Points of Attack by E. W. DARLING

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 13, 1866

Points of Attack.

By E. W. DARLING

We have an insidious enemy, who is ever watching to push his assaults upon every weak point, and take every advantage that change or circumstance may afford, both in open and secret warfare. For this cause we are exhorted in the Scriptures, to watch. “Be sober, be vigilant (watchful); because your adversary, the Devil, as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Pet. v, 8. And now as we have entered upon the “last days,” a time when the dragon is “to make war with the remnant,” Rev. xii, 17, when Satan is to work “with all power, and signs and lying wonders, “and deceive, if it were possible, the very elect, “having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time;” in such a time, we should be like soldiers in a foreign land, ever watchful, ever ready. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke xxi, 36. “But the end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Pet. iv, 7.

We ought to look about us and see if there be any unnecessary weight that might cripple us, or any thing that easily besets us, and cast them aside, cost what they may. While we stand guard through the last and fast-passing watches of time’s dreary night, we should watch with jealous eye every approaching object, lest it conceal the enemy or his artful schemes. Many fail of success in the Christian warfare for want of watchfulness; many fail because their minds are occupied with some great thing to the neglect of a proper attention to, and faithful discharge of, the common duties of life.

We are apt to look too high for the cause of our troubles, difficulties and failings. As small leaks will sink a large vessel, so what we term the small affairs of life, if not properly managed, will destroy our prospects both for this world and that which is to come. If we find our business getting tangled so that it interferes with the duties we owe to God or our fellow creatures; or crowding us beyond our powers of endurance; or bringing undue exposure, irregular meals, or food which is not salutary; we should stop and consider if it be not a thrust of the enemy to bring us into condemnation, destroy our prosperity or health, and thus cripple our usefulness.

A careless, slack management of business is almost sure to ruin a Christian character. That engagement unfulfilled, that job not rightly done, that large unruly herd overrunning your neighbor’s farm, those bars left down only for a short time, thus exposing your own or your neighbor’s crops, by which means you or they may get out of patience or get into trouble; that unguarded or idle word; that secret revealed; that child not properly governed; that misstatement in deal; that deception; neglected settlements, neglected account-book, neglected correspondence, neglected family-worship; that bustle and crowd of business on Sabbath eve; neglected prayer-meeting, and many such like things;—these are inroads of the enemy; points of attack which if you fail to guard and repair, you will fail to overcome in the contest.

Why should we expect a great stir made about our broken engagements? Why should we expect our deception to be detected and blazed round the neighborhood? Why should we expect our tattling to make trouble? Why should we expect some beast to take advantage of the gap we have left open? Because the spirit which led us into such things is from the enemy; it is a snare which he has prepared. Let us not be ignorant of his devices, nor count things trifles which affect the cause of God, and our eternal welfare.

I cannot close this article without exhorting once more to watchfulness. Remember what the Saviour has said, “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matt. xxvi, 41. “Watch ye therefore and pray always.” Luke xxi, 36.

E. W. DARLING.

Faribault. Minn.