The New York herald., 1879-03-10
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
SATAN HIS ArTRIDUTEs-sERMoN DY REV. DR.

ARMITAGE.
Tho Rev. DIR. Armtage preached the subject
Of Satan His Attributes" taking his text from
Matthew, iv., 9--"Al these things will give to
thee, If thou wilt fall down and worship me-"
Much that absurd said the reverend DOCTOR in the
theology of the darker centuries hasbcen practically
transferred to times the powers OF the devil.
Take for example, the popular thought of Christian
men that Satan's presence is all pervading in the
human family. Hundreds. thousands. millions of
Christian men in New York. London. some
Of them 1t may be in the heart of
Africa. China elsewhere, scattered from
Pole Pole these in their individual capacity
generally do wrong at tho same moment. not in ap-
parent but actual time. and when you ask them how
they to do it they will each answer that they
were tempted by the devil Nay, the popular notion
will go far beyond that point even. by answering
that every wrong thought. motive. word and action
of each man who lives upon the globe is prompted
by the devil. and that each has or less of
these promptings each day. probably each hour.
But there are nearly thirteen hundred millions OF
human beings upon this globe. and how can
the devil stand ut the side of each ono
at each moment Of his life to allure him
to ruin? That is. how can he be in thirteen hundred
millions OF different places ut the same moment
without possessing the attribute of omnipresence? !?
Now anybody can see that there Is something wrong
In such wild conception as that. Omnipresence is
q distinct ottriDute or Gou, ond beginning with the
assumption that He IL eternal unorignated and
infinite Being, can form some idea OF the possibil
ity OF His ubiquity. My faith bows at once to the
belief that He is present in all the churches and with
all His individual creatures. in whatever zone and
whatever moment of time. to bless them; but my
faith spurns the thought that any creature in
His universe can be in more than place at tho
same time for any purpose much less to intict evil
oMNIsCIENr?
Another hagrant error ascrbes to Satan the power
to read the secrets OF all hearts. This il divine
niscience Where do the Scriptures sanction such
abominabie ideaf The noblest angel Possesses
not that power. To endow any creature with the
fearful ability to read tho secrets another crea-
lures heart would be to invade the sanctity of his
rights, responsibilities and sources OF happiness
God only read the thoughts, motives and desires
of your hearts unless you choose to reveal them
words actions IL the Lord. search the heart
but creature share with Him this
omniscience, much less rival Him in its exercise,
Tho very idea that he possesses either omniscence
omnipotence is shocking, even revolving in the
extreme. because 1t justiios all devil worship and
hallows Satan's blasphemous challenge to Christ,
that lie would fall down and worship him.
The profoundest philosophers of earlier times had
worshipped. and why should not this pure. simple
hearted young jew do so well? Now, II cannot
admit that Satan is equal with God in any respect 1t
follows that he is limited III his personal presence.
wisdom and power. As once an angel of light. he
up To pride seishncss. envy. aversion OF God, dis
IKE Of law and love Of all is vicious in a hend
His very capacities qualify him for the place of ring
leader of the Internal but his moral character draws
an eternally broad line between him aud the only
Va (,p1.