THE DEVIL.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 729, 17 February 1877, Page 3

THE DEVIL.

Sib,— We all run down the Devil. Erom our infancy wo are taught to do this, and most of us follow our teaching in this respect, if in. no other, but. more than all is his. Satanic M^jasty abused by the clergy and those who occupy the puliit, ostensibly. for the purpose of advocating charity and forbearance ; and the language very oftan ustid, would, if. iu Biliiugßgat« , , instead of within the . Church, bi considered a very fair speciinon of viputoratipn. This is evidently done under the iinp^ession that God may be'" 'exalted,, by cursing bis enemios, 'and 1 that the terror so; eloquently ;depiot«sd will 'drive tbe Wickedly inclined i'.to^Le straight path. But this is appovUh^vfcii: a-very low ataudard of intelligencei^and-tttroiigly re "miuds us of thejold tMosaic law- which enjoined so in>a^yU6utw«rd -dig as and religious oerein6BieisV>Ova , i ;tu keep raligion literally; before^the .'.jeyes.' -.or>'iih.e> popla. '■ But, without professing any great attachment to the Devil, j; and merely with a ide'sire to give him f his duo, 'l askj are ; we , justified iu our abuse. The 1 Devil is of God's, own ereation, and is tho genius of evil, only .secondary^- io power to the Ho|y Trinity, which is all-powerful, and for good. This alone should entitle him : to more respect. ; Let the clorgy, instoad of holding the Devil over us, as * ; a: Bogey, irafcher draw tho attention of jthe multitiide- to: the power aud majVsty of (ipd, as shown in. all the wouders of nature, from the highest mountain down to the smallest ieiscctv aud put hapa m';re than all, in the oroation of ''sn.h a befng' as tlie Devil, who, although only one of God ? B creatures, exerts snch influence, over so many of us. (This will do nioie to promote thatrevorence and faith in the Almighty, which springs up in the heart of every thoughtful man, and they need fear no oprojing influence, either from the Devil or any pf his apgels.— lam/ &c.-, , ■■ A CkRiSTrAN. , [Our .ccrreapondent is .evidently 'be'-, s'pealung cousideratioQ ior himself, and coinfottatle quarters by-and-bye. -— __d. . W.T.]-