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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
Satan beguiles men now, as he beguiled Eve in Eden, by exciting
a desire to obtain forbidden knowledge. “Ye shall be as gods,” he de-
clares, “knowing good and evil.” But the wisdom which Spiritualism
imparts is that described by the apostle James, which “descendeth
not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” [
James 3:15
.]
The prince of darkness has a masterly mind, and he skillfully
adapts his temptations to men of every variety of condition and
culture. He works “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness” to
gain control of the children of men; but he can accomplish his object
only as they voluntarily yield to his temptations. Those who place
themselves in his power by indulging their evil traits of character,
little realize where their course will end. The tempter accomplishes
their ruin, and then employs them to ruin others.
To those who regard themselves as educated and refined, Satan
addresses himself by exciting the imagination to lofty flights in
forbidden fields, leading them to take so great pride in their superior
wisdom that in their hearts they despise the Eternal One. To this
class the great deceiver presents Spiritualism in its more refined
and intellectual aspects, and he thus succeeds in drawing many
into his snare. He who could appear clothed with the brightness of
the heavenly seraphs before Christ in the wilderness of temptation,
comes to men in the most attractive manner, as an angel of light.
He appeals to the reason by the presentation of elevating themes,
he delights the fancy with enrapturing scenes, and he enlists the
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affections by his eloquent portrayals of love and charity. That mighty
being who could take the world’s Redeemer to an exceedingly high
mountain, and bring before him all the kingdoms of the earth and
the glory of them, will present his temptations to men in a manner
to pervert the senses of all who are not shielded by divine power.
To the self-indulgent, the pleasure-loving, the sensual, the
grosser forms of Spiritualism are adapted; and multitudes eagerly
accept teachings that leave them at liberty to follow the inclinations
of the carnal heart. Satan studies every indication of the frailty of
human nature, he marks the sins which each individual is inclined
to commit, and then he takes care that opportunities shall not be
wanting to gratify the tendency to evil. He tempts men to excess in
that which is in itself lawful, causing them through intemperance to
weaken physical, mental, and moral power. He has destroyed and is