THE DEVIL'S VANTAGE GROUND.
By L. A. CARTWRIGHT
Conversing lately with a person of mature years who never had made a profession of religion, he excused himself by saying that he never would profess religion till he could live it. He went to meeting steady, and heard professors tell how they were determined to live. But they did not do it. Some would shave every penny and take all the advantage they could within the limits of the law. And most every one had rather go to a place of amusement than to a prayer-meeting. He had lost confidence. Those who were so anxious about his soul in the revival, did not seem to care in the least about it now; for now they invited him to play instead of praying. And if they could not live religion it was no use for him to try. “You are all on the devil’s vantage ground,” The interview closed with an effort to make him feel his own accountability and an appeal to the perfect example of Christ. But sad and bitter was the reflection, and painfully true, that every inconsistent professor of religion is on “the devil’s vantage ground.” One stumbles here, and another there; and Satan uses them to keep souls away from the Saviour. The world has keen eyes of observation, and when the church leans on its arm, it knows that her heart is not with Christ. And not the world alone feels the dire influence, but professors of religion lose confidence in each other, and begin to excuse themselves by what their neighbors do, till the most solemn truths fall on incredulous ears, and the cause of the Redeemer is wounded in the house of his friends. Shall this be so? May the Lord help us all to be careful to depart from iniquity; and not to lay a stumbling-block in the way of any.