MAN in the first estate is "a little lower
than the angels"; but, in the second, or higher, estate, he is to be
"crowned with glory and honour"; and to take his stand in the
universe upon an equality with them in nature and renown. Man's first estate is
the natural and animal; his second, the spiritual, or incorruptible. To be
exalted from the present to the future state and inheritance, he must be
subjected to trial. From the examples recorded in the scriptures, it is
evident, that God has established it as the rule of His grace; that is, the
principle upon which He bestows His honours and rewards to prove men before He
exalts them. Probation, then, is the indispensable ordeal, to which every man
is subjected in the providence of God, before he is accepted as "fit for
the Master's use". (2 Tim. 2:20,21) By these examples, also, it appears,
that man's probation is made to bear upon the trial of his faith by
testing his obedience. An untried faith is worth nothing; but a faith
that stands the test of trial, "is much more precious than gold which
perisheth, though it be tried with fire"; because the sustained trial will
be "found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearance of
Jesus Christ". (1 Pet. 1:5-7)
An untried faith is a dead faith, being
alone. Faith without trial finds no scope for demonstration, or evidence of its
existence. Thus, it is written, "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead,
being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show
me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God: thou doest well; the devils also believe,
and tremble. But wilt thou know, 0 vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his
son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by
works was faith made perfect? ... Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and NOT by faith ALONE." (James 2:17-24) "Without
faith", says Paul, "it is impossible to please God"; and it is
also apparent from James' testimony just recited, that the faith with which He
is pleased, is a faith that is made manifest by works; of which Noah, Abraham,
Job, and Jesus, are pre-eminent examples.
Now, this "precious faith" can only be
educed by trial; for the trial elaborates the works. This is the use of
persecution, or tribulation, to believers; which in the divine economy is
appointed for their refinement. Peter styles the "manifold
persecutions", to which his brethren were subjected, "the trial of
their faith" and Paul testified to others of them, that "it is
through much tribulation they must enter the Kingdom". Probation is a
refining process. It purges out a man's dross, and brings out the image of
Christ in his character; and prepares him for exaltation to his throne. (Rev.
3:21) We can only enter the Kingdom through the fire; (l Cor.
A man cannot "honour God" more than in
believing what He promises, and doing what He commands; although to
repudiate that belief, and to neglect, or disobey, those commands, should
highly gratify all his senses, and place at his disposal the kingdoms of the
world, and all their glory. Not to believe the promises of God is in effect to
call God a liar; and no offence, even to men of integrity in the world, is so
insulting and intolerable as this. "Let God be true", saith the
scripture. His veracity must not be impeached in word or deed; if it be, then
"judgment without mercy" is the "sorer punishment" which
awaits the calumniator. The unswerving obedience of faith, is the "faith
made perfect by works", tried by fire. God is pleased with this faith,
because it honours Him. It is a working faith. There is life in it; and its
exercise proves that the believer loves Him. Such a man it is God's delight to
honour; and, though like Jesus he be for the present, "despised and
rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief", the time
will certainly come, when God will acknowledge him in the presence of the
Elohim, and overwhelm his enemies with confusion of face.
Probation before exaltation, then, is upon the
principle of a faith in the promises of God, made precious by trial well
sustained. There is no exemption from this ordeal. Even Christ himself was
subjected to it. "By the grace of God he tasted death for every man. For
it was fitting for God, that in bringing many sons to glory, He should make the
Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. . . . For in that
he himself hath suffered being put to the proof, he is able to succour
them who are tried." (Heb. 2:9-18) And "though he were a Son, yet
learned he obedience by the things which he suffered: and being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that
OBEY him." (Heb. 5:8-9) He was first morally perfected through
suffering, and then corporeally, by being "made into a spirit" by the
spirit of holiness in his resurrection from the dead. I say, "morally
perfected"; for, although he was without transgression, his perfection of
character is predicated upon his "obedience unto death".
The probation of the Lord Jesus is an interesting
and important study, especially that part of it styled the Temptation of Satan.
Paul, speaking of him as the High Priest under the New Constitution, says,
"He was put to the proof in all things according to our likeness, without
transgression"; (Heb. 4:15) that is, "having taken hold of the seed
of Abraham", "being found in fashion as a man", the infirmities
of human nature were thus laid upon him. He could sympathize with them
experimentally; being, by the feelings excited within him when enticed, well
acquainted with all its weak points. By examining the narrative of his trial in
the wilderness, we shall find that he was proved in all the assailable points
of human nature. As soon as he was filled with the Spirit (Luke 4:1) at his
baptism in the
This enemy within the human nature is the mind of
the flesh, which is enmity against God; it is not subject to His law, neither
indeed can be (Rom. 8:7). The commandment of God, which is "holy, just and
good", being so restrictive of the propensities, which in purely animal
men display themselves with uncontrolled violence, makes them appear in their
true colours. These turbulent propensities the apostle styles "sin in the
flesh", of which it is full; hence, he also terms it "sinful
flesh". This is human nature; and the evil in it, made so apparent by the
law of God, he personifies as "pre-eminently A SINNER"
(Rom.7:12,13,17,18). This is the accuser, adversary, and calumniator of God,
whose stronghold is the flesh. It is the devil and satan within the human
nature; so that "when a man is tempted, he is drawn away of his own lust
and enticed". If a man examine himself, he will perceive within him
something at work, craving after things which the law of God forbids. The best
of men are conscious of this enemy within them. It troubled the apostle so
much, that he exclaimed, "0, wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me
from the body of this death" (Rom.
Human nature, or "sinful flesh", has
three principal channels through which it displays its waywardness against the
law of God. These are expressed by "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life". All that is in the world stands related to
these points of our nature; and there is no temptation that can be devised, but
what assails it in one, or more, of these three particulars. The world without
is the seducer, which finds in all animal men, unsubdued by the law and
testimony of God, a sympathizing and friendly principle, ready at all times to
eat of its forbidden fruit. This sinful nature we inherit. It is our
misfortune, not our crime, that we possess it. We are only blameworthy when,
being supplied with the power of subduing it, we permit it to reign over us.
This power resides in "the testimony of God" believed; so that we
"are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation" (1
Pet. 1:5). This testimony ought to dwell in us as it dwelt in the Lord Jesus;
so that, as with the shield of faith, the fiery assaults of the world may be
quenched (Eph.
Jesus was prepared by the exhaustion of a long
fast, for an appeal to the desire of his flesh for food. Hunger, it is said,
will break through stone walls. "He was hungry." At this crisis,
"the Tempter came to him". Who he was does not appear. Perhaps, Paul
refers to him, saying "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of
light" (2 Cor. 11:14) Some one "came to him" who was his
adversary, and who desired his ruin; or, at least, acted the part of one on the
same principle that the adversary was permitted to put the fidelity of Job to
the proof. The trial of this eminent son of God, was perhaps recorded as an
illustration of the temptation of the Son of God, even Jesus, to whom
"there was none like in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that
feared God, and eschewed evil" (Job 1:8) From his birth to his baptism in
the Jordan, he was faultless. But in the words of Satan concerning Job,
"Did Jesus fear God for nought? Had not God made a hedge about him?"
Yes; God was his defence: and "in keeping his testimony there is great
reward". But, the adversary calumniated Jesus, in suggesting that his
obedience to God had been prompted by mercenary motives. He "feared"
(Heb. 5:7), not simply for what he should get, but because of his love for his
Father's character as revealed in the divine testimonies. The adversary
affected to disbelieve this, and to suppose that, if God would just leave him
in the position of any other man, he would distrust Him; and eat of the world's
forbidden fruit, by embracing all it would afford him. Thus, the adversary may
be supposed to have moved the Lord to permit him to put the fidelity of Jesus
to the test. God, therefore, allowed the experiment to be tried; and by His
spirit sent him into the wilderness for the purpose. So the adversary went
forth from the presence of the Lord, and came to him there.
Having arrived at the crisis when Jesus was
suffering from the keenest hunger, the adversary assumed the character of an
angel, or messenger of light to him. Being acquainted with "the law and
the testimony", for which he knew Jesus had a profound regard, he adduced
it in support of his suggestions. He invited him to gratify the cravings of the
flesh by helping himself. He was God's son; but then his Father seemed to
have abandoned him why not therefore use the power he possessed, whose presence
in him was of itself a proof of God's approval of its exercise, and
"command that the stones be made bread"? But Jesus disregarded the
reasoning; and set it aside by "It is written, Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"
Deut. 8:3).
Failing in this, the scene of the temptation was
then removed to "the pinnacle of the temple"; and, as Jesus fortified
himself by the word, the adversary determined to be even with him; and in
appealing to the pride of life, so strong in the nature laid upon him,
to strengthen himself with the testimony likewise. "If thou be the son of
God, as thou proudly assumest to be, cast thyself down: for it is written,
He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and they shall bear thee up in
their hands, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." (Psa.
91:11,12) But Jesus met him with "Again it is written, Thou shalt
not tempt the Lord thy God." (Deut. 6:16)
Lastly, the scene was shifted to a lofty
mountain. From this position, by the power granted him, he showed Jesus
"all the kingdoms of the world", visible from that elevation;
"and the glory of them". He knew that Jesus was destined to possess
them all; but that he was also to obtain them through suffering. Jesus knew
this, too. Now, as the flesh dislikes suffering, the tempter proposed to
gratify the desire of his eyes by giving him all he saw, on the easy
condition of doing homage to him as the god of the world. "All this
power", said he, "will I give thee, and the glory of them; for that
is delivered to me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it. If thou therefore wilt
worship me, all shall be thine." (Luke 4:6,7) But Jesus resisted the
enticement: and said, "Get thee hence, adversary: for it is written,
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve".
"Having ended all the temptation he departed from him for a season."
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into
In this manner, then, was he put to the proof in
all things according to the likeness of his nature to ours, but without
transgression. He believed not this angel of light (Gal. 1:8) and power, and
would have none of his favours. He preferred the grace of God with suffering,
to the gratification of his flesh with all the pomp and pageantry of this vain
and transitory world. Its "glory" is indeed delivered to the
adversary of God, His people, and His truth: and to whomsoever he wills he
gives it. The knowledge of this truth ought to deter every righteous man from
seeking after it; or even accepting it, when offered upon conditions derogatory
to the truth of God. And, if those who possess it, such as kings, priests,
nobles, etc., were what they pretended to be, they would follow Jesus' and
Paul's examples, and renounce them all. Christianity in high places, is Christ
falling down before the adversary; and doing homage to him for the honour,
riches, and power of the world. What fellowship hath Christ with Belial?
Certainly none.
If the principles upon which the temptation of
the Lord Jesus was permitted, be understood, the necessity of putting the first
Adam to the proof will be readily perceived. Would he retain his integrity, if
placed in a situation of trial? Or, would he disbelieve God and die? The Lord
God well knew what the result would be; and had made all necessary provision
for the altered circumstances which He foresaw would arise. His knowledge,
however, of what would be, did not necessitate it. He had placed all things in
a provisional state. If the man maintained his integrity, there was the
Tree of Lives as the germ of a superior order of things ; but, if he transgressed,
then the natural and animal system would continue unchanged; and the
spiritualization of the earth and its population be deferred to a future
period.
God's knowledge of what a man's character will
be, does not cause Him to exempt him from trial. He rewards and punishes none
upon foregone conclusions. He does not say to this man, "I know you are
certain to turn out a reprobate, therefore I will punish you for what you would
do"; nor does He say to another, "I know thee that thou wouldst do
well all the days of thy life: therefore, I will promote thee to glory and
honour, without subjecting thee to the tribulation of the world". His
principle is to recompense men according to what they have done, not for
what they would do. Thus he dealt with the Two Adams; and with Israel: to whom
Moses says, "The Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness
to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou
wouldest keep His commandments, or no" (Deut. 8:2). And thus also the Lord
Jesus treated Judas. He knew he was a thief, and would betray him; yet he
trusted him with the bag, and made no difference between him and the rest,
until his character was revealed, The Lord knew what was in the heart of
Israel, and whether they would obey Him; but He subjected them to such a trial
as would cause them to reveal themselves in their true character, and thereby
justify Him in His conduct towards them. With these remarks, then, by way of
preface, I shall now proceed to the further exposition of things connected with
this subject in the Mosaic account.
THE SERPENT
"It was more subtle than any beast of the field."
The Serpent was one of "the living things
that moved upon the earth", and which the Lord God pronounced "very
good". Moses says, it was more subtle, or shrewd, than any of the
creatures the Lord God had made. It was, probably, because of this quality of
shrewdness, or quickness of perception, that Adam named it nachash;
which is rendered by drachun in the New Testament, from derchomai, to
see; as, the Dragon, the old serpent (Rev. 20:2). It was doubtless,
the chief of the serpent tribe, as it is styled "the" serpent; and,
seeing that it was afterwards condemned to go upon its belly as a part of its
sentence, it is probable it was a winged-serpent in the beginning: fiery, but
afterwards deprived of the power of flight and made to move as at present.
Its subtlety, or quickness of perception by eye
and ear, and skillfulness in the use of them (2 Cor. 11:3) was a part of the
goodness of its nature. It was not an evil quality by any means; for Jesus
exhorts his disciples to "be wise as the serpents; and
unsophisticated as the doves". This quality of shrewdness, or instinctive
wisdom, is that which principally strikes us in all that is said about it. It
was an observant spectator of what was passing around it in the garden, since
the Lord God had planted it eastward in
And what use should we naturally expect such a
creature would make of this faculty? Such a one, certainly, as its cerebral
constitution would enable it to manifest. It was an intellectual, but not a
moral, creature. It had no "moral sentiments". No part of its brain
was appropriated to the exercise of benevolence, veneration, conscientiousness,
and so forth. To speak phrenologically, it was destitute of these organs;
having only "intellectual faculties" and "propensities".
Hence, its cerebral mechanism, under the excitation of external phenomena,
would only develop what I would term an animal intellectuality. Moral,
or spiritual, ideas would make no impression upon its mental constitution; for
it was incapable, from its formation, of responding to them. It would be
physically impossible for it to reason in harmony with the mind of God; or with
the mind of man, whose reasoning was regulated by divinely enlightened moral
sentiments. Its wisdom would be that of the untutored savage race, whose
"sentiments", by the desuetude of ages, had become as nothing. In
short, we should expect that, if the faculty of speech were bestowed upon it,
it would make just such a use of it, as Moses narrates of the serpent in the
garden of Eden. Its mind was purely and emphatically a "Carnal Mind",
of a more shrewd description than that of any of the inferior creatures. It was
"very good"; but, when he undertook to converse upon things too high
for him; to speak of what he had seen and heard; and to comment upon the law of
the Lord, he lost himself in his dialogisms, and became the inventor of a
lie.
Thus prepared, he commenced a conversation with
the woman. "Yea", said he, as though he were familiar with the
saying, "hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the
garden?" In this manner he spoke, as if he had been pondering over the
matter to find out the meaning of things; but, not being able to make anything
of it, he invited her attention inquiringly. She replied, "We may eat of
the fruit of the trees of the garden but of the fruit of the tree in the midst
of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch
it, lest ye die". This was enunciating "the law of the spirit of
life", or the truth; for "the law of God is the truth" (Psa.
119:142). Had she adhered to the letter of this, she would have been safe. But
the serpent began to intellectualize; and, in so doiug "abode not in the
truth; because there was no truth in him". When he may be speaking the
falsehood he speaks out of his own (John
This, however, was not the case with Eve. There
was truth in her; but she also began to intellectualize at the suggestion of
the Serpent; and from his reasonings to doubt, and finally to conclude, that
the Lord God did not mean exactly what He said. This was an error of
which all the world is guilty to this day. It admits that God has spoken; that
He has promulgated laws; that He has made promises; and that He has said,
"He that believeth the gospel, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be condemned". All this professors admit in
theory; while, as in the case of Eve, in practice they deny it. They say He is
too kind, too loving, too merciful, to act according to a rigid construction of
the word: for if He did, multitudes of the good and pious, and excellent of the
earth, would be condemned. This is doubtless true. Sceptics, however, of this
class should remember that they only are "the salt of the earth" who
delight in the law of the Lord, and do it. Every sect has its "good
and pious" ones, who are thought little or nothing of by adverse
denominations. The law of God is the only true standard of goodness and piety;
and men may depend upon it, attested by the examples in Scripture, that they
who treat Him as not meaning exactly what He says in His word, "make God a
liar" (1 John 5:10), and are anything but good and pious in His esteem.
Eve having repeated the law in the hearing of the
Serpent, he remarked that they should not surely die: "for",
said he, "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". The
falsehood of this assertion consisted in the declaration, "Ye shall not
surely die", when God had said, "Dying ye shall die". It was
truth that God did know that in the day of their eating their eyes would be
opened; and it was also true that they should then become as the Elohim,
in the sense of knowing good and evil. This appears from the testimony
of Moses, that when they had eaten "the eyes of them both were
opened" (Gen. 3:7); and from the admission of God Himself, who said,
"Behold, the man is become like one of us, to know good and evil"
(Gen. 3:22). The Serpent's declaration was therefore an admixture of truth and
falsehood, which so blended itself with what Eve knew to exist, that "she
was beguiled by his shrewdness" from the simplicity of the law of God.
But how did the Serpent know that the Lord knew
that these things would happen to them in the day of their eating? How came he
to know anything about the gods, and their acquaintance with good and evil? And
upon what grounds did he affirm that they should not surely die? The answer is,
one of two way -- by inspiration; or, by observation. If we say
by inspiration, then we make God the author of the lie; but if we affirm that
he obtained his knowledge by observation -- by the use of his eyes and ears
upon things transpiring around him -- then we confirm the words of Moses, that
he was the shrewdest of the creatures the Lord God had made. "Hath God
said, Ye shall not eat of every tree?" This question shows that he
was aware of some exceptions, He had heard of the Tree of Knowledge and of the
Tree of Lives, which were both in the midst of the garden. He had heard the
Lord Elohim, and the other Elohim, conversing on their own experience of good
and evil and of the enlightenment of the man and woman in the same qualities
through the eating of the Tree of Knowledge and of their living for ever, if
obedient, by eating of the Tree of Life. In reasoning upon these things, he
concluded that, if they did eat of the forbidden fruit, they would not surely
die; for they would have nothing more to do than to go and eat of the Tree of
Life, and it would prevent all fatal consequences. Therefore, he said, "Ye
shall not surely die". The Lord God, it is evident, was apprehensive of
the effect of this reasoning upon the mind of Adam and his wife; for He
forthwith expelled them from the garden, to prevent all possibility of access
to the tree, lest they should eat, and put on immortality in sin.
The reasoning of the Serpent operated upon the
woman by exciting the lust of her flesh, the lust of her eyes, and the pride of
life. This appears from the testimony. An appetite, or longing for it, that she
might eat it, was created within her. The fruit also was very beautiful. It
hung upon the tree in a very attractive and inviting manner. "She saw that
it was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes".
But there was a greater inducement still than even this. The flesh and the eyes
would soon be satisfied. Her pride of life had been aroused by the suggestion
that by eating it their eyes would be opened and that she would be "made
wise" as the glorious Elohim she had so often seen in the garden. To
become "as the gods"; to know good and evil as they knew it -- was a
consideration too cogent to be resisted. She not only saw that it was good for
food and pleasant to the eyes, but that it was a tree to be desired as making
one wise "as the gods; therefore she took of the fruit thereof, and did
eat". Thus, as far as she was concerned, the transgression was complete.
THE NATURE OF THE TRANSGRESSION.
"The eyes of them both were opened. and they knew that they were
naked."
The effect produced upon the woman by the eating
of the forbidden fruit, was the excitation of the propensities. By the
transgression of the law of God, she had placed herself in a state of sin;
in which she had acquired that maturity of feeling which is known to exist when
females attain to womanhood. The Serpent's part had been performed in her
deception; and sorely was she deceived. Expecting to be equal to the gods, the
hitherto latent passions of her animal nature only were set free; and though
she now knew what evil sensations and impulses were, as they had done before
her, she had failed in attaining to the pride of her life -- an equality with
them as she had seen them in their power and glory.
In this state of animal excitation, she presented
herself before the man, with the fruit so "pleasant to the eyes".
Standing now in his presence, she became the tempter, soliciting him to sin.
She became to him an "evil woman flattering with her tongue";
"whose lips dropped as a honeycomb, and her mouth was smoother than
oil". She found him "a young man void of understanding" like
herself. We can imagine how "she caught him, and kissed him; and with an
impudent face, and her much fair speech, she caused him to yield". He
accepted the fatal fruit, "and ate with her", consenting to her
enticement, "not knowing that it was for his life": though God had
said, transgression should surely be punished with death. As yet inexperienced
in the certainty of the literal execution of the divine law, and depending upon
the remedial efficacy of the Tree of Lives, he didnot believe that he should surely
die. He saw everything delightful around him, and his beautiful companion
with the tempting fruit; and yet he was told that his eyes were shut! What
wonderful things might he not see if his eyes were opened. And to be "as
the gods", too, "knowing good and evil" was not this a wisdom
much to be desired? The fair deceiver had, at length, succeeded in kindling in
the man the same lusts that had taken possession of herself. His flesh, his
eyes, and his pride of life, were all inflamed; and he followed her in her evil
way" as a fool to the correction of the stocks". They had both fallen
into unbelief. They did not believe God would do what He had promised. This was
a fatal mistake. They afterwards found by experience, that in their sin they
had charged God falsely; and that what He promises, He will certainly perform
to the letter of His word. Thus, unbelief prepared them for disobedience; and
disobedience separated them from God.
As the Mosaic narrative gives an account of things
natural, upon which things spiritual were afterwards to be
established in word and substance; the key to his testimony is found in what
actually exists. When, therefore, he tells us that the eyes of Adam and Eve
were closed at first, in that he says they were opened by sin, we have to
examine ourselves as natural beings for the meaning of his words. Moses,
indeed, informs us in what sense, or to what phenomena, their eyes were closed,
in saying, "They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not
ashamed". If their eyes had been surreptitiously opened, they would have
been ashamed of standing before the Lord Elohim in a state of nudity; and they
would have had emotions towards one another, which would have been
inconvenient. But, in their unsinning ignorance of the latent possibilities of
their nature, shame, which makes the subject of it feel as though he would hide
himself in a nutshell, and be buried in the depths of the sea, found no place
within them. They were unabashed; and had they been created with their eyes
open, they would have been equally so at all times. But, seeing that their eyes
were opened in connection with, and as the consequence of doing what was
forbidden, having "yielded their members servants to uncleanness, and to
iniquity unto iniquity"; and their superior faculties being constituted
susceptible of the feeling, they were ashamed; and "the uncomely parts of
the body" became "their shame" ; and from that time have been
esteemed dishonourable, and invariably "hid". The inferior creatures have
no such feeling as this, because they have never sinned: but the parents of
Cain in their transgression, having served themselves of the members they
afterwards concealed, were deeply affected both with shame and fear; and their
posterity have ever since more or less partaken of it after the same form.
Having transgressed the divine law, and
"solaced themselves with loves", "the eyes of them both were
opened" as the consequence; and when opened, "they knew that
they were naked", which they did not comprehend before. "By the law
is the knowledge of sin", and "sin is the transgression of the
law"; so, having transgressed the law, "they knew they were
naked" without waiting for the Lord to reveal it to them, and to permit
them the lawful use of one another in His own time. They were quite chagrined
at the discovery they had made; and sought to mitigate it by a contrivance of
their own: so "they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves
aprons".
Although thus corporeally defended from mutual
observation, the nakedness of their minds was still exposed. They heard the
voice of the Elohim, which had now become terrible; and they hid themselves
from His presence amongst the trees. They had not yet learned, however, that
the Lord was not only a God at hand, but a God also afar off; and that none can
hide in secret places and He not see them; for He fills both the heaven and the
earth (Jer. 23:23,24). Their concealment was ineffectual against the voice of
the Lord, who called out to him, "Where art thou Adam?" And he
answered, "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I
was naked; and I hid myself." Adam's heart had condemned him, therefore he
lost confidence before God (1 John
A GOOD, AND AN EVIL CONSCIENCE.
The reader, by contemplating Adam and Eve in
innocency, and afterwards in guilt, will perceive in the facts of their case
the nature of a good conscience, and of an evil one. When they rejoiced
in "the answer of a good conscience", they were destitute of shame
and fear. They could stand naked in God's presence unabashed; and instead of
trembling at His voice, they rejoiced to hear it as the harbinger of good
things. They were then pure and undefiled, being devoid of all conscience of
sin. They were then of the truth, living in obedience to it as expressed in the
law; and therefore their hearts were assured before Him. No doubts and fears
oppressed them then. But mark the change that afterwards came over them. When
they lost their good conscience, terror seized upon them at the voice of God,
and shame possessed their souls; and they sought to get out of His sight, and
to remove as far from Him as possible. Now, what was the cause of this? There
is but one answer that can be given, and that is -- SIN.
Sin, then, takes away "the answer of a good
conscience towards God", and converts it into an evil conscience; which
may be certainly known to exist, when the subject of it is ashamed of
the truth, and harassed by "doubts and fears". They are ashamed of
the truth, who, being enlightened, feel themselves condemned; or, being
ignorant, apprehend it. Such, on account of unbelief, or of "a dead
faith", may well be ashamed and afraid; for to be ashamed of God's truth
is to be ashamed of His wisdom and power. People of this description proscribe
all conversation about the truth as unfashionable, and vulgar; or as calculated
to disturb the peace of the family circle; others, again, make a great outcry
against controversy as dangerous to religion; as though God's truth could be
planted in the hearts of men, already prepossessed by God's enemy, without
controversy: others subjected to the timidity of sin, reduce everything to
opinion, and inculcate "charity"; not that they are more liberal and
kind than other people; but that they fear lest their own nakedness may be
discovered, and "men see their shame"; while another class of bashful
professors cry out, "Disturb not that which is quiet", which is a
capital maxim for a rotten cause, especially where its subversion would break up
all "vested interests", and pecuniary emoluments. So it is; while
"the righteous are bold as a lion, the wicked flee when no man
pursueth". Sinners, however pious" they may be reputed to be, are
invariably cowards; they are ashamed of a bold stand for their own profession;
and afraid of an independent and impartial examination of the law and testimony
of God.
Understanding then, that sin, or the
transgression of God's law, evinced by doubts, fears, and shamefacedness, is the
morbid principle of an evil conscience, what is the obvious indication to
be fulfilled in its removal? The answer is, blot out the sin, and the
conscience of the patient will be cured. The morbid phenomena will disappear,
and "the answer of a good conscience towards God" (1 Pet.
Men have not yet learned the lesson, that all
they are called upon by God to do is to believe His word and obey His laws.
He requires nothing more at their hands than this. If they neither believe nor
do, or believe but do not obey, they are evil doers, and at enmity with Him. He
asks men for actions, not words; for He will judge them "according to
their works" in the light of His law, and not according to their
supposititious feelings and traditions. The reason why He will not permit men
to prescribe for their own moral evils is because He is the physician, they the
lepers; He their sovereign, they the rebels against His law. It is His
prerogative, and His alone, to dictate the terms of reconciliation. Man has
offended God. It becomes him, therefore, to surrender unconditionally; and,
with the humility and teachableness of a child, to receive with open heart and
grateful feelings, whatever in the wisdom, and justice, and benevolence of God,
He may condescend to prescribe.
Until they do this, they may preach in His name
(Matt. 7:21-23); make broad the phylacteries (Matt. 23:5-7); sound trumpets in
the synagogues and in the streets (Matt. 6:1-4); make long prayers in public
(vs. 5-7; 23:14); disfigure their countenances with grimace that they may
appear to fast (Matt. 6:16-18); build churches; compass sea and land to make
proselytes (Matt. 23:15); found hospitals; and fill the world with their
benevolences: -- all is reducible to mere fig-leaf invention as a substitute
for "the righteousness of God". "Blessed are they whose
iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered" (Rom. 4:7);
but this blessedness came not upon Adam, nor upon any of his posterity, by
garments of their own device. The Lord's covering for sin is "a change of
raiment", even "white raiment", which He counsels men to buy,
that they may be clothed, and that the shame of their, nakedness do not
appear" (Rev. 3:18). He alone can furnish it. His price is that men should
believe, and put it on.
THE CARNAL MIND
"The thinking of the flesh is enmity against God."
When the Lord bestowed the faculty of speech upon
the Serpent, He enabled it to give utterance to its thoughts. The possession of
this power did not, however, confer upon it moral accountability. This depends
on a different constitution of "the flesh". Where no "moral
sentiments" exist as part of "the flesh", or brain, there is no ability
in the creature to render an account for its aberrations from the
requirements of moral, or spiritual, institutions. Speech only enabled it to
utter the thinkings of its unsentimentalized intellect. It spoke, like Balaam's
ass, under the impulse of the sensations excited by what it had seen and heard.
The thinkings of its flesh could not ascend to faith, being destitute of the
organic ability to believe therefore its speech could express only fleshly
thoughts. Faith was too high an attainment for it. The light of God's law could
not shine into it. Like all the inferior animals, it was a creature of mere
sensation; and could utter only sentences formed of combinations resulting from
the impressions of sensible objects transmitted to its sensorium by the five
senses; it transcended them, however, in being more observant and reasoning
than they.
What it had done, and not what it intended
to do, was made the ground of the Serpent's condemnation. "Because thou
hast done this", said the Lord God, "thou art cursed above all
cattle", etc. It was incapable of moral intention. It did not intend to
deceive; but it did deceive; therefore, it was a deceiver. It did not intend to
lie; but it did lie; therefore, it was a liar, and the father of a lie, It did
not intend to cause the woman's death; but still it brought her under sentence
of death; therefore, it was a murderer: and became the spiritual father of all
intentional liars, deceivers, unbelievers, and man-killers, who are styled "the
Serpent's seed".
The Serpent had propensities and intellect, and
so had the woman; but her mental constitution differed from his, in having
"moral sentiments" superadded to her propensities and intellect. By
the sentiments she was made a morally accountable being; capable of believing,
and able to control and direct her other faculties in their application. The
propensities enable a creature to propagate its species, take care of its
young, defend itself against enemies, collect food, and so forth: intellect
enables it to do these things, for the gratification of its sensations; but
when, in addition to these, a being is endowed with the sentiments of
conscientiousness, hope, veneration, benevolence, wonder, etc., it possesses a
spiritual, or sentimental, organization, which makes it capable of reflecting
as from a mirror, the likeness and glory of God. The appropriate sphere of the
propensities is on things sensual and fleshly; while that of spiritual, or
sentimentalized, intellect, is on "the things of the spirit of God".
In the mental constitution of man, God designed that the sentiments, enlightened
by His truth, should have the ascendancy, and preside over, and govern his
actions. Under such an arrangement, the thoughts of the man would have resulted
from spiritual thinking as opposed to the thoughts of the inferior creatures,
which are purely the thinking of the flesh. Where the truth has possession of
the sentiments, setting them to work and so forming the thoughts, it becomes
the law of God to them; which the apostle styles "the Law of his mind";
and because it is written there through the hearing of "the law and the
testimony", which came to the prophets and apostles through the spirit, he
terms it, "the law of the spirit" (Rom. 7:23; 8:2) inscribed
"on fleshy tables of the heart" (2 Cor. 3:3); and "the law of
the spirit of life" because, while obeyed, it confers a right to
eternal life.
But in the absence of this law and testimony, the
"moral sentiments" are as incapable of directing a man aright, as though
he were all intellect, or all propensities. By a right direction, I mean,
according to the mind of God. The sentiments are as blind as the propensities
when intellect is unenlightened by divine revelation. The truth of this is
illustrated by the excesses into which mankind has plunged in the name of
religion. Mohammedanism, Romanism, Paganism, and the infinite varieties of
Protestantism, are all the result of the co-workings of the intellect, and
sentiments, under the impulse of the propensities. They are all the thinkings
of the flesh, predicated on ignorance, or misconception, of the truth. Hence,
they are either altogether false; or, like the dialogisms of the shrewd
Serpent, a clumsy mixture of truth and error.
The Carnal Mind is an expression used by
Paul; or rather, it is the translation of words used by him, in his epistle to
the Romans. It is not so explicit as the original. The words he wrote are the
thinking of the flesh. In this phrase, he intimates to us, that the
flesh is the thinking substance, that is, the brain; which, in another
place, he terms "the fleshy tablet of the heart". The kind of
thinking, therefore, depends upon the conformation of this organ. Hence, the
more elaborate and perfect its mechanism, the more precise and comprehensive
the thought; and vice versa. It is upon this principle such a diversity of
mental manifestation is observable among men and other animals; but after all,
how diverse soever they may be, they are all referable to one and the same
thing -- the thinking of the flesh, whose elaborations are excited by the
propensities, and the sensible phenomena of the world.
Now, the law of God is given, that the thinking
of the flesh, instead of being excited by the propensities within and the world
without, may be conducted according to its direction. So long as Adam and Eve
yielded to its guidance, they were happy and contented. Their thoughts were the
result of right thinking, and obedience was the consequence. But when they
adopted the Serpent's reasonings as their own, these being at variance with the
truth, caused an "enmity" against it in their thinkings, which is
equivalent to "enmity against God". When their sin was perfected, the
propensities, or lusts, having been inflamed, became "a law in their
members", and because it was implanted in their flesh by
transgression, it is styled, "the law of sin"; and death being the
wages of sin, it is also termed, "the law of sin and death"; but by
philosophy, "the law of nature".
The thinking of the flesh, uninfluenced by the
ameliorating agency of divine truth, is so degenerating in its effects, that it
reduces man to savagery. There is nothing elevating or ennobling in fleshly
thoughts; on the contrary, they tend to physical deterioration and death; for
"to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and
peace" (Rom. 8:6). If ferocious creatures become tame, or civilized, it is
the result of what may be termed spiritual influences; which, operating from
without the animal, call into exercise its highest powers, by which the more
turbulent are subdued, or kept in check. It is unheard of that wild beasts, or
savage men, ever tamed or civilized themselves; on the contrary, the law in the
members when uncontrolled in its mental operations is so vicious in its
influence as to endanger the continuance of the race. If, therefore, God had
abandoned Adam and his posterity to the sole guidance of the newly-developed
propensities, the earth would long ere this have been peopled by a population
not a whit above the aborigines of
The unilluminated thinking of the flesh gives
birth to the "works of the flesh; which are, adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, dissensions, sects, envyings, murders, drunkenness,
revellings and such like" (Gal. 5:19). Unchecked by the truth and
judgments of God, the World would have been composed solely of such characters.
Indeed, notwithstanding all His interference to save it from the ruinous
consequences of its vicious enmity against His law, it seems to have attained a
state of immorality in the apostolic age well nigh to reprobation. "They
were", says the apostle, "without excuse: because that when they knew
God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain
in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing
themselves to be wise (or philosophers) they became fools, and changed the
glory of the Incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible men, and
to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave
them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to
dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God
into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who
is blessed for ever. For this cause, God gave them up unto vile affections:
working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of
their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in
their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those
things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness,
fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder,
debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without
understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable,
unmerciful." (
Such is the carnal mind, or thinking of the
flesh, as illustrated by the works of the flesh: a hideous deformity, whose
conception is referable to the infidelity and disobedience of our first
parents: by whom "sin entered into the world, and death by sin" (Rom.
The carnal mind, or serpent in the flesh, is the
subject of a two-fold manifestation -- namely, individually and collectively.
An individual manifestation is more or less observable in persons who
"mind the things of the flesh", or "earthly things" (Rom.
8:5; Phil. 3:l8,l9; Col. 3:2; 1 John
If it were not for the law, or truth, of God, we
should not know what sin is; for, says the apostle, "I had not known sin,
but by the law"; "for without the law, sin is dead". If a
man committed theft, or adultery, or any other thing, he would not know whether
he did right or wrong in God's esteem, if God had not said they shall not be
done. The lower animals steal, kill, and obey their propensities uncontrolled;
but, in so doing, they do not sin, because God has made them with the ability
and disposition so to do, and has not forbidden them. Wrong consists not
in any particular act of which we are capable; but in that act being contrary
to the letter and spirit of the divine testimony: in other words, right
is the doing of the will of God. Hence, if we saw a man bowing down before an
image of the Virgin Mary, which is death by His law, and He commanded us to
kill him, we should do wrong to refuse, although He has said, "Thou shalt
not kill". Men have lost sight of this truth. They know not, or seem not
to know, that the only true standard of right and wrong, truth and error, is
the divine law. Hence, they inflict upon themselves and one another all sorts
of pains and penalties, making their lives miserable, because of nonconformity
to standards of faith and morals, which know no other paternity than the
serpent-thinking of sinful flesh.
Sin was in the world from the fall to the giving
of the law through Moses. But it did not appear to be sin to those who obeyed
its impulses; because, there being no such law as the Mosaic, "the sons of
God" did not know when they might have erred. They were not held
accountable to any future retribution for doing things, which, under Moses'
law, were punishable with death. They were amenable only to "the way of
the Lord", even as the disciples of Jesus are at this day. This required
them to walk by faith in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, whose love was
shed abroad in their hearts by the testimony they believed (Rom.
The Serpent in the flesh shows itself in
individuals in all the colours of its skin. It manifests itself in all the
deceptions men practise upon themselves and one another. Its most insidious and
dangerous manifestations emanate from the pulpit, and ecclesiastical thrones.
In these, the Serpent presents himself to mankind, presumptuously entertaining
them with things he does not understand. From thence he delights them with the
assurance of wisdom upon principles in harmony with their nature. "God
doth not mean", saith he, "exactly what He says. Trouble not your
consciences about the letter of His word. He knows that the circumstances in
which you are placed prevent a rigid construction of it. Besides, the times are
changed, and the world is better than it used to be. He takes the will for the
deed. The spirit is everything; the letter is nothing; for the letter killeth,
but the spirit giveth life. Eat, then, and drink, and be merry. Be diligent in
business, fervent in the cause of your church, serving your clergy; and when
you die, ye shall be as gods in the elysian fields!"
But the serpent in the flesh manifests itself in all
the high places of the earth. It obtrudes itself upon all occasions, and
through all the channels of human life. Popes, cardinals, and priests; bishops,
ministers, and deacons; emperors, kings, and presidents; with all who sustain
them, and execute their behests, are but the fleshly media through which the
thinking of the flesh finds expression. They are "the high things that
exalt themselves against the knowledge of God", which are to be
cast down (2 Cor. 10:5). They are faithless of this knowledge, which they make
of no effect by their traditions; and "whatsoever is not of faith is
sin". My business will be to show what this knowledge is; and, if it be
found that I speak not according to "the law and the testimony" it
will be because there is no light in me; and that, like them, I speak my own
thoughts as of the flesh, and not according to the gospel of the
As I have remarked before, sin is personified by
Paul as "pre-eminently a sinner"; and by another apostle, as
"the Wicked One" (1 John
Now, they who do the works of the flesh are the
children of the Wicked One, or of sin in the flesh; on the like principle that
those Jews only were the children of Abraham who did the works of Abraham. But
they did not the deeds of Abraham, but evil deeds. They were liars, hypocrites
and murderers: therefore, said Jesus, "Ye are of your father the devil,
and the lusts of your father ye are willing to do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and stood not in the truth, because there is no truth in him"
(John
But serpent-sin, being a constituent of human
nature, is treated of in the scripture in the aggregate, as well as in its
individual manifestations. The "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life", generated in our nature by sin, and displayed in
all the children of sin, taken in the aggregate constitute "the world"
which stands opposed to God. Serpent-sin in the flesh is the god of the world,
who possesses the glory of it. Hence, to overcome the world is to overcome the
Wicked One; because sin finds its expression in the things of the world. These
things are the civil and ecclesiastical polities, and social institutions of
the nations, which are based upon "the wisdom that descendeth not from
above" -- the serpent wisdom of the flesh. If this be admitted, it is easy
to appreciate the full force of the saying, "The friendship of the world
is enmity against God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the
enemy of God" (James 4:4). Let no more, then, who would have God's favour,
seek the honour and glory of the world in Church or State; for promotion
in either of them can only be attained by sacrificing the principles of God's
truth upon the altar of popular favour, or of princely patronage. Let no man
envy men in place and power. It is their misfortune, and will be their ruin;
and though many of them profess to be very pious, and to have great zeal for
religion; yea, zeal as flaming as the scribes and Pharisees of old; they are in
friendship with the world, which in return heaps upon them its riches, and
honour, and therefore they are the enemies of God. It is unnecessary to
indicate them in detail. If the reader understand the scripture, he can easily
discern them. Wherever the gospel of the kingdom is supplanted by sectarian
theology, there is a stronghold of "the carnal mind, which is enmity against
God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom.
8:7). This is a rule to which there is no exception; and the grand secret of
that formality, coldness, and spiritual death, which are said to paralyse
"the churches". They are rich in all things, but the truth; and of
that there is a worse than Egyptian scarcity.
THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD.
"The prince of this world shall be cast out."
Sin made flesh, whose character is revealed in
the works of the flesh, is the Wicked One of the world. He is styled by Jesus,
the Prince of this world. Kosmos, rendered world in this phrase,
signifies, that order of things constituted upon the basis of sin in the flesh,
and styled the
It is quite fabulous to locate it in a region of
ghosts and hobgoblins, remote from, or under the earth, where Pluto reigns as
"God of Hell". This notion is a part of the wisdom of those fleshly
thinkers, who, as the apostle says, "professing themselves to be wise,
became fools"; a wisdom, too, which "God hath made foolishness"
(1 Cor. 1:19,20) by "the light of the glorious gospel of Christ" (2
Cor. 4:3,4,6). The kingdom of sin is among the living upon the earth; and it is
called the
But the carnal policy does not end here. The
neglect of the preachers might be supplied by the searching of the scriptures
by the people themselves. But this is discouraged by disparagements from the
pulpit. The word is proclaimed to be "a dead letter"; the prophecies
are said to be unintelligible; the Apocalypse incomprehensible, and utterly
bewildering; that it is necessary to go to college to study divinity before it
can be judiciously explained; and so forth. The people for whom I write,
know this to be the truth. But what is the English of all this? It is that the
pulpit orators and newspaper scribes are consciously ignorant of "the sure
word of prophecy": so that, in order to maintain their ascendancy, they must
repress the enterprise of the people, lest they should become "wiser than
their teachers"; and find that they could do infinitely better without
their services than with them, and thus their occupation would be gone.
As for a college education in divinity qualifying
boys for "preaching the word", the absurdity of the conceit is
manifest in the fact that the "college-bred divines" are all at
variance among themselves upon its meaning. Call a convention of priests and
preachers of all religious sects and parties, and assign to them the work of
publishing a scriptural and unanimous reply to the simple question, What do
the scriptures teach as the measure of faith, and rule of conduct, to him who
wou1d inherit the Kingdom? Let it be such a reply as would stand the scrutiny
of deep and earnest investigation -- and what does the reader expect would be
the result? Would their knowldege of all the languages living and dead; of
Euclid's Elements; of Liguori, Bellarmine, Luther, Calvin, and Arminius; of the
mythologies of the Greeks and Romans; of all the creeds, confessions,
catechisms and articles of "Christendom" of logic, ancient and
modern; of the art of sermonizing; and of all religious controversies extant:
-- would their acquaintance with such lore as this bring them to unanimity; and
cause them to manifest themselves as "workmen that need not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth?" What can we reason upon this point,
but from what we know? Experience, then, teaches us that their performance of such
a thing, so simple and easy in itself, would be utterly impracticable; for
"the thinking of the flesh is enmity against God"; and until they
throw away their traditions, and study the Word, which is very different from
"studying divinity", they will continue as they are, perhaps
unconsciously, the perverters and enemies of the truth.
The
The words da archon signify the prince,
or one invested with power. All persons in authority are styled archontez
in the New Testament, such as magistrates, and chiefs among the people. Hence,
the archon of the archons would be the chief magistate of the
kingdom. Now, sin in its sovereign manifestations among the nations executes
its will and pleasure through the civil and ecclesiastical authorities of a
state. What, then, is decreed by emperors, kings, popes, and subordinate
rulers, are the mandates of "the Prince of the World", who works in
them all to gratify their own lusts, oppress the people, and "make war
against the saints", with all the energy they possess. Taken collectively
from the chief magistrate to the lowest, they are styled principalities and
powers; the world-rulers of the darkness of this age; who are the
spirituals of wickedness in the high places of the kingdoms (Eph.
In apostolic times, it was the privilege of the
church to make known to the world-rulers "the manifold wisdom of God"
(Eph.
To walk being dead in trespasses and sins, is to
live according to the course of this world. So says the apostle (eph.
2:1,2). The course of the world is according to the thinking of sinful
flesh, in whatever way it may be manifested or expressed. If a man embrace one
of the religions of Satan's kingdom, he is still "dead in trespasses and
sins", and walks according to the course of the world. In brief, anything
short of faith in the gospel of the kingdom, and obedience to the law of faith,
is walking according to the course of the world. To walk in sin is to walk in
this course. Hence, the apostle terms walking according to the course of the
world, walking according to the Prince of the Power of the Air: which he
explains as "the Spirit now working in the children of
disobedience". The "power of the air", or aerial power,
is the political power of the world, which is animated and pervaded by the
spirit of disobedience, which is sin in the flesh; and styled above, the
Prince of the Power of the Air. This is that prince of whom Jesus spoke,
saying, "Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the Prince of this
World be cast out" (John
The judgment of the Prince of the World by God,
was exhibited in the contest between Jesus and the civil and spiritual power of
THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. (1 John
3:8)
It is clear to my mind that sin is the thing
referred to by the apostle in the word devil. The sting of the Serpent
is its power of destruction. The "sting of death" is the power of
death; and that, the apostle says, in one place, "is sin"; and in
another, "is the devil". There are not two powers of death;
but one only. Hence, the devil and sin, though different words,
represent the same thing. "Sin had the power of death", and
would have retained it, if the man, who was obedient unto death, had not
gained the victory over it. But, thanks be to God, the earth is not to be a
charnel house for ever; for he that overcame the world in his own person (John
16:33), is destined hereafter to "take away the sin of the world",
and to "make all things new" (Rev. 21:5). Every curse will then cease
(Rev. 22:3), and death be swallowed up in victory; for death shall be no more.
(Rev. 21:4)
The works of the devil, or evil one, are
the works of sin. Individually, they are "the works of the flesh"
exhibited in the lives of sinners; collectively, they are on a larger scale, as
displayed in the polities of the world. All the institutions of the kingdom of
the adversary are the works which have resulted from the thinking of sinful
flesh; though happily for the saints of God, "the powers that be"
are controlled by Him. They cannot do what they please. Though defiant of His
truth, and His hypocritical and malignant enemies, He serves Himself of them;
and dashes them against one another when the enormity of their crimes, reaching
to heaven, demands His terrible rebuke.
Among the works of sin are the numerous diseases
which transgression has brought upon the world. The Hebrews, the idiom of whose
language is derived from the Mosaic narrative of the origin of things, referred
disease to sin under the names of the devil and Satan. Hence, they inquired,
"Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" A
woman "bowed together with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years",
is said to have been "bound of Satan", or the adversary, for that
time; and her restoration to health is termed "loosing her from the
bond" (Luke 13:10-17). Paul also writes in the same idiom to the disciples
at Corinth, commanding them to deliver the incestuous brother "unto Satan
for the destruction of the flesh"; that is, inflict disease upon him, that
he may be brought to repentance, "that the spirit may be saved in the day
of the Lord Jesus" (1 Cor. 5:5). Thus he was "judged and chastened of
the Lord that he might not be condemned with the world" (1 Cor.
THE GREAT DRAGON
The old Serpent, surnamed the Accuser and the Adversary, who deceives the whole
habitable."
The whole habitable, in the days of the
apostles, was that part of the earth's surface which acknowledged the dominion
of
The only antagonism experienced by sin was
established in
When the woman's seed rose from among the dead,
and "led captivity captive", the war upon the Old Serpent began in
good earnest. The manner in which it was conducted on both sides, may be
learned from the Acts of the Apostles. The parties were the Jewish and the
Roman power on the one hand, and the apostles and their brethren on the other.
These enemies were the two seeds; the former, the "Seed of the Serpent";
and the latter, by constitution in Christ Jesus, the "Seed of the Woman".
Hence, in the Apocalypse, "the Old Serpent" (Rev. 12:3,9; 21:2), and
"the Woman" (Rev. 12:1,4,6,13,14-17), became the symbols by which
they are represented. During 280 years; that is, from the Day of Pentecost,
A.D. 33, to A.D. 313, when
The Dragon is the organic symbol of the Old
Serpent power, as the Leopard with four heads and four wings
(Dan. 7:6) was of the quadrupartite constitution of the Macedonian. The Dragon
appears in four principal scenes in the Apocalypse; first, in taking him
who hindered out of the way (2 Thess. 2:7) A.D. 313; second, in the
surrendering of the power, throne, and extensive dominion of the west, to
papalized imperio-regal Europe, A.D. 800 (Rev. 13:2,4); third, in the
present crisis of the gathering of "the powers that be" to their last
conflict for the world's dominion (Rev. 16:13); and fourth, in the
suppression of the Serpent-power by the Lord Jesus, when he bruises his head,
and restrains him for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:2). As the symbol of the Old Serpent
in its pagan constitution, with
But the time is at hand when the dominion,
divided between the Dragon and the Beast, may be re-united; and the old Roman
territory, with an immense addition of domain, again subject to one sovereign.
This may be by the fall of the Two-horned Beast (Rev. 13:11; Dan. 7:11), and
the expulsion of the Turks from Constantinople, which will then become the
throne of the dominion, represented by Nebuchadnezzar's Image, which is to be
broken to pieces in "the latter-days" (Dan. 2:28,34,35). The
establishment of this sovereignty being accomplished, it stands upon the earth
as the Accuser and Adversary of God's people Israel; and will make war upon
them (Dan. 11:41,45; Ezek. 38:8-12); and will combat with the faithful and True
One, and his saints (Rev. 19:11,14), as did the Old Serpent-power against Michael
(Rev. 12:7) Constantine and his confederates in the early part of the fourth
century. The result will be the same. The victory will be with Jesus, the Great
Prince of Israel (Dan. 12:1), who will break his power to pieces upon the
mountains of Israel in the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16; Ezek. 39:4). This
great Adversary of the latter days, is the Northern Autocrat for the time
being. He is styled Gog by Ezekiel (Ezek. 38:2). In him will be acuminated
"all the power of the enemy"; that is, of SIN, imperially manifested
in a dominion, such as the world has never seen before. Because of this, it is
styled the Old Serpent; and because it will exist upon the old Roman territory,
it is called the Dragon: and from its hostility to God and His truth, it is "surnamed
the Devil and Satan".
THE MAN OF SIN.
"The Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition."
The Dragon, the Old Serpent, surnamed the Devil
and Satan, being representative of SIN in its imperial constitution, as
manifested in the past, present, and future, upon "the Habitable",
or Roman territory; the Man of Sin is that dynasty, "whose coming was
after the energy of the Adversary with all power, and tokens, and prodigies of
falsehood, and with all the deceit of iniquity in them that perish" (2
Thess. 2:9,10). This is what he was in his coming, or presence. The power is
styled, "the Man of Sin", not because it is to be found in only one
man, but because it is sin preeminently incarnate in an order of men. This
order occupying one throne, was to "be revealed" out of an
apostasy from the original apostolic faith; but before its presence could
be manifested, a certain obstacle was to "be taken out of the way".
No order of men such as the apostle describes, could make its appearance upon
the territory of the Roman Dragon, so long as the constitution of the empire
continued pagan. This, then, was the obstacle to be removed. While it
continued, the elements of the new power were at work in the Christian body;
but incapable of the exercise of political authority. These elements are
collectively styled "the Mystery of Iniquity", the open manifestation
of which was withheld for a time.
When the "Red" or pagan aspect
of the Dragon was changed for the "Catholic", by the victories
of Constantine, the opposing power was removed; in fact, the Adversary,
or Satan, now a professor of Christianity, took "the Mystery of
Iniquity" under his patronage; and as he found paganism no longer fit for
the contest against the apostolic faith, he determined to change his weapon,
and to fight it with the apostasy in the name of Christ. Hence, the first thing
he did was to impose this apostasy on the world as its religion. He married it
to the state, and established it by law. The National Establishment, as it now
became, assumed the character of "Mother Church"; and the community
in Old Rome, with its bishop now converted into the chief magistrate of the
city at its head, claimed to be the mistress of all churches. The apostasy
being united to Satan, became the open enemy of God, and the worse than pagan
persecutor of His truth. Its name is Catholic; and since the division of the
Dragon territory into east and west, and the great schism about image-worship,
it is surnamed Greek Catholic, and Roman Catholic. The undivided catholic
apostasy in its first establishment is represented in the Apocalypse by "a
woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a
crown of twelve stars" (Rev. 12:1). This woman, after nine months of
years, or "a set time", and not long before she was clothed with
the imperial robes, was "pained to be delivered" of her child, which
had been conceived in her by sin. As the betrothed of the Second Adam, the
Serpent had beguiled her, and had corrupted her mind from the simplicity that
is in Christ. Part of her body had embraced another Jesus, another Spirit, and
another gospel (2 Cor. 11:2-4); by which they were so corrupted that they were
prepared to take the sword; declare for the first military chieftain, whose
anti-pagan ambition of Supreme power should induce him to embrace their cause;
and to turn Christianity into a State Religion. This party found a semi-pagan
suited to their puppose in Constantine, surnamed "the Great". When he
avowed himself their champion, all the power of the Old Serpent was brought to
bear against him and his confederates. They fought; and victory perched upon
the standard of the Cross, now become "the mark" of the Apostasy.
Constantine was the man-child of sin, who began
that iron-rule, which, in the name of Christianity, has soaked the dust of the
earth with the best and noblest blood of its inhabitants. He set himself up as
the arbiter of faith, and the corrector of heretics; and though pretending to
believe, yet refusing to be immersed till within three days of his death, that
he might commit all the sins he would be likely to do before he was baptized
for remission of sin -- yet he is belauded by ecclesiastics as a great and
pious Christian! What Constantine began, his successors on the Dragon throne,
Julian excepted, perfected. For the Bishop of Old Rome, they conceived an
especial veneration and regard; seeing that he was more of a hypocrite, and as
much of a serpent as themselves. They energized him with all power, and set him
up as the supreme pontiff of the world. This God upon earth, whom the pagan
predecessors knew not, they "honoured with gold, with silver, and with
precious stones, and pleasant things". A humble bishop of an obscure
society in Rome, they acknowledged as a god, and increased with glory (Dan.
11:38,39); so that "by the energy of Satan with all power", the
dominion founded by the man-child of the apostasy was matured; and at length
possessed by the Roman bishop as the full-grown Man of Sin.
The presence of the Man of Sin in
Paul styles this dynastic order the Lawless
One; and because of its destiny, "the Son of Perdition".
In the Apocalypse, it is represented by an Eighth Head (Rev. 17:11) of the
Beast, which divides "the habitable" with the Dragon. Of this
head, the Spirit saith, "It goeth to perdition". It is a head,
which exercised both civil and pontifical dominion over the west; and when
resolved into other symbols its conjoint dominion is represented by a
Two-horned Beast; (Rev. 13:11) and an image of the sixth head of the
Seven-headed Beast (vv. 14,15); the former symbolizing the Austrian power; and
the latter, his ally, the Lawless One. These are both doomed to perdition together.
Their present intrigues are contributing to kindle a flame in