Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 139

12. What does Christ say of those who are persecuted for righteousness'

sake?

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Matt.

5:10-12. See Rev. 2:10; 6:9-11.

"In the furnace G.o.d may prove thee, Thence to bring thee forth more bright; But He can never cease to love thee; Thou art precious in His sight: G.o.d is with thee,- G.o.d, thine everlasting light."

13. What divine precepts received and obeyed would do way with all oppression and persecution?

"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matt. 22:39. "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

Matt. 7:12.

14. What does love not do?

"_Love worketh no ill to his neighbor_: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Rom. 13:10.

The Bigot's Creed

Believe as I believe-no more, no less; That I am right, and no one else, confess; Feel as I feel, think only as I think; Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink; Look as I look, do always as I do; And, only then, I'll fellows.h.i.+p with you.

That I am right, and always right, I know, Because my own convictions tell me so; And to be right is simply this: to be Entirely and in all respects like me.

To deviate a jot, or to begin To question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin.

Let sink the drowning man, if he'll not swim Upon the plank that I throw out to him; Let starve the famis.h.i.+ng, if he'll not eat My kind and quant.i.ty of bread and meat; Let freeze the naked, too, if he'll not be Supplied with garments such as made for me.

'Twere better that the sick should die than live, Unless they take the medicine I give; 'Twere better sinners perish than refuse To be conformed to my peculiar views; 'Twere better that the world stood still than move In any way that I do not approve.

PART XI. LIFE ONLY IN CHRIST

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Open Grave At Hanover, Germany. "This grave, purchased for eternity, must never be opened."-German Princess. See page 515.

Origin, History, And Destiny Of Satan

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Temptation. "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!" Isa. 14:12.

1. Have any others than the human family sinned?

"G.o.d spared not _the angels that sinned_, but cast them down to h.e.l.l, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." 2 Peter 2:4.

2. What is the name of the one who led the angels to sin?

"Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for _the devil_ and his angels." Matt. 25:41.

3. By what other names is he known?

"And the great _dragon_ was cast out, that old _serpent_, called the Devil, and _Satan_, which deceiveth the whole world." Rev. 12:9. See also Isa. 14:12, where he is called "Lucifer."

4. What was Satan's condition when created?

"_Thou wast perfect_ in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." Eze. 28:15.

5. What description is given of him by the prophet Ezekiel?

"Thus saith the Lord G.o.d; _Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty_. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of G.o.d; every precious stone was thy covering, ... the workmans.h.i.+p of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of G.o.d; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." Verses 12-14.

NOTE.-From this it is evident that Satan was a high and exalted angel before he fell, a masterpiece of wisdom and beauty. From the reference to his "tabrets" and "pipes" it seems probable that he was chorister of heaven, and led the angelic host in song. In the earthly sanctuary the cherubim overshadowed the mercy-seat. Ex.

25:16-22; Heb. 9:3-5; Ps. 99:1.

6. What unholy, ambitious spirit took possession of Satan, and led to his fall?

"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of G.o.d: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High." Isa. 14:13, 14.

7. Did pride also contribute to his fall?

"_Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty_, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy _brightness_." Eze. 28:17.

8. What does Solomon say precedes destruction and a fall?

"_Pride_ goeth before destruction, and _an haughty spirit_ before a fall."

Prov. 16:18.

9. How does the prophet Isaiah describe Satan's fall?

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" Isa. 14:12.

10. Why was Satan cast from his high position?

"By the mult.i.tude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, _and thou hast sinned_: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of G.o.d: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire." Eze. 28:16.