New Britain herald., 1928-08-27
devil CASTS nets
To snare UNWARY
Rev. Charles Barrett Declares
Birds Smarter Than Men

Birds have sense enough TO fly
away from nets spread before their
eyes but men and women walk into
the snares OF Satan with their eyes
open and suffer consequences Tor
their foolishness that can never be
fully told, asserted Rev. Charles Bar
rett. formerly of this city in his SER
mon at the Peoples church yester-
Cay morning. Basing his subject,
Nets to Catch Men" on the Bib
heal proverb. Surely in vain the
net is spread in the sight OF any
Bird Mr.. Barrett pointed out that
human beings lack the common
sense Of birds and that it was the
obligation of the pulpit to speak out
against evil.
Where the pulpit is modest, TIM
i'd, blushing, evils swarm and the
agents of vice flourish" he declared.
He then took up in turn several
nets" which he said Satan spread
Tor men and women.
There is the net of intldellty,
Satan knows that if he can get men
10 ulSEtlltNt lllC SlN.Nt II tN4A7 vi -
lision it will be easy work for him
to accomplish their moral ruin.
Hence he spreads before them the
net OF his lies, mental absurdltles,
and vile accusations against religion.
This net is so spread that its evil
design may not be manifest. There
are numbers who are unWittlngiy led
sT-1. I,n som
ing of the enemies of Christ ana
know not until they have become
mentally ensnared themselves He
then asked several rhetorical ques-
tons 10 bring out his point that
Christians are more trusted than IN
fidels and that they lead happier
lives.
There is the net of sensuallsln.
Satan would break down all regard
for religion and turn all men away
from Christ. He would have them
give attention TO the voice OF the
flesh and satisfy its cravings. There
fore he lays in the pathway the net
If sensuousress. He would catch
them with arguments that appeal
TO their baser nature. He would IN
duce them to believe that since the
passions and desires OF mans mate
rial nature are natural 1t is the Ill
vine purpose that they should be
eratified. This reasoning is carried
on without any reference TO the
natural and moral limitations that
should control all qualification OF
sensuous passions and desires. The
foul ensnarer reasons thus: we
should live out our animal natures
as ANIMALS live out theirs; ana not
a few have been caught IN the
meshes OF this logic. 1t is not dlfl-
cult to point out those who are en-
shared. They are pleased WITH 'he
sensual and seek gratilication OF the
senses above all soul interests.
1T should always be borne in
mind that the animal nature should
have no such care shown 1t as the
soul It is the stature, the mora
health. of the soul that determines
the dignity of the man and IS MS
source OF Joy in time and IN etern-
ity.'
He spoke next of the met OF NOR
ality," reclaring that Satan hates the
Flood of Christ and that his follow
ers declares the way to heaven lies
through reformation rather than re-
generation. The met of the love OF
God is an ingenious net. Mr.. Bar
rett said. Satan changes his tao
tics. he asserted. He does not make
any destructive statements aoou
God, but most respectful ones. he
says, God is loving. He is good III
IS SO good and loving He could no
cause anguish to men. He loves mel
so much that he wouldn't conslgl
any Of them to He'll, no matter nov
bad they might become. And 81
cut OF truths and lies about Goa
love he weaves a net to catch men
There is no fact more ciearl,
taught in Scripture than that God /
angry with the wicked and will pun
ish them for the Wickedness. co.