The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-02-19
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
WINTER RvEEING CONVERSATIONS
sATAN's WORKS.

Unhsppily for us, man is not, next to Je-
hoysh, the most conspicuous figure in this
world. Meo are but pigmies in the tolls OF
Satan, the great enemy of God, and the enc
my of meu IS the creatures of God. That
Satan is most conspicuous parsonage in our
world, who has failed to see that has scru
tinizinSly read that wonderful narrative in
the first chapter of Job? What an impudent
tone of independence withsl What airs of
consequence How wonderful the parley of
Jehovah With him Behold in this the in
explicabls connection of Satsn's workings
with those of the Lord 0naipotent respect
ing man
Is not this personal Devil here addressed,
cursed in Eden, seen of John in Patmos, the
teupter of Jesus, to bs feared? Else how
shall We pray, LEAD u5 not into tempta-
ton, but deliver as from tho Ell One."
l know it is the most common and natural
thing to leave Satan out of view in our con-
temptation of human history. Man natural
ly feels that he is at the head of affairs, for
getting that Satan is very commonly at the
head of him. But consider now that this
Being is "the prince of the power of the
air" that he has welded more power in Op-
position to God in this world than the whole
human family put together. The race OF
men now begins to fall toto place of less
prominence in the scene. The history of the
world seems little more than the history of a
contest between tie powers of Light and the
powers Of Darkness, between the Lord On
niposent and Satan. Here is the mystery
of iniquity." L; is a scene of surprising in
&srest for human eyes and for human reaec-
tion. Aud it becomes very dreadful iadeed,
when We remember that this power of Saian
is welded against God through man, and for
mans destruction. It is a contest for men.
Satan is consending for dominion over his
subjects and the world, for,ifying himself 6y
new METHODS and combinations from time TO
time, and striving to regain those which have
been taken from him Slid our Lord to
Peter, "Satau hath desired to have you
that be may sift you as wheat" l cannot
understand that; aud DO not believe any
man can. For it involves a knowledge of
the anreVealed things of the past eternity,
this connection of Sltan's workings with
those of God. But it teaches one thing
Satan is a terrible reality here and now to
you and to me, Intelligent powerful, crafty
Let us recolect this. And this, that One
Only has overcome him; and He only can
save as. And this again, that we shall not
be free from rude bufalings, and wounds, and
shameful falls, unless we study to dwell ha
bitually with Hin in the way of self denial
meditation sod prayer.
G,d's people, the little flock, the few de-
yout ones scattered here and there up and
down the earth amid crowds of Journalists
have been rescued out of Satsn's hand BY
Almighty power. They can be distinguished
from other people. Toe rest of the human
|.|Mnily, whether consciously or unconscious
deceived or wilfully, atC srrayed will
y Satan. As the successive generations o.
men come upon the ground He suits hi
strategy. his delusiOns, his methods to th'
altsrsd state of things. When defeated il
one seheme he flies to another, probabl,
gaining knowledge by experience aud defeat
Our knowledge is as nothing compared Wit
his, though We may have ranged the Who'll
ooprse of humsa lesrning. This 8tupeudou
conflict of Earth. beginning in Ellen, ha
fougbs its way all along down the ages, con
tinuous, raging, and terrific, drawing arOun
the pathway of Time cloudy darkOes'
blood, and horrid ruin.
Every calamity which has befallen the NJ
man race, every eclipse Of faith, every falls
religion which has cursed the nations is bc
srevelatiou of the unseen activities of Tn
Arch Enemy. There he stands behind tn
scenes, with his angels to do his bidding Wit
unceasing vigilance. With this idea of tn
affairs Of the world we live in, trace out {
your leisure and study Satan's working
among the nations, 'swish al deceiVableue;
Of uprighteousness," from Eden to the vi
dsrpess of Judea, and from PenteeOstal time
- o,r own. n. NJ B.
SWEET language will multiply friend: