He was ever on the watch, therefore, and far more concerned himself about the inward spiritual state of professed disciples than about their outward condition. He was too unselfish and generous, indeed, to be indifferent to the latter, or to fail in tender sympathy with them in all the trials and persecutions that befell them for the gospel's sake. Still, his anxiety was not so much about the possibility of their suffering, as about the possibility of their sinning and falling, through subtle temptation. "For this cause," he said, "when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain." Some make light of this great enemy here called the Tempter, and speak as if he were rather a myth than a reality. They cannot do this, however, without entirely ignoring the fact that the existence and personality of Satan are recognized by all the sacred writers, and that under various names his nature, character, and agencies are very fully revealed. Indeed, we have just the same evidence for the real personality of Satan, as we have for the existence and personality of the Holy Spirit and of the angels of God. The Christian men who in every age have most nobly battled for the truth, have ever had the liveliest sense of the reality and ceaseless counterworking of the great adversary of God and man, and of the need of continued prayer and watchfulness lest he should get an advantage over them. Never have they forgotten the apostle's words: "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world." But though we have such enemies, we are not to flee in dismay from them. "Poor Christian," Bunyan tells us, "was hard put to it in the Valley of Humiliation, for he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul Fiend coming over the field to meet him—his name is Apollyon. Then did Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether to go back or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts. Therefore he resolved to venture and stand his ground; for, thought he, had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, 'twould be the best way to stand." After sore conflict, he overcame by one stroke with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. His example is fitted to encourage us who are now in the battle-field. There must be no yielding to the Tempter, however fierce the assault or subtle the wile. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.-JAMES iv. 7. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.-EPH. vi. 11. March 11. THE USUAL MODE OF THE SPIRIT'S OPERATION. HATEVER the instrumentality employed, the Spirit WHATE alone is the real and efficient agent in every conversion, and he works in varied mode. There have been times when thousands have been simultaneously convinced of sin and brought to Christ, as on the memorable day of Pentecost; for then, through one sermon of one ambassador, and he a poor illiterate fisherman of Galilee, no less than three thousand souls were converted at one and the same time. Nor was this conversion either feigned or feeble, for not only did they gladly receive the word and were baptized, but, it is added, "they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, and did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God." Not unfrequently, however, the Spirit begins with a single case, an individual sinner, and awakens, enlightens, and converts him, before, as it were, directly dealing with any other. It was so in Achaia. The first singled out there, and effectually called, was Epenetus; and so the apostle said, "Salute my well-beloved Epenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ;" and then followed the household. In this way the word of the Lord passed from individual to individual, and from family to family, till a church of believers was gathered in. So is it still, both at home and abroad. In the riches of his grace, the Lord gathers one here and one there, and adds them to the number of such as shall be saved. Never, therefore, must we despise the day of small things. If it is said, "What is one Epenetus, or one household of Stephanas, or one mission church, amid the countless thousands of heathenism?" Not much, doubtless, in themselves, or for boastful utterance before men; yet very much when viewed as a token of the Spirit's presence and power, and as an earnest and pledge of what is coming. They are not simply fruits, but first-fruits, rich in promise, and sure precursors of a plentiful and glorious harvest when the fulness of time shall come. When some one, discouraged in the day of small things, once said to Dr. Judson," Do you think the prospect bright True of the speedy conversion of the heathen?" "Yes," he nobly replied; “as bright as the promises of God." faith is never staggered, though sense may often be. There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.-Ps. lxxii. 16, 17. It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.-Isa. ii. 2. March 12. DARKNESS PREFERRED TO LIGHT. THERE is something very saddening in the apostle's words when describing the state of the Gentile world: "They became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man." In not a few respects, this mingling of professed wisdom and exhibited folly is as strikingly exemplified now as in early times. In his rich grace God has been pleased to give a full revelation of himself in his Word and in his Son; but instead of thankfully availing themselves of its blessed light, many would rather seemingly go back to the darkness, and find some void where God is not. Scripture opens with these words: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." This utterance, at once simple and sublime, commends itself alike to reason and to conscience, and its truth is confirmed by countless evidences on every side of wise and beneficent design. Many of the professedly wise, however, prefer to believe that, without a personal, all-wise, almighty God at all, "somehow or other," as one forcibly puts it, "innumerable atoms assembled themselves on the fields of primeval chaos, and were violently shaken together; and that from the uncaused commotion of these uncreated atoms there sprang up all the green things under heaven, all the fishes of the sea, all the fowls in the air, and all the thinking, feeling children of human kind." Could anything be more utterly incredible? And yet this is a favourite speculation of modern unbelief. What condition of mind could be sadder! God is, and he is the rewarder of all who diligently seek him; but they know him not. From him cometh down every good and perfect gift; but they thank him not. At sundry times and in divers manners he has spoken in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, and in later days unto us by his Son from heaven; but they heed him not. In fine, in him they live, and move, and have their being; but, ignoring all this, they say, "Who is Lord over us?" Yet death is nearing, and judgment and eternity, and at any moment the message may come," Prepare to meet thy God." Fully to know this great God and Father, we must know the Son; for, "This is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." "Sages of the earth," says Vinet, "Christ is the key of your problems; troubled hearts, he is your peace; lovers of wealth, he is your treasure; men, he is the Word which solves the enigma of life. He alone rebinds us to the Author of our being and to universal order." |