ng and shrewdness so to
control circumstances that the message may not reach those whom he is
deceiving on that very point. The one who most needs the warning will be
urged into some business transaction which requires his presence, or will
by some other means be prevented from hearing the words that might prove
to him a savor of life unto life.

Again, Satan sees the Lord's servants burdened because of the spiritual
darkness that enshrouds the people. He hears their earnest prayers for
divine grace and power to break the spell of indifference, carelessness,
and indolence. Then with renewed zeal he plies his arts. He tempts men to
the indulgence of appetite or to some other form of self-gratification,
and thus benumbs their sensibilities, so that they fail to hear the very
things which they most need to learn.

Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the
searching of the Scriptures, will be overcome by his attacks. Therefore he
invents every possible device to engross the mind. There has ever been a
class professing godliness, who, instead of following on to know the
truth, make it their religion to seek some fault of character or error of
faith in those with whom they do not agree. Such are Satan's right-hand
helpers. Accusers of the brethren are not few; and they are always active
when God is at work, and His servants are rendering Him true homage. They
will put a false coloring upon the words and acts of those who love and
obey the truth. They will represent the most earnest, zealous,
self-denying servants of Christ as deceived or deceivers. It is their work
to misrepresent the motives of every true and noble deed, to circulate
insinuations, and arouse suspicion in the minds of the inexperienced. In
every conceivable manner they will seek to cause that which is pure and
righteous to be regarded as foul and deceptive.

But none need be deceived concerning them. It may be readily seen whose
children they are, whose example they follow, and whose work they do. "Ye
shall know them by their fruits."(915) Their course resembles that of
Satan, the envenomed slanderer, "the accuser of our brethren."(916)

The great deceiver has many agents ready to present any and every kind of
error to ensnare souls,--heresies prepared to suit the varied tastes and
capacities of those whom he would ruin. It is his plan to bring into the
church insincere, unregenerate elements that will encourage doubt and
unbelie