August 7

“Satan hindered us.” — 1 Thessalonians ii. 18.

ONCE the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience, that Satan hinders us. From all points of the compass, all along the line of battle, in the vanguard and in the rear, at the dawn of day and in the midnight hour, Satan hinders us. If we toil in the field, he seeks to break the ploughshare; if we build the wall, he labors to cast down the stones; if we would serve God in sufi“ering or in conflict, everywhere Satan hinders us. He hinders us when we are first coming to Jesus Christ. Fierce conflicts we had with Satan when we first looked to the cross and lived. Now that we are saved, he endeavors to hinder the completeness of our personal character. You may be congratulating yourself,” I have hitherto walked consistently; no man can challenge my integrity.” Keware of boasting, for your virtue will yet be tried; Satan will direct his engines against that very virtue for which you are the most famous. If you have been hitherto a firm believer, your faith will ere lonp, be attacked; if you have been meek as Moses, expect to Ve tempted to speak unadvisedly with your lips. The birds wvU peck at your ripest fruit, and the wild boar will dash his visks at your choicest vines. Satan ia sure to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer. He checks our importunity, acd wfpa!«eas our faith, in order that, if possible, we may miss the Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing Christian efi”orv There was never a revival of religion without a revival ol his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labor, Sanballat and Tobiah are stirred up to hinder tkm. Whai then? We are not alarmed because Satan hindereth us, it is a proof that we are on the Lord’s side, ani are doing tnc Lord’s work, and in His strength we shall win the and triumph over our adversary.