LIONS IN THE WAY by E. ENGLES

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 27, 1869

LIONS IN THE WAY.

By E. ENGLES

"The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets." Prov. xxii, 13. And thus he tries to excuse himself for the neglect of what he ought to do. To those who trust in God, his promise is, "There shall no evil befall thee. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet." Ps. xci, 10, 13.

Christiana and her party in Bunyan's Pilgrim had their lions to encounter, as Christian had before them. "Now Mr. Great-heart was a strong man, so he was not afraid of a lion. But yet, when they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys that went before were now glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the lions; so they stepped back and went behind." When Mr. Great-heart was confronted by Giant Grim, the owner of the lions, he addressed him thus:—

"'It is the king's highway that we are in, and in this way it is that thou hast placed the lions; but these women, and these children, though weak, shall hold on their way in spite of thy lions.' And with that he gave him again a downright blow, and brought him upon his knees. With this blow also he broke his helmet, and with the next he cut off an arm. Then did the giant roar so hideously, that his voice frightened the women, and yet they were glad to see him lie sprawling upon the ground. Now the lions were chained, and so of themselves could do nothing.

Wherefore, when old Grim, that intended to back them, was dead, Mr. Great-heart said to the pilgrims, 'Come now and follow me, and no hurt shall happen to you from the lions.' They therefore went on, but the women trembled as they passed by them; the boys also looked as if they would die; but they all got by without further hurt."

How true it is that there are lions, and legions of evil things, in the Christian's way; hindrances and dangers in his path to the celestial city. There is the lust of pride, the heart of unbelief, the love of the world, and the apathy of a careless soul sleeping in self-righteous security. These are real lions, that put the life of our spirituality in danger; but we must watch, and pray, and strive, and struggle against them, and look onward to the city with the golden gates, taking courage, for stronger is he who is for us, than those who are against us.

Dear brethren, with the prospect before us, with the word of God in our hands, and the love of God in our hearts, let us fear neither lions nor legions of evil things; being persuaded that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor power, nor things present, nor things to come, nor hight, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"Oh! would that all were faithful found; That still, whate'er our lot, This truth so bright for sorrow's night, Might never be forgot— E'en when our path looks lone and drear, Our Saviour's presence still is near."

E. ENGLES.