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252
Early Writings
heaven, and now, united with the holy apostles whom he hated on
earth, were engaged in teaching the world.
Satan assigns to each of his angels a part to act. He enjoins upon
them all to be sly, artful, cunning. He instructs some of them to act
the part of the apostles and to speak for them, while others are to act
the part of infidels and wicked men who died cursing God, but now
appear to be very religious. There is no difference made between
the most holy apostles and the vilest infidels. They are both made
to teach the same thing. It matters not whom Satan makes to speak,
if his object is only accomplished. He was intimately connected
with Paine upon earth, aiding him in his work, and it is an easy
thing for him to know the very words and the handwriting of one
who served him so faithfully and accomplished his purposes so well.
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Satan dictated much of Paine’s writings, and it is an easy thing for
him to dictate sentiments through his angels now, and make it appear
that they come through Thomas Paine. This is the masterpiece of
Satan. All this teaching, purporting to be from apostles and saints
and wicked men who have died, comes directly from his satanic
majesty.
The fact that Satan claims that one whom he loved so well, and
who hated God so perfectly, is now with the holy apostles and angels
in glory, should be enough to remove the veil from all minds and
discover to them the dark, mysterious works of Satan. He virtually
says to the world and to infidels, “No matter how wicked you are, no
matter whether you believe or disbelieve in God or the Bible, live as
you please, heaven is your home; for all know that if Thomas Paine
is in heaven, and so exalted, they will surely get there.” This is so
glaring that all may see if they will. Satan is now doing, through
individuals like Thomas Paine, what he has been trying to do since
his fall. He is, through his power and lying wonders, tearing away the
foundation of the Christian’s hope and putting out the sun that is to
light the narrow way to heaven. He is making the world believe that
the Bible is uninspired, no better than a storybook, while he holds
out something to take its place; namely, spiritual manifestations.
Here is a channel wholly devoted to himself, under his control,
and he can make the world believe what he will. The book that is
to judge him and his followers, he puts back into the shade, just
where he wants it. The Saviour of the world he makes to be no