ago a leading teacher said: "Unless the signs of the times -fail, the true Church of Christ is about to enter upon the most serious -struggle of her history. She is no longer called merely to fight an open -foe without, but as Dr. Green, of Princeton, says, 'the battle rages -around the citadel,' and she is forced to fight the traitors within. The -real enemy is to be found on the inside." If such a condition were true -then, what is it to-day, since the last two decades have been the most -revolutionary in the history of the Church on the line of skepticism and -advanced thought? - -The _Free Thinkers' Magazine_ recently had this to say: "Tom Paine's work -is now carried on by the descendants of his persecutors; all he said about -the Bible is being said in substance by orthodox divines, and from chairs -of theology." Another writer observes: "No need of Bridlaughs and -Ingersols wasting time preaching against the early chapters of Genesis, -sneering at the story of temptation, cavilling at the record of long -lives, denying the confusion of tongues, doubting if not denying the -deluge, when Christian ministers, on account of their official position, -are doing the same work more effectually." - -"Freedom of thought in religion," said an orthodox preacher at Tom Paine's -one hundredth anniversary, "just what he stood for, is what most of us -have come to. In his own day vilified as an atheist--to-day he is looked -upon as a defender of just principles of faith." There is a wide range of -opinions found in the growing crop of tares: some are literalists, -touching Biblical interpretation, getting the minutia of husks, but -rejecting the kernel--the envelope, but missing the message; others remain -in the Church, preach a gospel shelter under her roof--eat her bread, but -deny the supernatural _in toto_. Few, if any, are honest enough to step -out. - -The Devil prefers his _cheat_ to grow in the same soil prepared for the -wheat. No place is so wholesome and convenient for the children of the -Devil as inside the Church of God. Why is not the wrath of God poured out -on the children of the Devil who have assumed place and power in His -Church? The same processes used for the removal of the tares would injure -and uproot some of the wheat. There is now no remedy; at an unguarded -moment the harm was done. The Enemy continues to enter every available -door, sowing, sowing, sowing--beside all waters. Not until the angelic -reapers thrust in their sickles for the harvest will the children of the -Devil cease to occupy, influence, and control. - - - - -XI - -THE ARCH SLANDERER - - "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes - shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and - evil."--_Genesis iii. 5._ - - "But put forth thine hand now and touch all that he hath, and he will - curse thee to thy face."--_Job i. 11._ - - -It is the first scene of the human drama; the staging is in an earthly -Paradise; perfection is written on everything animate and inanimate. With -but one restriction man roams through Edenic beauties, a being "good and -very good," happy and holy. His communion with God is unbroken; fountains -of love are opened in his heart as he beholds the beautiful mate at his -side. Our wildest imaginations cannot estimate the glories of that -life-morning; but behold the Serpent. He utters his first words in the -scheme of ruin, and it is a slander against God. "Aha, He knows if you eat -you will be like He is--knowing all things, be as gods; He is not treating -you fairly; the case is misrepresented. You will not die, but you will be -wise. Why does He keep back such privileges from you?" As a result of this -slander, the Paradise is lost. Flowers, fruits, peace and plenty are -exchanged for weeds, briers, toil, sweat, suffering, death. - -Again we find his impudent presence on the day Job is offering sacrifices. -Reading between the lines, we can imagine a conversation like this: "You -here? You are looking for some pretense to discount My people; you say -none are good--all hypocrites. What do you think of My servant Job? What -have you to say about him?" - -"Oh, of course," says the slanderer, "you have him hedged around--blessing -him continually. It pays Job to be good; just take away your special care -of his material welfare and see--he will curse Thee to Thy face." - -An artist once painted a picture of the human tongue in a way to represent -his conception of how the "tongue of slander" should appear. It was long, -coiled like a serpent, tapering at the end into a barbed spear point; from -each of the papilla, scarcely visible, was a needle point, from which -oozed a green, slimy poison. The slandering tongue is "a fire, a world of -iniquity--it defileth the whole body--it is set on fire of hell." - -The slanderer is no respecter of persons; he rakes and scrapes the -uttermost parts of the earth for victims: king and peasant, rich and poor, -priest and prophet; living or dead suffer alike when once this vile, -inhuman spirit touches them. Bacon said: "Calumny crosses oceans, scales -mountains, and traverses deserts with greater ease than the Scythian -Abaris, and, like him, rides on a poisoned arrow." The winds of the -Arabian desert not only produce death, but rapid decomposition of the -body; so doth slander destroy every virtue of human character. The -cloven-hoof slanderer, like the filthy worm, leaves behind a trail of -offal and stench though his pathway wind through a bower of earth's -sweetest flowers. A writer has said: "So deep does the slanderer sink in -the murky waters of degradation and infamy that, could an angel apply an -Archimedian moral lever to him, with heaven as a fulcrum, he could not in -a thousand years raise him to the grade of a convict felon." - - "Whose edge is sharper than a sword; whose tongue - Out-venoms all the worms of Nile; whose breath - Rides on the posting winds, and doth belie - All corners of the world; kings, queens, and states, - Maids, matrons, nay, the secrets of the grave - This viperous slander enter." - -Iago is said to be the greatest villain in fiction or history; the -revolting crimes of Herod--slaughtering the innocent--does not compare -with Iago. Herod saw in the Man Child a possible rival, and blinded by -jealousy and ambition, he becomes the most heartless murderer--of all -times. But what was the crime of Iago? Slander! With no object in view, no -advantage to gain, and too much of a coward to make an open charge, he -slanders by insinuation the beautiful Desdemona until the enraged Othello -strangles her to death. - -How can we reconcile this base passion in human character, as slander has -no other avenue of expression? It is unnatural, inhuman, and hellish. The -wolf and tiger devour to satisfy hunger; the vulture eats and fattens on -rotting carcases, but the slanderer does neither. With the blood cruelty -of a savage beast, the degraded appetite of the scavenger, the destroyed -victims of fiendish passion only intensify and burn, but never satisfy the -slanderer. This spirit was never born among men; its origin is the region -of the damned, where hunger gnaws, thirst fires, lust arouses, revenge -consumes--but satisfaction is unknown. The hot breath of slander comes -from a bourne where dead hopes spring up eternal. - -The caption of the chapter denominates the Devil as the arch slanderer; we -use it because there is no word of sufficient strength to convey the idea; -"arch" fails to convey the whole truth in this case. Archangel is an -intelligible term, as there are many of high order; there is, however, but -One slanderer. Just as he is the "father of liars"--propagating all -lies--his relation to liars does not admit of comparison. He slandered -from the day of his fall; he is the father of slanderers. Whether it be -circulated in the "submerged world," the quiet circles of church life, or -among the "Four Hundred" of fashion--it is a deflected arrow from the one -great quiver. - -No being--holy men, angels, or the Son of God--can escape the tongues -dripping the venom of slander through the subtle incarnation of that -fountainhead of every evil suggestion or insinuation. Whatever destroys -happiness, creates doubt and suspicion among the people, ending in -litigation, divorces, and murders, fulfills the mission of slander. The -caldron from which exudes this vile stench--filling all the earth--is -seething and boiling in the Bottomless Pit, or wherever the throne of his -majesty--the Devil--is located. The society of earth will never be free -from the poison of evil-speaking until the Archslanderer is arrested, -chained, and located in the penitentiary prepared for him from the -foundation of the world. - - - - -XII - -THE DOUBLE ACCUSER - - "Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about - all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his - hands, and his substance is increased in the land."--_Job i. 10._ - - "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and - the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, - which accused them before our God day and night."--_Revelation xii. - 10._ - - -When we consider the Diabolus character--his strength and opportunity, -whereby he visits his vengeance upon a weak, susceptible race, we can -readily understand that his make-up would be far from complete without a -continuous outflow of slander. But his courage and audacity stand out in -glaring relief when we find him an Accuser. It does not require large -intelligence or bravery to be a slanderer--only baseness of character--but -to be an accuser, face to face with false charges, especially in the -presence of One who has power over all things, reveals an impudent bravery -that dazes the judgment. - -When questioned of God about his presence among devout spirits--as they -were assembled for worship--he answered in the manner of a guilty boy: -"Just going to and fro in the earth." Peter tells us that his mission of -going to and fro is of seeking and devouring. He is then reminded of Job's -character--how that this saint is perfect and just; Satan's blighting -influence has not been able to touch and overthrow the aged Job. In his -shrewd rejoinder Satan accuses God of two sins: _partiality and -falsehood_. - -Translated into its literal meaning, the language would be about as -follows: "I deny that Job is perfect; but for the protection you have -thrown around him he would be as other men. His pretended piety is -hypocrisy; he serves you because you have blest him with abundance; he has -not fallen into sin because you have hedged him about. If you treated Job -as you treat others, his holiness would soon be about as genuine as mine." - -Satan accuses God of protecting His servant and blessing him in material -things in a special and partial manner, viz: "a respecter of persons." But -the fiercest accusation is hidden in his reply to God's question, also put -in the form of a question, and finished by an emphatic declaration: Job is -not the man God said he was; "but put forth Thine hand and touch all that -he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face." A being who can stand before -the Lord God, of whom the hosts of heaven sing and shout--he, himself, -once among the number--saying: "Holy, Holy, Holy," and accuse Him of being -guilty of partiality and falsehood--what may _we_ expect from him? The -Word says he accuses the saints day and night. - -Observe that he accuses the _saints_, those who are striving in -righteousness. The man who lies, cheats in business, accumulates a -fortune, and lives all the vices without apology is not an object of -malicious accusation. The scandals in select circles cause only a ripple, -even though the offenses occupy much space of the associated press. The -principles of such affairs are often staged as heroes and heroines for the -entertainment of a morbid public taste. Satan accuses the saints; the -presumption is shouted from the housetops: "There is none that doeth good, -no not one." - -The saints--every good man and woman--must at some time face charges -against their moral or religious character. This hellish machination goes -on day and night. It is reasonable to conclude that much of the unrest, -depression, and backslidings among the people of God may be traced to this -cause; innocent men and women have not only cast away their hope through -rumoured accusations, but have been driven to desperation and suicide. - -The reader must keep in mind the suggestion made in a former chapter: that -while Satan has the power by his presence of himself, or his minions, to -create an atmosphere, unfathomable, impenetrable, yet surcharged with -horror and dread; but his activities are seldom apart from human -instrumentalities. Just as he is the arch slanderer, through the word of -mouth, so is he the accuser, both of God and saints, through human -personalities under his control. - -A flood sweeps away, or lightning destroys a man's possessions; he looks -up, curses and accuses God of cruelty and injustice. Death enters the -home; the mourners charge God falsely. His accusations are confined to no -particular method; the one most suited to the case is used, whether -self-condemnation or from another. Self-reproach, through memory and -meditation, is a most powerful agency in carrying on this work. Once we -begin to think on our ways--seeking to turn our steps unto the testimony -of God--we face a life of sins and blunders mountain high and -unsurmountable. But when faith takes wings and lifts the agonizing soul -"out of the mire and clay," an everlasting reminder of the _past_ clings -to us, often robbing us of peace and joy. How many Christians have grown -weary and given up because of memories blackened by consequences of past -sins--sins which God said, if we confess and forsake, He would "remember -them against us no more forever." - -If the truth, which can never be revealed until the Judgment Day, could be -known! Our asylums are swarming with unfortunates who have lost mental -balance because of remorse and condemnation, resulting from an accusing -memory. Wherever Satan is unable to lure the saints into actual -transgression their life and usefulness are often destroyed by tormenting -spirits accusing them day and night The Book holds out no deliverance from -this scourge until the Accuser is forever cast down by the wrath of God at -the final shifting of the scene. - - - - -XIII - -SATAN A SPY - - "And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered - the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from - walking up and down in it."--_Job i. 7._ - - -The spy is the most dangerous man in the army; more is he to be feared -than the genius of a Napoleon or a Lee. The sphere in which he operates -has no duplicate in military activities; his bravery, boldness, and daring -are unexcelled. Whether he be called from the ranks, or from among the -commissioned officers, his counsel and suggestions get a hearing in the -highest commandery of the army. - -The movements of a spy are unknown even to his own corps, much less to the -enemy. After receiving authority for such a perilous undertaking he is a -free lance, going and coming at will. Not only does he go beyond the -enemy's line, but mingles freely with them in the camp. There is nothing -in his appearance to indicate who or what he is. To-day he is a civilian -peddling fruits among the soldiers, or innocently driving a yoke of steers -along the street or country road; to-morrow he is within the camp, dressed -in their gay uniform, familiar with passwords and countersigns. Then he -appears as a decrepit old woman, seeking a son who "run away to jine the -solgers." In a few hours he is quietly resting or joking with the boys of -his own regiment. - -When a spy is captured all military courtesies are set aside; he is not -even allowed the honour of a court-martial; but without trial he is -executed at once. - -It is of special interest, in view of the application to our subject, to -notice the particular business of a spy. Just as his movements are -unknown, so is his mission unknown. He hurries to and fro, gathering up -such bits of information here and there as he deems important for the -cause he represents. If he belongs to the Federal forces he appears -clothed in the "butternut gray"; then by tactics of bravery and nerve he -enters the Confederate gray lines. The slightest blunder is certain death. -He takes a mental inventory of the whole situation, but in such a way as -to attract the attention of no one. The strength of the fortifications, -the size and number of the batteries, the commissary department, and the -chances and probabilities of reinforcements. In a moment, under the cover -of night, he fades out into the darkness and is gone. The budget of -information is placed at the earliest possible moment into the war -councils of his own army. - -Satan plays the rôle of a crafty spy; he has access, by some mysterious -power, to the heart life of men. At no point of the game for immortal -trophies is he so dangerous as when he can take advantage because of his -secret knowledge of men's weaknesses and sins. Only a vicious degenerate -can be tempted into all the crimes known to the docket of the Bible; few -beings on this planet but are fortified at some point of character. They -may be weak in many ways--but early training or environment have helped -them to become strong in some particulars. - -The spy seeks to know when and where a blow may be struck in the enemy's -lines, at a place of least resistance. The soul battles are exactly the -same; we have no special battles where we are strong; things that might -overcome another will mean nothing to us. Our battles are ever fought -around the points of weak fortification; the enemy rarely, if ever, has -the pleasure of shouting over our downfall from the best that is in us. - -The victories of athletic games--the pugilistic bouts in the sporting -arena, the mortal duel with rapiers, the battle-fields where thousands -fell--have been lost and won by the application of this principle. The -general with his field-glass sees a weakening in the enemy's line and -orders a charge; the duelist observes a shortening of breath or an awkward -movement and seizes the opportunity. It is the weak link in the chain of -life that breaks; sins of the lower nature--sensuality--might not appeal -to some who fall an easy victim to pride, ambition, or covetousness; -others who are liberal, honest to the cent, unassuming, are helpless when -tempted in the realm of lower passions. We are at an incalculable -disadvantage when our enemy is familiar with our vulnerable points. - -So long as the heart is unregenerated and unpurified by the cleansing -power of the Holy Ghost, Satan has access to every nook and corner of our -heart life. He enters and discovers every vulnerable and invulnerable -section of the soul's fortification. The tempted and fallen are often -unable to tell how it was done. "Why did you go there?" or, "Why did you -do it?" Oh, so many, many times do we hear the answer: "I do not know." A -friend once showed me a little iron safe in which he kept his valuable -papers. This safe had a very ingenious lock; the combinations were such, -and the mechanism so wonderful, that it was capable of _three hundred -thousand combinations_. - -Why and how are sane men and women overcome? They were met at a certain -place, under peculiar circumstances; met by several--a word, a smile, an -argument, a pressure of the hand. How was it done? They do not know. -Somehow the attack came in a way which rendered them helpless to resist. -One effort failed--a dozen failed; but as often as it failed the Expert -changed the _combination_, until the door yielded, and an entrance into -the citadel of Mansoul was effected. _Three hundred thousand -combinations._ - -The spy has information from within; and, therefore, the most dangerous -man in the army. Satan, by his supernatural powers directing his practice -and experience for several millenniums, is a crafty, sagacious spy, -acquainted with all the weaknesses and emotions of the human heart. Who is -equal to such an enemy? Contending alone, _no one_ on this sin-burdened -footstool. - - - - -XIV - -THE QUACK DOCTOR - - "Having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from - such turn away."--_2 Timothy iii. 5._ - - -We do not agree with some late views of the nature of sin--that it is a -physical and mental disorder: the resultant of heredity, food, soil, -climate and social environment. If the root of the difficulty springs from -these primary causes, the whole problem of evil could be wiped out in one -generation by the application of sanitary laws and social betterment. In -the Bible sin is known by several disease terms, but always such diseases -as were incurable by any treatment known in those days: leprosy, born -blind, deadly poison, paralytic, etc. Sin is a disease, and the whole man, -body, mind, and spirit, is more or less affected therefrom; but it is, in -particular, a soul malady, going deeper than human remedies can reach, -whether social or medicinal. - -To cure this soul disease the race has sought eagerly from the day Cain -and Abel built their altars. All the ramifications of civilization have -had one all-absorbing desire: a readjustment of something fundamentally -wrong within. This fight for an atonement with the Creator has been a -long, heart-sore pilgrimage; it has painted the blackest pages of history -and committed the bloodiest crimes. This human drama has been enacted in -tragedy and tears. Why is it so? Because deeper than any other heart-throb -is the consciousness of personal uncleanness, and the bitter anguish it -has caused. - -The dead civilizations, on their monuments and mausoleums, have left -behind, carved indelibly, one story--whether on the banks of the Nile, the -Areopagus of Greece, or the land of the Montezumas--it is the story of -feeling in the dark after God. They had the disease and sought for a -remedy. From the days of the astrologers and soothsayers, anxious souls -have been victimized by every fad, fake and fanaticism in their search for -relief. The venders of pulverized snake skins and lizard tongues, in their -day, found as willing a patronage as the cultured proprietors of -sanitariums to-day. The long-haired man on a goods box can do a -flourishing business, if he has the gift of gab to convince the crowd his -stuff will _cure_. - -The quack doctor does not handle a variety of medicine; he knows just -enough of anatomy and materia medica to make his speech sound -scholarly--but his remedy, costing less than the price of one visit from a -physician, will cure all the ills of the human body. Like De Soto, we are -seeking the fountain of perennial youth--the elixir of life. - -Just as the disease of the body and a passion to live open wide the door -to charlatans, fakirs, and "healers" claiming powers direct from Gabriel -to Beelzebub, so the disease of the soul, and a hunger for eternal -life--"deep calling unto deep"--has opened the door of the heart to the -religious doctor with his cure-all prescriptions. Out from unknown depths -comes the yearning for readjustment and reconciliation with God. - -No being, beside the Godhead, is more familiar with the secret hopes and -impulses of the soul--than Satan. The long-haired quack on the street, -bawling his "junk," is not half so anxious to defraud the crowd as Satan -is to prescribe remedies that will not cure. His chief aspiration is to -flood the land with bogus treatments which not only fail to cure, but they -preempt the disease-infected spots so as to prevent the introduction of -the genuine remedy. - -The quack doctor is, no doubt, pleased when an imaginary cure has been -wrought by his wares; but Satan is filled with wrath if some of his -formulas strike deeper than he anticipated, and a soul emerges from -darkness unto light. This, however, does not often occur; he is too -cunning to advertise to a hungry, sin-sick world that which will bring -permanent relief. - -The beating of tom-toms by an upper Congo medicine man to drive away evil -spirits has about the same efficacy as much that may be found in the -esthetic circles of the world's religiosity. "A form of godliness," be it -ever so beautiful and orderly, which does not seek and obtain the inner -power is just another way of beating tom-toms. - -We look with compassion upon the poor benighted heathen woman who trots -around the temple of her god one hundred times on a moonlight night; but -how much improvement over her plan of salvation do we find in the blaze of -twentieth century Christian enlightenment, if our religion consists of -just "doing something," rather than having _faith_ in a power that saves -through the impartation of the Holy Ghost? At no time in the history of -the Church have we done so many things as we are doing now--all good; but -observe: the Church and the world go hand in hand. It is a rare exception -when an essential difference can be seen in the life and business methods -of the professor and non-professor. "They will have a form of godliness," -says Paul, "but deny the power." - -It was not a dream or hallucination which took the rich and poor, in the -long ago, out from the world and caused them to give up even their lives -cheerfully; it was an application of the power. They had tested the -"fountain opened in the house of David for sin and uncleanness." - - "Oh, that fountain deep and wide, - Flowing from the wounded side, - That was pierced for our redemption, long ago; - In thy ever cleansing wave, there is found all power to save; - It's the power that healed the nations long ago." - -In the multitude of pretenses, makeshifts: forms, ceremonies, chantings, -genuflections, ordinances, will worship, self-righteousness, "wondrous -works,"--"form of godliness"--who is responsible? It is the great Quack -Doctor that is deceiving the world; those who will not be dragged into sin -and ruin he surfeits their lives with a "form of godliness, but deny the -power" plan of salvation. - - - - -XV - -THE DEVIL A THEOLOGIAN - - "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some - shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and - doctrines of devils."--_1 Timothy iv. 1._ - - -Theology is defined as "the science which treats of God, His existence, -character, government, and doctrines," or the science of religion--a -system of truth derived from the Scriptures. The caption of this -article--The Devil a Theologian--jars our spiritual nerve centres. There -are three things necessary to produce a theologian: experience, -information, ability. From every possible view-point the Devil is -preëminently qualified to formulate a system of doctrinal statements -having all the earmarks of genuineness and credentials of authenticity. - -In our discussion of the Devil's theology we shall not, at the present, -touch upon the theories and vile imaginations of demon-possessed men, but -the finer phases of truth, beautifully presented by his apostles with a -show of orthodox reasonableness. By the term Devil's -theology--doctrines--we do not mean his beliefs--get the distinction--but -what he wants us to believe. He is every whit orthodox; he believes the -Old Book; he does not indorse the _new theology_, or the so-called higher -learning, only as it may be turned to his advantage. The Word of God is a -mighty reality to him; he has met its blazing truths, and has been burned -by its power. He has millions of skeptics and doubters blindly following -his delusions, but he is a believer in the "old school"; he "believes and -trembles." - -We call attention to the term "doctrines"--therefore religious beliefs: -reasonable, plausible, satisfying beliefs. What are they? First: Ritualism -is Religion; when we have gone through a certain proscribed -programme--whether it be a chant, reading prayers, or burning a dim -light--there you are. How do we know we are religious? We have gone the -rounds, said the required number of Ave Maries, counted the rosary, etc., -etc., therefore the work is done. It sounds harsh to place these beautiful -ceremonies, which have doubtless comforted so many hearts, in the enemy's -catalogue; but the Pharisees were rigid ritualists, yet Christ denounced -them as miserable hypocrites--"whited sepulchres." Anything he can get us -to adopt, having a semblance of reality, yet does not save--does not deal -directly with the sin question, he shouts over our delusion. He -appropriates Ritualism for Religion and it becomes his doctrine. - -A second doctrine: Good Resolution for Regeneration. There has never been -as much strenuous evangelism, of a certain quality, as we are having -to-day. Great cities unite in stupendous revival effort; no expense is -spared; the leading masters of assemblies are called as workers. The zeal -and motives of it all are commendable; but the bane of such evangelism is -this: the work stops at the resolution period. Men are brought under -conviction, and the Devil at once proposes his compromise. Not until the -"big meeting" closes do the convicted multitudes discover the deception. -Herein is the explanation of the lethargy, depression, and utter -indifference which so often obtain after a "sweeping revival." Faith is -then shaken, and sometimes permanently, in the truth of a conscious, -know-so salvation. If the Prodigal Son had stopped after passing a good -resolution with himself he would have died at the swine pen without the -knowledge of the father's love, the kiss, the robe, the ring, and the -fatted calf. A sinner must not only "quit his meanness" but straighten out -his meanness. Regeneration is not by the will of the flesh, the will of -man, not of blood; but it is to be born of God--born from above--a new -creature. Doctrines floating under the banner of evangelism which do not -get believers into the kingdom must be listed with the enemy. - -A third doctrine: Sentiment is Salvation. We are a sentimental people; -esthetic and humanitarian developments of recent years have done much to -soften our barbarian instincts. If sentiment were salvation, this land -would be redeemed. Many think we are rapidly becoming a saved nation; -those who enjoy such reflections should stand at the entrance of any -theatre on Sunday, or a pleasure garden, or a ball park; then hurry around -to the entrance of the finest, best equipped church in the city for -comparison. Sentiment is educated emotion. Rome used to shout over the -bloody scenes in the amphitheatre; now we can weep over the unfortunate -girl who goes down in spectacular glory behind the footlights. Sentiment -makes us rejoice with those who do rejoice, and weep with those who weep; -it moves us to deeds of charity. Satan then has no difficulty in -persuading us that we are religious--spiritually redeemed; if we weep over -our loved ones, our emotions are very religious. The most grief we ever -witnessed at a funeral was in the home of a saloon-keeper; the dead wife -and mother, a depraved opium and morphine eater; the home was utterly -irreligious, but the grief was hysterical, explosive. The sacrifices of -God are a broken and a contrite heart--over sins committed, producing a -godly sorrow, and not a sentiment. - -Again, the Devil takes great delight in telling the unsaved and unchurched -masses that religion is all selfishness; the poor are made to feel that -the Church is the rich man's institution. Notwithstanding the efforts of -God's people to reach and help the lost they are represented as mean and -selfish, pretending a pious fraud, with no bread for the hungry and no -helping hand for the needy. We build stately temples of worship to gratify -our pride and vanity with money earned by the sweat and toil of the poor -man; money that ought to be given to the poor. Judas protested against -breaking the alabaster box. The church is a place for dress parade; the -humble and meanly clad are not wanted. All such is malicious slander -against God, His Church and His people; but as stereotyped as this may -sound, it is being used effectually everywhere. If a church preaches -salvation from sin, it is the poor man's best friend; but reference to the -church and the preacher is often hissed in gatherings of toiling men. -Unless there shall come to this land the establishment of the -righteousness of Christ, as taught in His Gospel, we shall see another -reign of terror; the fires of restlessness, hate, and discontent are -smouldering in every shop, factory, and mine. "The Golden Age will never -come until it is brought in by the Golden Rule of Christ." The Devil is -busy keeping these facts from becoming known. The doctrine stated: we are -in it to serve a selfish end; take away our hope of advantages, and our -faith becomes religious junk. - - - - -XVI - -THE DEVIL A THEOLOGIAN (_Continued_) - - -One of the Devil's tactics is to make much ado about nothing. It is -astonishing how sane people can be deluded over childish non-essentials. -Think of the doctrine of Abstinence; at certain seasons be holy with a -vengeance. It is a mortal sin to let down during certain days and moons; -no meats, no riotous gormandizing, no wine, no dancing, no theatre going, -when the season is holy. But are we not so commanded concerning the -Sabbath day? The Sabbath day must be kept holy, but if our moral standard -and relationship fall below during the week what we are supposed to make -them on Sabbath, our piety is a farce. - -An incident will illustrate. It was a steamboat excursion; drinking and -dancing were freely indulged in by the hilarious passengers. A _parson_ -was among them; he danced not, neither did he look upon the wine that was -red. He looked sad--_it was Lent_. One week later we beheld this same -_parson_ in full evening dress gracefully waltzing with one of the lambs -of his flock. Amazing spectacle! Robes of holiness to-day, with fastings -and prayers; to-morrow, broadcloth, perfume, patent leathers, and arms -encircling a maiden in the dizzy whirl of the dance. Paul saw such times -coming and warned against them. - -There are many more, but we shall mention only one more: the gigantic -system of saints' worship. What does this mean? Anything that diverts and -absorbs the attention away from things fundamental is surely of evil -origin. His fall began when he conceived hatred and jealousy of Jesus; now -if he can get people to pay a part or all of their homage to Mary, or any -one of the many "saints," just so the Son of God is robbed of His glory -and neglected, his devilish malice is somewhat gratified. There is a long -list of dead worthies who are reverenced and supplicated unto daily; but -high over all is the "Virgin Mother of God." After the birth of the -Saviour Mary was the wife of Joseph, and bore children as a natural -mother--she was not a virgin. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me;" -"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images--thou shalt not bow down -to them." "Doctrines of Devils." - -Spiritual minded students of the Bible and human conduct are forced to the -conclusion that the Devil is not only a wise theologian, but he is a great -_preacher_; and, as we have learned, he has a mighty gospel which he -preaches with effectiveness and power. He has clearly defined doctrines -which he promulgates at such times and places as will best meet the -desired end. But with cunning craftiness he preaches his dogmas and tenets -everywhere: housetops, society parlours, centres of business, -legislatures, court rooms, barrooms, and bawdy houses, as well as in -pulpits. This sounds like a strange mixture: "the sacred desk" associated -with such an array of evil--_ad absurdum_. If the pulpit is immune, why -Paul's exhortation? Doctrines presuppose a preacher, and also an effort to -gain an audience whenever and wherever possible. - -Yes, the Devil preaches, and if doors are barred he forces an entrance: -home and foreign missions, slums, emigrants, aristocrats and sports. He -has access to scores of avenues where the Gospel of Christ never enters; -but under the cover of human interests he takes the field with our Lord -Jesus and His ministers, offering a more beautiful, excellent, easier and -successful way. As God's method of saving the world is by the foolishness -of preaching, what better agency of opposition could be launched than -_preaching_? Nothing. Far stronger is the expulsive than the opposing -power. The most dangerous poison in the world is the kind that hides its -death in a cup of sweetness; a child eats a sugar-coated pill and never -recovers. Hell is peopled by the multitudes who have drunk at the Devil's -fountain of soothing, satisfying poison. He keeps his deluded patrons from -the fountain of cleansing by an easier way to delectable fountains, the -waters of which paralyze with the chill of death. - -We note another very remarkable fact concerning the Devil's doctrines and -his style of preaching. Christ's ministers often fail because of a lack of -adaptability; "he overshot his crowd" is the comment often heard. The -genius of this subject does not make this mistake; he is a past-master at -adaptability; to those who have a feeble, fluttering conscience for -spiritual things he has the sincere milk of the word that soothes and -sustains; but for his robust followers, whom he has bound in chains -stronger than those which bound Prometheus, he gives the meat of -diabolism, prepared and seasoned by a skill of six thousand years' -practice. - -Place your ear at the keyhole where his children are conducting a "revival -meeting"--high carnival of sin--and hear the ideas of God, salvation, -preachers, the Church, and the hereafter. This is the strong gospel -referred to; the gospel that fires the masses with hate and prejudice -against the only means of human redemption. Yes, he preaches, preaches, -preaches, and from every nook and corner; ten messengers to one preaching -the Christ; his preachers support themselves, and touch the highways and -byways; his lines are gone out into all the earth, circumscribing sea and -land. The Devil gets an intelligent hearing. He has a long catalogue of -doctrines, but he does not believe a single one of them. We should be wise -enough to eliminate them from our creed also. - - - - -XVII - -THE DEVIL'S RIGHTEOUSNESS - - "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain."--_Jude 11._ - - "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to - establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto - the righteousness of God."--_Romans x. 3._ - - -We are becoming, according to the canons of this world, a righteous -nation; the standard of civic and commercial righteousness is elevated as -never before. Sleuth-hounds are scenting every indication of misrule and -running to earth evil-doers, high and low. Our cities are keeping tab -rigidly on sewerage, cesspools, and outhouses; a persistent war is being -waged on flies, mosquitoes, and germs of all kinds. Private citizens are -everywhere organizing to coöperate with officials for public welfare. -Corporation and municipal rings must answer at the bar of an outraged -public conscience. - -Righteousness is in the air; it resounds from the pulpit, platform and -press. Chautauqua specialists who have discovered some deflection in the -political and social woof and warp declare, amid salutes of fluttering -handkerchiefs, the righteousness of twentieth century standards. Preaching -on the cardinal doctrines of the Bible has been displaced by rhetorical -messages on altruism: light, ethics, mercy, cleanness, goodness. "The -fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man," with a flavour of -intellectualism, is the gospel that is now being emphasized with much -gusto, and never fails to solicit the indorsement of all denominations. -"Be good and do good" is the _multum in parvo_ of present day -righteousness. - -Who but a chronic faultfinder could object to this upward move, so obvious -now in all directions? The world is getting kinder, more sympathetic, more -charitable; creed lines are dissolving like snow under an April sun; -sectarian prejudice is dying under the withering frown of new ideals. Does -this not indicate a gradual leavening of the "whole lump"? The spirit of -Christ, they tell us, is being adopted everywhere. He is mounting the -throne of universal empire, and the time surely is not far distant when -the social, political, commercial and domestic life will be regenerated by -His influence. Yes--it would appear so to be; much that is done bears a -Christian label; it comes in the name of Christ; but, says a writer, "it -is the Christ of Bethlehem and not the Christ of the Cross." It is the -human Christ and not the sacrificial--the exponent of a blood Atonement. - -The righteousness that has the full swing of modern religionists makes -much of Christ's "example," His beautiful character and -self-abandonment--"He went about doing good." Much attention is given to -studying His leadership, His pedagogy, His art of public address, His -humanity. His example and not His sacrifice saves the world; step by step -the human Christ has displaced the Christ of Calvary; His atonement was -misguided zeal. This propaganda, on the surface, is reasonable and -popular; but close scrutiny will reveal a poison as dangerous as it is -subtle. It leaves out the Blood; it is a glorification of Man. "Count the -number of the beast, for it is the number of man." - -This issue is an old one; it became an entering wedge in the religious -life when the first services were held after the Fall. Cain and Abel made -altars; Cain piled his high with beautiful, luscious fruits of the field. -No festal board ever looked more tempting, loaded with sweet smelling -fruit, having variegated colours, than the altar which Cain presented to -God. They were the results of his own sweat and toil; he offered them as -the "first fruits." But God rejected the offering; somehow the very beauty -and attractiveness of it all insulted Him. - -Abel's altar was smeared with blood; on top lay a limp, bleeding lamb. -Nothing attractive about this picture; our esthetic nature recoils at the -gore and cruelty of such an offering. Yet God graciously accepted this -bloody, unsightly offering; and no doubt rained fire upon it--anyhow, Abel -was justified. Why did God reject the one and accept the other? Cain and -Abel alike had been taught from their infancy that "without the shedding -of blood there shall be no remission of sin." By transgression man stood -as an alien before God; he had forfeited divine favour. Notwithstanding, -Cain boldly brought before God a bloodless sacrifice, and presumes to -force Him to accept it. Through all the millenniums before Christ every -approach to God must contain in the sacrifices and offerings an element -which reminded God of the coming Atonement. He declared: "For the life of -the flesh is the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make -an atonement for your soul. For it is the blood that maketh an atonement -for the soul" (Lev. xvii. 11). - -Coming directly to the point: all this new notion of things, touching -Man's religion, fast becoming prevalent is the "way of Cain," with a -twentieth century touch and terminology. What is the essence of this new -righteousness? what does it do? Observe, it sets aside God's estimate of -man, and ignores the plan of redemption He established at the beginning in -types and shadows, then consummated in the atoning death of His Son on the -Cross. The righteousness of to-day has much in it to commend; but it -utterly disregards the only feature upon which God places emphasis. The -Blood and the Cross, as of old, is an offense; they have found a more -excellent way, but it is the "way of Cain." It is offering -self-righteousness rather than seeking the righteousness of God. The -bloody offering of Abel suggested suffering, punishment, death, -judgment--but it honoured God. Modern righteousness scoffs at the Abel -offerings by hanging a wreath of flowers on the Cross, bearing a perfumed -tag, "With sympathy." It is Cain setting up business in town once more. A -sacrificial propitiation for sin is unnecessary when we have "inherent -goodness." The modern righteousness contends that each man has -self-redemptive qualities; all he needs is a chance. Salvation is not -internal, but external. - -The Cainites are filling the earth; they are preaching the popular -sermons, writing the magazine articles, the poetry, the fiction; they -occupy the chief synagogue seats of seminaries; they are conspicuous at -all chatauquas and baccalaureate occasions. - -It is a well-known psychological fact that evil cannot exist apart from -Personality--whether it be bad laws, bad books, bad town, or a bad house. -Whence comes all this audacious, undermining insult to the whole sweep of -God's plan for saving the world? Whence comes all this preaching about -righteousness which places the crown on man, and robs the Cross of its -glory? The righteousness being sounded in double diapason and angelus keys -is _the righteousness of the Devil_. Bear in mind it is _Righteousness_, -and a high type of it, he demands; he wants the offering of Cain to cover -up all the needs of the soul--cheat the blood of its merit--insult God, -and lead the race through a bowery of flowers, fruits, and music on to its -ruin. Anything to cheat the depositum of the Gospel--that which gives a -title to heaven--the precious Blood. The righteousness that leaves out the -Blood is the "way of Cain"--"the righteousness of the Devil." - - - - -XVIII - -THE WORLD'S TEMPTER - - "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and - showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and - sayeth unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall - down and worship me."--_Matthew iv. 8-9._ - - -Temptation is a seduction: meaning to allure or entice one to evil. It is -submitting a proposition which carries with it inducements of pleasure or -gain. The mind that accedes readily and willingly to an act is not -tempted. A temptation is a clash of wills, one being superior to the other -if the contest results in a yielding. The word embodies the idea of an -elastic--"stretched to the snapping point." If there is no response, no -struggle against desire--it is not a temptation. The Master was very man -as well as very God; yet strange as it may seem--_He was really tempted_, -and just as we are. - -Our purpose in this discussion is not to analyze the different phases of -our Lord's temptation--the tests to which He was subjected,--but we wish -to emphasize one thing: He was _tempted_. The appeals came from His old -time enemy; His rival for supremacy. He was not taken unawares; the facts -were clearly before Him, just who and what it all meant--yet He was -tempted. The diabolical assault did not cease until His threefold nature -was "stretched to the snapping point." It came from an inferior being, and -for sake of illustration, had the scheme succeeded, the Sun of -righteousness would have gone down forever. Not only would the great plan -of human redemption have proved abortive, but Satan would have snatched -the sceptre from the hand of the Anointed One and shouted his victory in -the face of God. We are amazed to think of the only Begotten being near -the yielding point in the presence of the fallen Lucifer, but the Book -says He was tempted. - -Some may contend that He could not have yielded; all the while He was -conscious of divine security. This conclusion forces another untenable -proposition: If He could not have yielded, His humanity was not real, but -veiled in His divinity; the temptation was only a shadow. We insist that -as a man Jesus was tempted; He could have called to His aid supernatural -intervention, but He did not. The issue was met as every man must meet it; -it was manhood that conquered. Had He yielded, both manhood and divinity -would have become subservient to the enemy. "Fall down and worship me" was -the proposition. - -Now we wish to make a few deductions from our Lord's temptation. Whatever -includes the greater includes the lesser--_a fortiori_. Natural man -reached his highest expression in Jesus of Nazareth; He was God's exponent -of human perfection. There were no weaknesses, no lack of pose or -symmetry; His penetration and judgment of others were absolutely accurate. -From the beginning He had known the Evil One who faced Him. Now, with all -those perfect endowments, the record says _He was tempted_. The ingenuity -of Satan was sufficient to bring out all the resources of the Son of God. -Here was the greatest, wisest, purest and strongest man that ever walked -upon the earth--susceptible, influenced, strained to the "snapping point," -when attacked by the Tempter. What will be the inevitable fate of you and -me, dear reader, whenever he selects us as his victims? - -The unmistakable teachings of the Word are that every temptation to which -man is or ever has been subjected came fresh from the seething caldron of -the pit. The student of human conduct has observed universal adaptability -of all temptation. A great sagacious intelligence seems to be managing -personally, through his cohorts, this campaign of promising propositions. -There are some who can be incited to commit horrible crimes, such as -murder, incendiary, born perhaps with vicious tendencies, but this class -is comparatively small; others are susceptible to deeds of milder -character. It would matter little to an army approaching a fortification -where or how the attack should be made if the walls at every point were -weak and crumbling. No time is spent in reconnoitre and playing for -position; but if the battlements be strong, a faulty place must be located -if there be one. Satan rarely ever blunders in laying his temptations; he -is a most skillful strategist. As the world's tempter he reveals an -ingenuity that is truly astounding; it should cause the bravest heart to -shudder once the eyes are opened to the source. Knowledge of his -approaches, marches, countermarches, advancings, and retreats--all with a -specific object--ought to be a great breakwater. - -A writer gives us a striking word picture of Satan's methods: "As the -enemy who lays siege to a city finds out the weakest portion of the wall, -or the best spot to batter it, or the lowest and safest place to scale it, -or where the intervening obstacle may be easiest overcome, or where an -advantage may be taken, or where an entrance may be effected, or when is -the best time, or what is the best means to secure the desired end, so the -arch-deceiver and destroyer of souls goes about, watchful, intent upon -ruin, scanning all the powers of the mind, inspecting all the avenues to -the heart and assailing every unguarded spot. Sometimes he attacks our -understanding by injecting erroneous doctrine; sometimes our affections by -excessive devotion to things we love; sometimes our wills by strengthening -them in wrong directions; sometimes our imaginations by vain, foolish, -trifling thoughts; and sometimes our feelings by too high or too low -excitation." - -Some one has called Satan and his subordinates not omnipresent, but -"shifting imps." They swarm the air, invisible, because they are spirit, -watching for opportunities to edge their way into the hearts of mankind. -They are shifting position, always to a point of least resistance. Like a -current of electricity, always flowing from a point of higher potential -pressure to one of lower, if points are connected by a conductor. The -metallic substances from which the current starts and towards which it -flows are called "electrodes," and are always of different potentiality. -The current passes from the one of higher to the lower. Man in his own -strength is the lower, and unprotected by the Spirit of God cannot resist -the evil currents flowing from Satan continually. - - - - -XIX - -THE CONFIDENCE MAN - - "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which - believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is - the image of God, should shine unto them."--_2 Corinthians iv. 4._ - - -History is one long, tragic recital of human sorrow and suffering; but -there is far more unwritten history than has ever been recorded on the -printed page. Along the march of civilization all that has come down to us -are the lives and doings of great men; we know little of the heart agonies -of the race--such as cannot be recorded--language is inadequate. Most of -history is a record of man's inhumanity to man, but historians deal with -these dark pages only on the higher levels. The greatest suffering, the -bitterest cries of anguish, the deepest wails of despair are in the -lowlands of human life: down where its pathos can never be known. The -darkest tragedies of war are lost by the gallant heroism of some officer; -the blood and carnage are overshadowed and forgotten by the heralds of -victory. The real pathos of war remains unnoticed by the chroniclers and -correspondents; it is found in the heart suffering of the dying in the -trenches; the black pall that settles over the homes made desolate by the -news from the front. - -The saddest stories of life will never be told; they are the voiceless -agonies and smothered sobs from victims of human treachery and deceit. -Millions are shambling on their weary way, waiting for the end, whose -hearts are dead and buried in graves of misplaced confidence. More -domestic lights have been extinguished, more love dreams turned from a -sweet phantasy to an horrid nightmare, more bodies fished from the river, -more shocking tragedies have resulted directly from this cause--misplaced -and wrecked confidence--than from all other causes of human wretchedness. - -An illustration from actual life will serve to bring the caption of this -chapter--the Confidence Man--out in bold relief. An honest old farmer, -whose horizon had not extended beyond the obscure Indiana neighbourhood, -sold his little home and started for Kansas, hoping to enlarge his -possessions and give his sons and daughters a larger sphere of -opportunity. That they might see the wonders of a great city, arrangements -were secured for a three days' stop-over at St. Louis. The Confidence Man -saw them pass through the iron gate into the lobby. He first noted the -train on which they had come to the city. With great enthusiasm he greeted -the old gentleman, introduced himself, extending a business card of his -"firm." With cunning palaver, and the guilelessness of the farmer--item -after item of information as to name and where they came from were -obtained. The man who said he thought he recognized the old gentleman soon -became satisfied of it--having an uncle living in the same county--and "I -have often heard him speak of you, etc., etc." - -It required only a short time to not only gain the confidence of the -whole family, but also to get all the facts concerning their business -affairs: how much the little farm brought, and how much they had left to -begin life in the west, and actual cash on hand. There was not a hitch in -the scheme; the new friend (?) loaded them with kindnesses and courtesies, -paid all the bills at lunch and theatre--took the young people into the -mysteries of the great wonderland--all so new and strange. - -It was the last afternoon; father and Mr. Confidence Man were returning -from a tour of sightseeing. They met a man walking in great haste; looking -up he saw the two men, and suddenly laid violent hands on the "farmer's -friend," demanding the payment of a note three days overdue. They -quarrelled; all manner of apologies were made, that he was "entertaining -an old friend, etc.," all of which caused the Shylock to grow more enraged -and unreasonable; they almost came to blows. - -Finally the old man's benefactor asked to see him for a moment alone. Then -meekly humble, and with many regrets, asked for a loan of enough to pay -the note. "We will go right down to my office, and I will reimburse you -with big interest for the kindness." The honest old man was only too glad -for an opportunity of returning, by such a little act, the kindness that -had been shown him. The note was almost one thousand dollars; when the -bills were counted out, less than ten dollars remained in his purse--the -savings of a lifetime. - -Proceeding on their way until they reached the first saloon, "It is my -treat, uncle," said the man. After the drinks were served, he asked to be -excused for a moment, and stepped into a back room from the bar--he was -seen no more. After a long time, the barkeeper informed the old man that -his _friend_ was one of the worst crooks in St. Louis. With less than ten -dollars he staggered out of the saloon, wandered over the city dazed and -half insane. On the following day he was found down on the wharf crying -like a child. What had happened? He had been in the hands of a Confidence -Man. - -There are being formed in all walks of life--high and low--associations -and alliances, spurred on and incited by extravagant promises--the hook -baited according to the fish--which culminates in certain disaster. The -pathway of life is strewn with victims of Confidence friends--instead of -friends. As in all these subtle and dangerous diversions we believe every -trap and scheme are under the direct control and supervision of -Satan--playing the rôle of Confidence Man. Many with a natural impulse for -pleasure knock, and at once arms are wide open to receive them; lust -beckons, and the Broad Way becomes choked with her votaries; covetousness -shouts her promises, and the love of money soon burns out every high and -holy aspiration. Fame holds the chaplet in full view, and men are ready to -exchange heaven in order to have it pressed upon their brow. - -But alas, in the end--in the end--"it biteth like a serpent and stingeth -like an adder." When the curtain falls, too late to recover, we shall be -found on eternity's shore, shipwrecked, robbed, ruined--victims of the -great seducer. No one but an incarnate devil could stoop to the low plane -of Confidence Man in business and social life; but think of what it means: -by flattering promises, smiles, and kindness force an entrance into the -heart life, and when once in possession, desecrate, prostitute, and -destroy. We insist that it takes a devil-possessed man to operate in this -particular field, and the world is full of such. We therefore conclude he -is the god of this planet, blinding the eyes of his unnumbered victims. - - - - -XX - -THE TRAPPER - - "And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, - who are taken captive by him at his will."--_2 Timothy ii. 26._ - - "Surely he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler."--_Psalm - xci. 3._ - - -To be a trapper requires something more than setting traps and baiting -them. The old trapper returns from a season spent among mountains, rivers, -and forests--ladened with valuable furs of every kind: beaver, bear, -otter, fox, mink, wildcat, coon, opossum, etc. Remember the animal kingdom -is infinite in variety; no two alike. A trap that will catch a beaver will -not answer as a bear trap; a coon and a mink are as far removed from each -other as a polished American and a native of Madagascar. A coon will not -go within a rod of a chain, but have little if any keenness of scent for -protection. A rat will not go near an object if the smell of human hands -is on it. - -Volumes of natural history would be inadequate to give the details of -differentiation of the animal kingdom. The old trapper in his log cabin -has never read a page of zoölogy, but is far more familiar with the ways -of the furry folk than the scientists who write our books on natural -history. The trapper is a graduate from the school of Association; he has -studied the traits and pranks of the forest inhabitants by observation at -close range. He knows just where the mink can be caught, and just how the -trap must be baited and concealed; he has the same information about all -the rest, and can apply it. Once when a child, we were enraptured until -late bedtime by the stories of an old trapper: telling about "the -different varmints." Without drawing on his imagination, he could have -added many chapters to the tales of "Uncle Remus." The facts about our -furry friends are far more interesting than fiction; the trapper knows -about these facts. - -The Psalmist calls Satan a fowler; one who sets traps for old and young as -the fowler sets traps for fowls. How is it done? Leaves and weeds are -carefully cleared away, and the trap is skillfully set by a trigger, so -that the slightest touch will spring it. The ground is also cleared for -several rods leading off in front of the trap; suitable food is scattered -under the trap and all along the clean strip of ground. The birds -excitedly follow the line of "food"--walking under the trap where it is -scattered in abundance. In the scuffle, the trigger is soon touched; -behold the trap falls, and they are caught; oh, how they beat their heads -against the prison bars until they are covered with blood, but all is -over. They are caught in the snare of the fowler. - -Every animal and fowl will flee from the approach of danger; the trap must -be hid, or in some way made to appear as something harmless; nature has -endowed them to seek always self-preservation. With nothing but instinct -to guide, they are easily caught by the skill and cunning of man, but -never caught in the open; some, however, are more easily caught than -others, but they must be trapped. - -The Bible teaches that the Devil is a trapper; his snares are set -everywhere--they are man traps; no spider ever spun a web more accurately -for the moth than Satan's traps to catch men. It requires certain bait and -certain traps for each particular animal and bird, but the snares for men -are legion. Man has a threefold nature: body, mind, and spirit; each of -these have many avenues of approach. As the trapper gains his knowledge of -the furry tribe by association, so the Trapper of men, by the application -of supernatural powers, in close contact and intimate association through -the past millenniums, has become intimately acquainted with man. - -There are no facts touching his habitat, food, passions, ambitions, -weaknesses, yearnings, etc.--whether in the realm of body, mind or -spirit--but the cunning trapper of the pit is more minutely acquainted -than man is acquainted with himself. - -If guileless and unsuspecting men and women were the only victims, the -situation would not be so serious; not that one soul is of more value than -another, but the facts are: _no one_ seems to be capable of discovering -his hidden snares. The greatest and wisest--Alexanders, Anthonys, -Napoleons, kings, sages and philosophers--have been captured by him at his -will. What a shudder would go over the race if it could penetrate the veil -of mystery and see the traps towards which we are moving; moving on to -certain capture, but for Providential oversight and guidance. Domestic -traps, political traps, social traps, business traps, religious traps; -the location and bait are suited to individual likes and dislikes. - - "My soul be on thy guard; ten thousand foes arise." - -Our country is just beginning to awake to a system of trapping now being -carried on in every city and town, so gigantic and heinous that we are -dazed and frightened at its boldness. The great White Slave Traffic is -carried on by traps, pure and simple; as carefully planned and skillfully -executed as the methods of an old trapper who remains in the primeval -forest to supply the fur market. The feelers and tentacles of this human -devil-fish are running out in the highways and hedges: the factories, -mills, department stores. But the traffic is not confined to the poor, -uneducated girls at the ribbon counter or waist factory; girls of culture -and experience are caught, but the bait used is very different. When once -caught, not one in ten thousand ever escapes. - -A being less than a fallen archangel could never have instituted the White -Slave Traffic. A man or woman not incarnated by the Devil or some of his -minions could never promulgate a system so vile, so inhuman, so hellish, -as the traffic of innocent flesh and blood, to be offered and burned on -the altars of lust for gain. Compared with the White Slave Traffic, as it -is prosecuted by the panderers and procurers, negro slavery, at its worst, -the extermination of which the bloodiest war ever fought on this planet -was waged, is like the vilest ribaldry ever sung in a den of vice to a Te -Deum. Lest we forget--Satan is an expert trapper--the king of trappers. - - - - -XXI - -THE INCOMPARABLE ARCHER - - "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God.... Stand therefore, - having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate - of righteousness.... Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith - ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the - wicked."--_Ephesians vi. 13, 14, 16._ - - -When traps, tricks, seductions, and quackery, temptations, etc., fail, -Satan adds victims to his long list by destroying them at long range. -While in a mountain peak vision of inspiration Paul sees the enemy as a -wrestler, a trickster, a schemer, and even a more dangerous rôle than -either: a skilled marksman. By keeping close to God, and keeping ourselves -unspotted from the world, we may stay his blighting touch from personal -contact; but there seems to be no absolute safety until we are shielded by -the "whole armour of God." - -There are "evil days," days of visitation and distress, over which no one -has control; at such times we may not be conscious of any satanic -presence; yet confusion, doubt, fear and anxiety have complete control -over mind and heart. These days, and their depressing effect, can only be -warded off by the protection of the "whole armour"; for emphasis, Paul -mentions it twice in the same paragraph. An armour is a coat of mail -covering the body, made so as to be impenetrable to the missile of death. -The Apostle does not stop with a partial equipment; the head and feet -also must be properly covered. Especially does he emphasize the -_shield_--that great polished, concave steel disk, strapped to the left -arm, so that a thrust from sword, arrow, or spear can be easily deflected. -As it is carried on the arm it can be raised or lowered so as to protect -the whole body. - -This arrow-protecting shield must be wrought in faith, that mysterious -relation which unites the soul with God. The antithesis of Paul's language -implies that when Satan makes certain efforts to wound the soul, the -shield of faith alone can save. The fight is not ended when we come out -victor in a hand to hand conflict, but must next prepare to meet a shower -of "fiery darts." A dart is an arrow shot from a bow; a fiery dart is a -flaming torch attached to the arrow. - -In all ages, until the days of powder and firearms, soldiers were equipped -with bow and arrows. Arrowheads were made of steel, and as keen as -needles. The battle-axe and broadsword were used when the lines met, but -showers of arrows would fall upon the enemy with as much fatality as a -round of grape and canister. Often the arrows would be freshly dipped in a -deadly poison, and in that case the slightest wound would result in -certain death. When a fort or city was being besieged, the arrows would -carry a ball of tow, having been saturated in oil; hundreds of these -flaming darts would fall on the inside of the fortification and start a -general conflagration. - -This method was practiced by the American Indians when they could not -reach a fort, blockhouse, or stockade because of the white man's gun; -these flaming torches, falling in great number, were more to be dreaded -than the tomahawk and scalping knife of the savages. - -Satan shoots "fiery darts"--arrows--at us; he may come, as he did to the -Master, and find nothing in us; our hearts may be clean. But from a source -entirely unexpected--here comes a flaming arrow--burning its way into the -heart, igniting with hatred and misunderstanding friends and enemies in a -manner never dreamed of before. How often the blow comes from the one -place least expected, and for that reason all the more deadly. We are -guarded in some directions, but over the walls of our stockade the Devil -sends his fiery darts, and we are swept away in a satanic conflagration. -It requires the "whole armour"--and the shield of faith to quench the -flaming arrows from his quiver. He is the world's incomparable archer; -when all other methods fail, he shoots us with poisoned, fiery darts. - -The mother of Achilles baptized him in the river Styx, making him -invulnerable to the weapons of the enemy; she held him by the heel during -the baptismal ceremony; the heel only remained untouched by the protecting -waters of the fabulous Styx. One of the gods became acquainted with this -fact, and shot him to death in the heel, the one vulnerable spot. Again, -we repeat, we are not safe without the "whole armour of God," and the -"shield of faith." Bear in mind, also, the Incomparable Archer takes a -more deliberate aim if it is a shining mark, and exults most when he can -lay low in the dust, wounded and disabled, one dowered with unusual -capacity for noble service. - - - - -XXII - -THE FATHER OF LIARS - - "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will - do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, - because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh - of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."--_John viii. 44._ - - "Sin has many tools, but a lie is a handle which fits them all."--_O. - W. Holmes._ - - -Satan opened his propaganda with a slanderous lie; this lie was believed -by the innocent parents of the race. Simple and modest as this lie seemed -to be, it opened a crevice in the moral government of God. Confidence, -fellowship, and filial relations were destroyed by the breach. The nature -and character of a lie may best be understood, and we can get the estimate -God places on it, by carefully studying the damages it wrought. Eden was -lost, God's favour lost, peace and plenty lost, innocence lost; -humiliation, fear, banishment, toil, sweat, suffering and death took the -place of Eden's pristine glories. - -Nothing so reveals the depths to which Lucifer had fallen--and his great -intelligence, losing none of its acumen, exercised in a way fitting to his -depravity of character, as the launching of a lie. He has done nothing -since--which more clearly exemplifies the Being our Bible teaches that he -is. An egg was laid and a lie was hatched; this lie has gone out -spreading at a geometrical progression until the infinitude of God's -footstool has felt the discordant jar. - -A lie, and the Father of it; think of this tremendous statement. The -thought will overwhelm our intelligence. Suppose all the peoples that have -lived on the earth were lined up: to simplify matters--consider the -billion and a half supposed to be living on the earth to-day; just a small -part of the number belongs to civilized, christianized nations. What is -the situation? Under all the light of education and moral standards, -justice, full and untrammelled, can scarcely be had, because of false -swearing. An eminent authority says nine-tenths of the race has a price; -this means that only one-tenth will rigidly adhere to the whole truth. How -few will swear to their own hurt and change not. - -Let us study this gigantic proposition from another view-point: every -unregenerated heart is full of deceit. In every unregenerated heart there -is a germ of all the sins of the Decalogue; lying is one of the "shall -nots." A close student of men will agree with the Apostle Paul, when he -said: "I have no confidence in the flesh." Carnality will not swear -against its own interests; the status of civilization, whether in religion -or morals, does not seem to control this matter. When we consider the -falsehood and false swearing which obtain among the _best_ people, -socially, financially, and so often religiously, then think of the -millions living without moral standards, we can begin to appreciate the -amount of lying carried on in this world. - -As lying is one of the outputs of carnality, and human selfishness is the -tap root of carnality, and selfishness dominates the entire race, with -rare exceptions here and there, we can understand how easily and naturally -prevarication and lying become efficient tools to further personal -interests. We once attended a celebrated criminal case in court; scores of -witnesses were summoned on both sides; a bar of attorneys fought -desperately every inch of ground. The prosecution covered the case beyond -any question to the perfect satisfaction of the jury. And the witnesses -were, in the main, both respectable and intelligent. - -But behold, when the defense produced their side of the case, the -witnesses equally honest looking and intelligent, every point of evidence -made by the prosecution was absolutely refuted. A new story was told; a -new case from the one just stated. Think of it--on both sides there were -eye-witnesses; then every witness on one side or the other perjured -themselves--and perhaps all of them on both sides. - -So completely has the father of liars woven the spirit of falsehood into -the moral fibre of men that a sense of its fearful character is almost -obliterated. Men make fortunes, secure positions, are elected to office, -destroy rivals, win unsuspecting love, seduce innocence, and subdue -kingdoms, by being an obedient offspring of their father, inheriting his -disposition and ability to breathe out falsehood. Liars are children of -the Devil. - -Think of the almost infinite resources for evil: "father of liars" does -not fully justify the situation. While it is true he originated the first -lie, and the lying spirit has ever widened through the stream of racial -propagation; but the clearer interpretation signifies that he is the -father of _lies_. "See," he whispers, "the advantages to be gained--don't -be white livered--tell it; get the hush money--make the promise--swear you -did not see it--tell her how devotedly you love her, etc." Who has not met -these insidious pulls on the conscience? - -Yes, but he is only acting now as a tempter. Quite true; but when the will -gives away, the oath, the promise, the false statement is made under a -furious lashing of the conscience. The lie belongs to him; he -originated--suggested--formulated it; then literally drew it out with -quite as much pain as is felt during the extraction of a tooth by a -dentist. - -It has been said: "The Devil will leave his own brat on your door-step, -then accuse you of being its father." This is an inelegant, though a -striking statement of a great truth. When he is unable to bring -forth--deliver, etc.--his own conception, he at once charges us of being -guilty of the thing conceived: the lie, vile imagination, or whatever it -may be, quoting Scripture to prove it: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so -is he." "Now," he declares, "you are guilty anyhow; why not enjoy the -benefits?" Father of lies; millions of them spawned every day and hour: -big lies, little lies, business lies, social lies, political lies, and not -a few--religious lies, black lies, white lies, church lies. - - - - -XXIII - -KINGSHIP OF SATAN - - "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the prince of the power - of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of - disobedience."--_Ephesians ii. 2._ - - "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against - principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of - this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."--_Ephesians - vi. 12._ - - -In a former chapter we discussed the origin of Satan, he being an -archangel--Lucifer--a great shining leader of the heavenly hosts; now in -his fallen estate he is no less a leader. A writer has said: "He seems to -have been the rightful prince of this earth, but he has become the -traitor-prince through being untrue to the trust; and the usurper-prince -through seeking to retain control of the earth as his own dominion, -through deceiving man, to whom the earth's dominion was given, into -obeying him, and in utter defiance of God." The angels which kept not -their first estate, but went down with his insurrection, are his subjects. - -He is superior in all villainies, but the Scriptures call him a King -ruling his cohorts, and is the "angel of the bottomless pit." As angel he -retains his old title, but as _king_, his relations stand out -significantly. As chief Devil--archdemon--the title would imply rather -_Primus inter pares_; as commander-in-chief, a general of the highest -rank. He is all these things: he gives special oversight to field -operations, conducts personally great campaigns, retreats here, advances -there, charges yonder--but his real aim is to get this world back under -his own control; he would put himself in God's place--drive Him out, -dethrone Him, kill Him off, that he might take it all to himself, and rule -supremely. - -However, he is _king_, and as such he is raised above the rank of -leadership and commander. We are already familiar with his rank, but the -purpose of this chapter is to show, specifically, that as a king his -kingship has a much wider range than the bottomless pit. It is threefold. -First, as angel of the bottomless pit, he is king of the _underworld_, the -land of shadows, gloom, utter darkness; the land of eternal despair. We -must depend upon the _Infernos_, evolved from a burning imagination, in -order to get any conception of that region. Fearful as the scenes are, a -close reading of the Scriptures will reveal a condition of things so -terrible that the things seen by Dante and Virgil are not overdrawn. Over -this land of woe and suffering Satan is the unlimited monarch. - -Second, he is king of the _upper world_. This statement sounds very -strange; it would appear that God is entirely ruled out of His creation. -But observe the language: "prince of the power of the air." Just what this -means in its fullness no one should dare to be dogmatic, but certainly the -language cannot be meaningless words. We can but conclude that Satan, in -some measure, controls the forces of the physical world: storms, cyclones, -cloud bursts, tidal waves, lightning bolts, earthquakes, etc. Certainly, -as a _destroyer_, he uses the agencies of destruction; his business is to -fill the world with doubt, fear, distress and suffering. - -A man has a little child killed by lightning, and he curses God. Does this -not look as if a diabolical schemer was manipulating the affair some way? -We must admit his power is permitted, and that proposition forces another -to the front. Why does God allow or permit his ravages? We have no answer; -the ravages go on. We might ask with just as much reason: "Why doesn't God -kill the Devil?" He certainly is able to do it, or at least stop his -progress. But He does not; Satan is evidently running at large, filling -the world with broken hearts and all the accompanying evils which, -otherwise, would not occur. - -That we may be able to strengthen our opinion as to the prerogatives of -this "prince of the power of the air," let us remember the circumstances -of Job's calamities. This case is undoubtedly authentic, and the record -says that Satan actually controlled the powers of the air. The servant of -Job thought God rained fire on the sheep and burned them, but the whole -affair had been turned over to the tormentor. The visitations sent on the -faithful man of Uz were not from the hand of God; they were manipulated by -his satanic lordship--the Devil. Then a great wind came--possibly a -tornado or cyclone--and blew the house down wherein Job's children were -enjoying themselves. - -Concerning Satan's relation--controlling and directing the forces of -nature--we shall not conture a dogmatic position. The definite statements -and incidents from the inspired record are significant indeed. Strange -things occur: a great vessel loaded with Sunday revellers goes down with -scarcely a moment's warning; a tidal wave destroys thousands; an -earthquake leaves a city in ruins with fearful loss of life. Does the -loving, compassionate Father send these calamities? Would it not be a -terrible indictment? But the Bible gives incidents where He did send -death-dealing visitations upon the people. Certainly. Many believe that -God uses Satan, in his vicious administration, to visit His wrath upon -places and people. However, God has given him the title of "prince of the -power of the air"--the "wickedness in high places." - -The third realm of his kingship is terrestrial; in this he is given a -stronger title than prince or king; "The god of this world." Besides, he -is the "prince of darkness," and the "prince of this world." So real are -his presence and power manifested here that Paul declares the contest is -like a wrestling boute. This figure, examined closely, will open up a -great continent of truth concerning our enemy, of whom we must meet in -hand to hand conflict. See the wrestlers writhe and strain; agony is -depicted on their faces; the muscles contract into hard knots, -perspiration bursting from every pore. All the strength of every nerve and -muscle, wrought up to their full capacity, is exerted. "We wrestle," he -declares, and not with flesh and blood; but "against principalities and -against powers," "rulers of the darkness of this world." - -The great religious reformers since Paul's day have left a similar -testimony concerning this terrestrial enemy; his personality has never -been questioned by men who were positive powers in the realm of spiritual -warfare. After Martin Luther had produced a nation-wide reformation, -having been delivered from the bondage of a Benedictine monk by a -revelation to his own soul that the "just shall live by faith," he -declared: "Satan semper mehi dixit falsum dogma." Shall we deny the oft -told story that Luther threw his inkstand at them (demons) when they -actually appeared unto him in person? Is it unreasonable? They were -alarmed at his triumphs, and wanted to terrify him. The kingship of Satan -in the under world and upper world are Bible statements; his kingship in -the world about us is a Bible fact confirmed by human testimony. - - - - -XXIV - -THE DEVIL'S HANDMAIDEN - - "Be not drunk on wine wherein is excess, but be ye filled with the - Spirit."--_Ephesians v. 18._ - - "No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God."--_1 Corinthians vi. - 10._ - - -The fallen Lucifer knew from the beginning that his work must necessarily -be in competition with the Son of God; therefore he has invested his -genius to originate a duplicate for all that Christ has done for us. -Knowing that the letter killeth, but the spirit maketh alive, he seeks to -furnish all the appearances, and as far as possible duplicate experiences: -Reformation without repentance; conviction without conversion; conversion -without regeneration; membership without adoption; baptism with water -without the baptism of the Holy Ghost; physical and emotional pleasure -without the "joy of salvation." - -The prophet Isaiah exhorts the people to say: "Praise the Lord," and, -"with joy draw water out of the wells of salvation," and, "Cry out and -shout, thou inhabitant of Zion, etc." The Psalmist, also, gives out a -continuous stream of joyous praise. In all ages people have at sundry -times and places shouted out the joy of the Lord. This emotional -expression is by no means the only test of experimental salvation, as -nothing honours God so much as simple, unemotional faith; but there are -times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. This contrast of -emotional experience we wish to examine. - -We must keep in mind the bitter rivalry between the Prince of light, and -the Prince of darkness. The heart of a contest of this character is the -expulsive power of the one over against the other. Satan studies -assiduously every experience, every angle of advancement of Christ's -kingdom, and proceeds to furnish a duplicate. He knows that the followers -of Jesus often rejoice with a fullness of joy--unspeakable, as it were; to -meet this, he soon discovered that the exhilaration of drunkenness -produced a splendid expulsive power. He proposes and promises his -followers all the joys furnished by his rival; however pleasant they are -always shams, and "at last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an -adder." - -A beverage that would produce drunkenness has been a curse from the -earliest history. We call attention to two events, each one of which was -so great that it left a blight sufficient to turn the course of human -history into darker and bloodier channels. The first followed closely upon -the remarkable deliverance from the Flood. The Ark had settled; life began -its routine, fresh from the awful calamity. Noah built an altar and -worshipped God; but before the perfume of the holy incense evaporated, -that faithful servant of the Most High became _beastly drunk_, and his son -Ham looked upon his nakedness and shame. The children of Ham must carry -the curse until the end. The other followed closely upon a deliverance -from fire. Lot was a citizen of Sodom, but he had not defiled himself; -the iniquity of the place came up before God, and He destroyed it; not, -however, until His angel led this righteous man to a place of safety. -Through the entreaties of his designing daughters, as they were resting in -the mountains, Lot became intoxicated unto idiocy. We must draw a veil -over the shameful scene that occurred during his debauch; but the tribes -of Moab and Ammon, war-like savages of the desert unto this day, was the -terrible resultant. They are the incorrigible followers of the Crescent -rather than the Cross. - -Wherever drunkenness has touched humanity it has blighted and withered -like a Sirocco from Sahara. No one but a fallen archangel could have -invented such a beverage. Yet the character of liquors used by the race in -its infancy for carnival pleasures, compared with the output of the modern -distillery and brewery, are as moonshine to the blistering heat of the -summer sun. Satan profits by experience; he has not been idle during the -centuries. Solomon warned against "looking upon the wine when it was red, -and turneth itself in the cup"--fermentation. If fermented grape juice -should, at that time, bring forth such an inspired warning, what language -would be necessary to depict the character of the low grade, adulterated -fire-water sold in the saloons and dives of America and Europe? - -The true spirit and character of liquor cannot be understood if viewed as -a stimulating beverage, satisfying and inflaming human passions. Its -Author soon discovered that such an unmixed evil must answer at the bar of -an outraged individual and public conscience. He saw that if liquor -succeeded in all he had planned, it must send its roots deeper down than -taste and appetite. Hence this handmaiden of the Devil has now become one -of the most gigantic trusts on earth, blooming out into commercial, -political, and industrial proportions. The whole business lives and moves -and has its being on misery and bloodshed on one side of the counter; loot -and plunder, coupled with an insane lust for gold, on the other side of -the counter. - -It has not one redeeming feature; but so carefully has it sheltered itself -by a devil-fish organization that it stands like a Gibraltar. It has -become so great that the actual investments in the business aggregate -billions; an army larger than the combined forces, North and South, at any -one time during the Civil War are being supported; over one hundred -millions go annually into the national exchequer. China has been called a -sleeping giant; woe to the nations once she is awakened. In the liquor -traffic we have a giant that never sleeps. Twenty-four hours each -day--like Giant Despair--he enslaves and imprisons the multitudes. So -tremendous has this organization grown that its work does not stop with -social demoralization, but with little difficulty can dictate governmental -policies, throttle legislation, and bribe juries. - -Again, we cannot judge or estimate the liquor traffic until we follow it -down through its labyrinth of social, financial, and moral declension. Not -until we see it face to face, glaring and defiant, in the haunts where -finished products are on exhibition. The "Scarlet Annex," temples of -lust, and the White Slaver's headquarters are united in the place where -labour troubles are hatched, mob violence gathers fuel, and feud hatred is -crystallized into bloodshed. Where gamblers, thugs, yeggmen, murderers, -anarchists, jail-birds, and burglars hold high carnival. We must see the -bloated faces, the bleeding Magdalenas, human beasts, and wife beaters, as -they wallow in filth and obscenity, before the perspective is correct. - -The inauguration of liquor as a duplicate for God's greatest manifestation -of Himself--the infilling of the Holy Spirit--was a master stroke. In a -wild, reckless debauch it supplements man's every need and hunger. In the -crazed brain there is a vision of wealth, power, revenge, joy. The -drunkard is clay in the liquor-demon's hand; if a coward, liquor makes him -bold; if sympathetic, liquor deadens his heart; if honest, liquor makes -him a thief; if a loving father or son, liquor makes him a brute. Behold -the Handmaiden of the Devil--King Alcohol: the most efficient ally of the -"angel of the bottomless pit." - - - - -XXV - -THE ASTUTE AUTHOR - - "Till I come give heed to reading."--_1 Timothy iv. 13._ - - "Of the making of books there is no end."--_Ecclesiastes xii. 12._ - - -When we remember the crude methods of book making in the days of Solomon, -compared with the facilities of modern publishing houses, his statement -has in it a touch of humour. To-day manuscripts are turned over to -printers and binders, and in two weeks an edition of from five to fifty -thousand copies are ready for the market. There are three million volumes -in our libraries; and, a writer has said, enough new books come from the -press annually to build a pyramid as large as St. Paul's Cathedral, -London. Mr. Carnegie is planting his libraries in every town and city in -America. - -Evening and morning papers are laid at our doors with flaming head-lines -of all that has happened the world over in the last twenty-four hours. -Detailed descriptions of murders, scandals, elopements, court scenes, -betrayals, etc. Magazines, representing every phase of life and industry, -are multiplying continually. The literature of a nation is potentially its -food for character building, morally and spiritually. - -Now what are we reading? Editors are calling for "stuff" with "human -interest." The manuscript with "preaching" gets a return slip instead of a -check; writers are governing themselves by this canon. The most popular -writers of fiction a decade ago, who wrote books with high moral and -spiritual tone, have step by step eliminated _religion_, and now deal with -Socialistic questions and New Thought problems. - -The most popular novels are teaching false standards of life, and some of -the "best sellers" are base libels on religion and the Church. This is the -situation, and a close observation of the output of the high-class, -reputable publishers will confirm it. Why is this the status of our book -makers? Book writing and publishing, like all other branches of human -endeavour, have become commercialized; writers and publishers are -pandering to a vitiated taste for revenue only. It is not literature -editors are seeking, but stories that will sell. - -A librarian of one of our large cities told the writer that seventy-five -per cent. of the books called for and read were positively harmful to the -highest ideals. If such is true on this plane of literature, what can be -said of the publishing houses which produce nothing but books utterly vile -and immoral? It is said there are two thousand publishing concerns in New -York City issuing just such literature, circulated secretly in many -instances. An army of writers are employed to furnish so many "thrillers" -monthly. These "stories" deal with the lowest, vilest passions of -humanity. What is true of New York is also true of Chicago and other -cities. - -Enough stories have been written of the James Boys, Wild Bill, Buffalo -Bill, and other border heroes (?), could they have lived to take the -least part in so many situations, to have required a century to pass -through them all. As much blood as was shed actually at Shiloh has been -shed by the writers of border outlawry during the past twenty-five years. -The indirect influence of the books of the James Boys have caused more -bloodshed than those Missouri bandits spilt by their unerring -marksmanship. - -A penniless orphan boy was adopted by his well-to-do uncle, who gave him -all the comforts and opportunities of an actual son. Early in his teens he -became a novel fiend--the lowest and vilest type; reading several each -week. When scarcely fifteen years old, he armed himself with his uncle's -pistol, took from the barn the finest horse, and left in the early -morning. The gentleman, suspecting the truth concerning the missing horse -and boy, called a neighbour, and the two gave chase to the young ingrate. -They came upon him late in the day, and as the uncle seized the bridle -rein, the nephew shot him through the heart, and wounded the neighbour -before he could be pulled from the horse and overpowered. - -A beautiful girl was found dead in Central Park, New York. Her face, form, -and the fabric of her clothing showed plainly that she belonged to a home -of wealth and culture. In one hand was an empty vial labelled deadly -poison; in the other hand, gripped in the paroxysms of her last struggle, -was a paperback novel. The explanation was simple: the heroine had a -downfall, and rather than face her shame, committed suicide. - -If you will observe the throng of factory girls, overworked, underpaid, -heart-hungry from which the White Slaver reaps a rich harvest, they will -be reading the class of book mentioned. They enter into the sacred -relation of married life with false, distorted ideals, the end of which is -often ruin: infidelity to marriage vows, abandonment, and divorce court. - -There is another department of literature, written with but one purpose in -view: the overthrow of orthodox faith. A thousand questions are raised -which the common people cannot answer. Why is it the unchurched masses are -continually drifting farther and farther from the Church and what it -stands for? Labour unions have almost repudiated religion; class hatred -was never more pronounced than to-day, notwithstanding the loud -proclamation of human brotherhood. Say what you will as to causes, this -condition is not an accident; we must go far up the turbid stream to find -the source of these defiling waters. When we find the source, it will be -found that behind all these insidious influences stands the inspiring -Author. - -Why is there such an incessant effort to divert the minds of the best -people from personal relationship of Jesus through faith in His blood? -Where is the author, the editor--even religious editors--who stand -four-square for the Bible of our fathers and mothers? We are glad to say -there are a few exceptions; but the drift of writers and editors is away -from fundamentals. Satan boldly and thievishly appropriates every -available avenue to the soul; wherever his cold, clammy hand touches, it -leaves a chill of death. Beyond a question more writers than we ever -dreamed are only amanuenses of the Astute Author. - - - - -XXVI - -THE HYPNOTIST - - "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power - and signs and lying wonders."--_2 Thessalonians ii. 9._ - - "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those - miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the - beast."--_Revelation xiii. 14._ - - "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead."--_Ephesians v. - 14._ - - -Just where the natural and the supernatural exists is a most difficult -psychological problem. Many marvellous doings and strange apparitions, -from the beginning, were attributed to the supernatural. These same -wonders are now known to be the application of physical and psychological -laws. The "enchanters," "soothsayers," "diviners," "magicians," and -"fortune tellers" have awed the simple-minded and superstitious in all -ages. A clear understanding of Hypnotism, Mesmerism, Telepathy, Odylic -Force, Psychological Phenomena, Clairvoyance, Black Art, and Spiritism, -will throw light on many of these supposed supernatural mysteries. Under -whatever name demonstrations may be known, they are all various phases of -certain well-established laws touching our physical, mental, and psychical -being. - -One of the most common, and best understood, of these mystery workings is -Hypnotism which, defined, is "an artificial trance, or an artificially -induced state, in which the mind becomes passive." The subject, however, -acts readily upon suggestion or direction; and upon regaining normal -consciousness, retains little or no recollection of the actions or ideas -dominant during this condition. Hypnotism is purely mental and physical; -but this strange power which one can exercise over another strikingly -illustrates the influence which Satan exercises over millions of blinded -subjects. We shall avoid any attempt to discuss the science and philosophy -of Hypnotism; this phase of the subject is not germane to our discussion. - -All these subtle laws of mind, acting in relation to the body, only now -being understood by scholars, are undoubtedly familiar to our common -Enemy. We believe that centuries before man knew anything about psychic -laws, as understood to-day, strange, unaccountable influences were -operating on the wills and consciences of men. Hypnotism is a form of -sleep; but during the time the subject can receive and obey instructions. -They are absolutely under the control of the hypnotist. - -Paul caught an extraordinary vision of sin when he exclaimed to the -Ephesians: "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead." Here is a -fearful figure of sin: that it is sleep--semi-consciousness-- -unconsciousness; yet they think, act, move about, enjoy, love, hate, etc., -etc., and they are as one asleep. Observe this state is, if allowed to -remain _in articulo mortis_, Hypnotism, conducted by the Master of Black -Art; and they obey his will, over against observation, warning, wisdom, -experience of others, even of themselves. Voices may call loud and long, -but do not awaken the soul under the satanic spell. - -There are many freaks of hypnotic influence which illustrate vividly the -power of sin--and back of the sin, the sin Personality. We have seen -subjects placed under hypnotic sleep, and they would remain in this -condition for twenty-four hours. The demonstration was made in a large -department store, facing a stone-paved street, which roared day and night -with cars and heavy traffic. Hundreds of people swarmed about the sleeping -man, laughing and talking loudly. Not until the hypnotist came and touched -the subject did he arouse from the heavy slumber. - -A still more remarkable demonstration is reported to have been -accomplished in an Eastern city. We give as authority the _Associated -Press_. After the subject was placed under the hypnotic trance, he was -dressed like one being prepared for burial, then put in a coffin, hauled -to the cemetery in a hearse. The "corpse" was then lowered in a grave of -the proper depth, the grave filled to the ground level. The air tube from -the coffin to the top was large enough to enable a light to be reflected -on the face of the sleeper. "Buried alive," said the report. He was left -in the grave several hours. - -If superior mind force can accomplish such marvellous feats on human will, -what may we expect from supernatural mind force with a burning ambition to -subdue? The columns of our _dailies_ are filled with reports of the doings -of men and women that cannot be explained on any other hypothesis. Think -of the insane, unreasonable, illogical risk in all manner of sin--for -what? A momentary taste of some "forbidden fruit." We hear that -self-preservation is the first law of our being; but how often this law is -utterly ignored for sensuous gratification. Those who do these things are -unable to understand their insane conduct until it is all over. "Oh, I can -see it all now," is the despairing cry so often heard. Of course, the -hypnotic spell is removed. How easy it is to sit and philosophize on the -actions of people. "Why would any sane person do such a thing?" A sane -person would not; the why of all these human twists is very simple when we -are willing to admit the literal teaching of God's book concerning our -indefatigable Enemy. "The apostate angel and his followers by pride and -blasphemy against God and malice against men became liars and murderers by -tempting men to do sins" (Jude 6, R. V.). - -Why did the Prodigal Son do such an insane, sinful act? Why? Well, he came -to himself, but not until the harm was wrought. Why have ten thousand -prodigals since that day been guilty of the same insane conduct? The -answer is obvious. Why did Judas sell his Lord?--He who had been so highly -honoured: chosen, ordained, sent out? "Satan entered into Judas;" there -you have the whole truth. By and by, Judas came to himself; then remorse -and despair not only caused him to return the money, but destroy himself. - -In a subsequent chapter we shall discuss more particularly the suicide -problem; but we are satisfied Judas was a victim of two satanic schemes: -the hypnotic spell deadened his reason and judgment to do the deed; then, -after the Crucifixion, despair gripped him like a vice. Who would say that -Judas was excluded from the Saviour's dying prayer: "Father forgive them"? -Peter denied Christ, then lied and blasphemed about it. He was restored; -but Satan's power over Judas was not broken. His end was Satan's finished -work. What he did to Judas he purposes to do with every "subject"--utter -destruction. - -We once saw a snake charm a bird; the serpent's head was lifted several -inches--eyes blazing, and red tongue flashing. The bird fluttered, gave a -piteous wail, but was helplessly walking into the jaws of death. Now the -question arises: what about the freedom of the will? Do we ever cease to -be free agents? Certainly we do not; the hypnotic subject exercises free -choice; that is never destroyed, but he acts under a compelling _vis -uturga_--power behind. - - - - -XXVII - -DEVIL POSSESSION - - "As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed - with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb - spake."--_Matthew ix. 32-33._ - - "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good - things?"--_Matthew xii. 34._ - - -One characteristic, which has been prominent in the varied manifestations -of Satan studied so far, is adaptability. Methods that were available in -the days of our Lord cannot be used successfully now. By some secret -unknown to us the Devil enters into the souls of men. This is a mystery; -so is, also, the filling of the Holy Spirit a mystery. The Devil possessed -King Saul, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, and many are the instances -recorded in the ministry of the Saviour. Devil possession, it seemed, was -very common; Christ was continually casting them out, and He also gave His -Apostles power likewise to cast them out. - -We do not believe the Enemy has abandoned his old profession: an evil -spirit despises a disembodied state; if people are fortified and shielded -against his entrance--then the swine. As cold air whistles and roars about -every crack and cranny, entering in from all directions, so evil -spirits--Devil and demons--press their entrance into the soul. If it is -true they cannot enter except by permission,--they pry and pound until -resistance is impossible, unless divine reinforcement comes to the rescue. - -There are maniacs, violent, desperate, incurable, to-day as truly demon -possessed as was the man who lived among the tombs. This, however, is not -his modern _modus operandi_; desperate maniacs could then terrorize a -whole community. Our great asylums have solved this problem; even the -immediate family is relieved of the burden and fear. Those who do not -accept the theory of demon possession should explain a case at present in -one of our institutions. It is a boy, at the time it attracted attention, -only twelve years of age, thin, emaciated, and by no means abnormal in any -particular. This child would remain quiet for days; during this time he -possessed no strength beyond one of his age. At unexpected moments he -would be seized with violent contortions, frothing at the mouth, and -snapping like a mad dog; and a continuous flow of the most obscene -language and blasphemy while the spell lasted. This is not the strangest -part: he had the strength of a giant; it required four or five men to -overpower him. One man was helpless in his hands; he would literally hurl -them to the floor. Compare this story with the one in the fifth chapter of -Mark: "And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out -of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the -tombs; and no man could bind him, no not with chains, because that he had -been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked -asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man -tame him." - -In countries where the gospel light has not yet shown full-orbed, demon -possession with manifestations similar to those of Bible times are known -to be common. F. B. Meyer relates numerous cases in Russia; many by prayer -were cast out in the name of Jesus Christ. "I confess," he says, "these -incidents have greatly impressed me. I wonder how far it would be right to -deal with certain forms of drunkenness and impurity as cases of -demon-possession. It may be there is more of this demon work among us than -we know, and especially in cases of mania." Dr. Howard Taylor, of the -China Island Mission, it is said, was accustomed to diagnose the symptoms -of demon-possession in the same way as of any other disease. Dr. Nevins, -of the Presbyterian Mission Board, tells of hundreds of cases, witnessed -by himself, where by faith in the Son of God the demons were cast out, and -the victims were clothed and in their right mind. - -Cotton Mather says of Salem witchcraft: "Those persons said to be -bewitched would swoon, froth at the mouth, their bodies would cramp into -irregular shapes; meanwhile they would utter accusations against good -people who, they said, had bewitched them. This excited sympathy of the -court. As soon as the court rendered judgment, those bewitched victims -would be relieved of their physical cramps and mental torture." Salem -witchcraft was real cases of demon-possession, but the court blundered in -that the demons were located in the wrong persons. - -Sir Walter Scott says that similar manifestations of Satan as were -witnessed at the time of the Salem witchcraft occurred simultaneously in -every country on earth. He writes again: "Anna Cole, living at Hartford, -was taken with strange fits which caused her to express strange things -unknown to herself, her tongue being guided by a demon. She confessed to -the minister that she had been familiar with a devil." Pages could be -filled with modern examples which coincide so exactly with New Testament -records that we have no doubt the causes are the same. - -Professor Webster, late of Wheaton College, said in a lecture before the -students: "I once knew a man possessed of a demon. He became so vicious -that he had to be confined in a cell in jail. When he heard any one swear -or blaspheme, he would go into convulsions of laughter. When any one used -the name of God or Christ, he would curse everything good, and foam at the -mouth. He possessed superhuman strength, like the man living among the -tombs." - -The soul is God's masterpiece, created to be the habitat of the Paraclete, -but may, as truly, become the habitat of a demon. We believe that Diabolus -has so organized his forces that his minions represent various sins; they -are specialists--skilled labourers: drink demons, lust demons, lying -demons, anger demons, theft demons, pride, blasphemy, etc. Demon -possession to-day expresses itself in sins we try to control by means of -courts, education, etc. Homes become a miniature hell because of drink, -pride, lust, or lying demons. - -Our penitentiaries are crowded with men who were controlled by a demon, -forced them into drink, anger, or theft, until the deed was committed. We -may feel thankful that there are so few Scriptural cases of demon -possession about us--the old time possession. The wise Enemy has shifted, -but at the same time has greatly enlarged his field of operation. There -are no witch victims to-day: the courts would not punish the witches, but -the bewitched would be safely cared for in an asylum. But observe, there -are ten thousand other insidious ways in which he possesses men and women, -enlarging his kingdom daily; his victims multiply, but not among the -tombs. The name of Jesus continues to be the only remedy. - - - - -XXVIII - -DEVIL OPPRESSION - - "So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with - sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown."--_Job ii. 7._ - - "Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the - devil."--_Acts x. 38._ - - -A necessary concomitant of demon possession is its influence upon the -individual's moral faculties; an entirely new type of moral tastes are -developed: tempers, sympathies, and, especially, doctrines which are -diametrically opposed to genuine spiritual religion and revelation. Demon -possession bitterly and persistently rejects, whether by a nominal -professor or unbeliever, the doctrines of repentance, new birth, etc., -through a blood atonement. - -In demon possession the fight is on the inside; in demon oppression the -fight is on the outside. In the one, Satan controls the man: body, mind -and soul; in the other, he depresses, afflicts the man: body, mind, and -soul. In the one, the victim is the incarnation of evil; in the other the -victim is generally the purest and holiest of men and women. - -The Devil or demons may be ejected by the power of the Holy Ghost, but the -hellish enterprise is never given up; all the engineering of the pit is -utilized to keep ransomed souls out of the kingdom. Once a choice is made, -all hell is aroused unto wrath and riot to torment, nag, and finally drag -the discouraged pilgrim back into sin and apostasy. This is often -accomplished successfully through an afflicted body. Who knows but that -the drama enacted in the land of Uz has been repeated many, many times -since Job sat on his ash pile? - -"But," says the objector, "sickness and disease come as a result of -exposure, natural laws violated, inoculation by infection and contagion." -True, but remember he is the "prince of the power of the air." What he did -once he can do again, and more efficiently. Think of the strenuous war -being waged on germs, microbes, and bacilli; we have diseases more violent -than ever before. Yet when the race of life was less complicated and -simple, none of the modern precautions were thought of; flies swarmed -about everything placed on the table, and their mission thought to be one -of beneficence. There are many actual and implied statements in the Bible -which teach that disease and sickness are often the result of demon -oppression; a large part of our Lord's ministry was relieving those who -were oppressed of the Devil and demons. - -Then his work is just as effective in the realm of the mind; the mental -faculties, filled with confusion and doubt, are incapable of exercising -their normal functions. Multitudes are able, because of their -intelligence, to guard the approaches through the physical organism, or to -the extent of subjection at least; but are as completely oppressed in mind -as others are in body. We do not claim that any are entirely immune from -his attacks; but he is wise and sagacious enough to select such victims -for specific oppression as will best satisfy and gratify his diabolical -pleasure in seeing the followers of his rival suffer. He oppresses only -such as he is unable to possess. Many have been so troubled mentally that -Christian living becomes a life and death struggle. Here we find another -example of "wrestling not with flesh and blood." - -But some of Satan's greatest victories and rejoicings come from soul -oppression. We believe this to be the real secret of our Lord's agony in -the garden; it was the Devil's last opportunity to thwart the great plan -of salvation. Oh, to cheat Calvary; put our "Lamb slain from the -foundation of the world" in such physical, mental, and soul burdened agony -He would refuse at the last moment to do all the will of His Father. How -near he came to accomplishing the diabolical scheme we learn from the -story as given by inspiration. We remember His piteous remark as they left -the Paschal room: "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death"; -then He cries out in anguish: "If it is possible, let this cup pass from -Me." Never was He nearer the great Father heart, and never was He more a -man than at this time; and as a man, perhaps during the terrible crisis, -He did not analyze His sufferings and emotions. All the powers of hell -were combined to crush Him at the hour for which He came into the world. - -Every student of soul tragedy can appreciate, in a limited degree, the -experiences of Gethsemane. Paul had this exact experience in mind when he -wrote of the "evil days" in which we had to "wrestle." What are evil -days? Days when the heavens are brass, and the fountains of prayer are -dried up; a cold, sinking sensation clutches the heart. The mind is in a -jumble, plans are thwarted, the mail brings a message of some deception or -betrayal, the hand slips, fires go out, trains missed, pressing duties -remain undone; nervous anxiety and evil forebodings chill the soul. The -mind and heart are filled with dread; cold perspiration swells into beads -upon the brow. Evil days! Oh, how we stumble and blunder; we cannot even -think of advancement. Paul says we can only stand still, and having done -all, stand. Many who are not familiar with the nature of such "days" will -cast away their faith, believing that their "feelings" are the index to -the state of grace in the heart. - -But, thank God, a crushing defeat came to this traitor-prince in that the -full programme leading up to the world's great Atonement was carried out -to the letter. It was not the physical fear of death which caused the -blood-sweating agony of our Lord; if so, thousands have met the martyr's -end far more triumphantly than did He. Some believe it was the weight of -the world's sin breaking His heart. Both the physical dread of death and -sin burden may have entered into the garden tragedy; but it was, we repeat -with emphasis, the myrmidons of hell taking the advantage of His humanity -at the crisis of His life: _It was Devil Oppression_. - -Devil oppression does not always come in a diseased body, a confused mind, -or in days of soul depression. But sometimes they are new, instantaneous, -fierce, overwhelming, and always from different angles and approaches. A -vile suggestion, a remembered sin, long ago under the blood, a strong -inclination to commit revolting deeds. An eminent, and deeply-pious divine -of the South tells in his autobiography that while alone in his study, in -meditation and prayer, he was strangely assaulted by the Devil. For more -than an hour the inclination to blaspheme was almost beyond his control; -it seemed that vile oaths would well up in his mouth and almost leap from -his tongue. So terrible was the attack that deliverance came only after a -long struggle on his face crying out audibly to God. Then the dark cloud -of bat-winged vampires, almost visible, left as mysteriously as they came. -It was Devil Oppression. - - - - -XXIX - -DEVIL ABDUCTION - - "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some - shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits."--_1 - Timothy iv. 1._ - - "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of - light."--_2 Corinthians xi. 14._ - - -We used the above Scriptures in a former chapter, but with special -reference to "doctrines"; the part we wish to emphasize now, "giving heed -to seducing spirits": that is to say, be led away or abducted by the Devil -or demon. There are four classes of people who may be subjected to the -seductive influence of evil spirits. We should keep in mind that the -"prince of this world" and his emissaries were once angels, and of course, -when necessary, can bring their angelic attributes into seductive -usefulness. - -One of the problems facing the Church and all religious workers is to keep -the converts or communicants in line; steady them in the presence of -deflecting influences. The Church is suffering from the inroads of every -conceivable brand: isms, cults, fads, worldliness, etc., which always -mean, not only usefulness paralyzed, but the loss of Church and Bible -ideals. How many among us who once ran well, but are now tilted, -side-tracked, derailed, and ditched. We are encompassed about with ten -thousand plausible, seductive tenets, arguments and theories, which if -yielded to will result in utter religious ruin. - -There are four classes of possible victims, all sincere and -conscientious, none of which are basely wicked. First: the unregenerate -who are blindly seeking the light, but following the inner voice and -promptings, rather than the Word of God. These become easy victims to the -charms (?) of Christian Science, Theosophy, Spiritualism, Mormonism, etc. -Once inducted, there follows a mental refreshing, and a carnal peace, -which bring the "soul rest" and "assurance" they eagerly sought. These -cults are lauded and believed as modern "revelations," but they are only -_new clothes_ stretched over the dried mental mummies which lived and -moved in the early centuries and dead civilizations. Various shades and -deductions from old Hindoo philosophy, Egyptian magic, Gnosticism, -Stoicism, Æstheticism, Asceticism are paraded so as to catch the cultured, -twentieth century devotee. In whatever form it may come, the beauty -worshippers of Æstheticism, the mental anesthetics of Christian Science, -or the debasing sensuality of Mormonism, it is "led away by the Devil or a -demon." - -A writer on modern Spirits says: "Extraordinary spiritism of to-day is but -the continuation of the worship of the old idol Tammuz, as worshipped by -the corrupt Israelites and Canaanites, and the Adonis, as worshipped by -the Greeks. The indecent practices of these mediums made it necessary to -seek darkness to cover their vileness." Ezekiel, in the eighth chapter, -speaks of it; the Delphic Oracle practiced the same iniquity: the -personification of lust. - -The second class of possible victims is the regenerated believer or -nominal professor of religion. It is the belief of the writer that no -greater havoc is being wrought anywhere in the realm of religious -aspiration than is being done to-day among professing church-members, -sane, perchance--who once knew the secrets of saving faith. To this class -there seems to be two horns in the dilemma of abduction. As an eminent -author says: "If we give the preponderant attention to the providences -which appertain to the body, there is danger of becoming deistical and -materialistic in our views. If we study the word alone, without due -appreciation of the Spirit and providence, there is danger of drifting -away into dead formality, drying up, becoming creedistic, theoretical, and -unspiritual." - -What can check the materialistic trend of the times? What can save the -Church from reflex influences of modern materialism? Somehow, we have -reached the place where things must appeal to the senses: we must taste, -handle, smell, see, etc.; things in the Church, as well as out, have -jostled down to a metallic basis: something for so much. In the same -degree, deny it as we will, our religion ceases to be a religion of faith. -Then, on the other hand, the history of Christendom from the beginning, -without an exception, proves the second horn to the dilemma: as we lose -the spiritual afflatus, we become ceremonial. Upon this reef of rocks our -Church is crashing to-day. We see only the material; we have a mania for -statistics, figures. Our Sunday-schools seek organization, grades, -banners, honour rolls, numbers. Great schools are pushed with enthusiasm -by unconverted officers and teachers. About ninety per cent. swarm out -and away from the Church and rarely if ever remain for the preaching of -the Word. In fearful, glaring reality we can see in all this ceremonialism -and dress parade Demoniacal Abduction. - -The third class is much smaller; they are the select few who live in the -inner circle of things. Having been brought from darkness unto light they -seek to walk in all the light, and to live continually in the good, -acceptable, and perfect will of God. This class are the sworn, -uncompromising enemies of Satan's kingdom; but often their zeal is without -knowledge. Perchance, many are weak and unlearned. Satan will leave the -multitude of mystery workers and formalists to make havoc among these -saintly ones. All that he accomplishes here cuts like a two-edged sword: -the individual ruin, and the deadening, paralyzing influence to the cause -of truth. By what method does he gain access? Abduction is only possible -here where preponderant emphasis is placed on the leadership of the Spirit -without careful, diligent adhesion to the Word. The Word is the Spirit's -weapon; without it he is handicapped. What is the result? Fanaticism, -dreams, visions, wild-fire, extreme positions on dress, food, domestic -relations, etc., until they are "led away by a demon beyond recall." -Shipwrecked, "affinities," free love, infidelity, are inevitable. Wherever -societies, communities, or churches become inoculated with the virus of -any of these phases of fanaticism--untold harm surely follows. The Devil -is responsible for the religious "craze," and will then exaggerate by lies -and misrepresentation before the unbelievers. - -The fourth class are, of all, the most to be pitied, and no work of the -"angel of the pit" is so hellish as his operation and strategy upon an -awakened soul. Those who are in religious work are grieved continually at -seeing the process chilled and defeated at a point which would soon result -in deliverance from the bondage of evil. Satan actually assumes the person -of the Holy Ghost. Strange and amazing as this sounds, it is nevertheless -true. As soon as the soul is awakened he assumes a general godfather sort -of relation to the penitent one. Advice and suggestions flood his mind: -his pride, clothes, reputation, business, and all are used as arguments. -"You should be a Christian--join the church--it is your duty; but when you -make a start, _be sure_ you have a genuine experience. You are -conscientious--anything but a hypocrite with you. Now this is not an -opportune time, etc., etc.," on and on, until the penitent refuses to -arise and go to his Father's house. Procrastination; Satan literally drags -him away from the mercy seat. - -How can he do this? Where is the Holy Ghost all this time? Why does He not -protect His identity? So long as a man is in sin he has a nature that is -not subject to the law of God, and cannot be: carnal mind, old man. On -this territory Satan has right of way; under the guise of one seeking to -help them in their confusion and sorrow, he manipulates until prevenient -grace is grieved away. The poor deluded soul has been "led away by a -demon." It is Devil Abduction. - - - - -XXX - -THE RATIONALE OF SUICIDE - - "And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and went and - hanged himself."--_Matthew xxvii. 5._ - - "He drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that - the prisoners had been fled."--_Acts xvi. 27._ - - -The Devil was a murderer from the beginning of human history; his first -bloodshed was fratricide--growing out of religious jealousy. He is the -father of murder and murderers. This crime, provoked or unprovoked, is -monstrous; the passions that incite it were born in the pit. Then what may -be said of self-murder: suicide? It is the most fearful, unnatural, -abnormal of all forms of demise. Every impulse of reason and judgment -revolts at the thought. The Master Himself drew back from death; the Book -says death is an enemy. - -Various and satisfactory explanations always follow the news of suicide, -"financial reverses," "ill health," "public exposure," "domestic -troubles," "melancholia," etc., etc. These explanations will not stand -under the light of close scrutiny; reverses and misfortunes are generally -contributing causes, but not sufficient to answer fully the horrors of -suicide. - -We hesitate to discuss this gruesome subject, but the character study of -these pages would not be complete without it. We speak not with any degree -of dogmatism or claim of superior insight to hidden truth, but in the -fear of God we are persuaded that not a single case of suicide, since the -race took up its painful march, came about from natural causes. Satan, the -embodiment of monstrosities, is responsible. - -Suicide is numbered among our vexing problems; reckoned on the basis of -population, suicide has increased one hundred and fifty per cent. in two -decades. Scientists are tremendously interested; thoughtful people are -alarmed. Psychological and sociological authorities tell us that -_poverty_, _disappointed affection_, and _dissipation_ are the chief -causes. The problem can never be solved by social and scientific -speculation. We must cross over the borderland into the supernatural -before all the angles of the problem are met and satisfied. - -There is some strange history connected with suicide. Greek philosophers -wrote about it; whether among heathen or civilized peoples, it was -considered a disgrace. The Greeks buried them at night--on the public -highways, and without religious ceremonies; and their goods were -confiscated for the Crown. - -We wish to emphasize a former statement: suicide is _unnatural_; it sets -aside her first law. The law of self-preservation holds good in every walk -of life; when we cease to love life, the deepest principle of our being is -out of balance. The body is holy, and when it is destroyed, the highest -_felo de se_ is committed; not only so, it is assuming the prerogative -which belongs alone to God. "It is appointed unto man once to die." Life -is a sacred gift. - -There are two kinds of suicide: the responsible and irresponsible. The -first often appears to have been deliberately planned, the act of a sane, -rational mind. However, the best alienists say some phase of insanity -always accompanies this rash act. The second are mentally deranged, for -which there are many causes. Two classes, also, as to character are found -among the unfortunates: the religious and irreligious. What then may we -conclude from the most mysterious tragedy on earth? - -Satan always scores a victory when a neighbourhood is shocked by the news -of a suicide; the victory is direct and indirect. If the victim is -prepared or unprepared, sane or insane, the crime can somehow never be -forgiven. A strange demoralizing influence is always felt; a feeling of -horror and depression. If the victim is pious, and many, many are the most -devout in the church, do they forfeit their salvation by the _felo de se_? -Not necessarily. Now we wish to say here, with every word underscored: _no -sane, devout person will destroy themselves_. Where, then, is the motive -and victory of Satan? Much, every way. The whole church or community will -be religiously paralyzed. It is generally believed that no self-murderer -can be saved. But behold a sainted mother in Israel found hanging in the -barn: we have in mind just such an incident, and remember also the gloom, -the depression, the silent whispers, the downcast look on the faces of all -who knew her. Satan may know that he has nothing directly to gain, but, -indirectly, doubt and discouragement prevail. Anything to get the world to -doubt God. - -A very devout man, writing of a personal experience, says: "There seemed -to be some designing spirit near me for days that constantly whispered in -my ear, and sometimes it seemed almost audible, "Go kill thyself; you have -disgraced your Redeemer and you are not fit to live." Scores of such -testimonies are on record. - -Think of the logical traps used by the Designer to incite the deed: if -poverty, "My family will be cared for better than I can." If a suffering -body, "This will cure me of my pain." If fear of exposure, "That will end -it--charity will forgive me then." If hopeless over some sin, "Better die -than face the disgrace. It will solve all the problems," says the Tempter. -It is often remarked concerning some one: "How cowardly;" but it is not -cowardice; it is inability to answer the Devil's logic to commit suicide. - -Again, gruesome as it is, and here is more strange evidence in favour of -the satanic explanation: It is fearfully contagious. Professor Bailey, of -Yale, said that the report of a suicide by any special method will be -followed by others in the same manner. Morbid, despondent people hear of -it and follow the example. That which should be revolting in the extreme -possesses a strange charm. Ingersol toured the country at one time -advocating suicide as the best way out of life's difficulties. Many took -his advice and a fearful epidemic followed. One young man in a rural -community of Illinois committed suicide; three others, all associates, -followed in a few weeks. No special motive could be given for either. We -are forced to place the blame where it belongs, and sympathize with the -victims. - - - - -XXXI - -DEVIL WORSHIP - - "Then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of - his salvation. They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with - abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, - not to God; to gods whom they knew not."--_Deuteronomy xxxii. 15-17._ - - "But I say the things which the Gentiles sacrificed, they sacrificed - to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have - fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the - cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and the - table of devils."--_1 Corinthians x. 20-21._ - - -Satan's consuming passion is thirst for power. He is the "prince of -darkness," but also the "god of this world," and this long period of -satanic rule is called _night_. God's glorious Sabbath of rest was -superseded by the black intervention of toil and suffering. Satan's -scheming fight has been for the rulership of this world. He succeeded in -winning the entire antediluvian world, which to save the coming -generations necessitated the Flood. He began adroitly with the only -remaining family; swept the postdiluvian peoples into midnight heathenism. -To-day, nearly one billion descendants of Noah worship not God--but -_demonian_--demons, just what the Greeks and Romans worshipped in -Apostolic times. No less than two hundred and fifty million are devil -worshippers by name. - -Satan began his fight of opposition by assuming the form or incarnating -himself in the body of a snake. Therefore it is not an accident, growing -out of mythological tradition, that serpent worship has been the chief -religion of many peoples. The Egyptians worshipped Set, which personified -all evil--enemy of all good--they called Typhon, a monstrous serpent-like -animal. To this god human sacrifices were offered on great religious -holidays. It is no accident that the millions who know not the true God -nevertheless, some way, learned to worship the Devil, and generally in the -form of a serpent. The Egyptians had a serpent-god in Typhon; the -Canaanites worshipped a snake in the days of Abraham; the Babylonians -worshipped Python, which is a specie of the most deadly reptile on earth, -and another name for Typhon. On the monuments and tablets of many dead -civilizations the engravings of serpents show their particular customs of -devil worship. The American Indians were snake worshippers; in Ohio an -altar more than a half mile in length remains in good preservation. This -altar is one of the wonders, being a perfect outline of a gigantic snake. -We readily see that tribal association and tradition have had nothing to -do with the customs of our own aborigines; the same being who inspired the -peoples of the Old Orient, millenniums ago, to worship the snake-devil -inspired our red men in his primeval forest. - -David speaks of demon worship: "Yea they sacrificed their sons and -daughters unto _Shadim_." Jereboam built places to worship evil spirits; -the ordained priests to serve the altars of "Satyrs," and children were -offered. The Molech of the Canaanites was also devil worship; when the -Israelites forgot God, they "caused their children to pass through the -fire unto Molech," an evil god. The damsel whom Paul delivered possessed -the spirit of Python--the snake. The priestesses of the Delphic oracles -prophesied by the spirit of Python; this was the dominant religion -throughout Greece. The Aztec war god of the Montezumas, where two hundred -and fifty thousand human skulls were found in the temple, was a bloody -system of devil worship. The Yezidis of Persia, descendants of the early -Python worshippers, worship the Devil to-day, and are known as such. - -We are not confined to heathenism, ancient or modern, to find the same -religion of "divinations." The best authorities of Spiritualism believe -that the supernatural, occult demonstrations, as produced in their -séances, are from demon agencies. The whole system of mythology grew out -of what is to-day the work of mediums. The Old Testament is filled with -statements concerning "familiar spirits"; they heard voices, received -messages, saw physical disturbances--just as may be witnessed at any -spiritual séance. The most reliable of mediums do not deny that evil -spirits (damned demons) come to them at times. One fact is noteworthy: -when men and women become spiritists, they discard all the essentials of -the Christian faith. They are modern types of demon possession. It is no -unusual thing during a séance to hear a regular clash of voices: -blasphemy, oaths, vulgar, obscene language, terrible threats, etc. - -What connection do we find between Devil worship and modern Spiritualism? -First, the moral condition among the spiritists is exactly as it was among -the ancient priests and priestesses in the temples of Devil worship; they -literally worshipped the Devil in their corrupt, degrading practices. Now, -among the votaries of Spiritualism, every iniquity, crime, and indecency -known among men and women are daily carried on. Such is the testimony of -one of their travelling lecturers. One of their noted mediums when under -control delivered this message: "Curse the marriage institution; cursed be -the relation of husband and wife; cursed be all who sustain the legal -marriage." From what source could we expect such a vile deliverance? - -Second, their mediums actually pray to Satan. One of their advocates at -the opening of a debate with a Christian minister at San Jose, Cal., -prayed in the following language: "O Devil, Prince of Demons in the -Christian's Hell; oh, thou Monarch of the bottomless pit; thou King of -Scorpions, I beseech thee to hear my prayer. Thou seest the terrible -straits in which I am placed, matched in debate with a big gun of -Christianity. Remember, O Prince of Brimstone, that when thou stretchest -forth thine arm the Christian God cannot stand before thee for a moment. -Bless thy servant in his labours for thee; fill his mouth with wisdom; -enable him to defend thee from the false charges of thy sulphurous -Majesty, so that this audience may know and realize that thou art a prayer -hearing and a prayer answering devil" (abbreviated). Similar prayers are -frequently published in the _Banner of Light_, the organ of this cult; -prayers formulated in the same language as prayers offered to the God of -heaven. - -It cannot be doubted that Pagan religion and modern Spiritualism are Devil -worship, shifting under various forms and ceremonies in different ages and -places. Rev. B. Clough, missionary in Ceylon, says: "I now state, and I -wish it to be heard in every corner of the Christian world, that the devil -is regularly, systematically, and ceremoniously worshipped by a large -majority of the inhabitants of the Island of Ceylon." We repeat: his -consuming passion is to be worshipped. - - - - -XXXII - -VICTORY THROUGH THE VICTOR - - "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is - he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus Christ - is the Son of God?"--_1 John v. 4-5._ - - "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because - greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world."--_1 John - iv. 4._ - - -One of the grave dangers of to-day is that Satan is no longer regarded as -a Personality. Even among those whose faith is founded on the word of God, -the idea of an orthodox devil smacks of superstition and an exploded hoax -from the Dark Ages. "Let us hear the love side of the gospel; away with -this devil and hell business--it's too dreadful," they declare. His real -existence and personality are ridiculed in many pulpits and lecture -platforms. When these ideas become common among the people who think, a -wide open field remains for him to work unmolested. - -We can also go to the other extreme: that is, to think him a greater being -than the Son of God. Those who have followed us through these chapter -studies will, we fear, come to some such conclusion. Who can be equal for -such a mighty Prince? Now this biography was undertaken that we might have -a full, life-sized photo of our Enemy. In this we cannot exaggerate the -true status of the case; any less conception of Satan than we have -portrayed will put us at a serious disadvantage in the life struggle. He -is a real foe, and we must meet him in the open, under cover, and -invisibly. Let it be written in black-faced caps, and heavily underscored: -Satan is all we can find out about him--plus, with emphasis on the plus. -We want to keep in mind clearly the Enemy, the battle-ground, and the -battle; we can never match swords with him; to ignore him--big, cunning, -supernatural, eternally at it--will be the most dangerous folly. - -But--there is victory, complete, overwhelming victory for every one who -fights; but bear in mind it must be a fighter. There is one Name which -never fails to reverberate from the Throne of God to the cavernous pits of -darkness; this Name shakes loose the grip, untangles the web of all the -allied powers of the Prince of Night. Satan is mighty, Jesus is almighty; -he met his Waterloo. Jesus was never defeated. His first defeat was when -he was an archangel; he was overthrown and cast out of heaven. Jesus said: -"I was present when Satan fell like lightning from heaven." He was also -defeated in the wilderness; again in the Garden, and at Calvary. In fact, -on every battle-field where he met the Lord Christ the defeat was -stunning, humiliating. Now we are in mortal combat with him, and we must -not forget--he has been many times defeated. A writer says: "We have the -advantage of fighting a defeated foe." Standing alone, we are doomed to -utter defeat, capture, ruin; but if our fight is coupled with the Name of -Jesus, our triumph is as certain as our defeat will be without Him. - -So long as we muster in as munitions of war our intellect, -self-sufficiency, egotism, etc., the cohorts will laugh at our delusion. -There is but One who can out-general his maneuvres, silence his -thunderings, checkmate his diabolical acumen, know his oily, snaky -approaches, penetrate his angelic beneficence, understand his insidious -schemes: that One knew him from the beginning, and--outranked him in -heaven and conquered him on earth. - -This question arises: If Satan has been conquered, and Jesus is yet -contending with him for world-wide supremacy--why the almost universal -triumph of evil? Why is true righteousness at such a discount? Why are the -fighters failing and falling all around us? If these questions cannot be -answered with a degree of sound reasoning, the whole problem of life, -Bible, God, Atonement, Gospel are in a hopeless tangle. A Chinese puzzle -does not compare with a riddle of everything worth while, visible and -invisible. - -Satan undoubtedly controls the machinery of this world. Then wherein is -the "victory that overcometh the world"? Let us keep in mind the power, -resources, opportunities, organization, and management of Satan; also the -blindness and bondage of sin, and--the Free Agency of Man. So long as man -remains carnally-minded and free, the Enemy has undisputed right of way; -while the heart is carnal, impure, unsanctified, the controlling motive -power of man's life "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can -be." He has in his own bosom a traitor, an alien to the government of God. -"To be carnally minded is death," says Paul. The "old leaven must be -purged out"; we must "put off the old man (carnal mind) and his deeds, and -put on the new man, etc." This putting off is absolutely necessary. - -Jesus cannot only defeat Satan, but He can destroy the "works of the -devil"--one of which is the alien principle of our nature. "For this -purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of -the Devil." The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus--the God-Man--is an -everlasting Atonement and a propitiation for sin. Sin is the Rubicon of -our battle; once we solve, in all its fullness, the problem of sin, we rob -Satan of his fulcrum power. He came to Jesus and found nothing: no -availability, no sin, no yielding, no fellowship. He was tempted, but -_without sin_. - -Our victory must be twofold: first, through the merits of the Everlasting -Blood Covenant we may be saved from sin unto salvation--reconciliation, -forgiveness. Then by the fuller benefits of the Atonement we may "enter -into the holiest by the Blood." Only the pure in heart can stand the -approaches of Satan by way of our natural appetites. The triumphs of -modern surgery are only possible by means of sterilized instruments. -Please observe--with all the meaning that can be couched in language: the -sinful, unregenerated heart is not only in danger of being overcome, but -is already in blind bondage to Satan. The power of sin, both actual and -original, must be broken by the pardoning grace of God through faith in -the Atoning Blood; and the heart cleansed and empowered by the Baptism of -the Holy Ghost. - -The second inevitable concomitant of victory is copartnership with Jesus, -the Captain of our salvation--"looking unto Jesus the author and finisher -of our faith." Diabolus and his minions cannot stand before this Name. His -final overthrow was when Jesus cried out on the Cross: "It is finished." -Now at the sight of Jesus, the Cross, or the Blood, the phalanx of -darkness slinks away. Let us lay hold of eternal life by an unfaltering -faith in the Blood that cleanseth, and "The Name high over all: in earth, -in heaven, in hell." "And they overcame him through the blood of the Lamb, -and the word of their testimony." Amen and Amen. - - - - -XXXIII - -THE ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT - - "For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he - knoweth that he hath but a short time."--_Revelation xii. 12._ - - "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the - bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the - dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him - a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him - up, and set a seal upon him."--_Revelation xx. 1-3._ - - -The fact of a possible victory through the Name of our great Conqueror -does not alone satisfy all the items of the indictment. If such were the -only background to the picture, great as it is, the human drama is not -only a fierce tragedy, but a miserable farce. Thank God, personal victory -is not all; there is a rift in the dark satanic cloud which has hung over -the world for so many millenniums. Satan is in great wrath, and his power -and influence grow steadily stronger; more and more his iron grip fastens -about the throat of the world. The Apostasy of which Christ and His -Apostles wrote is becoming a reality. - -Satan will score one more gigantic victory; then is our "blessed hope of -His glorious appearing," when He shall come and catch away His Bride--the -Church, both dead and alive; that part of His following who are united to -Him and are earnestly yearning for His coming. This event is called by -devout scholars "The Rapture." Just where, how, when, or how long, we have -only a vague prophetic conjecture. "Where, Lord?" they ask. "And He said -unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered -together." - -When the Rapture shall have taken place, Satan will have undisputed -dominion; then shall the "Man of Sin" appear, setting himself up as -God--to be worshipped. His reign will be the Great Tribulation; all the -influences of righteousness will, for the time, be removed--the earth will -reek in corruption and bloodshed. It is implied that, so terrible will be -this time, divine intervention must necessarily shorten the Tribulation, -else no flesh will be left on the earth. The Great Tribulation will be the -climax of the Devil's rule on earth. It seems that he will incarnate -himself in a Man, giving him supernatural knowledge and power. - -However, something spectacular and sensational will soon occur. When the -leader of a gang of thugs or desperadoes is arrested, his followers are -filled with fear and consternation; then think of the excitement. An Angel -officer will break in on the scene--yes, that is exactly what the Book -tells us: the High Sheriff of Heaven will suddenly step down from -headquarters, and will lay hold--arrest the Old -Dragon--Satan--Devil--Serpent (observe all his names are mentioned). -Whatever his titles and distinctions of the past have been, they will not -save him in that hour. The Apocalyptic Vision is unmistakable. - -Some can see in this wonderful language only an allegory: the good -influences are to gradually bind the influences of evil, and to expect -such an event as the literal arrest of the Devil is a wild, irrational, -unscientific, unreasonable dream. Our Lord said, speaking of the time of -the end, that the same social conditions as prevailed in the days of Noah -were to be repeated: wicked ones waxing worse and worse; scarcely any -living in the fear of God. To expect to see a gradual regeneration of -society, politics, commerce, and the Church--until evil will be overruled, -chained as it were--seems to be a gigantic travesty on language and the -teaching of the Bible. - -We prefer to stand by the Book rather than human interpretation--fixed up -to justify the methods and results of modern religious propaganda. An -angel appears--evidently an archangel: one belonging to the rank of which -the fallen Prince formerly belonged. This Sheriff of the skies is equipped -for his undertaking; Officers carry handcuffs with which to bind -prisoners--the angel has a great chain in his hand; he lays hold--arrests -the old skulking, hateful, murderous Devil. This angel-officer has also a -key, and it is the key which locks the door of the bottomless pit. This -door has been wide open; Satan and his emissaries could go and come at -pleasure. Just as an officer arrests a desperado and leads him off to -prison--so will the archangel arrest the Devil and lock him up in the pit -of darkness and despair. What will be done with his millions of cohorts? -We can judge only by inference. We want to stay close to the inspired -record; of one thing, however, we are confident: the footstool of God -will be absolutely cleared of Devil and demons; "that they shall deceive -the nations no more." - -The prophetic picture of the divine court proceedings is very specific: we -have the exact length of the prison sentence--_one thousand years_. When -we remember the crimes, unnumbered crimes, the sentence seems to be an -example of court leniency. But this is only a "binding over," as it were, -to the real trial and judgment yet to come. This will be temporary -imprisonment; but oh, it will be such a glad, happy day. The vision of -Isaiah, thirty-fifth chapter, will be literally fulfilled. The sceptre so -long in the hand of a traitor--usurper--will pass into the hand of the -Prince of Peace. Yes, we will strengthen our weak hands and confirm our -feeble knees--Satan at last locked up. We shall witness with joy -unspeakable and full of glory--"the Restoration of All Things." "And the -earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the -waters cover the sea." Thank God forever. - - - - -XXXIV - -THE FINAL CONSUMMATION - - "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and - brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be - tormented day and night forever and ever."--_Revelation xx. 10._ - - -After the long term of imprisonment shall have ended, we are told that -Satan shall be loosed out of his prison for a season. This is difficult to -explain; but we do not presume to question the administration of God's -government: "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Satan, like -many other confirmed, apostate criminals, immediately on being released, -plunges more deeply into crime than before. The long term of imprisonment -and punishment hardens and, if possible, more nearly consumes him with -wrath. - -At once he launches another world-wide campaign of deception, gathering, -rallying, mustering, and drilling his forces: those who by an exercise of -free choice, notwithstanding the glorious millennium reign, actually fall -away and enlist under the black pirate flag once more. He encompasses the -whole face of the earth; like a deposed crown prince, he leads an -aggressive warfare to regain the honours and influence which he so long -enjoyed on the earth. - -Now if the binding of Satan is only a figure of the leavening power of -righteousness overpowering the evil--what is the _thing_ which shall be -unchained and loosened? Such a contention is as unanswerable as it is -untenable. We will repeat once more, with each word underscored: _Good or -Evil cannot exist except in a Personality_. The same school of theologians -who deny the personality of Satan, many of them, see nothing in the Person -of Christ except a _Christ spirit_, inherent good, etc.; all of which is -unadulterated infidelity. Just another method of "blasting at the Rock of -Ages." - -Satan shall be locked in a prison for one thousand years--then he shall be -loosed, and every moment of his freedom will be occupied in preparation -for the last Armageddon. He does not foresee future events, and it is -possible he does not understand this to be his final struggle; otherwise -he would be unable to inspire such a following. As we read this brief but -vivid picture of the Gog and Magog engagement, the marshalling and -shifting for position of Napoleon and Wellington, preparatory to their -decisive battle, in comparison to this gathering, will be like a cadet -sham engagement. It seems that the lines of fortification will reach out -over the entire earth, mobilizing around the Holy City. The saints, also, -are gathered into encampment; whether for preparation to meet the forces -of Satan, or for protection, the prophecy does not state; but all the -powers of light and darkness are brought face to face. - -The battle never reaches a real encounter; the impudence and rebellion of -the deposed prince and ex-convict arouses the wrath of God as never -before. The cup of His indignation is full to the overflowing, and He -brings the fearful conflict to a spectacular ending. The destruction of -Sodom and Gomorrah was a microscopic event compared with the rain of fire -that shall fall in consuming vengeance upon the Devil and his followers, -both men and demons. The saints shall be delivered in that awful hour, and -this is the last shifting of the scene; the bell will ring, as it were, -and the curtain will fall, closing out the long tragic history of the old -world. - -We are not dogmatic as to the chronological order of these mighty events, -but as closely as we can gather them from the Word, the next move of these -wonders in heaven and in earth will be the ushering in of the Last -Judgment. The _Deis Ira_ breaks in upon the universe; the Great White -Throne will swing into view. During the vision of millennial vision, its -reign--John saw "thrones"; Christ and His Church ruling jointly the -kingdoms of earth; He then is the Chief Shepherd, the King of kings and -Lord of lords--holding the sceptre of universal empire. But now when the -_Deis Ira_ dawns, there will be just One Throne, and God Himself will sit -upon it. - -If the reader wishes a detailed description of this Last Day, it can be -found in the sixth chapter of Revelation, where the whole programme is -thrown into a composite picture: "The Opening of the Seven Seals." Each -seal is a separate prophecy or act of events from Alpha to Omega of -things. Language breaks all bounds of rhetoric, poetry, and definition: -"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a -great earthquake, and the sun became as black as the sackcloth of hair, -and the moon became as blood, and the stars of the heaven fell unto the -earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of -a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled -together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places." - -Note the effect this marvellous demonstration will have upon the followers -of the traitor-prince: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and -the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every -bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks -of the mountains; and said to the rocks and the mountains, fall on us, and -hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the -wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath has come; and who shall -be able to stand." - -All the souls that have lived on the earth, good and bad, saints and -sinners, Devil and demons, will stand before the Throne and be judged. The -words, thoughts, and deeds of men and devils shall be made known. The -final doom of the Devil and his angels will be shown up in detail before -an assembled universe: the Godhead, angels, archangels, cherubim and -seraphim, and all that have lived upon this planet. Hence, the last and -final scene of the Epilogue: "And the devil that deceived them was cast -into the lake of fire and brimstone ... and shall be tormented day and -night forever and ever." Amen and Amen. - - - - -XXXV - -SATANIC SYMBOL IN NATURE - - "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are - clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made."--_Romans - i. 20._ - - -The evolution of Christian scholarship, during the recent decades, has -wrought wonders in bringing about absolute harmony of science and -religion. Under the microscope, and through the telescope, men whose -hearts are trained as well as their brains, the great book of Nature is -found to be a commentator and expositor of the Book of Revelation. They -have not only studied and theorized about the science of religion; but by -laws of induction and deduction have discovered a "Religion of Science," -and when properly understood and applied is not out of harmony with the -most orthodox faith. - -Just as chemistry, geology, zoölogy, botany, astronomy, etc., whether seen -in the protozoa or the highest type of man; the animalculi (creatures -which propagate their specie by millions in a day) or the elephant; the -electrons or Polarius (our North Star which is one hundred times brighter, -larger, and hotter than the sun)--all demonstrate laws, systems, design, -purpose, and beneficence from the hand of a wise Father-Creator: so also -are there other things in the physical world discovered by the student of -nature which suggest an opposite being. - -We remember that even the ground was cursed when sin entered with its -defiling touch; where flowers and fruits did once abound has come forth a -crop of vile weeds, thorns, and poisonous vines. These occupy and will -conquer in any soil on the earth--the Poe or Mississippi valleys, without -the diligent, unceasing, systematic toil of man. There must be a -continuous fight against these omnipresent enemies--in garden, in -vineyard, on farm. Clean out every weed, allow none to produce seed of its -kind; then leave the land for one year untouched, and it will be a ragged -wilderness. Fruits, grains, and vegetables left to fight with these -enemies of the soil, and, without a single exception anywhere, they are -soon choked out and will die. Unaided by the skill of the gardener, the -end is inevitable. - -But, observe again, fighting the soil demons and conquering them is only -half the battle. There is not a tree, plant, shrub, vegetable, fruit, nor -flower, in any latitude or zone, but that must contend with pests, -parasites, and insects of all kinds. The herbivorous enemies are not -limited to insects and creeping things, but actual diseases. Several of -the choicest fruits have cancer; various blights have destroyed whole -crops of cereals. Trees and vegetables have diseases that must be -diagnosed and doctored as carefully as the family physician treats -pneumonia or typhoid fevers. - -But this is not all: whole orchards are killed by the caterpillar; the -boll-weevil has been known to devastate great sections in the wheat belt. -The grub kills the corn as soon as it sprouts; the potato bug, the -tobacco worm, the army worm, the Gypsy moth, celery worm, California -scale, etc., on and on, until we find that every fruit, grain or vegetable -is beset by some vermin destroyer which, if not removed or poisoned, will -sting to death, or gnaw at the vitals until they wither and die. The -horticultural kingdom must contend with imps of death until garnered -safely in the harvest. - -When we examine the animal kingdom we find the same conditions obtain; -every animal from the bug to the buzzard, from the ant to the elephant, -from mice to monkeys, have a bitter struggle for existence. A -distinguished German professor has this to say, addressing the Fishery -Association of Berlin: "War is the watchword of the whole of organic -nature; there is a constant war of all organisms against outward -unfavourable circumstances, and there is a constant war among the -different individuals. The seed grain which falls into the ground, the -worm crawling on the earth, the butterfly hovering over the flower, the -eagle soaring high among the clouds--all have their enemies; outward -enemies threatening their existence, and enemies eating their life and -strength." Following these remarks he gave a long list of fish parasites -sufficient to destroy the whole finny kingdom. - -Another eminent naturalist, speaking of the perils of insect life, said: -"With such savage murderers prowling among the shadows, life among our -singing meadows is anything but a round of pleasure. The warfare is -broadcast. Not even the fluttering butterfly is safe, but is pounced upon -in mid-air, its wings torn off in mockery, and is then lugged off to some -dark hole in the ground. And the bee returning to its hive is waylaid on -the wing, and its body is torn open for the sake of the morsel of a -honey-bag within." - -Still another scientist tells us: "The microscope shows that these -murderous imps appear to have been made to inflict the most excruciating -torture upon their victims." He makes special mention of the sand hornet: -"He is the greatest villain that flies, and is built for a professional -murderer. He carries two keen scimitars, besides a deadly poisoned -poniard, and is armed throughout with a coat of mail. He lives a life of -tyranny and feeds on blood." - -Every drop of water is swarming with hideous creatures which, if -sufficiently magnified, would be frightful beyond description; the air we -breathe is surcharged with death: infecting organisms which, if the system -in the slightest degree becomes unable to eliminate them, bring on -dreadful diseases. We must fight for our physical life daily. But for the -immunity provisions of Providence, our bodies may be a charnal house, at -any moment, of billions of bacilli hastening our end. These are stern -facts which face every student of biology or natural history. - -As a professor has well said, "He, therefore, who objects to the teaching -of the sacred Scriptures concerning Satan and demons, and appeals to the -Cæsar of the natural world, can get no help, for that Cæsar echoes back -with thunder tones that there are myriads of living, malignant and -destructive organisms in every realm of nature, so far as is known, or so -far as one can reason from analogy, that, like Satan and demons, trouble -and torment the innocent as well as the guilty; that in some instances -these malignant organisms appear to inflict suffering for the sheer -delight of doing it." - -What is the conclusion of the whole matter: The existence of Diabolus and -demonia is a fact of Revelation verified by both science and philosophy. - - -_Printed in the United States of America_ - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Is the Devil a Myth?, by C. F. 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