Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-06-10

or the lower animal nature, by way of
the higher human nature or temporal
ambition, and by way of the religious
instincts or spiritual pride. Every
temptation which comes to man NAV
be classified under one of these three
divisions. 1t is illustrated by the three
fold temptation of Jesus in the wilder
ness 1t is with conception of the
full scope of temptation which leads
John to write: "All that is in the world.
the lust of the flesh. and the lust of the
eyes and the pride of life. is not of
the Father. but is of the world"
The devil is great general. even il
he is coward and poltroon. and he has
long since learned that the weakest
point is the place where victory is most
likely to be won. great many people
wiiifuIiy or carelessly refuse to recog-
ME that they have a weakest point
UR text is suggestive of the bat
" tlefield. When the devil is around
~ either means fight or surrender.
The devil never fights unless he has
TO. His favorite method is to suggest
a truce at the very start. If the soul
consents, he encamps on the spot and
Immediately sets his snares which en-
trap the soul and bring it under his
power. James. who tells us to resist
the devil, in the opening portion of
ms letter shows us how the devil
operates. He takes the matter up at
the point where the soul has entered
INTO truce with the devil and the
latter has camped on the spot. Then.
says James, man is drawn away of
MS own lust, and enticed. Then.
when lust hath conceived, 1t bringcth
forth sin: and sin, when il is finished
bringeth forth death" These words
describe accurately the way in which
the devil wins his conquest over the
soul. The devil las come in the guise
OF some temptation. Instead of inn
mediate resistance and no parleyinp
the voice of the devil is listened to
as he pleads for a hearing. II is at
this point that temptation begins to
be sin. The devil. given his oppor-
tunity, Is not slow to hold up the
temptation in its most attractive
light. He covers up the sting. He
makes it appear to be thing great
ly to be desired. He works his spell
as he did in the garden with Eve and
makes the thing desired look good
and wholesome and delightful Here
is where man is drawn away of his
own lust and enticed," and il is only
step farther to the full commission
of the deed and the complete victory
of the devil over the soul.
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien.
AS to be hated needs but to be seen:
Yet seen too oft. familiar with her face.
we FIRST endure. then pity, then embrace"
T HE above lines of Poe is the
thought of James expressed
POLITICALLY, and shows the process by
which the soul is brought to final and
unconditional surrender. But if il Is
case of fight. let us go out to the
battlefield and witness the conflict
In Bunyan's Holy War, wherein the
author graphically describes the sub
| jugation of the town of Mansoul by
the devil and its subsequent deliv-
erance by Emmanuel, the son of the
| good and great King Shaddai. Capt
| Resistance is represented as standing
on the walls of the town to defend il
against the attack of the devil, and
ii is not until this brave defender
has been killed that the devil is able
to win his conquest over the town of
Mansoul. And how often this scene
| is being reenacted to-day. The town
/ of Mansoul attacked. Capt. Resist
ance. the only fighting man in the
| place, goes out to give him battle
If he be killed the town is absolutely
at the mercy of the enemy. Capt
Resistance may be brave. he may
/ fight hard. yea even desperately. but
/ IL he is not properly equipped for the
| conflict he will at last fall before the
fiery darts of the Wicked One" Re
/ sistance must be intelligent 10 be eff
/ fectual. One must understand the
! degree and quality of resistance
which turns an attacking devil into a
| fleeing devil. There is resistance
\ which repels the devil. but does not
cause him 10 flee. He never shows
/ his back in such case but lust
/ backs off face front and knows he
| has been delayed but not defeated
| The devil isn't made 20 tremble 2 bit
/ in the face Of the resistance which
/ some people offer. for he is quick 10
/ discover that it lacks the true stay
/ ing qualities. Man fails 10 equip his
/ Capt Resistance with the armor that
/ can protect and the sword which can
| wound the devil and make him fee.
/ FAITH IS the only armor which will
| turn the poison darts Of the devil
/ without this shield in the hand. Capt.
| Resistance is sure TO be killed sooner
| or later. This il bit of armor which
comes from Gods workshop. and the
/ devils most powerful guns have never
/ been known 10 penetrate it, To-day
/ when n nation produces new and
powerful gun. the other nations seek
/ to construct armor for It's ships and
| fnrts which will nfTer afc nrd .,,r.