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！
placing us on our guard against his assaults。
The power and malice of Satan and his host might justly alarm us were it not
that we may find shelter and deliverance in the superior power of our
Redeemer。 We carefully secure our houses with bolts and locks to protect our
property and our lives from evil men； but we seldom think of the evil angels
who are constantly seeking access to us； and against whose attacks we have；
in our own strength； no method of defense。 If permitted； they can distract
our minds； disorder and torment our bodies； destroy our possessions and our
lives。 Their only delight is in misery and destruction。 Fearful is the
condition of those who resist the divine claims and yield to Satan's
temptations； until God gives them up to the control of evil spirits。 But
those who follow Christ are ever safe under His watchcare。 Angels that excel
in strength are sent from heaven to protect them。 The wicked one cannot
break through the guard which God has stationed about His people。
（518）
Chapter 32
Snares of Satan
The great controversy between Christ and Satan； that has been carried
forward for nearly six thousand years； is soon to close； and the wicked one
redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ in man's behalf and to
fasten souls in his snares。 To hold the people in darkness and impenitence
till the Saviour's mediation is ended； and there is no longer a sacrifice
for sin； is the object which he seeks to accomplish。
When there is no special effort made to resist his power； when indifference
prevails in the church and the world； Satan is not concerned； for he is in
no danger of losing those whom he is leading captive at his will。 But when
the attention is called to eternal things； and souls are inquiring； 〃What
must I do to be saved？〃 he is on the ground； seeking to match his power
against the power of Christ and to counteract the influence of the Holy
Spirit。
The Scriptures declare that upon one occasion； when the angels of God came
to present themselves before the Lord； Satan came also among them （Job 1：6）；
not to bow before the Eternal King； but to further his own malicious designs
against the righteous。 With the same object he is in attendance when men
assemble for the worship of God。 Though hidden from sight； he is working
with all diligence to control the minds of the worshipers。 Like a skillful
general he lays his plans beforehand。 As he sees the messenger of God
searching the Scriptures； he takes note of the subject to be
519
presented to the people。 Then he employs all his cunning and shrewdness so
to control circumstances that the message may not reach those whom he is
deceiving on that very point。 The one who most needs the warning will be
urged into some business transaction which requires his presence； or will by
some other means be prevented from hearing the words that might prove to him
a savor of life unto life。
Again； Satan sees the Lord's servants burdened because of the spiritual
darkness that enshrouds the people。 He hears their earnest prayers for
divine grace and power to break the spell of indifference； carelessness； and
indolence。 Then with renewed zeal he plies his arts。 He tempts men to the
indulgence of appetite or to some other form of self…gratification； and thus
benumbs their sensibilities so that they fail to hear the very things which
they most need to learn。
Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the
searching of the Scriptures； will be overcome by his attacks。 Therefore he
invents every possible device to engross the mind。 There has ever been a
class professing godliness； who； instead of following on to know the truth；
make it their religion to seek some fault of character or error of faith in
those with whom they do not agree。 Such are Satan's right…hand helpers。
Accusers of the brethren are not few； and they are always active when God is
at work and His servants are rendering Him true homage。 They will put a
false coloring upon the words and acts of those who love and obey the truth。
They will represent the most earnest； zealous； self…denying servants of
Christ as deceived or deceivers。 It is their work to misrepresent the
motives of every true and noble deed； to circulate insinuations； and arouse
suspicion in the minds of the inexperienced。 In every conceivable manner
they will seek to cause that which is pure and righteous to be regarded as
foul and deceptive。
But none need be deceived concerning them。 It may be readily seen whose
children they are； whose example they follow； and whose work they do。 〃Ye
shall know them by
520
their fruits。〃 Matthew 7：16。 Their course resembles that of Satan； the
envenomed slanderer； 〃the accuser of our brethren。〃 Revelation 12：10。
The great deceiver has many agents ready to present any and every kind of
error to ensnare soulsheresies prepared to suit the varied tastes and
capacities of those whom he would ruin。 It is his plan to bring into the
church insincere； unregenerate elements that will encourage doubt and
unbelief； and hinder all who desire to see the work of God advance and to
advance with it。 Many who have no real faith in God or in His word assent to
some principles of truth and pass as Christians； and thus they are enabled
to introduce their errors as Scriptural doctrines。
The position that it is of no consequence what men believe is one of Satan's
most successful deceptions。 He knows that the truth； received in the love of
it； sanctifies the soul of the receiver； therefore he is constantly seeking
to substitute false theories； fables； another gospel。 From the beginning the
servants of God have contended against false teachers； not merely as vicious
men； but as inculcators of falsehoods that were fatal to the soul。 Elijah；
Jeremiah； Paul； firmly and fearlessly opposed those who were turning men
from the word of God。 That liberality which regards a correct religious
faith as unimportant found no favor with these holy defenders of the truth。
The vague and fanciful interpretations of Scripture； and the many
conflicting theories concerning religious faith； that are found in the
Christian world are the work of our great adversary to confuse minds so that
they shall not discern the truth。 And the discord and division which exist
among the churches of Christendom are in a great measure due to the
prevailing custom of wresting the Scriptures to support a favorite theory。
Instead of carefully studying God's word with humility of heart to obtain a
knowledge of His will； many seek only to discover something odd or original。
521
In order to sustain erroneous doctrines or unchristian practices； some will
seize upon passages of Scripture separated from the context； perhaps quoting
half of a single verse as proving their point； when the remaining portion
would show the meaning to be quite the opposite。 With the cunning of the
serpent they entrench themselves behind disconnected utterances construed to
suit their carnal desires。 Thus do many willfully pervert the word of God。
Others； who have an active imagination； seize upon the figures and symbols
of Holy Writ； interpret them to suit their fancy； with little regard to the
testimony of Scripture as its own interpreter； and then they present their
vagaries as the teachings of the Bible。
Whenever the study of the Scriptures is entered upon without a prayerful；
humble； teachable spirit； the plainest and simplest as well as the most
difficult passages will be wrested from their true meaning。 The papal
leaders select such portions of Scripture as best serve their purpose；
interpret to suit themselves； and then present these to the people； while
they deny them the privilege of studying the Bible and understanding its
sacred truths for themselves。 The whole Bible should be given to the people
just as it reads。 It would be better for them not to have Bible instruction
at all than to have the teaching of the Scriptures thus