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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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by the coniluct of Elymas . » It seems there was just occasion for his resentment , for it is recorded , that Elymas was struck blind by the instrumentality of Paul ; but no argument for the existence and agency of the devil can be founded on the indignant language of the apostle . ^ Ve must now leave the history of the Acts , for these two are the only places where the word is to be found .
Overlooking the Epistles to the Romans , the first and second to the Corinthians , and the Epistle to the Galatians , in which the word does not occur , we come to Ephe s * iv . 27-The chapter concludes with exhortations to moral duties , arid to
the exercise of a Christian spirit , which cannot be too frequently impressed upon the minds of those who profess to be followers of Jesus . The connection of the verse to which I have referred is as
follows : * . Wherefore , putting away 3 ) ing , speak every man truth with his neighbour , for we are members one of another . Be ye aogry and sin not . Let not the sun go down upon your wrath , neither give placets the devil ; ' more properly rendered b y Mr . Wakefield , * nor give any room to the accuser ; 'that is , to those who were ready to speak evil of them as of evil doers . This
passage then affords no support to the popular notion of the agency of the devil . The next place to be considered is Ephes . vi . 11 . ' Put on the whole armour of God , that ye may be able to-stand against the wiles of the devil ; ' or as it is translated by Mr . Wakefield , That ye may be able to stand against the devices of the accuser . * The object of the apostle was to encourage the early Christkns to support the
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persecutions to which they were exposed , particularly under Nerd , who was emperor of liorne about the time this epistle was written £ and there earn be little doubt that Paul refers to those persons , who accused the Christians when they were brought before the tribunals
of the Roman governors * This passage therefore-must be classed with the preceding one . We have now again to pass over a considerable portion of Paul ' s writings ; his Epistle to the Philippians , to the Colossians , and the two Epistles to the Thessalonians ; for the
word does not occur till we meet with it in 1 Tim * iii * where it is used three times , ver . 6 , 7 . 1 i . Paul is describing the character of a bishop or overseer in the church
After enumerating several particulars , which shew the excellence of Christian morality , he adds , * Not a novice , lest being puffed up with pride , he fall into the condemnation of the devil / It is not
easy to affix any rational meaning to these words ; but the transla * tion of Mr . Wakefield makes them clear and intelligible . c No novice , ' that is , not one little
acquainted with the nature of his office , or unqualified for it , * lest he b « puffed up , and so fall into blame from the accuser . * So in
the following verse ; He must have a good report from them who iq without ; ' that is , who do not belong to the church ,. * lest he fall into reproach and the snares of the devil ; ' rather , * of the accuser / Ver . 11 . The word is not
used in the received English version , and the reason is obvious ; it would have been absurd , and therefore the primary sense is expressed , and this instance supports the justness of the corrected trans *
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Ohslhe Existence of the Detoil . 327
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v iv , 2 u
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1809, page 327, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1737/page/25/
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