The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-08-08
SERPENT, SATIN or DEVIL.

EDITOR ADVANCE: The devil has
always occupied an important position,
both in JUDAH ism and Christianity. H.
deed, if Satan was stricken from ortho-
doXy the whole system would fall, as lie
is one of the foremost characters in the
story of the fall of man, the atonement,
etc. We first read of him appearing to
Eve in the form Of a serpent, talking
familarly. She does not seem to think
strange that a snake should be endowed
with organs OF speech. The scriptures
do not tell us how lie managed to stand
erect, but we are informed that God
cursed him, and told him lie should ey-
er afterwards crawl. After this we
hear Ct him making war in Heaven
The query IS, how did he get there, and
what would the devil do in Heaven
But then it is said the serpent WAS more
subtle than any beast Of the field which
the Lord God had made.
Again we get into a tangle about this
wonderful being, Sat3n. In Samuel
second we are plainly told how God or
dered David to number the fold, while
Chronicles gives it to lis us u fact twas
the Devil who prompted the act. SO
Gods chosen people were not able 10
ten whether orders We're issued from
Heaven or he'll.
We next find tho Devil tormcnting
job. by permission of God lie WAS to
carry his cruelty to any extent except
to take jobs life. Now, when we use
little reason, it seems strange that the
God OF the universe would sanction such
cruelty just to show the old serpent
that job would keep his integrity. But
here we are reasoning again, when we
were plainly told On the camp ground
the other day, eve must not use our
reason when rpading the word Of God;
if any passage looked mysterious, leave
it with God"
Time would fail us to enulnerate half
the absurd notions extant about the
| Devil. Someti mes he is represented as
frustrating the plans of God, and as be-
ing omnipresent tempting every indi-
vi'lual
| The Devil has ever been a target, but
| the marksmcn are careful never to hit
him, for if the people should at any
time become so much enlightened Oh
this subject, they would not believe Ill
the scare-crow stories and begin to in
| vestigate and think for themselves and
dare to express those thoughts. Tie
forty-oEe thousand priests in the Unit
cd States would have to change tactics
in warfare and teach the people the only
way to happiness here and hereafter to
''cease to do evil and learn to do well.'
We card not long since proclaimed
from the pulpit. that every person by
| 1.,tI, nj, Of !, Il ~
the devil, and then the preacher urged
and plead for amy one, or all Of tie dew
lis children, to com. forward to the
front seat and lie prayed for by Gods
dear children, and thus be mystcl1ously
Transformed or born again into the
kingdom of God. But the congrega-
ton were all too Intelligent to respond
to Il call like that, except one lady who
seemed to think she was /; child of
wrath.
We have often heard it urged against
the Spiritualists that they do not be-
lieve in the orthodox Devil. We are
personally acquainted with many Spir
itualists, and we know they do not be-
lieve in amy such being, consequently
could not reverence him. The old story
of Jupiter defeating the giant with
thunderand continuing him under Mount
Etna, is scarcely more Il fable with lib
eralists than the Evolutionary teachings
concerning Satan, total deprayity. eter-
nal punishment and the resurrection of
| the body.
But we hope and trust that all who
discard the mnsty traditions of the past
may strive to live up to their highest
conceptions of right, as the world, bap-
tised anew with inspiration, moves.
grandly up the mountain of progress.
Earth life will soon recede, Heaven
comes nearer and nearer, SON s Of an
giles gladden. the ear, visions Of the loved
and lost greet the yearning heart, while
spirit hands fondly clasp our own and
spirit voices whisper ''come up higher"
LURY a. CRArSEY.
| r