Temptation No. 4

The Nature of Temptations Peculiar to the Sanctified

Temptations and vile imaginations will be presented to the mind of the purest soul, but they are repelled and resisted "steadfast in the faith." They can lodge and remain there only at the consent of the will.

With the sanctified soul, temptation takes place at that point where "resistance as a means of preserving integrity first becomes necessary." This point is generally at that juncture where something is presented, through the medium of the senses, especially adapted to gratify some natural appetite or apparent human need, as in the case with Mother eve, or Jesus. The satisfying that appetite "within certain limitations fixed by the law of God is sinless," but the moment that resistance becomes necessary in order to preserve innocence and fidelity, then that same fixed law forbids the thing presented, and to yield in desire, or action is to transgress.

Satan has to change his tactics on truly sanctified souls. Formerly he came and found that within, which he could lay claim to, but now "he cometh" and findeth "nothing." As a rule he does not, on approaching a clean soul, propose some sinful act, for he well knows that such are wide awake, and would detect in a moment his cloven foot. There is nothing within to which any solicitation or provocation from without can appeal.

"Desire to sin is not essential to temptation. The dominion and desire to sin is removed in regeneration, and ability is given the regenerate soul to live without sin, although there are weak places in the character not wholly remedied in regeneration, and the devil works through the carnal nature on these weak points. Entire sanctification, the climax of Christian character, removes the tendency to sin, by destroying carnality, the prolific source of all actual sin; and right here is seen the difference between the liability to sin, and the power to sin.

"An individual may have power to do a thing that he is not liable to do. For instance he has the power to become a drunkard, and yet, having never created an artificial appetite for strong drink he is not liable to become one, and the probabilities are he will never become a drunkard, however often or severely he may be tempted to become one; and so on other lines."

It is incorrect to say that regenerated souls have carnal desires. They are conscious of indwelling tendencies, but these can only hatch out into desires at the consent of the will (or intention) which is in full harmony with God as long as grace predominates. It is likewise incorrect to say that sanctified souls have involuntary desires to "seek gratification in forbidden objects." There is no such a thing as involuntary desires. There may be and are involuntary carnal principles within all unsanctified hearts, but they never become desires, until they first receive the endorsement of the will and in that moment they become sin and incur guilt.

Well then, if there are no voluntary or involuntary desires and responses that can be appealed to under certain provocations and circumstances, where does the link break between a state of holiness and depravity We believe it is at the point where the soul through incessant pressure weakens, and yields in spirit to discouragement and unbelief. Of course carnality is a unit and when one principle enters, they all do, but the point where souls must first weaken to become carnal, is at that point wt ere they first dishonor and let their confidence weaken in God. And they always do this before they yield on any other point.

Now, as we have intimated, clean souls are so poised in God, that Satan knows better than attempt to get them to yield to some outward sinful act, seeing there is no corresponding tendency within that can be appealed to. Hence, he must work through some physical or unsuspected channel. True, he will batter against the outside, and suggest outlandish things, such as the person was never guilty of, even while entirely void of grace. Ho does this, not with the hope of their yielding but to torment and accuse them. He would not be a devil if he did not do so.

He is likened in the Scriptures unto three things, viz.: "a roaring lion," "an angel of light," and an "accuser of the brethren." As a roaring lion he frightens and devours more souls than in any other way. When he fails here, he often succeeds as an angel of light, in deceiving and switching off into some delusive idea or impression. This is his most successful scheme on ministers and such as are capable of doing the most damning work in spreading error.

But when he fails here, either to get the sanctified soul to compromise and become more mild and tame, or switched off enough so as to hurt his influence and usefulness, - then he sets in for a life-long siege to accuse, perplex and bring to bear against that soul all the infernal pressure of hell.

The temptations peculiar to the sanctified are more fiery and diabolical, but of shorter duration than against other souls. Seeing there is nothing within, as in the unsanctified that will consider for a moment a plausible suggestion (not strictly to the honor and glory of God,) therefore whatever the devil desires to accomplish, he must do so quickly, he himself being at the head of a trained force.

Another kind of temptation peculiar to the sanctified is that of magnifying their faults. They are not perfect in judgment or wisdom, but in love and obedience. They are not faultless even though God said they should "be preserved blameless." Often those who are envious, expect more of them than God Almighty does, and more than they pretend to profess. Sometimes they do things they are very sorry for, such as a hasty transaction, an unthoughted statement, zeal that drove some seemingly honest soul away, or something else that was not the very best thing to do or say under the circumstances.

Upon reviewing it, the Spirit magnifies and makes it look serious indeed, for their good in the future. Now Satan, who has been eagerly watching every move, takes advantage of the reproof of the Spirit and comes in like a flood, and causes them to feel the more deeply mortified and humiliated for the time being. Perhaps someone will add fuel to the fire by reviewing and telling some new discouraging, unbelieving feature about the thing.

At such seasons Satan takes a special fiendish delight in shouting and sneering in the face of the already humbled and chastened soul. He is pleased if such will look at it from one of two standpoints: either mourn over it and become despondent, rather than believe God to yet overrule it for the best, and perhaps get glory out of it, or on the other hand, rather than quickly and humbly make acknowledgements, become reckless and independent about it. Right along here is where more than one have lost their bold upon God and become carnal again.

Another point at which Satan is well pleased, is when he sees a sanctified man or woman pressed down with cares and responsibilities -even though they pertain to the salvation of souls and the spread of the gospel. If he sees, that in spite of all he or carnal men can do, a soul is determined to keep clean and balanced, so as to be used of God in the saying of souls and leading others into the experience of holiness, then be will be pleased if that soul will do one of two things: through injudicious exposure and zeal for the lost, overwork, until his health is impaired and perhaps he enters a premature grave; or if he is able to continue and become more aggressive and irresistible as the years go by, then Satan will be pleased if, through the many urgent calls, the press of work and increase of expenses, his mind becomes overburdened, so that much of his time in secret prayer is spent in pleading for the removal of obstacles and encumbrances to the work, rather than getting new sermons, new revelations of the Scriptures, and renewed unction to press on, and make soul saying the all and only aim in life. In short, he is so encumbered with secular affairs and responsibilities that he cannot be all he might be in soul saving, and to this extent Satan is pleased.

"Many a man's spirituality has been buried in the grave of his activities."

Satan often tries to counterfeit God's disapproval and bring a feeling of guilt and condemnation upon the conscientious soul. He never loses hope, nor gets discouraged; so if one accusation fails to produce the desired effect, he calls up all the demons of hell and carnal men upon earth to help him "wear out the saints of the most High."

Often ministers and holiness professors are his best instruments against the truly sanctified. He hates such with a more deadly hatred than all others, because they live sonear the throne and have such influence with the King. Thus he works with unfatiguing effort, howling after them until they outstrip him and sweep through the pearly gates.