unrestrained fallen nature, according to James 1:14, 15:  “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin:  and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”  “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mk. 7:21-23).  The dying drunkard, the fallen woman, and the suffering of the innocent are the evidences of Satan’s failure rather than the realization of his purpose.

His own terrible sin before God would not be condemned in the eyes of the world, for it is that which they most idealize and praise.  In his sin he aspired to that which is highest, and proposed to realize his ideal by his own self-sufficiency and strength.  True, he has lowered his Creator, in his own mind, to a level where he supposes himself to be in legitimate competition with Him, both for authority over other beings and for their worship.  Yet this unholy ambition and disregard for the Creator is a most commendable thing according to the standards of the Satanic order.  In the language of the world, Satan is simply “self made” and every element of his attitude toward his Creator is, as a principle of life, both commended and practiced by the world.

Though hiding himself, Satan has had the satisfaction, under limitations, of governing the affairs of men; and the delight, to a large extent, of receiving their worship.  The greatest care was taken in the law governing God’s ancient people that they should not offer their sacrifices unto devils, which was the practice of surrounding nations (Lev. 17:7; Deut. 32:17).  In violation of these special laws, Rehoboam instituted special priests for the devils (II Chron. 11:15), while the worship of devils, according to the New Testament, is to continue throughout the age:  “But this I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God:  and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils:  ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table and the table of devils” (I Cor. 10:20, 21).  “And the rest of the men that were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood:  which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk” (Rev. 9:20).

Again:  Satan’s ambition is leading him to make this age of his special opportunity as near perfect as his wisdom and power will permit.  And in this connection it may be noted that Satan’s ambition was not to become a fiend, but rather to become like the Most High.  He will, therefore, strive for all that is moral and good:  yet at the same time do all in his power to draw men from