1746
THAT THE DEVIL CAN CITE SCRIPTURE FOR HIS PURPOSE
by Jonathan Edwards
Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
That the Devil Can Cite Scripture for His Purpose
IT is no sign that religious affections are truly holy and
spiritual, or that they are not, that they come with texts of
Scripture, remarkably brought to the mind.
What evidence is there that the devil cannot bring texts of
Scripture to the mind, and misapply them to deceive persons? There
seems to be nothing in this which exceeds the power of Satan. It is
no work of such mighty power, to bring sounds or letters to
persons' minds, that we have any reason to suppose nothing short of
Omnipotence can be sufficient for it. If Satan has power to bring
any words or sounds at all to persons' minds, he may have power to
bring words contained in the Bible. There is no higher sort of
power required in men, to make the sounds which express the words
of a text of Scripture than to make the sounds which express the
words of an idle story or song. And so the same power in Satan,
which is sufficient to renew one of those kinds of sounds in the
mind, is sufficient to renew the other: the different
signification, which depends wholly on custom, alters not the case,
as to ability to make or revive the sounds or letters. Or will any
suppose, that texts or Scriptures are such sacred things, that the
devil durst not abuse them, nor touch them? In this also they are
mistaken. He who was bold enough to lay hold on Christ himself, and
carry him hither and thither, into the wilderness, and into a high
mountain, and to a pinnacle of the temple, is not afraid to touch
the Scripture, and abuse that for his own purpose; as he showed at
the same time that he was so bold with Christ, he then brought one
Scripture and another, to deceive and tempt him. And if Satan did
presume, and was permitted to put Christ himself in mind of texts
of Scripture to tempt him, what reason have we to determine that he
dare not, or will not be permitted, to put wicked men in the mind
of texts of Scripture, to tempt and deceive them? And if Satan may
thus abuse one text of Scripture, so he may another. Its being a
very excellent place of Scripture, a comfortable and precious
promise, alters not the case, as to his courage or ability. And if
he can bring one comfortable text to the mind, so he may a
thousand; and may choose out such Scriptures as tend most to serve
his purpose; and may heap up Scripture promises, tending, according
to the perverse application he makes of them, wonderfully to remove
the rising doubts, and to confirm the false joy and confidence of
a poor deluded sinner.
We know the devil's instruments, corrupt and heretical
teachers, can and do pervert the Scripture, to their own and
others' damnation (II. Pet. iii. 16). We see they have the free use
of Scripture, in every part of it; there is no text so precious and
sacred, but they are permitted to abuse it, to the eternal ruin of
multitudes of souls; and there are no weapons they make use of with
which they do more execution. And there is no manner of reason to
determine, that the devil is not permitted thus to use the
Scripture, as well as his instruments. For when the latter do it,
they do it as his instruments and servants, and through his
instigation and influence; and doubtless he does the same he
instigates others to do; the devil's servants do but follow their
master, and do the same work that he does himself.
And as the devil can abuse the Scripture, to deceive and
destroy men, so may men's own folly and corruptions as well. The
sin which is in men, acts like its father. Men's own hearts are
deceitful like the devil, and use the same means to deceive.
So that it is evident, that any person may have high
affections of hope and joy, arising on occasion of texts of
Scripture, yea, precious promises of Scripture coming suddenly and
remarkably to their minds, as though they, were spoken to them,
yea, a great multitude of such texts, following one another in a
wonderful manner; and yet all this be no argument that these
affections are divine, or that they are any other than the effects
of Satan's delusions.
The End
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