HOW busy is Satan, how crafty, and how great and real is his power! As illustrating this, let me relate a little incident that occurred a few days ago. I was calling upon a working shoemaker and his wife, both of whom had just lately been converted. The man had been a drunkard and exceedingly, violent, but now they were very bright and happy. “Well, how have you been getting on?” I asked, addressing myself to the man.
“Oh, first rate,” he said, at the same time looking round to his wife, who smiled, evidently knowing the meaning of his glance.
“What has happened?” said I.
“Well, we have been getting on first rate,” said the man, “only the devil has had one good poke at me during the week. I must tell you: You know, we has coffee for supper now, instead of the drink, we does, and my missus has changed her grocer. Well, we was having our supper the other night, and my coffee was all grouts. ‘Humph!’ says I to myself. Well, then, my missus had got me a herring, which I found was half raw, and not very good. Says she, seeing by my face the storm was rising, ‘Mate, put him on a fork, and hold him to the fire.’ So I puts him on a fork, and holds him before the fire, and then something inside me says, ‘Shake him off and let him tumble into the cinders.’ So I shook him well, but the old customer wouldn’t come off, so I lands him safe again on my plate. I thinks for a minute, and says to the devil, ‘You are having a pretty game with me,’ and hardly knowing what I was doing, I turns round sharp, and within reach was my Bible, so I clutches hold of it, and thank God, the next minute I rights myself. It was a near touch, sir, the devil nearly got the day,”
Now, I write this for penitent, believing people, who have lately passed from death to life, through faith in Christ Jesus. God gave my friend the victory. A few months before he would have fallen upon his wife in a frightful passion, and then have drunk hard. Whatever your temptations may be, remember that your great adversary, the devil, is ever on the alert. Thank God, he cannot now destroy you, for you are in the safe keeping of the Father and the Son. (John 10:28-3028And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one. (John 10:28‑30)). But he can and will annoy you; therefore, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Remember, greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:77Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)).
T. O.