Rays of Hope

A Book of Encouragement

A Desperate Struggle

  The following is a supposed argument or dialogue, between Satan, Doubts, Fears, and Feelings on one side, against Reason, Truth, Faith, and Trust on the other. The argument is supposed to be concerning a doubting soul that is trying to get the victory.

  Satan (speaking to Doubting Soul)—You are progressing so slowly of late, it must be that you are deceived in your Christian experience.

  Feelings—Yes, you have been feeling so downcast for several days, and one who has the victory should feel like shouting and praising God.

  Reason—This is the devil; you had better dismiss him at once, or he will deceive you.

  Fears (coming up hastily)—Many people have been led astray by Reason, and supposing they were right, have lost their souls. So very many people are deceived, you had better examine yourself.

  Doubts—You know you did not get a clear witness of your sanctification, and even if you are justified, you are not sanctified.

  Feelings—Yes; we all believe that Doubts is right about this; for at the time of your consecration you did not feel like Brother A, who felt the fire and really knew that he had received the Holy Spirit.

  Faith—Pay no attention to Feelings, but believe in God.

  Doubts—But those who are saved should feel better than you do.

  Truth—"By grace are ye saved through faith" (Eph. 2 :8); so heed the admonition of Faith and dismiss these—

  Fears (interrupting)—You had better be careful; you are likely to turn the Lord away. [26]

  Trust—"Trust in the Lord and do right," and these enemies shall not harm you.

  Satan—Yes, but as Doubts has stated, this soul was not sanctified in the beginning.

  Doubts—You had better give up your sanctification and

  Fears (interrupting again)—Yes, you had better be sure of it, for it is an awful thing to be lost.

  Feelings—These awful feelings are surely the fruits of depravity or inherited sin. You do not feel right toward your brethren, and you feel so tried.

  Doubts, Fears, Feelings, and Satan (all in unison)— Give up! give up! give up! you know you are not sanctified now, for you have listened to Doubts.

  At this Doubting Soul concludes to give up and seek sanctification to be sure of heaven.

  Satan—Although you have given it up now, you know that you were sanctified in the first place; and you could not fall from sanctification without committing sin, and if you have sinned, you are no longer justified.

  Doubts—Yes, you have doubted, and doubting is sin.

  Feelings—Yes, you feel just like a lost sinner; so you will surely have to repent.

  At this Doubting Soul begins to weep and concludes to begin over again and seek pardon. About this time Feelings comes in, and his two friends—Despondency and Discouragement—come along for company. It now being late, Doubting Soul, weary with the struggles of the day, concludes to retire for a little rest. But Feelings and his two friends keep up such a chatter talking over the day's victory that Doubting Soul is unable to sleep, and arising concludes to pass the night in prayer. After Doubting Soul prays for a short time, Reason and Truth come in and persuade him to dismiss Feelings and his two friends and to invite Trust and Faith to come in. After some persuasion Doubting Soul concludes to invite Trust to come in, which he does, and concludes to rest for a while, as the night is now far spent. But soon after he retires, Doubts and his friend Worry rap at the door and ask to be admitted. Despite the earnest pleadings of Trust, Doubting Soul finally opens the door just a little and Doubts [27] and Worry quickly press their way in; and as they come in at the door Trust is compelled to hasten out at the window, and Doubting Soul is again left in the hands of his enemies.

  After a long struggle with Doubts and his troublesome comrade, Doubting Soul concludes to call for Reason to come in again. On entering, Reason at once sets to work to encourage Doubting Soul and offset the work of Doubts and Worry. After a few encouraging words from Reason, Doubting Soul concludes to have Trust and Truth to come in and help. At the entrance of Trust and Truth, Doubts at once calls for Satan and Fears to come in and to bring Feelings along. On their entering, Doubting Soul feels somewhat alarmed; but as Reason and Trust take their stand one on each side of him and Truth at his back, he feels quite secure. After a short conflict Satan, Doubts. and Fears are compelled to retreat to one corner; but Feelings, seeming to be more fearless, lingers near for a while, but finally recedes to the corner with his friends, where all make considerable noise by way of lamentation, as Reason, Truth, and Trust encourage Doubting Soul.

  Finally Doubting Soul is advised to permit Faith to enter. At this the crowd in the corner are greatly angered, and Feelings begins to weep. But Doubting Soul is strengthened by Truth and still exhorted to invite Faith to come in. Acting on the request of Doubting Soul, Reason goes to the door and admits Faith. At the sight of Faith, even before he is fairly in the room, Satan, Doubts, and Fears all make a wild rush for the window and clamber out almost treading upon one another; while Feelings crouches himself in the corner and keeps very still for a while. At the entrance of Faith, Doubting Soul seems much revived, and Truth says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Faith replies, "The victory is won," and Feelings is compelled to go out, but lingers near the door. Doubting Soul now retires for the remainder of the night while Trust stands guard.

  Satan, Doubts, Fears, and Feelings all appear at the door early in the morning and agree that Feelings shall take the lead in gaining an entrance. [28]

  Feelings (rapping at the door)—Let me in just for a while.

  Truth (speaking to Doubting Soul)—Beware, this is one of those enemies that caused you so much trouble last night.

  Fear (trying to assist Feelings)—You were too worried last night to make an intelligent consecration. It is a terrible thing to be lost.

  Doubts—You would do much better to give up trying to believe and make another consecration this morning.

  Truth—The Bible does not say you are saved by your emotions, but "through grace are ye saved." You had better not listen to these treacherous fellows who are trying to deceive you. You are now safe in our hands if you will but remain in our company; but should you allow these enemies of right to come in, we shall have to go out, for we will not keep such company.

  Doubting Soul— I love you, my friend, and want you to stay with me, but I fear that in shutting out Feelings I may be deceived and shut out a dear friend. He is such an innocent fellow and longs so to be in my presence. I can hardly refrain from letting him in just for a little while.

  Faith—The joy that you will obtain by remaining in our company will far surpass the friendship of Feelings, and

  Satan (interrupting in a boisterous tone from the outside)—Doubting Soul, you know that God is angry with you. The best thing you can do is to turn over a new leaf. Make a new resolution this morning and start at the foundation to build up a Christian character.

  Fears (speaking in a trembling voice)—Oh! it would be a terrible thing to be shut out of heaven; to be lost in eternal darkness and sable gloom forever.

  Satan—He that fails in one point is guilty of all, and there must be some point in which you have failed.

  Fears—Doubting Soul, you have been on your knees so much and your nerves are in such a strain you will ruin your health. You had better resolve to quit praying.

  Doubts—The Bible says, "Pray without ceasing." You have ceased to pray, therefore you are a sinner. [29]