The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-12
THE DEVIL.

THE DEVIL.
HAS HE A PERSONALITY ?-sERMoN NJ REV.
DIR. MACARTHUR.
Rev. DR.. Macarthur, tho pastor OF the Calvary Bap.
list Church In Twenty third street. between Fifth and
Sixth avenues preached last evening to an unusually
large congregation The subject OF the discourse was
Ills There Personal Devil" the text being James
w., 7-"Resst the devil and he will Zee from you"
Dr.. Macarthur said:-
SERMON.
am about TO compliment Satan. propose for
littlo time TO discuss him The object however n
not to compliment him, but If may be able, to in.
struct YOU There Is among all Glasses much
ignorance IN regard to the origin, character and
power Of Satan. Ny aim is TO avoid merely
speculative questions and nll technical terms.
Thors is some danger lost in such dis.
cussons may exotic admiration for Sasan's ability
aud pity for his doom. Milton has erred In this
respect Regarded merely as character Of literature
believer In tho Bible or observer OF men for .
moment doubt He y known in tho Bible by great
variety OF names. Three times he s called Ruler OF
this world, times the Evi One twice ut least thu
Tcmper He Is called tho God OF this world, Beelze-
bub, Dragon, Serpent ana other names But chiefly
he is known under the two desgnations-Sata or
Adversary. Devil or Accuser.
Now, the question 10, Are these Scrptural illusions
to be understood OF revealed person, or they
merely u ersanihcaton either OF the prncipe OF
view OF those who Ooieve In the inspra.
ton and divine authority Of the Bible, the latter
the view OF tho great majority OF Rationaiiss and
modern Unitarlans Our first proposition - there II
personal devil We read OF the "wiles" OF Satan.
The master vile Ia to teach people that there 10 no
Satan He has been called sthe great gamester."
This is his finest game How delightful a doctrine It
there was no such thing as burglar. that the
belief was fancy, an old superstition,
The disappearance OF goodsl No doubt ali burglars
are willing 10 have tho people SO believe No doubt
10 himself affirm TINT tho scriptures ascribs to
Satan acts and attributes which, by no laws Of Ian
guage, can DO regarded as applicable TO PRINCIPLE 10
make the attempt Is TO introduce confusion and
nonsense into the Word Of God Let us make the at
tempt and the result. "1hen was Jesus led up Of
nrinciplo OF OWL" And when the principle OF evil
came to him he sad," &c .srhen The principle Of
evi' taketh him up" &c. Eye OF your father the
principle Ut eviL'" Many other passages might be
quoted. Wherever find thought we inier thinker.
plan planner, design designer. This is necessary
deverance OF tho human MUD. In many passages the
wies. the works, the WILL the character aud tue fate
o. Satan arc spoken OIL AS wen - m nH you
ter Of history not personally soon by us as to deny
that Of Satan. body Of German scholars denied the
personal existence OF Homer They invented varioua
theories TO account Tor his poems II is easier-al
though II has yet been d0ne-to deny his person.
atty than Satan's Another proof OF the personality
OF Satan il TO DO found In tho temptation OF Christ
Whence came thoso suggestions to evil II there be no
was not from within. You must affirm either thai
Christ Is not sness that there Is personal dovtL
Hu. IS sud that CHRIST pIrpVSey H Hs
truth ITSELF. This was, II an error. serious one
Would Christ sanction III Christ's treatment Of
this doctrine has forever settled the question
of the personal existence of satan. The Ian.
guage OF Scripture with reference to tho fate
OF Satan ID another proof He is doomed He u
bound for Thousand years. then iros Tor the lass
conflict, and then cast into tho lake OF lire and brim-
stone forever and such language applied TO
Interpretation applied TO other books than the Bible
would make all history absurdity and would 60 far
to Nol ia I'M IN.
vented TO conceal thought
DEVIL TEMPrRR.
Our second statement 10 that Satan tempts man
The Bible clear this point He tempted Jesus, he
entered into Judas, he desired TO sf Peter, he OPP
enemies. This was the bunder Of the Russians IL lhs
early part OF tho war. They are learning better now.
Satan dared to oppose tue omnlPo,on. ae can can
power over ordinary mattor he can Affect the minds
and the bodies OF mon He never plays bold game
ming" Ii maniully opposed he becomes .
coward. His indirect attacks are dangerous
Every man has his weak spot else he Is wsnk
ali over Satan has experience. He comes in 'arass
oblqus." Whom Napoleon was rstreating from
attempted to break the ice but balls flew of the
surface. They then fired into tho air. and the do
sconding showers OF Load anu IRON broke tho iee INTO
your guard. The last thought is, satan may DO
overcome Resist is the word. You cannot persuade.
You dare not parley. This would DO SIN. He u
mighty; Christ IS mighter His power 10 limited,
temporary, subordinate. jesus vanquished him and
death and hell. Christ struck the crown from his
brow and tho sccptre from his hand He Is more than
q match for YOU He is less than match for Jesus.
men. because yo have overcome The wicked QUO
Fear not Those who for the Christian are more
than they who against him. Go forward. You
shall OIL more than conquerovs II you trust In
Christ. Hate Satan. Desert him. He Is doomed.
Clingiug TO him you perish with him. Resist
him aud ho will 1co from you.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY.
REV. STEPHEN II. TYING, Jn., D. D., ON THE
BIBLE AND NATURE.
In the Church ofthe Holy Trinity, last evening" Rev.
Dr. Stephen H. Tyng Jr., began seres Of lectures
! fret lacfnea h.