Consider, first, that to the devil is ascribed by God Himself the agency of man's apostasy from his Creator. The serpent is said to have 'beguiled" our first mother by his subtlety. Is he less subtle now? And is he likely to be less successful when he has to deal, not with unfallen, but with sinful men? If by his craft he was victorious when he approached the ' image of God' in the creature, shall he not with even less artifice prevail against those in whom, when he comes, instead of finding 'nothing,'he finds his own likeness?
For what is holiness but likeness to God, and what is sin if not 'of the devil' ? How great the peril, then, of that heart which sleeps in security, and, through ignorance or disbelief in his personal influence, watches not for the footfall of the tempter! Hence that Divine precept to the Church, ' Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.'
Again, Holy Scripture plainly teaches that Satan comes to harass and perplex where he knows he cannot destroy. Did he expect, for instance, to prevail when he met the sinless Son of Man in the wilderness? Had he forgotten that terrible sentence which at the beginning was spoken to him by Jehovah Himself, who then put it into that very Bible, 'It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel'? No, however, while he knew that he could not bruise the Head in the head, yet he knew it was granted him to attack the Blessed One as being a partaker of 'the flesh and blood ' of the children.'' He could not destroy; he would therefore 'afflict' the Righteous One! So, is it still with 'the brethren.' Satan full well is aware of their security and final triumph in Christ, as the redeemed of His blood and the subjects of the indwelling Holy Spirit; he will therefore inject the poison of doubt and fear into their souls.
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