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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
engaging in them that great good is to be derived. This is only the
deceptive part; Satan’s hellish arts are masked. Beguiled souls take
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one step, then are prepared for the next. It is much more pleasant
to follow the inclination of their own hearts than to stand on the
defensive and resist the first insinuation of the wily foe, and thus
shut out his incomings. Oh, how Satan watches to see his bait taken
so readily and to see souls walking in the very path he has prepared!
He does not want them to give up praying and maintaining a form of
religious duties, for while they do this he can make them more useful
in his service. He unites his sophistry and deceptive snares with
their experience and profession, and thus wonderfully advances his
cause. The hypocritical Pharisees prayed and fasted, and observed
the forms of godliness, while they were corrupt at heart. Satan stands
by to taunt Christ and His angels with insults, saying: “I have them!
I have them! I have prepared my deception for them. Your blood is
worthless here. Your intercessions and power and wonderful works
may as well cease; I have them! They are mine! Notwithstanding
their high profession as subjects of Christ, notwithstanding they
once enjoyed the illumination of His presence, I will secure them to
myself in the very face of heaven, which they are talking about. It is
such subjects as these that I can use to decoy others.”
Solomon says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool;”
and there are hundreds of such to be found among professors of
godliness. Says the apostle: “We are not ignorant of his devices.”
Oh, what art, what skill, what cunning, is exercised to lead the
professed followers of Christ to a union with the world by seeking
for happiness in the amusements of the world, under the delusion
that some good is to be gained! And thus the unguarded walk right
into the net, flattering themselves that there is no evil in the way.
The affections and sympathies of such are wrought upon, and this
lays a slim foundation upon which they build their confidence that
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they are the children of God. They compare themselves with others
and settle down satisfied that they are even better than many true
Christians. But where is the deep love of Christ shining forth in their
lives, its bright rays blessing others? Where is their Bible? and how
much is it studied? Where are their thoughts? Are they upon heaven
and heavenly things? It is not natural for their minds to go forth in
that direction. The study of God’s word is uninteresting to them.