The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-05-01
SATAN AND, HIs ORUELTY.

1t is a little singular that those who talk
most of the dignity of human nature, and
are loudest in berating the doctrine of ma
tive depravity, also deny most stOutly the
existence of a personal devil. 1t is not
easy for them, before men with open eyes,
to deny that there is fearful amount of
evil in the wOrld-''this beautiful, Gods
world" of which they have so many sweet
and poe.ical things to say. There certain
ly is no denying that on all sides are
cheating, lying. swearing, back biting, in
temperance, impuiity, robbery, arson, muir
der. No man, at all times and in all com
panies. feels quito safe even in our best
governed cities.
Now If human nature is the lovely thing
some represent it to be, and all wish it
were, and if there be no such being as Sa-
tan, the question is more pertinent than
easily answered. Whence come all these
ugly Outcroppings of evil? From mans
unfavOrable environments" is it? But
the nature that is so noble and lovely,
ought to be superior to its environments !;
ought TO mold them, and not be nodded
by them. At the least, it should yield
more easily to the environments that lift
up, than to those that drag down. Does
its Not if those who work hardest in try
ing to draw men up to better things tell
the truth. Painful as the conviction is,
PIdCtlCdl ucdicTS VIII nOW-
a-days, find themselves. with .Ominous
agreement, driven to the belief that there
is devil, and a hard one at that. They
fall very naturally into language concern
ing him much like that of the sacred wri-
ters, who had not come up to the refine
ments of these times. They find him now
as of yore, full of lies, malignity. deceit,
subtlety, and cruelty the tempter of tempt
ers, the opposer of all good, the father and
fosterer Of all that is base and ruinous.
Recent events have set us to thinking of
his cruelty. A, young man, the beloved
son of our friend, tenderly reared, finely
educated. with opening prospects of rare
brilliancy, led away by "the drinking
usages Of society," was carried, rapidly
down to uselessness, hOpelessness, death.
in the family Of a neighbor was shell
tered young orphan girl, beautiful in
person, modest, innocent, selfsacrifcing
winning, promising with proper culture to
fill and adorn q useful situation But the
very qualities that should have. secured
her the chivalrous protection of all deserv-
ing the name of men, opened the way for
the ruin of all these bright hopes and pros
pects.-A little further away was q man
past middle life, church member, of life
long associations with godly men and wo.
men, implicitly trusted as one confirmed
in Christian character. Under the press,
ure of temptation, he hazarded and lost all
his own property and that Of many others,
his kindred fellow church-members, near.
est friends Among them were widows
and orphans, whom his misdeeds left pen
niless. Worse still. was lost the wealth OF
reputation that had taken long years tC
earn; and, worst of all Cindelible reproach
was cast upon the church and the Saviour
/ he had covenanted to honor Loyalty unit
death. t r. 5---G..N
All this in our one circle, in 4 brie
time All over Christendom the same facts
are repeating themselves with terrible uni
formity; have been repeating themselves
for ages, in broken hearts, blighted5 lives
desolated homes, ruined families, dishOn
ored churches. Is it wisest to hide al
this, or to own its To flatteri mems self
conceit, or to tell the honest truth? Tt
warn the young and unsuspecting, or leav'
them to find out by bitter experience, of ,
personal devil, powerful, cunning, able t.
put on the garb of an angel of light, SO a
to deceive the very elect; and cruel, "crue
as the grave" men say; but The grave i
merciful in cOmparison-crdei, as only Sa
tan can be? If all could but know jus
the truth concerning him, might not NOR
escape his snares through the saving powe
and love of Him who .'was manifested tina
He might destroy the works Of the devil 2
4