DECEPTION by J. CLARKE

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 27, 1879

DECEPTION

By J. CLARKE

THE first great error which ruined the world was deception. Eve was deceived by Satan, and fell; but the fact that she was deceived did not justify her in the least; Eden was forfeited. Satan himself began by deceiving his own soul, then he deceived the angels who fell with him: but the fact that he was deceived did not save him from the penalty of sin. Saul was blindfolded by the enemy, so that he sought the life of his young friend and ally, David; yet he was not exculpated from blame on this account.

The race is evidently very weak on this point. While we are wary, and doubtful of God and of his word, we take down the prescriptions of Satan without a murmur,—Paganism, Romanism, and almost any and every kind of doctrine but the true one. Of all the inhabitants of the world, only about one-fourth are even nominally of the Christian faith; the remainder are sincerely and almost wholly deceived. Of the nominally Christian nations, a large portion are under the Greek or Roman influence; and of those who yet remain, the infidel and the worldling claim the largest share.

Deception is the order of the day. It is found in the marts of trade and manufacture, and cheating has become a trade and a profession. If there is a trait which in itself is an element of weakness, it is the facility with which human nature allows itself to be deceived, with no signal of alarm, with no dread of punishment, with no sense of shame. We are led like birds into the fatal net; and not until the fowler takes his prey do we realize the danger of this deceptive influence; and even then, and when finally delivered, we do not fully realize it. No; the fact that he is deceived does not justify the transgressor. In the last fires of the Judgment, how many will cry out in agony, How terribly have I been deceived! Is it possible that I could have been so fearfully led astray? A proper sense of this weakness will lead us to distrust our own hearts, and will cause us to seek the constant, efficient influence of the Spirit of God, to guide us in all things,—in our meditations, our plans, our words, and our work. There is no consideration having a greater tendency to humility, watchfulness, and prayer, than this, that we may be deceived by the enemy of souls to our own ruin and the injury of others. Satan smiles when he succeeds in deceiving those who would be glad to escape his guile.

J. CLARKE.