Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

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