him to the marrow； sins overtake and conquer him； voices mock him from the gloom。 They bid him look back to the warm world he left upon his foolish quest to find a star whither no path leads that mortal can follow。 They point to the bones of those who have fallen by the way。 They whisper that his error lies in not taking what he may have while there is still time； since soon he must go empty to the sleep which knows no waking。 Poor fare； perhaps； they say； yet better than feeding upon wind and bedewing the altar of a heedless or non…existent God with repentant tears because of half…imaginary sins begotten by a nature the sinner did not shape。
What traveller of the sort is there who has not been thrown back upon his thorny journey by such thoughts as these？ Or perhaps some hideous and cruel loss has caused him to doubt whether； after all； any Power does exist that knows the name of pity or can thrill with the glow of love。 Or the shock may take other forms。 He may find that those whom he thought to be inspired from on high with goodness are merely stupid； that they avoid conspicuous and open error because their slow natures are shut to temptations of the larger sort； though they breed a growth of petty mischiefs not textually named among the Ten mandments and therefore； say they； of no account。 Or that some friend whom he respects and has leant on； perhaps a clergyman of standing； after all believes in little； and though he practises its forms has reduced Christianity to the level of high and pure philosophy enunciated by an unfortunate； self…denying young Jew of genius with whom the established Church of the period very well knew how to deal。 Or it may be a brilliant but materialistic book that he chances on； wherein he finds all the points upon which he has been accustomed to rely very cleverly attacked。 Or some great doctor may disturb him by showing forth the origin of all such aspirations as those of faith written in the human nerves and brain。 Or； to take only one more example； he may after all find it impossible to reconcile the fact of the existence of a good and merciful God with the state of affairs he sees existing in this world。 A mon and effective trap； this； for generous and hasty minds。
I think that I have fallen over all these stumbling…blocks； and others； in the course of my life； which has set me wondering why they should be so many。 At length； after long pondering； I have ansy own satisfaction； though probably enough the reply which suffices me will make some readers smile。 It is simple； five words cover it。 “The Devil put them there。”
Yes； I have e back to a belief in the old scriptural Satan； now so generally discarded； though be it remembered that our Lord was perfectly definite on the point of his existence — so definite； indeed； that it is scarcely logical to believe in the one without believing in the other。 Fear not those who kill the body and then have done all that they can do； but fear him who after death has power to cast into Gehenna； He says； and many like things that cannot be misread。
Whoso considers the world and the horrible things that happen here； things to wring tears from the eyes； yes； and blood from every honest heart that can understand； must feel that for some reason which is hidden from us it exists under a dual government — that of the divine Power of Good； which we know as God； and that of the infernal Power of Ill； which we call Evil and personify as the Devil or Satan。 I will take one instance from a multitude： it will serve as a type of what I mean — the presence amongst us of the hideous traffic in souls and bodies； worse by far than that of the man…sellers of all ages； known as the White Slave trade； which； I may add； is another stumbling…block to faith for us who cannot see an inch before out feet and guess not the end thereof。 It is obvious — I say it with all reverence — that the Holy One； and Christ who is a part of Him； would not permit such an ineffable horror to exist if it could be ended with a blow。 Therefore reason； which after all is； I presume； some guide and index to the causes and parative values of such phenomena as we can apprehend； teaches us that it and all abominations of the sort must have their spring in the workings of a rival Strength whose delight is in misery； the breath of whose nostrils is human and perhaps superhuman shame and ruin； whose shield is fraud； whose wine is tears； whose armour is the flesh and its fierce lusts； and whose sword is death。
For a while to this fiend are given a throne upon the world and dominion over the hearts of men； and strait； strait is the gate whereby we can escape from his defended kingdom。 He it is who — knowing the priceless worth of each human soul； that； if it can win redemption from his befouling； murderous hand； may； we are told； grow to be a judge of angels and as great or greater than are those Flames of Fire； the Ministers of God our Father — busies himself by night and day； from childhood to the grave； in setting snares in the narrow path to catch the feet of men and drag them down to doom。
Such at least is an article of my creed。 Nor； now that I have reached to it； can I find therein any point of difference between it and what the Saviour taught。 There was a time； indeed； when I did not credit the existence of an embodied evil。 To…day I have learned otherwise。 For in truth all these avenues of experience； search and thought； after many circuitous journeyings and expeditions into nothingness； have just led me back to the eternal verities that I was taught at my mother’s knee； at some of which； such as the efficacy of prayer （though through it all； from habit or from hope； I never ceased to pray） and the actual existence of this our Arch…Enemy； to my shame be it said； I was wont to shrug my shoulders； if not to scoff。 Yes； these wings of prayer which once I thought as fanciful as those of angels in the cottage pictures； have borne me to a frail pinnacle of the temple of my trembling soul； whence at times； very faint and far away； across the gulf of our mortality； I seem to catch some glimpse of the Holy Mount and of the veiled and throbbing Glory that broods thereon。 A vain fancy of the striving heart； the reader will perhaps declare； and it may be so； though I pray that it is not。
There would seem also to be some external evidence which goes to support the doctrine of the continuance of the personality beyond the changes of death。 Spiritualism I do not include； since although many people； some of them of great intellect and high character； believe in it； and I know well that whatever it may be it is not all fraud； however much it may be mixed with fraud； I am by no means satisfied as to the real origin of its phenomena。 Without expressing any definite opinion； at times I incline to the view that it also is but a device of the Devil； by specious apparitions and the exhibition of an uncanny knowledge which may be one of his attributes； to lead heart…sick mortals into regions they were not meant to travel and there infect them with the microbe of some alien； unknown sin。
On one point； however； I am clear。 Whether or no it is lawful for trained and scientific minds to enter on these dangerous investigations in the interests of a search for some truth which it may be intended； in the fulness of time shall be revealed for the guidance and benefit of the world； the majority of men and women； especially if they be young； will do well to leave them quite alone。 The risks are too many； and the fruits of such research； however golden they may seem； are apt to be unsatisfying； if not deadly。 The parable of Eve and the forbidden apple of the Tree of Knowledge； from the eating of which came death and sorrow； still has applications in these latter days。 Once I tried to point this moral in a tale I wrote which is named “Stella Fregelius。”
Nor can we rely too much upon the revelations of such seers as Swedenborg； for these may be and doubtless often are self…deceived or the victims of hallucinations。 In short； of all such matters and dogmas； if so they may be called； including that of theosophy which its interesting and gigantic dreams reported to emanate from the teaching of “Masters” whose address it seems impossible to discover； it may be said that； like that of reincarnation； they are superfluous。 The Christian can afford to wait to learn the truth of them — or perhaps their fallacy。
We tread on firmer ground when we consider that as far back as history shows her light； and beyond it as the graves of primitive peoples prove； the almost universal instinct of mankind was to believe that death is but a gate of other forms of continued and individual Life。 I know of no instinct which haunts breathing creatures that is uselessly given without purpose； and does not serve some necessary or protective object or reflect some existent truth。 Why； then； among them all should this rooted conviction that physical decease is not the end of man be but a vain thing fondly imagined？ Such a conclusion seems inconsistent； even unnatural and absurd。 But if our faith is strong enough to enable us to accept Christ’s teaching； again what need is there for us to seek support in instincts which it is possible we do not understand aright？
To one fact； corroborative in its nature； I think； however； weight should be given； that of the fatherhood of God； displayed towards those of His children who seek； or who in His foresight He knows； in some other day or place； will seek the fort and protection of His love。 How any reflecting man who has led a full and adventurous life can doubt the present； living power of that fatherhood passes my understanding！ Certainly I cannot。 When we rode the wild horses of our youthful sins； the red blood coursing through our veins like wine； who was it that seized the reins and again and yet again delivered us from the last disaster？ Who was it that has so often protected us from the results of our own self…willed folly and even turned it to our advantage？ Who that by His gift of a higher hope has stilled the raging agony of our griefs？ Who that by the unexpected answers springing at us from the Bible’s written page or with some word spoken； apparently at hazard； by one of His servants upon earth； has remov