Snares of Satan
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listen to the prayer of faith as when he walked visibly among men.
The natural co-operates with the supernatural. It is a part of God’s
plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which he would
not bestow did we not thus ask.
Innumerable are the erroneous doctrines and fanciful ideas that
are obtaining among the churches of Christendom. It is impossible to
estimate the evil results of removing one of the landmarks fixed by the
Word of God. Few who venture to do this stop with the rejection of
a single truth. The majority continue to set aside one after another of
the principles of truth, until they become actual infidels.
The errors of popular theology have driven many a soul to skepti-
cism, who might otherwise have been a believer in the Scriptures. It
is impossible for him to accept doctrines which outrage his sense of
justice, mercy, and benevolence; and since these are represented as the
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teaching of the Bible, he refuses to receive it as the Word of God.
And this is the object which Satan seeks to accomplish. There is
nothing that he desires more than to destroy confidence in God and in
his Word. Satan stands at the head of the great army of doubters, and
he works to the utmost of his power to beguile souls into his ranks. It
is becoming fashionable to doubt. There is a large class by whom the
Word of God is looked upon with distrust for the same reason as was
its Author—because it reproves and condemns sin. Those who are
unwilling to obey its requirements endeavor to overthrow its authority.
They read the Bible, or listen to its teachings as presented from the
sacred desk, merely to find fault with the Scriptures or with the sermon.
Not a few become infidels in order to justify or excuse themselves
in neglect of duty. Others adopt skeptical principles from pride and
indolence. Too ease-loving to distinguish themselves by accomplish-
ing anything worthy of honor, which requires effort and self-denial,
they aim to secure a reputation for superior wisdom by criticising the
Bible. There is much which the finite mind, unenlightened by divine
wisdom, is powerless to comprehend; and thus they find occasion to
criticise. There are many who seem to feel that it is a virtue to stand
on the side of unbelief, skepticism, and infidelity. But underneath an
appearance of candor, it will be found that such persons are actuated
by self-confidence and pride. Many delight in finding something in
the Scriptures to puzzle the minds of others. Some at first criticise and
reason on the wrong side, from a mere love of controversy. They do