The Religious Devil
Luke 4:9-13
And in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.…


— "But what is this I see? Satan himself with a Bible under his arm, with a text in his mouth? No devil is so dangerous as the religious devil." So writes Bishop Hall, speaking of the temptation of Christ. There are two classes of devils, the religious and the irreligious — both in reality irreligious — and the former more so than the latter; but these make no show or pretence of religion, whereas those do. St. Paul had to contend with them. Speaking of false apostles, he wrote: "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light," &c. The religious devil has often been enthroned as the head of the Church on earth; he has at one time or another enjoyed the emoluments of every bishopric in Europe; there is scarcely a monastery of which he has not been abbot; there are not many pulpits from which he has not preached, for he is to be found in every denomination. A religious devil has been known to join a Church, and go from one Church to another, from one denomination to another, in order to secure customers in the congregation.

(H. S. Brown.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

WEB: and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.'"




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