The Warfare of the Soul: Practical Studies in the Life of Temptation. Shirley Carter Hughson
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Название: The Warfare of the Soul: Practical Studies in the Life of Temptation
Автор: Shirley Carter Hughson
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Языкознание
isbn: 4064066222192
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While the soul is weighing the question, strong temptation invariably comes to choose the lower service. Not that the tempter is interested in our serving God in any sphere whatever, but he hopes that if he can induce us to choose the lower now, he may be able later on still further to lower our ideals, and so in the end induce us to reject the divine will in some matter that belongs to the precepts of God's law. With this hope he even strives earnestly to induce us to do a good thing in order to dissuade us from choosing that which is better.
So while it is entirely true, as we said above, that the rejection of a counsel is never, in itself, sinful, yet there is great peril always in refusing the known will of God, even when He does not bind us to that will under the penalty of sin. The soul that truly loves is ever alert to perform the entire will of the beloved.
"The noble love of Jesus forceth man to work great things, and stirreth him up always to desire the most perfect. Love wills to be aloft and will not be kept down by any lesser thing."[21]
[1] St. Matt. x, 34.
[2] Exod. xxxii, 18.
[3] Rev. ii and iii.
[4] 1 Pet. ii, 11.
[5] Rom. vii, 23.
[6] Eph. vi, 11. See also Rom. xiii, 12; 2 Cor. vi, 7, and 1 Thes. v, 8.
[7] 1 Tim. i, 18.
[8] 1 Tim. vi, 12.
[9] 2 Tim. ii, 3.
[10] 2 Tim. iv, 7.
[11] See Pusey, Parochial Sermons, Vol. II, pp. 113-114.
[12] 1 Cor. x, 13.
[13] 2 St. Pet. iii, 9.
[14] Eccles. viii, 8.
[15] Eph. v, 30.
[16] 1 Cor. ii, 16.
[17] Gen. xxii, 1.
[18] 1 Cor. x, 13.
[19] St. James i, 13.
[20] Jer. v, 31.
[21] Imitation, III, v. (Bigg's Trans.)
CHAPTER II
THE TEMPTER: HIS HISTORY AND NATURE
I. Satan's Fall and its Effects
We have already reminded ourselves that it is as important to understand somewhat of the enemy's force and resources as it is to have our own equipment and training complete. Let us therefore consider the adversary, for next to the unceasing recollection of the presence, power, and goodness of God, the most necessary thing for the Christian soldier is the recollection of the presence and character of the enemy. Vigilance in maintaining this recollection is what the Apostle solemnly commands.[1]
We cannot speak with theological exactness of the cause and occasion of the fall of Satan and his rebel host, for God has revealed but little concerning it; but when we compare Scripture with Scripture, it seems inevitable that the sin of Satan was one of pride, and, very probably, its particular form was a desire to make himself equal with God.
In the account given in Revelation of the war in heaven, St. Michael, whose name is simply a Hebrew word meaning "Who is like God?" is mentioned as the captain of God's host, who fought against the dragon and his angels, and overcame and cast them out.[2] It would seem that the leader of the loyal angels took his name from the battle cry with which the armies of God, as they pressed upon the rebel ranks, repudiated the blasphemous claim of him who was seeking to be like the Most High.[3]
As we think of Satan as he is to-day, and as he meets us in the conflict, it will be of great value to us to keep definitely in mind the effect that his fall must have had upon his nature and powers.
Not only is the adversary finite, with all the limitations common to finite beings, but he is one who, by his fall from original righteousness, has become a blasted creature, maimed and wounded in all his faculties.
Man, too has fallen, and the blight is also upon all his powers; but with every return to God in penitence man's powers are recuperated; he regains somewhat of his former strength. Nay, more, the spiritual strength we lay hold of through penitence is often greater than that which we lost through sin. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."[4] God through the Precious Blood of His Son so mightily overrules the evil that, as we think of our sin, we can indeed triumphantly cry, "O felix culpa!"
Not so with Satan and his companions. From the day of their fall the poison of the evil that is in them has been working relentlessly, and with never a moment's cessation, toward their ultimate destruction. By an humble, earnest effort for God's service in the little opportunities of daily life, we go on from strength to strength, while our foe, however СКАЧАТЬ