Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
knows that they who deny his being will not be afraid of his power and influence; will not watch against his wiles and devices; will not pray to God for deliverance from the evil one; will not expect him to be trampled down under their feet, who has no existence; and, consequently, they will become an easy and unopposing prey to the enemy of their souls. By leading men to disbelieve and deny his existence, he throws them off their guard, and is then their complete master, and they are led captive by him at his will. It is well known that, among all those who make any profession of religion, those who deny the existence of the devil are they who pray little or none at all; and are, apparently, as careless about the existence of God, as they are about the being of a devil. Piety to God is with them out of the question; for those who do not pray, especially in private, (and I never met with a devil-denier who did,) have no religion of any kind, whatsoever pretensions they may choose to make. Those who deny the existence of Satan are generally men of desperate characters and desperate fortunes; and, as they will not listen to the voice of reason, nor to the sacred oracles, they must be left to their own desperation. Because men cannot see as far as the Spirit of God does, therefore they deny his testimony. "There was no devil; there can be none." Why? "Because we have never seen one, and we think the doctrine absurd." Excellent reason! And do you think that any man who conscientiously believes his Bible will give any credit to you? Men sent from God, to bear witness to the truth, tell us there were demoniacs in their time; you say, "No; they were only diseases." Whom shall we credit? the men sent from God, or you? Is the doctrine of demoniacal influence false? If so, Jesus took the most direct method to perpetuate the belief of that falsity by accommodating himself so completely to the deceived vulgar. But this was impossible; therefore the doctrine of demoniacal influence is a true doctrine, otherwise Christ would never have given it the least countenance or support.
God has often permitted demons to act on and in the bodies of men and women; and it is not improbable that the principal part of unaccountable and inexplicable disorders still come from the same source. Satan was once in the truth, in righteousness and true holiness; and he fell from that truth into sin and falsehood, so that he became the father of lies, and the first murderer. God, in his endless mercy, has put enmity between men and Satan; so that, though all mankind love his service, yet all invariably hate himself. Were it otherwise, who could be saved? A great point gained toward the conversion of a sinner is, to convince him that it is Satan he has been serving; that it is to him he has been giving up his soul, body, goods, &c. He starts with horror when this conviction fastens on his mind, and shudders at the thought of being in league with the old murderer. It is very seldom that God permits Satan to waste the substance, or afflict the body, of any man; but at all times this malevolent spirit may have access to the mind of any man, and inject doubts, fears, diffidence, perplexities, and even unbelief. And here is the spiritual conflict. Now, their wrestling is not with flesh and blood; with men like themselves, nor about secular affairs; but they have to contend with angels, principalities, and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickednesses in high places. In such cases Satan is often permitted to diffuse darkness into the understanding, and envelope the heavens with clouds. Hence are engendered false views of God and his providence; of men and of the spiritual world; and particularly of the person's own state and circumstances. Every thing is distorted, and all seen through a false medium. Indescribable distractions and uneasiness are hereby induced. The mind is like a troubled sea, tossed by a tempest that seems to confound both heaven and earth. Strong temptations to things which the soul contemplates with abhorrence are injected, and which are followed by immediate accusations, as if the injections were the offspring of the heart itself; and the trouble and dismay produced are represented as the
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knows that they who deny his being will not be afraid of his power and<br />
influence; will not watch against his wiles and devices; will not pray to<br />
God for deliverance from the evil one; will not expect him to be trampled<br />
down under their feet, who has no existence; and, consequently, they will<br />
become an easy and unopposing prey to the enemy of their souls. By<br />
leading men to disbelieve and deny his existence, he throws them off<br />
their guard, and is then their complete master, and they are led captive by<br />
him at his will. It is well known that, among all those who make any<br />
profession of religion, those who deny the existence of the devil are they<br />
who pray little or none at all; and are, apparently, as careless about the<br />
existence of God, as they are about the being of a devil. Piety to God is<br />
with them out of the question; for those who do not pray, especially in<br />
private, (and I never met with a devil-denier who did,) have no religion<br />
of any kind, whatsoever pretensions they may choose to make.<br />
Those who deny the existence of Satan are generally men of desperate<br />
characters and desperate fortunes; and, as they will not listen to the voice<br />
of reason, nor to the sacred oracles, they must be left to their own<br />
desperation.<br />
Because men cannot see as far as the Spirit of God does, therefore they<br />
deny his testimony. "There was no devil; there can be none." Why?<br />
"Because we have never seen one, and we think the doctrine absurd."<br />
Excellent reason! And do you think that any man who conscientiously<br />
believes his Bible will give any credit to you? Men sent from God, to bear<br />
witness to the truth, tell us there were demoniacs in their time; you say,<br />
"No; they were only diseases." Whom shall we credit? the men sent from<br />
God, or you?<br />
Is the doctrine of demoniacal influence false? If so, Jesus took the<br />
most direct method to perpetuate the belief of that falsity by<br />
accommodating himself so completely to the deceived vulgar. But this<br />
was impossible; therefore the doctrine of demoniacal influence is a true<br />
doctrine, otherwise Christ would never have given it the least<br />
countenance or support.