patriarchs and prophets-第119章
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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 excite passion is brought before them in exciting stories。 They hear and
read so much of debasing crime that the once tender conscience； which would
have recoiled with horror from such scenes； becomes hardened； and they dwell
upon these things with greedy interest。
Many of the amusements popular in the world today； even with those who claim
to be Christians； tend to the same end as did those of the heathen。 There
are indeed few among them that Satan does not turn to account in destroying
souls。 Through the drama he has worked for ages to excite passion and
glorify vice。 The opera； with its fascinating display and bewildering
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music； the masquerade； the dance； the card table； Satan employs to break
down the barriers of principle and open the door to sensual indulgence。 In
every gathering for pleasure where pride is fostered or appetite indulged；
where one is led to forget God and lose sight of eternal interests； there
Satan is binding his chains about the soul。
〃Keep thy heart with all diligence；〃 is the counsel of the wise man； 〃for
out of it are the issues of life。〃 Proverbs 4：23。 As man 〃thinketh in his
heart； so is he。〃 Proverbs 23：7。 The heart must be renewed by divine grace；
or it will be in vain to seek for purity of life。 He who attempts to build
up a noble； virtuous character independent of the grace of Christ is
building his house upon the shifting sand。 In the fierce storms of
temptation it will surely be overthrown。 David's prayer should be the
petition of every soul： 〃Create in me a clean heart； O God； and renew a
right spirit within me。〃 Psalm 51：10。 And having become partakers of the
heavenly gift； we are to go on unto perfection； being 〃kept by the power of
God through faith。〃 1 Peter 1：5。
Yet we have a work to do to resist temptation。 Those who would not fall a
prey to Satan's devices must guard well the avenues of the soul； they must
avoid reading； seeing； or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts。
The mind should not be left to wander at random upon every subject that the
adversary of souls may suggest。 〃Girding up the loins of your mind；〃 says
the apostle Peter； 〃Be sober； 。 。 。 not fashioning yourselves according to
your former lusts in 。 。 。 your ignorance： but like as He which called you
is holy； be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living。〃 1 Peter
1：13…15； R。V。 Says Paul； 〃Whatsoever things are true； whatsoever things are
honest； whatsoever things are just； whatsoever things are pure； whatsoever
things are lovely； whatsoever things are of good report； if there be any
virtue； and if there be any praise； think on these things。〃 Philippians 4：8。
This will require earnest prayer and unceasing watchfulness。 We must be
aided by the abiding influence of the Holy Spirit； which will attract the
mind upward； and habituate it to dwell on pure and holy things。 And we must
give diligent study to the word of God。 〃Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way？ by taking heed thereto according to Thy word。〃 〃Thy word；〃
says the psalmist； 〃have I hid in mine heart； that I might not sin against
Thee。〃 Psalm 119：9； 11。
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Israel's sin at Beth…peor brought the judgments of God upon the nation； and
though the same sins may not now be punished as speedily； they will as
surely meet retribution。 〃If any man defile the temple of God； him shall God
destroy。〃 1 Corinthians 3：17。 Nature has affixed terrible penalties to these
crimespenalties which； sooner or later； will be inflicted upon every
transgressor。 It is these sins more than any other that have caused the
fearful degeneracy of our race； and the weight of disease and misery with
which the world is cursed。 Men may succeed in concealing their transgression
from their fellow men； but they will no less surely reap the result； in
suffering； disease； imbecility； or death。 And beyond this life stands the
tribunal of the judgment； with its award of eternal penalties。 〃They which
do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God；〃 but with Satan and
evil angels shall have their part in that 〃lake of fire〃 which 〃is the
second death。〃 Galatians 5：21； Revelation 20：14。
〃The lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb； and her mouth is smoother
than oil： but her end is bitter as wormwood； sharp as a two…edged sword。〃
Proverbs 5：3； 4。 〃Remove thy way far from her； and come not nigh the door of
her house： lest thou give thine honor unto others； and thy years unto the
cruel： lest strangers be filled with thy wealth； and thy labors be in the
house of a stranger； and thou mourn at the last； when thy flesh and thy body
are consumed。〃 Verses 8…11。 〃Her house inclineth unto death。〃 〃None that go
unto her return again。〃 Proverbs 2：18； 19。 〃Her guests are in the depths of
hell。〃 Proverbs 9：18。
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Chapter 42
The Law Repeated
The Lord announced to Moses that the appointed time for the possession of
Canaan was at hand； and as the aged prophet stood upon the heights
overlooking the river Jordan and the Promised Land； he gazed with deep
interest upon the inheritance of his people。 Would it be possible that the
sentence pronounced against him for his sin at Kadesh might be revoked？ With
deep earnestness he pleaded； 〃O Lord God； Thou hast begun to show Thy
servant Thy greatness； and Thy mighty hand； for what god is there in heaven
or in earth； that can do according to Thy works； and according to Thy might？
I pray Thee； let me go over； and see the good land that is beyond Jordan；
that goodly mountain； and Lebanon。〃 Deuteronomy 3：24…27。
The answer was； 〃Let it suffice thee； speak no more unto Me of this matter。
Get thee up into the top of Pisgah； and lift up thine eyes westward； and
northward； and southward； and eastward； and behold it with thine eyes； for
thou shalt not go over this Jordan。〃
Without a murmur Moses submitted to the decree of God。 And now his great
anxiety was for Israel。 Who would feel the interest for their welfare that
he had felt？ From a full heart he poured forth the prayer； 〃Let the Lord；
the God of the spirits of all flesh； set a man over the congregation； which
may go out before them； and which may go in before them； and which may lead
them out； and which may bring them in； that the congregation of the Lord be
not as sheep which have no shepherd。〃 Numbers 27：16； 17。
The Lord hearkened to the prayer of His servant； and the answer came； 〃Take
thee Joshua； the son of Nun； a man in whom is the Spirit； and lay thine hand
upon him； and set him before Eleazar the priest； and before all the
congregation； and give him a charge in their sight。 And thou shalt put some
of thine honor upon him； that all the congregation of the people of Israel
may be obedient。〃 Verses 18…20。 Joshua had long
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attended Moses； and being a man of wisdom； ability； and faith； he was chosen
to succeed him。
Through the laying on of hands by Moses； accompanied by a most impressive
charge； Joshua was solemnl
