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the same temptations wherewith he tempted ancient Israel just before
their entering the Land of Promise. He will lay snares for those who
claim to keep the commandments of God, and who are almost on the
borders of the heavenly Canaan. He will use his powers to their ut-
most in order to entrap souls and to take God’s professed people upon
their weakest points. Those who have not brought the lower passions
into subjection to the higher powers of their being, those who have
allowed their minds to flow in a channel of carnal indulgence of the
baser passions, Satan is determined to destroy with his temptations—to
pollute their souls with licentiousness. He is not aiming especially at
the lower and less important marks, but he makes use of his snares
through those whom he can enlist as his agents to allure or attract men
to take liberties which are condemned in the law of God. And men in
responsible positions, teaching the claims of God’s law, whose mouths
are filled with arguments in vindication of His law, against which
Satan has made such a raid—over such he sets his hellish powers and
his agencies at work and overthrows them upon the weak points in
their character, knowing that he who offends on one point is guilty of
all, thus obtaining complete mastery over the entire man. Mind, soul,
body, and conscience are involved in the ruin. If he be a messenger of
righteousness and has had great light, or if the Lord has used him as
His special worker in the cause of truth, then how great is the triumph
of Satan! How he exults! How God is dishonored
[328]
Prevalence of Immorality Today—A terrible picture of the con-
dition of the world has been presented before me. Immorality abounds
everywhere. Licentiousness is the special sin of this age. Never did
vice lift its deformed head with such boldness as now. The people
seem to be benumbed, and the lovers of virtue and true goodness are
nearly discouraged by its boldness, strength, and prevalence. The
iniquity which abounds is not merely confined to the unbeliever and
the scoffer. Would that this were the case, but it is not. Many men
and women who profess the religion of Christ are guilty. Even some
who profess to be looking for His appearing are no more prepared for
that event than Satan himself. They are not cleansing themselves from
all pollution. They have so long served their lust that it is natural for
their thoughts to be impure and their imaginations corrupt. It is as
5
Ibid
.