The Canton times., 1902-10-03

tramp OIL the ueVIS > tect, phS ooS--~
and ecclesiastical spheres feel the
trembling and shaking of his coming
and going. Take your newspaper
which records the doings OF day ana
follow through page after page the
footprints of the prince of this world.
Murders, robberies, drunken Draws
social scandals. divorces, politlcal cor
ruption, forgeries., defalcations, en-
bezzlements, domestic and neighbor-
hood quarrels, law suits, strikes ana
lockouts, oppression, selfishness, dis
tress and sickness and woes OF every
description. Oh! how the devil is raw
aging this earth to-day as he goes
hither and thither. No soul has ever
come into the world that has not met
him and felt his power. You have met
him. You are meeting him day after
day. Look for the footprints and rec
ognize his presence.
Our Responsibility.-We are not to
blame for Satan's presence IN the
world; we are not to be held account
able for his activity; we cannot even
be condemned because he besets us on
every hand and tries to lead us astray.
Our responsibility begins only when
we WELD to the temptation. We are
certain of meeting Satan. AS he goes
to and fro in the earth it would be
strange indeed if we did not meet him
or some of his emissaries. Until he is
chained by the Lord during the mil
lennial period, we cannot find place
on this earth where his hideous and
unwelcome presence maynot penetrate.
We are not to blame because he wh1s-
pers in our ears and seeks to entice US
into forbidden paths and wicked IN
dulgences, but we are to blame when
we link our arm in his and let him walk
with us while he explains to US how
the wrong can be done and covered up,
how the dishonest act can be commit
ted and not-found out, how the appe-
tite and lusts can be INDUCED and the
harvest of wrecked home and ruined
life not be reaped.
David was not to be blamed because
his palace had delightful and cool
promenade on its roof; it was not his
fault that thoughtless and silly wom-
an posed before an undraped window
looking out towards his palace walls,
but he was responsible for allowing
his eyes to be the channels through
which sinful desires and purposes
might enter his heart. He was not to
be condemned because Satan was at
his side that night, but it was his fault
because he let him argue with him anS
lead him step by step into the awful
sin.
Peter was not to blame because Sa-
tan wanted to sift him as wheat, but
he was to blame for following his
Lord so far off as to become coward
and thus fall an easy victim to Satan
through the chiding of young
maiden.
Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, met Satan
repeatedly during His earthly life. He
was tempted in all points like as we
are and yet without sin, because at
the point of temptation refuge was
found in Gods Word and "Get thee be-
hind me, Satan" drove the demon from
his presence. Resist the Devil and he
will fee from you. Give not place to
the Devil. You cannot shut him out of
the world, but you can keep him from
trespassing upon the domains OF your
heart and life.
The Worlds Struggle.-The world is
making an heroic struggle in battling
against Satan. 1t is bringing its cul-
ture, its wisdom, its power and infiu-
ence, it's laws and its penal and re-
formatory institutions to bear upon
the works of Satan, and it does not
cause the arch fiend one anxious mo-
ment or single troubled thought. Our
Lord in His parable of the man and
the unclean spirit gives us picture of
the world in its efforts to get rid of the
Devil and his works. The man sue.
ceeded in driving out the unclean spir.
it which was disfguring and distorting
his life. He sweeps out all the filth
ness left behind by the demon and then
proceeds to garnish his heart with cul-
ture and refinement and wisdom of
the world. And while he is beholding
with satisfaction what he has been
able by his own effort to accomplish,
behold the unclean spirit, weary with
his wanderings, returns, and, finding
such greatly improved quarters, he
Immediately calls in seven other
spirits more wicked than himself, and
the last state of that man is worse than
the first. Now notice Jesus applica-
ton of that parable: Even so shall
it be also unto this wicked genera
ton The world is busy trying to
dr;ve the Devil out and obliterate his