sted
in our serving God in any sphere whatever, but he hopes that if he can
induce us to choose the lower now, he may be able later on still
further to lower our ideals, and so in the end induce us to reject the
divine will in some matter that belongs to the precepts of God's law.
With this hope he even strives earnestly to induce us to do a good
thing in order to dissuade us from choosing that which is better.

So while it is entirely true, as we said above, that the rejection of a
counsel is never, in itself, sinful, yet there is great peril always in
refusing the known will of God, even when He does not {15} bind us to
that will under the penalty of sin. The soul that truly loves is ever
alert to perform the entire will of the beloved.

"The noble love of Jesus forceth man to work great things, and stirreth
him up always to desire the most perfect. Love wills to be aloft and
will not be kept down by any lesser thing."[21]

[1] St. Matt. x, 34.

[2] Exod. xxxii, 18.

[3] Rev. ii and iii.

[4] 1 Pet. ii, 11.

[5] Rom. vii, 23.

[6] Eph. vi, 11. See also Rom. xiii, 12; 2 Cor. vi, 7, and 1 Thes. v,
8.

[7] 1 Tim. i, 18.

[8] 1 Tim. vi, 12.

[9] 2 Tim. ii, 3.

[10] 2 Tim. iv, 7.

[11] See Pusey, _Parochial Sermons_, Vol. II, pp. 113-114.

[12] 1 Cor. x, 13.

[13] 2 St. Pet. iii, 9.

[14] Eccles. viii, 8.

[15] Eph. v, 30.

[16] 1 Cor. ii, 16.

[17] Gen. xxii, 1.

[18] 1 Cor. x, 13.

[19] St. James i, 13.

[20] Jer. v, 31.

[21] _Imitation_, III, v. (Bigg's Trans.)

{16}

CHAPTER II

THE TEMPTER: HIS HISTORY AND NATURE

I. _Satan's Fall and its Effects_

We have already reminded ourselves that it is as important to
understand somewhat of the enemy's force and resources as it is to have
our own equipment and training complete. Let us therefore consider the
adversary, for next to the unceasing recollection of the presence,
power, and goodness of God, the most necessary thing for the Christian
soldier is the recollection of the presence and character of the enemy.
Vigilance in maintaining this recollection is what the Apostle solemnly
commands.[1]

We cannot speak with theological exactness of the cause and occasion of
the fall of Satan and his rebel host, for God has revealed but little
concerning it; but when we compare Scripture with Scripture, it seems
inevitable that the sin of Satan was one of pride, and, very probably,
{17} its particular form was a desire