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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
sons. Satan has marked success in benumbing the spiritual sensibilities
of certain persons who have believed the truth, and in clouding their
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minds with false ideas until they are unable to discern right from
wrong. Then suggestions are made to undermine their confidence in
the chosen servants of God, and they are led into positive unbelief.
If the young would choose the company of those whose lives
are an honor to their profession, they would escape many serious
dangers. Satan is constantly seeking the ruin of those who are ignorant
concerning his devices, yet feel no special need of the prayers and
counsel of experienced and godly friends. Many of the youth who
come to-----with good resolutions to live Christian lives fall in with
a class of young people who take them by the hand and, under the
guise of friendship, lead them directly into Satan’s snare. The enemy
does not always come as a roaring lion; he frequently appears as an
angel of light, assuming friendly airs, presenting peculiar temptations
which it is difficult for the inexperienced to withstand. Sometimes he
accomplishes his purpose of deluding the unwary by exciting the pity
of their sympathetic natures, and presenting himself before them as a
righteous being who has been persecuted without a cause.
Satan finds willing instruments to do his work. He exercises a skill
in this direction that has been perfected by years of experience. He
uses the accumulated knowledge of ages in executing his malicious
designs. Ignorant youth play themselves into the hands of Satan for
him to use as instruments to lead souls to ruin. Those who yield to
Satan’s power gain no happiness thereby. They are never contented
or at rest. They are dissatisfied, querulous and irritable, unthankful
and rebellious. Such a one is the young man now under review. But
God will have mercy upon him if he sincerely repents and becomes
converted. His sins may be washed away by the atoning blood of
Jesus.
The Saviour of the world offers to the erring the gift of eternal
life. He watches for a response to His offers of love and forgiveness
with a more tender compassion than that which moves the heart of
an earthly parent to forgive a wayward, repenting, suffering son. He
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cries after the wanderer: Return unto Me, and I will return unto you.”
If the sinner still refuses to heed the voice of mercy which calls after
him with tender, pitying love, his soul will be left in darkness. If he
neglects the opportunity presented him, and goes on in his evil course,