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TEMPTATION

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 11, 1859

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 14, No. 12.

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TEMPTATION.

By E. B. Saunders

SATAN goeth about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He knows that the sins of the saints will be heaped upon his own head, and that he will have to suffer for the iniquity he has caused. This, with the hatred he bears toward Jesus, causes him to be constantly seeking to draw the saints into sin. He is very artful for he cannot compel them to disobey against their will, but he can induce them to gratify their own carnal desires, thereby causing them to break the law of God; for the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God; then he can taunt the blessed Saviour with the crimes of his saints. He stands accusing the saints thus night and day, but praise the Lord he will soon be cast down.—Temptation is not of God, for he tempteth no man: but he maketh the wrath of man to praise him, also the wrath of Satan is made to do the same, for it tends to purify the saints and fit them for obedience in the glorious kingdom of God.
Do not despair dear tempted one, for God's people must be tried as gold in the fire, and you will come forth seven times purified. Blessed is he that endures temptation; hold on a little longer.—Jesus is coming, and then—farewell thou tempter, adieu temptation, for thy hands shall no more encompass me; thy seductions will be vain, and thy lying promises will recoil upon thine own head. We must overcome temptation by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, and perchance the Lord will give us a place with the 144000 when Jesus comes. Sore trials await us before our deliverance, but the trial of our faith will work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. When temptations assail you think of the agony of Jesus, the pierced hands and feet, the crown of thorns, the mocking and spitting, and of his pleadings with the Father for you—O think of the crown of life, the city of gold, the paradise of God and the never ending life, and say, Away thou tempter, for I will keep the commandments of my God.
E. B. SAUNDERS.