按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
God will protect us； but if we place ourselves under temptation we shall
fall sooner or later。
The tempter often works most successfully through those who are least
suspected of being under his control。 The possessors of talent and education
are admired and honored； as if these qualities could atone for the absence
of the fear of God or entitle men to His favor。 Talent and culture；
considered in themselves； are gifts of God； but when these are made to
supply the place of piety； when； instead of bringing the soul nearer to God；
they lead away from Him； then they become a curse and a snare。 The opinion
prevails with many that all which appears like courtesy or refinement must；
in some sense； pertain to Christ。 Never was there a greater mistake。 These
qualities should grace the character of every Christian； for they would
exert a powerful influence in favor of true religion； but they must be
consecrated to God； or they also are a power for evil。 Many a man of
cultured intellect and pleasant manners； who would not stoop to what is
commonly regarded as an immoral act； is but a polished instrument in the
hands of Satan。 The insidious； deceptive character of his influence and
example renders him a more dangerous enemy to the cause of Christ than are
those who are ignorant and uncultured。
By earnest prayer and dependence upon God； Solomon obtained the wisdom which
excited the wonder and admiration of the world。 But when he turned from the
Source of his strength； and went forward relying upon himself； he fell a
prey to temptation。 Then the marvelous powers bestowed on this wisest of
kings only rendered him a more effective agent of the adversary of souls。
510
While Satan is constantly seeking to blind their minds to the fact； let
Christians never forget that they 〃wrestle not against flesh and blood； but
against principalities； against powers； against the rulers of the darkness
of this world； against wicked spirits in high places。〃 Ephesians 6：12；
margin。 The inspired warning is sounding down the centuries to our time： 〃Be
sober； be vigilant； because your adversary the devil； as a roaring lion；
walketh about； seeking whom he may devour。〃 1 Peter 5：8。 〃Put on the whole
armor of God； that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil。〃
Ephesians 6：11。
From the days of Adam to our own time； our great enemy has been exercising
his power to oppress and destroy。 He is now preparing for his last campaign
against the church。 All who seek to follow Jesus will be brought into
conflict with this relentless foe。 The more nearly the Christian imitates
the divine Pattern； the more surely will he make himself a mark for the
attacks of Satan。 All who are actively engaged in the cause of God； seeking
to unveil the deceptions of the evil one and to present Christ before the
people； will be able to join in the testimony of Paul； in which he speaks of
serving the Lord with all humility of mind； with many tears and temptations。
Satan assailed Christ with his fiercest and most subtle temptations； but he
was repulsed in every conflict。 Those battles were fought in our behalf；
those victories make it possible for us to conquer。 Christ will give
strength to all who seek it。 No man without his own consent can be overcome
by Satan。 The tempter has no power to control the will or to force the soul
to sin。 He may distress； but he cannot contaminate。 He can cause agony； but
not defilement。 The fact that Christ has conquered should inspire His
followers with courage to fight manfully the battle against sin and Satan。
（511）
Chapter 31
Agency of Evil Spirits
The connection of the visible with the invisible world； the ministration of
angels of God； and the agency of evil spirits； are plainly revealed in the
Scriptures； and inseparably interwoven with human history。 There is a
growing tendency to disbelief in the existence of evil spirits； while the
holy angels that 〃minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation〃
（Hebrews 1：14） are regarded by many as spirits of the dead。 But the
Scriptures not only teach the existence of angels； both good and evil； but
present unquestionable proof that these are not disembodied spirits of dead
men。
Before the creation of man； angels were in existence； for when the
foundations of the earth were laid； 〃the morning stars sang together； and
all the sons of God shouted for joy。〃 Job 38：7。 After the fall of man；
angels were sent to guard the tree of life； and this before a human being
had died。 Angels are in nature superior to men； for the psalmist says that
man was made 〃a little lower than the angels。〃 Psalm 8：5。
We are informed in Scripture as to the number； and the power and glory； of
the heavenly beings； of their connection with the government of God； and
also of their relation to the work of redemption。 〃The Lord hath prepared
His throne in the heavens； and His kingdom ruleth over all。〃 And； says the
prophet； 〃I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne。〃 In the
presence chamber of the King of kings
512
they wait〃angels； that excel in strength；〃 〃ministers of His； that do His
pleasure；〃 〃hearkening unto the voice of His word。〃 Psalm 103：19…21；
Revelation 5：11。 Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands；
were the heavenly messengers beheld by the prophet Daniel。 The apostle Paul
declared them 〃an innumerable company。〃 Daniel 7：10； Hebrews 12：22。 As God's
messengers they go forth； like 〃the appearance of a flash of lightning；〃
（Ezekiel 1：14）； so dazzling their glory； and so swift their flight。 The
angel that appeared at the Saviour's tomb； his countenance 〃like lightning；
and his raiment white as snow；〃 caused the keepers for fear of him to quake；
and they 〃became as dead men。〃 Matthew 28：3； 4。 When Sennacherib； the
haughty Assyrian； reproached and blasphemed God； and threatened Israel with
destruction； 〃it came to pass that night； that the angel of the Lord went
out； and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five
thousand。〃 There were 〃cut off all the mighty men of valor； and the leaders
and captains；〃 from the army of Sennacherib。 〃So he returned with shame of
face to his own land。〃 2 Kings 19：35； 2 Chronicles 32：21。
Angels are sent on missions of mercy to the children of God。 To Abraham；
with promises of blessing； to the gates of Sodom； to rescue righteous Lot
from its fiery doom； to Elijah； as he was about to perish from weariness and
hunger in the desert； to Elisha； with chariots and horses of fire
surrounding the little town where he was shut in by his foes； to Daniel；
while seeking divine wisdom in the court of a heathen king； or abandoned to
become the lions' prey； to Peter； doomed to death in Herod's dungeon； to the
prisoners at Philippi； to Paul and his companions in the night of tempest on
the sea； to open the mind of Cornelius to receive the gospel； to dispatch
Peter with the message of salvation to the Gentile strangerthus holy
angels have； in all ages； ministered to God's people。
A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ。 These heavenly
watchers shield the righteous from the power
513
of the wicked one。 This Satan himself recognized when he said： 〃Doth Job
fear God for nought？ Hast not Thou made an hedge about him； and about his
house； and about all that he hath on every side？〃 Job 1：9； 10。 The agency by
which God protects His people is presented in the words of the psalmist：
〃The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him； and
delivereth them。〃 Psalm 34：7。 Said the Saviour； speaking of those that
believe in Him： 〃Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones； for
I say unto you； That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My
Father。〃 Matthew 18：10。 The angels appointed to minister to the children of
God have at all times access to His presence。
Thus God's people； exposed to the deceptive power and unsleeping malice of
the prince of darkness； and in conflict