David. The devil has made a prey of him through the abundance of his knowledge, and with wicked enchantment has persuaded him to believe that he hath the anointing and knoweth all things. (1 John ii. 27.)

Another regards himself as the man who, with the sword of his mouth, shall slay the wicked, who, with the sceptre of his word, shall sway the minds of men, and after whom no one dares to speak. His ability in teaching and preaching has become, by the subtlety of the wicked one, a trap and a snare.

A third arrogates to himself the proud pre-eminence of being, with reference to God, far apart from others, as if he sat on a seat in the kingdom of Christ twice as high as other poor sinners. Perhaps it was the gift of prayer he possessed, from which the enemy prepared him the sweet poison.

In a fourth the notion has firmly fixed itself, that without him the kingdom of God cannot stand. He is a pillar without his equal on earth; an apostle, an Elijah of his day. The blessing which God granted to his word and testimony, has been made, through the artifice of the devil, into a lime-twig, on which he has been caught.

The dreams and chimeras of a fifth has Satan magnified into pure visions and manifestations from heaven. Now the poor creature deems himself a seer and a prophet.

Before the eyes of a sixth the devil holds his magic mirror, in which the weak mortal sees himself with a halo of glory round his head; or the deceiver sends to him friends, who represent that his meekness and patience, his faith or his love, must be extolled and admired, and even idolized by men; and then the poor

deluded soul enters into the full persuasion that God most certainly intends to set him forth as an example of holiness.

Behold, these are the heights, the pinnacles of the temple, to which Satan conducts men.

And the evil does not stop here; for let the deceived souls but once stand upon these heights, and imagine themselves apostles, saints, and prophets, then they sometimes step higher. It is not all of them who come down again without having first sustained injury. Alas! some fall from these heights down into the depths of mental aberration.

Of such unhappy ones, who at length have supposed themselves to be God, or Christ, or the Holy Ghost, every age has afforded instances, and that even in the midst of the holy city.

Brethren, abide in your strong tower, and lie in the dust; above all, those of you who are rich in gifts, and apt to teach; those who are held in reputation among the brethren, and who publicly instruct in the congregation; those of you who lead the assembly of the pious, and whose light shines with especial splendour in Zion. Such things readily present to the dragon that which he can seize, and by which he can rapidly transport you to the heights.

Gird as a breast-plate on your bosom the words of Christ, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. v. 3.)

"Who

Place as a helmet on your head that truth, soever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." (Mark x. 15.) Take as a sword in your hand that word, resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the lowly." (James iv. 6.)

"God

And never forget that the golden rose of Jesus does not bloom upon the heights, but in the deep vallies.

And should the devil urge you into a presumptuous and perplexing speculation with regard to the unsearchable mysteries of God, should he hurry you into vain and profitless investigations, respecting the Trinity, or eternity, or the two natures of Christ, or whatever else it may be of this description; now collect all your powers, and cry aloud to him, "It is written," We know in part, and we prophecy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.' (1 Cor. xiii. 9, 10.) Declare to him, in the name of Jesus, that you desire to know nothing more than that which is necessary for your salvation, and thus you will drive

him away.

XI.

66 IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, CAST THYSELF down."

THAT the devil eagerly makes use of our relation to God, to move us the more readily to all kinds of wicked compliances, is an acknowledged truth.

Has Satan learned, for instance, that you have yet a sin that is dear to you, and which has not been renounced and overcome; he brings you into circumstances which not only supply incentives to that sin, but also the opportunity of indulging it. Then you stand on the brink of a precipice. "Cast thyself down," whispers the devil, "thou shalt escape." You hesitate. He adds, "it is so pleasant below." You are still reluctant. "Cast thyself down," he cries yet louder. You tremble at the danger, and yet cannot withdraw from the spot, and are as one enchanted. "Cast thyself down," proceeds the wicked one: "thou art a child of God; thou canst again find grace." He so speaks, and if God do not hold you back, the leap is taken.

You are by nature of an irascible disposition. Some one in your household disturbs you. You are greatly stirred up to yield to anger and revenge, but you know

not whether you dare. You are on the edge of a pit. "Cast thyself down," cries the devil, "Thou art a child of God, and between the children of God and the world there should be no peace, but a sword and division. (Matt. x. 34.) Give scope to thy passions." Thus he counsels, and before he has spoken, you are boiling, perhaps, with wrath, and heaping sin upon

sin.

sea.

You are in great straits, and are weary of life. The devil sets you upon the top of your house, or upon the edge of a cliff, or on the shore of the deep O, how dreadful is your position! "Cast thyself down," whispers the evil one. You are inclined to do so, yet you shrink from such a plunge. "Why dost thou linger ?" cries the tempter. "Cast thyself down.' In the arms of death there is sweet repose, and all suffering will cease. Cast thyself down.' Thou standest by grace, and grace never is lost, even though the mountains should depart and the hills be removed. (Isa. liv. 10.) Cast thyself down.' Hasten to thy home." Thus the serpent.-O frightful! you waver— you cast your eyes downward: the desire is great, the impulse strong, the means before you; and O! if the hand of divine mercy do not interpose to save you, you rush into eternity.

Satan tempted the Lord Jesus, that he might, in a way not approved of God, namely, by a voluntary leap from the pinnacle of the temple, give evidence that he was the Son of God. And thus also does he draw near to believers.

Doubts are entertained as to your state of grace. He whispers to you, "Men hesitate to reckon you one of the children of the kingdom. Prove to them what you