veting the honor which the infinite Father had bestowed
upon His Son, this prince of angels aspired to power which it was the
prerogative of Christ alone to wield.

All heaven had rejoiced to reflect the Creator's glory and to show forth
His praise. And while God was thus honored, all had been peace and
gladness. But a note of discord now marred the celestial harmonies. The
service and exaltation of self, contrary to the Creator's plan, awakened
forebodings of evil in minds to whom God's glory was supreme. The heavenly
councils pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him the
greatness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the sacred,
unchanging nature of His law. God Himself had established the order of
heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker, and
bring ruin upon himself. But the warning, given in infinite love and
mercy, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed jealousy of
Christ to prevail, and he became the more determined.

Pride in his own glory nourished the desire for supremacy. The high honors
conferred upon Lucifer were not appreciated as the gift of God, and called
forth no gratitude to the Creator. He gloried in his brightness and
exaltation, and aspired to be equal with God. He was beloved and
reverenced by the heavenly host. Angels delighted to execute his commands,
and he was clothed with wisdom and glory above them all. Yet the Son of
God was the acknowledged Sovereign of heaven, one in power and authority
with the Father. In all the counsels of God, Christ was a participant,
while Lucifer was not permitted thus to enter into the divine purposes.
"Why," questioned this mighty angel, "should Christ have the supremacy?
Why is He thus honored above Lucifer?"

Leaving his place in the immediate presence of God, Lucifer went forth to
diffuse the spirit of discontent among the angels. Working with mysterious
secrecy, and for a time concealing his real purpose under an appearance of
reverence for God, he endeavored to excite dissatisfaction concerning the
laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating that they imposed an
unnecessary restraint. Since their natures were holy, he urged that the
angels should obey the dictates of their own will. He sought to create
sympathy for himself, by representing that God had dealt unjustly with him
in bestowing supreme honor upon Christ. He claimed that in aspiring to
greater power and honor he was not aiming