Their devices-Suggestions of. the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. -20: 7 When the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations. 16. By what means and devices do apostate angels lead mankind into sin and death? Gen. 3: 13 The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 1 Ch. 21: 1 Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 2 Cor. 11: 3 I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Th. 2: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders. 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. 1 Tim. 4: 1 The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. 2 Tim. 2: 26 That they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. Rev. 16: 13 I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. [See 474, 702.] 17. Suggestions of the adversary. 1. That sinners will escape threatened punishment. Gen. 3: 4 The serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 2. That there is nothing but selfishness in religion. Job 1:9 Satan answered the LORD and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. To be resisted-Cases of apostasy. 8. That means are useless, where the end is divinely appointed. Mat. 4: 5 The devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God cast thyself down, for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. [See 257.] 4. Forbidding matrimony and the use of meats. 1 Tim. 4: 1 The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the lat ter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 18. Apostate angels to be resisted. Ep. 4: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 6: 12 We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Jam. 4:7 Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 1 Pet. 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith. [See 477, 738.] APOSTATES. 19. Cases of real and supposed apostasy-warnings-fearful end of apostates. 1 S. 15: 11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. 1 Ch. 28: 9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Ezk. 3: 20 When a righteous man doth turn from his right. eousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he End of Hard to reclaim. hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. - 18: 24 - 33: 18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. Hos. 6: 4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Mat. 25: 8 The foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil: for our lamps are gone out. Lk. 9: 62 Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Jn. 6: 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Gal. 5: 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 1 Tim. 1: 19 Holding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck. 2 Tim. 1: 15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 2 Pet. 2: 20 If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and, The sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire. [See 23, 27.] 20. Apostates hard to reclaim. Heb. 6: 4 It is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 10: 26 If we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall Gvour the adversaries. Theoretical and practical. 21. Were Apostates ever truly regenerated ? Mat. 7: 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Mat. 15: 13 Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Mk. 4: 16 These are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. Jn. 6: 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?-17: 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 1 Jn. 2: 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. [See 515–517.] ATHEISM. 22. Theoretical and practical Atheism. Ex. 5: 2 Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. Job 21: 14 They say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? Ps. 10: 4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.-14: 1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.-59: 7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips for who, say they, doth hear? Is. 22: 13 Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we shall die. Ezk. 8: 12 They say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD bath forsaken the earth. Rom. 3: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 35 Exemplified - Cautions. from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. 2 Pet. 3: 3 There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. [See 200, 568, 692—3, 695, 705, 708.] BACKSLIDING. 23. Examples of backsliding-cautions. Ex. 32: 1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden ear-rings which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. 3 And all the people brake off the golden ear-rings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. 4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To-morrow is a feast to the LORD. 6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings: and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 2 S. 12: 7 Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 1 K. 11: 4 It came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 2 Ch. 16:7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with |