Unity in the Church
411
Satan frequently appears as an angel of light, arrayed in the liv-
ery of heaven; he assumes friendly airs, manifesting great sanctity of
character and high regard for his victims, the souls whom he means
to deceive and destroy. Perils lie in the path which he invites souls to
travel, but he succeeds in concealing these and presents the attractions
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only. The great Captain of our salvation has conquered in our behalf,
that through Him we might conquer, if we would, in our own behalf.
But Christ saves none against their choice; He compels none to obedi-
ence. He made the infinite sacrifice that they might overcome in His
name and His righteousness be imputed unto them.
But in order to be saved you must accept the yoke of Christ and
lay off the yoke which you have fashioned for your neck. The victory
that Jesus gained in the wilderness is a pledge to you of the victory
that you may gain through His name. Your only hope and salvation is
in overcoming as Christ overcame. The wrath of God now hangs over
you. You love the attractions of the world above the heavenly treasure.
The lust of the eye and the pride of life have separated you from God.
Your confidence in your own poor, weak, faulty self must be broken.
You must feel your weakness before you will drop, with your burden,
into the hands of God. The soul that trusts fully and entirely in God
will never be confounded.
God would not have us consult our own convenience in obeying
Him. Christ pleased not Himself when He was a man among men.
He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. The Majesty of
heaven had not where to lay His head, no place that He could claim as
His own. He became poor for our sakes, that through Him we might
be rich indeed. Let us not talk of sacrifice, for we know not what it is
to sacrifice for the truth. As yet we have scarcely lifted the cross for
Christ’s dear sake. Let us not seek for a way which is easier than the
path our Redeemer has traveled before us. How incompetent are you,
with all your boasted wisdom, to guide yourself! How liable are you
to follow the dictates of a deceived conscience, to run in the way of
error, and drag others with you!
Your natural temperament is such that submission and obedience
to God’s requirements are very hard. Your unbounded self-confidence,
your prejudices, and your feelings easily lead you to choose a wrong
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path. Christ will be to you an infallible guide if you will choose Him
before your own blind judgment. In your business you have not had