The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-19

but we have now diScoEered the secret Of
the great power Of what the Bible calls 4
devil. His real name Is IN adversary and
dee0iyer. Neither the Greek nor Hebrew
name Is nIed for an absolute PerIOnallty.--
j Judas was called devil Pslsr vas called
a devil The messages OF Darid were called
devils the hairy goats, TO which some OF
the Jews offered sacrifice, were called def-
lis. Theansel Of the Lord which stood In
the narrow pass 10 comfort Dalaams asa
was called In the Hebrew devil. The He
brew word sAR-rAHs Is found In lwenty-six
passages, and in thirteen Of than 1t % call
Cd an adversary In King James translation.
!, That wonderful theological drama, the
Book OF Job, Is far mere inielligible, when
we consider that Satan 10 tho symbolical
name Of the adversary TO Jobs prosperity.
The adverse elements In the family and In
tho Geld are pcrsonifed under one common
name. We think that the devil has q great
devil has . great deal ofpoWer. And when
VeundsrStand that this Is only term which
has boon applied TO all the material, tue ab-
tract and personal hindraneo TO our peace
which bssci as In the flesh, Il Is no W0nder
that he Seemsth TO have great Power. lie
Is the embodiment Of all those mighty and
conflicting agencies in matter and Ia spirit,
which Ne are set 10 overcome. ThodeTil
that Is personal 70 10 In the luStI OF the
asIh and the lust OF the eye and the pride
life which We harbor In our own bodies
and souls.
We have been amazed that the devil was
everywhere At onee-preSens Ia all ages
iD.all kingdoms and families, and hearts
He Is In every place where there 10 human
being-ior every human being has his own
tendencies TO sin, and these ho must somoai.
Even our blessed Saviour was aot exempt
Iffom these tendencies, and hence he had
struggle with the devil.
"hs WA tempted In all points like ai We
arc. and yet without SIM '-Hsb. w. Is.
And woare tempted 'iwhen NO are drawn
away Of own lust and sutiesa. ".-Jamsi
II.
Bat the devils Ia our a.ih arc not beings
Of personal identity. Satan 10 not conrs-
aient paek.horso who ShAll take the respen-
slbility ofAll our sins. We, In an iudiyid-
uAlity, are the guilty parties, and over our
selves we must keep tue Natcli-WAteh and
pray lest 70 enter Into temptation.
And let not the congregation suppose that
tho argument OF this discourse 10 intended
TO negative the ministry OF angela nor the
communion Of departed spirits. We all lore
the beautiful sentiments OF the hymn We
hive sung. To me those influences belong
TO The supernatural; while this discourse
referI TO The general doctrine OF temptation.
Tho ministry OF angeli 10 = doctrine OF the
Bible, but Il Is linked with the miraculous
events OF the Bible, eriI confined 70 those
mysterious and ,il,ntinfuOness which are
dilieult 10 de6us. And having granted the
ministry ofAngeli TO DO true, we are not
prepared 10 deny the ministry Of departed
spirits for certainly they arc one order Of
angels. And We must logically follow this
step BY another, to-vit, The possible inau-
, enee or spiritual beings who arc neither
wholly good nor absolutely bad. For none
but our Lord Jesus and spotlsss babies do
part out ofthiI life wholly good and be-
liOye also that none 70 Into that land
wholly And absolutely bad. Bat because We
believe In the supernatural Influence ofsplr-
itual beings Of comparative excellence, let
IL not therefore be inferred that God has
turned loose upon Us infinite millions OF
those Satanic characters which distracted
poets write about, aud which ancient iheol-
ogists expect Nc 70 believe are God-Ient, but
holl's messengers Notwithstanding. II 10
only by jumbling detached pa Stages Of
Scripture together, and In most uneritieSl
, and unhistofieal way, that this fabulous
and dsmoraliIing doctrine has been framed
and supported
In conclusion, I exhort you 10 DO ten,ii.
tent In bsliefand devout In work. lt,bould
be our spiritual effort 10 rise above all the
,.dueticns OIL the flesh We must labor on
a religious basis. Know thysslf. Put q
bride upon thine own particular sins. Let
soul rise and control Tie body. Bodily 'Ap-
petiteS are noble and God.girOn servants.
but they are rsmorselCss maSlsy. All great
sinners are the most Nbject and crouchins
slaves, HhAme.fssed and hsatt-sorc and foot
sore. Be q Christian. You will then bea
freeman, and God will kiss your rhteki.-
nThat shall | do n Last weeks Christian
Union has well answered
LIST. Cease 10 do evil. Stop every wicked
action.
2ad. Learn TO pray. Tha, will stop ey.
cry wicked thought. Don't pray TOO arti-
feially. Think about the good God who
made you Al loves you. Think about ths
, image Of God In every human breast, ADD
. your very AHoukuh WN w PySa :"
thsm aud for yourself
Sd. Begin to read the Bible, not mechanic
eally By the clock, As people take medicine.
! Hun, up the piniIter's text or nelghbor'S
qustaion. Get the Bible into youF lap
Turn over the leaves. Read sketches. Hunt
for what you want. Go to 1t As . hungry
man for wisdom and grace. Look at par.
tieulAr character, commandments and
promises. Turn over the tertuAl ptiImJ
and spiritual Kaleidoscope which allow you
10 see the ten Thousand delightful and won
drous rainbowB which span the throne Of
/ God, and your soul will be filled with that
wonderful ligh: which lays on the summer
land Of Paradise.
Moreover, seek intercourse with devcut
people. Don't stumble over their name
The GertGrian name Is Of no more account
than certain Estallle figures on the uniform
OF fireman or soldier. Look yeu for =
mau who loves the Great Captain and the
Great God Of your salvation. Never mind
the number or the regiment. The faith and
devotion ofR pious Catholic will do you
good. So will the holy reverence Of a Jew.
So will the warm zeal Of . Methodist. So
will the reliance ofa Btptist or Presbyterl.
, an, or the veneratoa OF The Episeopalian.--
By all these methods strive 10 resist the
devil and he will dee from you.
1