The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-11
SATAN FALLEN
A Sermon Preached bv
the Rev. John Shape
Dec. 8tt, 1901.

who entering into villages, made
ready for him. lie now commits
slous the seventy and sends them
forth two aud two before his face
into every city and place, whittier
he himself would come .He gives
them instructions aud equips
them with power for their impor.
tant work-a work like that Of
John the Baptist. who was simply
the iorerunncr Of the Coming Man.
Five thiugs & ather up the instruc-
tions Of The Master. as the seventy
start upon their gospel tour: (D
Their equipment-no purse. no
scrip, no shoes. no salutatious. ~
Their cutertaiumen ut Into what.
soever house ye enter, remain. cat
lug and drinking su:h lhiugs AS
they give" (3) Their philanthropy
heal the sick therein. Their mis-
sion Is mission OF practical Chris
tianity. (4) Their message The
kingdom Of God Is come nign you.
(5) Their authority HE that hear
eth you heareth me; aud be that
.despiselh you, desplseth nc: and
he that dcspiselh me. dsspiselh him
that sent ME.
With these Instructions ringing
in their cars these seventy men
hasten forward 10 their Chrlst-ap-
pointed work. The time is short.
Jesus has stcadfastly set his face
toward Jerusalem and this mission
of the seventy. will prepare the
cties and villages Tor His hurried
cvangelization. They meet with
great success and asa consequence
are filled with greet joy, exclaim-
ing as they meet the Master. Lord
even the devils are subj jcct urto US
through thy name" And Jesus
receives their report with mind
seem'ngiy preoccupied. He is in
a reverie, from which their jubilant
report scarcely recalls him. Then
he said unto them. II was behold
ing Satan as lightning fall from
hcavcn.'
What does the text mean? Does
il mean Satan lell from heaven, "
or "lIghtn,pg fell from heaven"
Has i, to do with Satan's origin.
with present apostolic success or
ultimate Satanic overthrow! | be-
lleve It does not refer to the origi-
nal fall Of Satan from heaven, but
strongly hold to the interpretation
that refers 10 the victory over
which the scvlnty are 50 ubiant.
and the ultimate and absolute de.
feat Of Satan, who viii at last be
cast into the lake Of fire, prepared
Tor him aud his angels. Aud Jesus
cxults in spirit at the joyous re-
port Of these plain men who are
more than a match Tor the wise and
prudent ol the world. Their aim
pie preaching ol the Name OF
Christ causes demons 10 ,rembe
and submit. while Jesus sees ia
this (vca, even saw 1t all the while
they were journeying) the begin
ming Of of the victory which coming
now. will come more fully at the
last. AS certainly as lightning
flashes iron heaven. Satan shall
tumble to the earth III defeat and
d:smay.
The tall OF Satan is determined
by the will ot God. '.Since then
the children are partakers Of flesh
and blood. lie also III like manner
partOok in the same that through
death he might destroy him who
had the power Of de ath. that is. the
devil" deb. l-l4) ITO this end
the Son of God was manifesto
that he might destroy the works Of
the devil Read the labors uf he
apostles as given ia the "Acts Of
Apostles, and write victory over
every page OF that most wonderful
record. Sec the church IN contact
with the world and mastering 5000
OF them Ior The cause Of Truth: see
the church in contact with the San
hcdriu, and showing the superiority
oi the Spirits guidance OF au indie
pendent body See the cnurcb learn
Ing the lesson oi its own greatness
and sacredness although ii takes
the de-th OF two OF its number
(Annan:as and SapphlrW TO bring
that lesson home; see the church
with knitted brow facing the
question OF Gentle salvation and
consequent baptism, aud settling
II Nv baptlzing the house OF Corne.
Illus; see the church in contact with
the State as Herod kills onc apostle
and ilnprisons another. and withal
learning that Christianrrayers are
mighlier than prison bolts and
bars and see how in every instance
God gave victory 10 the men who
went lorth 10 suffer on behalf Of
the wonderful Name. At the end
Of their missionary journeys they
return 10 their brethren with Joy,
and once more. as with a lightning
flash the devil is defeated.
God has never vet Withdrawn la
borers from his great field. At
thi, poment mission aries are has
tening back to far off China, to re-
new the efforts bi oxen by the Boxer
outrages aud who knows, who
knows. but that mightier strides
into the heart ol the yellow empire
shall soon be made bv the civllZing
and cbristianizing influences Of |
these'godly men and women. who
by their eageruess TO get back 10
their peculiar fields show willing
ness 10 die il need be. as have done
their martyred missionary COM
panions. II this happens, aud
those vast millions become subjects
Of the King OF Kings, we may near
him say rs in that long ago day to
the seventy, n beheld Satan as
lightning TALL from heaven"
The sacrifice OF Jesus has been a