The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 70

that of Israel on the occasion referred to would have been sinful distrust. Here, as 11fter- wards, he could have bidden to his side legions of angels; but in either case he forbore. Obedient trust in God and determined opposition to Satan were the principles that guided the conduct of the Saviour, and that ultimately gained the day. (l) '17te acme of Satan's subtlety. The pinnacle or battlement of the temple was, doubtless, the royal portico built by Herod and "overhanging the ravine of the Kedron." It stood on the very edge of the precipice and towered up to an immense height. From the top of this gi~dy eminence Josephus tells us that no eye could see the bottom. "Cast thyself down," said Satan," and the Jews, who are on the look-out for a temporal prince, will take you at once, and make you their king, and render ready homage to thy sceptre. Cast thy- self down, and other nations, who are all expecting some great potentate to appear in order to usher in an age of unexampled blessing, will all make common cause with them, and form one united and world-wide empire. 'l'hus Jew and Gentile, in happy harmony, shall bind the diadem of royalty round thy brow, and so crown thee Lord and ruler of all. In any case," Mys Satan, "and whatever he the result, you lose nothing by the experiment. You run no risk by the attempt; for is it not written,' He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee'?" (2) Suppression of Scripture. Ah I here is the masterpiece of the evil one. Here we see how he can adapt himself to the exigencies of every case. Here we see his skill in imitation. Here, after the example of the Saviour, he appeals to Scripture. "What," says an old divine quaintly, almost quizzi- cally-" what is this I see? Satan himself, with a Bible under his arm and a text in his mouth." But then he misquotes by suppressing part of the sentence, and so altering the sense of the whole. Undoubtedly God had promised," He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways;" but this latter clause Satan found it convenient to omit. Thereby we are taught that the way of duty is the way oli safety; wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness and paths of peace. When we v:alk in these ways God ha! promised to keep us safe. Off them we jeopardize ourselves every hour. "Not so," says Satan. •• Go where you like, walk as you like, take my word for it, you are safe." Thus Satan misquotes, misinterprets, and misapplies. Thus he said to our firnt parents, in direct contravention of God's word," Ye shall not surely die." Thus was he" a liar and a murderer from the beginning." Thus he continues to lead men blindfold to the brow of the precipice, and bids them cast themselves down, telling them there is no danger, and assuring them of safety. Thus he plunges men in misery. Thus he brings them to perdition. Thus he sinks them in the deep abyss. (3) His tactics are still the same. "Cast yourself down," he says to some; "sin is an easy and safe descent. The way of virtue is hard and uphill; don't trouble yourself about it. Cast yourself down, wallow in your beloved lust, take your fill of your besetting sin ; God is too merciful to min(i it, or at least to punish it. Cast yourself down before the god of gold, like Israel before the golden calf, that you may be elevated in worldly rank and be exalted among thy fellows." Again, to children of God he says," Cast yourselves down. The gospel mystery of sanctification is slow work and a roundabout way; try penances, fas tinge, macera- tions, pilgrimages, will-worship, and thus expedite it." Perhaps he waxes bolder and says to another, "You are a child of grace: once in grace always in grace; you may indulge in sin with impunity, or that grace may abound, or that God may get glory and you more grace by repentance. Cast yourself down; the sin you dread is a trifle-!s it not a little one?" These are only a few specimens of Satan's subtle snares and mam- fold devices. To those in high places he whispers, "Cast yourselves down. Place is before principle; expediency rather than consistency." To others again, "Cast yourselves down. Become slaves to luxury, or sensuality, or vice; your means warr~nt it, the circumstances justify it. Cast yourselves down. Thousands do worse, while few do. better, and it will be all the same in the end." (4) The third repulse, That pinnacle was a high place, and high places are slippery places; they are difficult places ; they are dangerous places. Comparing this temptation with the former, we are reminded of the wise man's words," Give me neither poverty nor riches." ~ur Lord's reply repulsed Satan in this quarter also. It was," Thou shalt not tempt [literally, out and out, or to an extreme] the Lord thy God." You are not to run unbidden into danger; you are not to run aaainst 0 the thick bosses of Jehovah's buckler; you are not to pray, "Lead me not into temptation," and then dash into it; you are not to venture into a perilous position, where neither necessity, nor Providence, nor duty calls you ; you are not to OB. I. l---4ii.] THE GOSPEL .ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 67