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judgment shall return unto righteousness。〃 When men 〃gather themselves
together against the soul of the righteous；〃 the Lord 〃 shall bring upon
them their own iniquity； and shall cut them off in their own wickedness。〃
Psalm 94：14； 15； 21； 23。
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When Balaam was called to curse the Hebrews he could not； by all his
enchantments； bring evil upon them； for the Lord had not 〃beheld iniquity in
Jacob；〃 neither had He 〃seen perverseness in Israel。〃 Numbers 23：21； 23。 But
when through yielding to temptation they transgressed God's law； their
defense departed from them。 When the people of God are faithful to His
commandments； 〃there is no enchantment against Jacob； neither is there any
divination against Israel。〃 Hence all the power and wily arts of Satan are
exerted to seduce them into sin。 If those who profess to be the depositaries
of God's law become transgressors of its precepts； they separate themselves
from God； and they will be unable to stand before their enemies。
The Israelites； who could not be overcome by the arms or by the enchantments
of Midian； fell a prey to her harlots。 Such is the power that woman；
enlisted in the service of Satan； has exerted to entrap and destroy souls。
〃She hath cast down many wounded： yea； many strong men have been slain by
her。〃 Proverbs 7：26。 It was thus that the children of Seth were seduced from
their integrity； and the holy seed became corrupt。 It was thus that Joseph
was tempted。 Thus Samson betrayed his strength； the defense of Israel； into
the hands of the Philistines。 Here David stumbled。 And Solomon； the wisest
of kings； who had thrice been called the beloved of his God； became a slave
of passion； and sacrificed his integrity to the same bewitching power。
〃Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples： and they are written
for our admonition； upon whom the ends of the world are come。 Wherefore let
him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall。〃 1 Corinthians 10：11；
12。 Satan well knows the material with which he has to deal in the human
heart。 He knowsfor he has studied with fiendish intensity for thousands of
yearsthe points most easily assailed in every character； and through
successive generations he has wrought to overthrow the strongest men；
princes in Israel； by the same temptations that were so successful at
Baalpeor。 All along through the ages there are strewn wrecks of character
that have been stranded upon the rocks of sensual indulgence。 As we approach
the close of time； as the people of God stand upon the borders of the
heavenly Canaan； Satan will； as of old； redouble his efforts to prevent them
from entering the goodly land。 He lays his snares for every soul。 It is not
the ignorant and uncultured
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merely that need to be guarded； he will prepare his temptations for those in
the highest positions； in the most holy office； if he can lead them to
pollute their souls； he can through them destroy many。 And he employs the
same agents now as he employed three thousand years ago。 By worldly
friendships； by the charms of beauty； by pleasure seeking； mirth； feasting；
or the wine cup； he tempts to the violation of the seventh commandment。
Satan seduced Israel into licentiousness before leading them to idolatry。
Those who will dishonor God's image and defile His temple in their own
persons will not scruple at any dishonor to God that will gratify the desire
of their depraved hearts。 Sensual indulgence weakens the mind and debases
the soul。 The moral and intellectual powers are benumbed and paralyzed by
the gratification of the animal propensities； and it is impossible for the
slave of passion to realize the sacred obligation of the law of God； to
appreciate the atonement； or to place a right value upon the soul。 Goodness；
purity； and truth； reverence for God； and love for sacred thingsall those
holy affections and noble desires that link men with the heavenly worldare
consumed in the fires of lust。 The soul becomes a blackened and desolate
waste； the habitation of the evil spirits； and the 〃cage of every unclean
and hateful bird。〃 Beings formed in the image of God are dragged down to a
level with the brutes。
It was by associating with idolaters and joining in their festivities that
the Hebrews were led to transgress God's law and bring His judgments upon
the nation。 So now it is by leading the followers of Christ to associate
with the ungodly and unite in their amusements that Satan is most successful
in alluring them into sin。 〃Come out from among them； and be ye separate；
saith the Lord； and touch not the unclean。〃 2 Corinthians 6：17。 God requires
of His people now as great a distinction from the world； in customs； habits；
and principles； as He required of Israel anciently。 If they faithfully
follow the teachings of His word； this distinction will exist； it cannot be
otherwise。 The warnings given to the Hebrews against assimilating with the
heathen were not more direct or explicit than are those forbidding
Christians to conform to the spirit and customs of the ungodly。 Christ
speaks to us； 〃Love not the world； neither the things that are in the world。
If any man love the world； the love of the Father is not in him。〃 1 John
2：15。 〃The friendship of the
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world is enmity with God； whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world
is the enemy of God。〃 James 4：4。 The followers of Christ are to separate
themselves from sinners； choosing their society only when there is
opportunity to do them good。 We cannot be too decided in shunning the
company of those who exert an influence to draw us away from God。 While we
pray； 〃Lead us not into temptation；〃 we are to shun temptation； so far as
possible。
It was when the Israelites were in a condition of outward ease and security
that they were led into sin。 They failed to keep God ever before them； they
neglected prayer and cherished a spirit of self…confidence。 Ease and
self…indulgence left the citadel of the soul unguarded； and debasing
thoughts found entrance。 It was the traitors within the walls that overthrew
the strongholds of principle and betrayed Israel into the power of Satan。 It
is thus that Satan still seeks to compass the ruin of the soul。 A long
preparatory process； unknown to the world； goes on in the heart before the
Christian commits open sin。 The mind does not come down at once from purity
and holiness to depravity； corruption； and crime。 It takes time to degrade
those formed in the image of God to the brutal or the satanic。 By beholding
we become changed。 By the indulgence of impure thoughts man can so educate
his mind that sin which he once loathed will become pleasant to him。
Satan is using every means to make crime and debasing vice popular。 We
cannot walk the streets of our cities without encountering flaring notices
of crime presented in some novel； or to be acted at some theater。 The mind
is educated to familiarity with sin。 The course pursued by the base and vile
is kept before the people in the periodicals of the day； and everything that
can exc