Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-11-23

However, the
execution of this judgment has been
delayed and during our Lords alb
sence, the one whom he calls the
prince of this world is "the god Of
this age" He is none other than Sa'
tan himself who Is also called "the
prince Of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the chill
dren of disobedience." (Ephes. 2:2.)
Our ideas of Satan have been gain
ed largely from the way in which man
has depicted him. According to the
Scriptures, Satan the usurper is moi
that hideous monster man 50 often
portrays him to be. On the contrary
he is a being Of great dignity, SO lofty
that when Michael the Archange
disputed with him about the body Of
Moses, he burst not bring against him
a railing accusation, but said, the Lord
rebuke thee" He also possesses great
power, wisdom and subtlety, and sis
himself transformed into an angel Of
light" III Cor. 11:4.)
This Age.
Now we should expect, II he is the
god of this age, that the age will In
character be like its god. This Is
precisely what 1t Is, for he is "the
evil one" and the age over which he
reigns is called an "evil age" (Gal.
Ia r. w To say this. as the Scrip.
lures do does not necessarily imply
that the age is grossly immoral. In
fact, we believe 1t Is the most ethical
age the world has ever seen, and that
1t suits the god of this age to hide as
far rs possible its vice and crime. Do
we not read that 'his ministers also
are transformed as the ministers Of
righteousness, whose end shall be &C
cording to thier works?" I'll Cor. II:
15.)
Its Progress.
To prove the evil character Of the
age, 1t is not necessary to deny its
progress, its achievements, its civili-
cation. In these the world has made
giant strides, but they do not, of them
selves, indicate that the world Is neal
er God. Indeed, to these a s~elf-satis-
fled. ~self-centered, goddess world points
with pride, and they are the very
things with which the god of this agf
would, have us occupied. He hates ths
cross al the crown, the atonement
Of our Lord and his coming glory, and
nothing suits his purpose better than
to obscure them both. He knows that
If he can only lead men to believe in
their own self-righteousness, then they
will feel no need of the cross; and If
he can only lead men to believe in
their own power to adjust the ills of
the world. then they will see no need
Of the crown.
Blinded Eyes.
WI r told that "the god Of this
age hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light Of the
glorious Gospel of Christ should shine
unto them" And 1t does seem as II
he were succeeding very well; for we
hear in these days less and less of the
cross, and very little of the crown. The
nge, like Its god, Is utterly and abso-
lutely opposed to the purpose and plan
Of God to redeem mankind by the
blood of his cross, and the world by
the coming Of its king. It is satisfied
with its own self.righteousness and ito
own self-suficiency.
Christ Not %Entheoned.
Whatever WI may think of the char,
acter of this age, It is very evident
from the facts as they are, that our
Lord Is not now reigning over the
earth as the Scriptures predict he
shall reign. "All kings do not fall
down before him !" 'all nations do not
serve him - ''all enemies are not under
his. feet; " 'he does not execute judy
ment and Justice In. the earth :" -the
kingdoms Of this world have not be-
come his :" "he does not have dominion
unto the end Of the earth" It is also
true that wrongs are still unrighted;
that poverty and riches dwell side by
side; grinding competition and servile
toll are the lot Of many; the earth Ia
not free Of famine, pestlence. and
earthquake; Europe is wet with blood
and there are wars and runiors Of war
on every hand for swords are not
beaten into p~lowshares, nor spears in.
to pruning hooks; .iniquity and vice
abound; the love OF many wakes cold /;
many r departing from the faith,
giving heed to seiucing spirits and
doctrines Of demons. and many false
teachers IRE bringing In damnable
heresies. even denying the Lord that
bought them. These facts are so nal.
pable no mi a deny them; they
are present day conditions.
A Ray Of Light.
But in the midst Of all this dark.
9 9 there is a roy Of light. for Christ
IL coming to the earth to reign and
rule. The earth which was the scene
Of his humiliation Is to be the place
Of his exaltation: here where he was
cruciied, he Is to be CROWNED. The
usurper has only a short time to reign
for "Yet a little while and he TINT shall
come will come and will not larry"
(Heb. 10 1919 Then 1.-THE god Of this
age" shall be d%ethroned. and the world
shall have its rightful and lawful king
TO reign oyer II