The Warning by Jos. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 10, 1874

The Warning.

By Jos. Clarke

“WHEN the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” Matt. 12: 43-45; Luke 11: 24–26.

When the sinner or the backslider is brought to repentance, and his heart is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and light is diffused in the heart, then is the very time for watchfulness and prayer, that God, by his Spirit, may take full possession; for, no doubt, Satan will make great efforts to retake the citadel which he has lost; and he will with greatly increased force make war upon that soul so rescued from his grasp, and should he do this, and succeed in retaking his prey, the last state of that man is more hopeless than at first.

Let us beware of backsliding and apostasy; beware of indifference and lukewarmness. No time is of more importance than that following great religious awakening, when the Spirit has been striving, and the soul has been aroused, and the character has been partially changed, evil habits laid aside, and the carnal nature partially subdued, or for the time wholly reformed.

Satan, who for thousands of years has deceived our race, knows when and where to strike; he knows how to avail himself of the natural reaction of the carnal man; and if just then the soul is off its guard, or is careless and secure, great evil may ensue, and shipwreck may occur to the waning soul; the seven spirits may now enter, and hold their ground. Be sure then to pre-occupy the ground. Let the Spirit of God occupy the whole soul and mind. JOS. CLARKE.