"After all, with all his vast knowledge and experience, he is but a creature. He cannot know you from within; he is not omniscient, not omnipresent. He can only guess at your motives,—the secret spring of your actions."—Webb, The Presence and Office of the Holy Spirit, pp. 78-79.
[[13]] Job i and ii.
CHAPTER III
THE TEMPTER: HIS CHARACTERISTICS AND METHODS
I. Satan, the Deceiver
The foremost characteristic of Satan is that which marks him as a Deceiver. It was by deceit that he brought death into the world and all our woe. Our first mother was "beguiled through his subtilty,"[[1]] and "being deceived, was in the transgression."[[2]] Our Lord declares him to be the father of lies,[[3]] and the constant apostolic warning is against his falsehood and deceit. He secures the active allegiance of men by "blinding the minds of them which believe not";[[4]] he is able to lead astray God's people by being "transformed into an angel of light,"[[5]] and through his wiles and lying wonders he seeks "to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."[[6]] So we are taught to watch and pray "lest the devil find room to deceive, who never sleeps, but goes about seeking whom he may devour."[[7]]
Nevertheless there is great consolation in the fact that his chief weapon is deceit. By using it he bears his testimony that, though we be far gone from righteousness, yet, should we be permitted to see clearly, truth rather than error would appeal to us.