LY SCRIPTURE D EVIL SPIRITS The Devil's Greatest Deception Is About His Own Existence By the Her. Henry Borgmann, C. SS. it Our Sunday Vis itor Preaa Huntington. Indian» HOLY SCRIPTURE AND EVIL SPIRITS The Devils Greatest Deception Is About His Own Existence Number 23 Nihil Obstat: REV. T. E. DILLON Censor Liborum. Imprimatur: •i« JOHN FRANCIS NOLL, D. D., Bishop of Fort Wayne Note. The answers to the follow- ing questions are taken from the books of the Bible. At the end of each text the name of the book is given, the chapter and verse, so that the reader may consult the Bible and veri- fy the text. Here follow the names of the books of the Bible. OLD TESTAMENT Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Jouse Judges Ruth Kings I Kings II Kings III Kings IV Paralipomenon I Paralipomenon II Esdras I Esdras II Tobias Judith Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticle Wisdom Ecclesiasticus Isaias Jeremias Lamentations Baruch Ezehiel Daniel Osee Joel Amos Adbias Jonas Micheas Nahum Habacuc Sophonias Aggeus Philippians Zacharias Colosians Malachias Thessalonians I Machabees I Thessalonians II Machabees II Timothy I Timothy II NEW TESTAMENT Titus Matthew Philemon Mark Hebrews Luke James John Peter I Acts Peter II Romans John I Corinthians I John II Corinthians II John III Galatians Jude Ephesians Apocalypse Holy Scripture and Evil Spirits The compiler of the following arti- cle on the Devil declares that he allows Hoty Scripture to answer every question which an inquirer might be prompted to ask concerning the Evil Spirit, because the generality of peo- ple, even including plenty of Catho- lics, would hesitate to accept any other authority than the Inspired Book itself for the Devil's existence and activities. Of course, this attitude seems very strange in the light of the prevalent belief of all ages. The Catholic Church has always embodied refer- ences to the archenemy of souls in her official prayers, and has always employed exorcisms before most of her blessings. The prayer in honor of Saint Michael, the conqueror of Luci- fer, said after every low Mass is the Church's latest official prayer. 6 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' Cognizance is taken of the evil spirit in the Baptismal ceremony, and more especially the longer form for adults. To the man of faith the cleverest deceit which the Devil has ever perpetrated is that relating to his own existence. Christ Himself called the Devil the "Prince of this world", and he is cer- tainly in power right now. He must be dethroned by the soldiers of Christ, under Whose benign rule everyone should long to live. The two kingdoms on which St. Ignatius has furnished us a beautiful meditation should be recognized as outstanding facts in this world, name- ly, the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of Satan. Christ and Satan desire to rule over the same subjects; but to be with one is to be against the other. The advantages held out by Satan seem to be more alluring than those held out by Christ, because those of Satan are the immediate mo- mentary advantages, or the things which might be classified under the heads: fame, honor, pleasures. The 7 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' inducements held out by Christ should be a thousand times more at- tractive because they are of a lasting character, and are truly satisfying even here on earth. But the greatest inducement is the eternal freedom from all the things which we regard as evils here, and happiness unbound- ed and everlasting in the Kingdom of His Father. The motive of Satan in his war- fare through his many officers is con- quest for hell; the motive of Christ, through His many agents, is conquest for Heaven. The motive of Satan, therefore is hatred, that of Christ, love. Let Holy Scripture answer any of a score of questions which might sug- gest themselves in relation to the Powers of Darkness; for instance: Whence comes all the misery in the world? By the envy of the devil death came into the world. And they follow him that are of his side. Wisdom 2; 24, 25. 8 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E A N R EVIL, SPIRITS ' How did he do it? Now the serpent was more subtle than any of the beasts of the earth which the Lord had made. And he said to the woman (Eve) "Why hath God commanded you that you should not eat of every tree in paradise?" And the woman answered him, say- ing: "Of the frui t of the trees that are in paradise we do eat, but of the tree which is in the midst of paradise God hath commanded us that we should not eat; and that we should not touch it, lest perhaps we die." And the serpent said to the woman: "No, you shall not die the death. For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil." And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat and fair to see and delightful to behold; and she took of the frui t thereof and did eat, and gave it to her husband to eat. And the eyes of them both were opened; and when they perceived themselvs to be naked, 9 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' they sewed together fig leaves, and made themselves aprons. And when they heard the voice of the Lord God talking in paradise at the afternoon air, Adam and his wife hid themselves from the face of the Lord God amidst the trees of para- dise. And the Lord God called Adam and said to him: "Where art thou?" And he said: "I heard thy voice in paradise and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself." And He said to him: "Who hath told thee that thou wast naked, but that thou hast eaten of the tree whereof I com- manded thee that thou shouldst not eat?" And Adam said: "The woman whom thou gavest me to be my com- panion gave me of the tree and I did eat."' And the Lord God said to the woman: "Why hast thou done this ?" And she answered, "The serpent de- ceived me and I did eat." And the Lord God said to the serpent:- "Be- cause thou hast done this thing, thou art cursed among all cattle and beasts of the earth; upon thy breast shalt thou go, and earth shalt thou eat all 10 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' the days of thy life. I will put enmi- ties between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed; she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel." To the woman also He said: "I will multiply thy sorrows, and thy conceptions; in sorrow shalt thou bring forth thy children, and thou shalt be under thy husband's power, and he shall have dominion over thee." And to Adam he said: "Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat, cursed is the earth in thy work; with labor and toil shalt thou eat thereof all the days of thy life. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herbs of the earth. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return to the earth, out of which thou wast taken; for, dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return." And Adam called the name of his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. And the Lord made for Adam and his wife garments of 11 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' skins, and clothed them. And he said: "Behold, Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil; now there- fore lest He put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever." And the Lord sent him out of the paradise of pleasure, to till the earth from which he was taken. And He cast out Adam, and placed before the paradise of pleasure Cherubims, and a flaming sword, turning every way to keep the way of the tree of life. Genesis 3. What is the devil? How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, (the fallen angel, the devil), who didst rise in the morning! how art thou fallen to the earth, that didst wound the nations! Isaias 14: 12. Did anyone see the angels fall from heaven? Our Lord said: "I saw Satan (the devil) like lightning falling from heaven." Luke 10:18. What are the fallen angels called? The dragon, the old serpent, which 12 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' is the devil and Satan, Apocalypse 20:2. Whence is the devil? There was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels, fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels. And, they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great drag- on was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Apoc- alypse 12: 7-9. Does the devil tempt mankind even as he tempted Eve ? I fear lest as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ. II Corin- thians 11:3. Does God permit the devil to tempt mortals? On a certain day when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, 13 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' Satan also was present among them. And the Lord said to him: "Whence comest thou?" and he answered and said: "I have gone round about the earth and walked through it." And the Lord said to him: "Hast thou con- sidered my servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, avoiding evil?" And Satan answering said: "Doth Job fear God in vain? Hast not Thou made a fence for him and his house, and all his substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession hath increaed on the earth? But stretch forth Thy hand a little, and touch all that he hath, and see if he blesseth thee not to Thy face." Then the Lord said to Satan: "Behold, all that he hath is in thy hands, only put not thy hand up- on his person." And Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. Job 1; 6-12. Does God abandon those whom He permits Satan to try and tempt? Our Lord said: Simon (Peter) be- hold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I 14 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail thee not, and thou being once con- firmed, confirm thy brethren. Luke 22:31-32. Do the devils molest mortals? Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers (devils) against the rul- ers of the world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Ephesians 6:12. How can we resist the devils ? Take unto you the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and hav- ing on the breast-plate of justice, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of sal- vation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, by all prayers and supplications praying at 17 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instances and sup- plications for all the saints. Ephes- ians 6: 13-18. Did God 'permit the devil to tempt and try His own Son Jesus Christ ? Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was hungry. And the tempter coming said to Him, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." He answered and said: "It is written: Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." Then the devil took Him up into the Holy City, and set Him on a pin- nacle of the Temple and said to Him: "If thou be the Son of God cast thy- self down, for it is written: That He hath given His angels charge over Thee, and in their hand shall they bear Thee up, lest perhaps Thou dash Thy foot against a stone." Jesus said to him, "It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord Thy God." 16 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' Again the devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and said to Him: "All these will I give Thee, if f a l l i n g / down Thou wilt adore me." Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan, for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only shalt thou serve." Then the devil left Him, and behold angels came and minis- tered to Him. Matthew 4: 1-11. How many devils are there? My name is Legion, for we are many. Mark 5:9. What says St. Paul? Give not place to the devil. Ephes- ians 4:27, How can we be saved from giving place to the devil? He that stole, let him steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hand the thing which is good, that he may have something to give to him that is in need. Let no evil 17 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' speech proceed from your mouth, but that which is good, to the edification of the faith, that it may administer grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemp- tion. Let all bitterness and anger and indignation and clamor and blas- phemy be put away from you with all malice. And be kind to one another, merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:28-32. How can we best resist the devil? Be subject therefore to God and re- sist the devil, and he will fly from you. Draw nigh t o God and He will draw nigh to you. James 4:7. What gives the devil power over man? He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared, that He might de- stroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8. 18 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' By what sin in particular does the devil obtain power over mortals? Hear me and I will show thee who they are over whom the devil can pre- vail. For they who in such manner receive matrimony as to shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their lust as the horse and the mule, which have no understanding, over them the devil hath power. Tobias 6: 16-17. Who filled the world with wars and hatreds, misery and cruelty, blas- phemy and adultery, sects, false re- ligions, idolatry, paganism, blood- shed, divorce, race suicide, birth con- trol, lust and corruption, irreligion, heresy, atheism, godless education, infidel science and sophistry, revolt, drunkenness, prostitution, freelove, hypocrisy, savagery and barbarity, lies, deceits, and many other wicked things and sins ? Our Lord says: "An enemy (devil) hath done this." Matthew 13:25. 19 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' If all this is true about the devil, why do the unbelievers not believe? Our Lord says: "The devil cometh and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved." Luke 8:12. How does the devil ensnare souls by infidel science and sophistry? These are the spots of the banquets, feasting together without fear, feed- ing themselves, clouds without water which are carried about by winds, trees of the autumn unfruitful, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, rag- ing waves of the sea foaming out their own confusion, wandering stars to whom the storm of darkness is re- served forever. Jude 1:12, 13. What should ma/n do in order not to be ensnared by infidel science and sophistry? Be sober and watch, because your adversary the devil as a roaring Hon, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist ye strong in faith, knowing that the same afflic- 20 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , SPIRITS ' tion befalls your brethren who are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will Himself perfect you and confirm you and establish you. I Peter 5; 8-10. Why does the unbeliever not be- lieve in Christ ? Our Lord says: "Why do you not know my speech? Because you cannot hear My word. You are of your fath- er, the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murd- erer from the beginning and he stood not in the truth because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father thereof, but if I say the truth, you believe me not." John 8; 43-45. Who plotted the treason of Judas to betray Christ? When supper was done, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him. John 13:2. 21 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' Did men ever worships devils ? All the gods of the gentiles are devils. Psalm 95:5. Did men ever offer up sacrifices to devils? They sacrificed to devils and not to God, to gods whom they knew not, that were newly come up, whom their fathers worshipped not. Deuteronomy 32:17. What did men sacrifice to devils ? They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to devils. Psalm 105:37. Who were they who sacrificed to devils ? The things which the heathen sacri- ficed, they sacrificed to devils, and not to God. And I would not that you should be made partakers with the devils. I Corinthians 10:20. Did Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cast devils out of those who were possessed? There came to Him a man falling down on his knees before Him, say- 22 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' ing: "Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic and suffereth much, for he falleth often into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to Thy Disciples, and they could not cure him." Then Jesus answered and said: "0 unbelieving and per- verse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to Me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the devil went out of him, and the child was cured from that hour. Matthew 17: 14-16. Why could the disciples not cast out the devil? Jesus said to them: "Because of your unbelief. For, Amen I say to you, if you have the faith as a mus- tard seed, you shall say to this moun- tain, Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. But this kind (of devils) is not cast out but by prayer and fasting." Matthew,17: 19-20. Are there other examples of Christ casting out devils? Mary who is called Magdalen, out 23 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' of whom seven devils were gone forth. Luke 8:2. Is there danger of the devils reen- tering those out of whom they were cast? Our Lord says, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walk- eth through places without water, seeking rest, and not finding it he saith, 'I will return into my house whence I came out, and when he is come he findeth it swept and garnish- ed. Then he goeth and taketh with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and entering in they dwell there, and the last state of that man is worse than the first." Luke 11, 24:26. Did Jesus Christ often drive out devils ? He healed many that were troubled with diverse diseases, and he cast out many devils, and he suffered them not to speak, because they knew Him. Mark 1, 34. 24 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR EVIL, S P I R I T S ' Did Christ give the power to cast out devils to man? \ > Calling together the twelve apos- tles, he gave them power and auth- ority over all the devils, and to cure diseases. Luke 9:1. What is hell? The everlasting fire, which was pre- pared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41, Are the devils in hell? God spared not the angels that sin- ned, but delivered them, drawn down by infernal ropes to the lower hell unto torments, to be reserved unto \udgment. 2 Peter 2:4. How can men keep out of heU? Our Lord says: "What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" Mark 13:37. Will any people go to hell? Our Lord says: "These shall go in- to everlasting punishment, but the just into everlasting life." Matthew ¿5:46. 25 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' What must we do to have life ever- lasting ? Our Lord says: "Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adul- tery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother, and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 19:18-19. What did God say to the serpent (devil) in Paradise after the Fall? I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed, she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel. Genesis 3; 15. Who was this woman? A great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Apocalypse 12:1. What was her name? Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou 26 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR EVIL, S P I R I T S ' shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give un- to Him the Throne of David, his father, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. And of His kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1: 30-33. Was this Son of Mary true God? The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee (Mary) and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35. How did the ever Blessed Mary crush the serpent's head? And it came to pass that when they were there (Bethlehem), her days were accomplished that she would be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn. And there were in the 27 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' same country shepherds watching and keeping the nightwatches over their flocks, and behold an angel said to them: "Fear not, behold, I bring you good tidings, for this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall see the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will." Luke 2: 6-14. What was the consequence ? After His resurrection from the dead, Our Lord said to His apostles: "Go ye into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In My name they shall cast out devils." Mark 16: 15-17. 28 H O L Y S C R I P T U R E ANR E V I L , S P I R I T S ' How shall we meet the scoffers and scorners? In the last days there shall come deceitful scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying: Where is His pro- mise or His coming? For, since the time that the fathers slept, all things continue as they were from the be- ginning of the creation. For this they are wilfully ignorant of, that the heavens were before, and the earth out of water, and through water consisting by the word of God, whereby the world that then was, be- ing overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and per- dition of the ungodly men. But of this one thing be not ignor- ant, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord delayeth not his promise as some imagine, but dealeth patiently for your sake, not willing that any should perish, but H O L Y S C R I P T U R E A N D E V I L SPIRITS ' 29 that all should return to penance. II Peter 3: 3-9. Have You Read These New Popular Pamphlets? 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