n his seed and her seed, he knew that his efforts to
deprave human nature would be interrupted; that by some means man was to
be enabled to resist his power.

Satan's enmity against the human race is kindled, because, through Christ,
they are the objects of God's love and mercy. He desires to thwart the
divine plan for man's redemption, to cast dishonor upon God, by defacing
and defiling His handiwork; he would cause grief in heaven, and fill the
earth with woe and desolation. And he points to all this evil as the
result of God's work in creating man.

It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul which creates in man
enmity against Satan. Without this converting grace and renewing power,
man would continue the captive of Satan, a servant ever ready to do his
bidding. But the new principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto
had been peace. The power which Christ imparts, enables man to resist the
tyrant and usurper. Whoever is seen to abhor sin instead of loving it,
whoever resists and conquers those passions that have held sway within,
displays the operation of a principle wholly from above.

The antagonism that exists between the spirit of Christ and the spirit of
Satan was most strikingly displayed in the world's reception of Jesus. It
was not so much because He appeared without worldly wealth, pomp, or
grandeur, that the Jews were led to reject Him. They saw that He possessed
power which would more than compensate for the lack of these outward
advantages. But the purity and holiness of Christ called forth against Him
the hatred of the ungodly. His life of self-denial and sinless devotion
was a perpetual reproof to a proud, sensual people. It was this that
evoked enmity against the Son of God. Satan and evil angels joined with
evil men. All the energies of apostasy conspired against the Champion of
truth.

The same enmity is manifested toward Christ's followers as was manifested
toward their Master. Whoever sees the repulsive character of sin, and in
strength from above resists temptation, will assuredly arouse the wrath of
Satan and his subjects. Hatred of the pure principles of truth, and
reproach and persecution of its advocates, will exist as long as sin and
sinners remain. The followers of Christ and the servants of Satan cannot
harmonize. The offense of the cross has not ceased. "All that will live
godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."(892)

Satan's agents are constantly working under