whatever cost of trial and suffering to Himself. Christ and Satan both knew that the acceptance of this alluring offer would frustrate the plan of redemption which had brought the Lord from heaven to earth.

The sacrifice must be a perfect one, without one instance of weakness or yielding to the temptations of the evil one.

Although Satan is the "god" and "prince" of this world, and "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2), his rule is not for the betterment of his kingdom or the benefit of his subjects. Of his work on the earth we read, "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8.

Satan is a hard master, a cruel ruler in his own kingdom. He holds out flattering inducements to all

"Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with

truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness."

who will accept him. As he did to the Saviour, he offers the good things of this world to those who will receive and acknowledge him. He offers to give man his own way and a good time; but when the bargain is made, it becomes a bondage and servitude of the most cruel nature.

And as though the evil workings of Satan through the generations of the past did not exhibit enough of cruelty and malignity, he goads himself into a fury as he nears the end of the history of this world. Of this time the apostle John writes, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Rev. 12: 12.

Satan's assistants in all this warfare are the angels who joined with him in rebellion against the government of God and were cast out of heaven with him. "They are leagued together for

the dishonor of God and the de

struction of men.

United with Satan in his rebellion, and with him cast out from heaven, they have, through all succeeding ages, co-operated with him in his warfare against the divine authority. We are told in Scripture of their confederacy and government, of their various orders, of their intelligence and subtilty, and of their malicious designs against the peace and happiness of men."

Against all these Paul warns us as follows: "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6: 11, 12.

This warfare is not merely against the rulers of this world, but against the darkness of this world. In the days of Paul the soldier went forth to battle protected by armor which would turn aside the crude weapons then in use.

He likens the protection which the Christian may employ to the different parts of the soldier's armor.

In the language of another, "The power and malice of Satan and his host might justly alarm us, were it not that we may find shelter and deliverance in

"We carefully secure our houses with bolts and locks to protect our property."

the superior power of

our Redeemer. We carefully secure our houses with bolts and locks to protect our property and our lives from evil men; but we seldom think of the evil angels who are constantly seeking access to us, and against whose attacks we have, in our own strength, no method of defense. If permitted, they can distract our minds, disorder, torment our bodies, destroy our possessions and our lives. Their only delight is in misery and destruction. Fearful is the condition of those who resist the divine claims,

and yield to Satan's temptations, until God gives them up to the control of evil spirits. But those who follow Christ are ever safe under His watchcare. Angels that excel in strength are sent from heaven to protect them. The wicked one cannot break through the guard which God has stationed about His people."-Great Controversy, p. 517.

Of the work of evil angels the following quotation

To

POWER OF EVIL ANGELS.

"We are accustomed to place too low an estimate on the majesty and power of Satan and his angels, making them like unto ourselves, or even lower. This

is wrong. We naturally stand in awe of the mighty men of earth, such as a great king or a mighty warrior, but what are they compared with the devil and his angels? These are the

enemies with whom we have to contend; so we ought to be acquainted with their character, and thus be better prepared to

resist them.

is to the point: "Old-Testament history presents oc-
casional mention of their existence and agency; but
it was during the time when
Christ was upon the earth that
evil spirits manifested their
power in the most striking man-
ner. Christ had come to enter
upon the plan devised for man's
redemption, and Satan deter-
mined to assert his right to con-
trol the world. He had suc-
ceeded in establishing idolatry
in every part of the earth ex-
cept the land of Palestine.
the only land that had not fully
yielded to the tempter's sway,
Christ came to shed upon the
people the light of heaven.
Here two rival powers claimed
supremacy. Jesus was stretch-
ing out His arms of love, invit-
ing all who would to find par-
don and peace in Him. The
hosts of darkness saw that they
did not possess unlimited con-
trol, and they understood that if
Christ's mission should be suc-
cessful, their rule was soon to
end. Satan raged like a chained
lion, and defiantly exhibited his
power over the bodies as well
as the souls of men.

"The fact that men have

"But, mighty as are the fallen angels, the angels who remained faithful to God are more mighty still, for they have all the power of heaven on their side. The psalmist says of these angels that they 'excel in strength.' Ps. 103:20. They are our helpers, our defenders against the powers of darkness. If we trust

in God, and are faithful to the trust He has committed to us, we need not fear. For, says Paul, "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus."-Ministration of Angels, pp. 63, 64.