The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-11
ON SATAN AND SAVANNAH.
Rev. A. J. smith at the First Presby-
terrain Church.

rev \. j. Smith at the First Presby-
terrain Church.
Satan and savannah was the sub
ject of the evening sermon by Rev. Ar
thur J. Smith az the First Presbyterian
Church yesterday Mr.. Smith took for
his text Where Satan dwelleth," Rev.
2;lS. last clause. lie said:
My theme is not a pleasant one to
many in the congregation. and I know
it is not pleasant TO Satan himself. He
is always glad when he can get ministers
to let him alone. / DO not speak upon this
subject because I have a desire to be SEN
sationaL Savannah people must know ere
this that l am not a sensational preacher.
present the subject because when
l was ordained I made SOL
emn vow to preach the whole truth
OF God as revealed in the Bible. and the
doctrine denounclng Satan and evil spirits
is found in Gods holy word.
Il present it also because I have a de-
sire TO be helpful To be forewarmed is
to be forearmed is an old saying. If
we, as Christian people. knew more about
satan and his wles we would be more
likely TO conquer him.
Who is SATAN The Scripture says he
is fallen ange.. God created man and
gave him the power TO choose for him
self. He fell. God created angels and
gave them this same power Some Of
them felL Satan is said to be their prince
and king He does not have the powers
or GOD. but he has greater powers
than man He can go from place to place
unseen and controls his followers by some
system of wireless biography He is not
an agnostic, an inhdel or skeptic The
Bible says "the devils believe and trem-
BILE"
other names than Satan are given him.
He is called the Devil, the Serpent, the
Dragon, the Prince of the Power of The
Air the God of this world the Adversary.
the Tempter, Appolyou. His works and
devices are many. He tempts man 10
break Gods laws. He seduces man and
leads him from the path of rectitude. He
deceiyes man, lies to him, offers him many
things he never gives He ensnares man,
catches him and binds him, holds him in
bondage. He blinds man TO the Gospel and
to mis- danger. He affiicts man by taking
away his dear ones, his business and his
health, as in the case of Job. He binders
the work of Christ; working from within
the church rather than from without.
THE text tells us that he had his seat
at Pugamos; he dwelt there. The Scrip
tuTe teaches that he moves about. He
doubtless had his seat at Sodom until ne
accomplished It's overthrow. Gomorrah,
Babylon, Nineveh and many other cities
have shared a like fate.
Are there any evidences of his pres
ence in Savannah? Let US see. There are
laws on the statute books of the state and
city that are not enforced. This, to me, is
an evidence of his presence. If Christ
was controlling the minds and hearts of
men in authority these laws would be en-
forced. am a preacher and am
RI hg,,ar-
that other men know, but I am not any
less man or citizen for being a minister
of Christ.
Il see things and hear things at election
times that are very strange to me. Ne
groes are herded like cattle and lined up
to vote 1 am not supposed to know what
that means but I have my ideas about it
all, and besides 1 have been told some
things by men who have had something
to do with that sort of business. 1t looks
like impure politics. If Christ were con-
trolling the hearts of men l do not think
such things would take place. 1t looks
to me as though Satan had good deal to
do with 1t.
81 might speak about the immortality IN
the city, the gambling. the dishonest bus
ines methods, the drunkenness. 1t is all
well known by our city. The powers that
be don't seem to know anything about it,
but they could find out just the same as
make an earnest effort. Satan at pres
ent seems to be having his own way in
Savannah.
Flow can we overcome him? The
first thing we must do is TO in
form ourselves as to what the Bible
teaches concerning him and his works.
We are told in Gods word to give him
no place, to resist him-to put on the
whole armor of God so we will be able
to stand up against him.
"A last way" Mr.. Smith suggested
"was to overcome him by the blood of the
lamb and by the word of our testimony
| The blood Of Christ is the foundation. If
Christ had not died we would have no
hope. We must testify to this in the
church, home, school, business, society
and in political life. l believe In Christian
citizenship. l mean by that the man vot-
ing without regard to party or clan. but as
God teaches him for the highest social,
commercial, Intellectual political and re-
ligious good of the community