The wiles of the devil!

(William Nicholson, "The Christian  — !" 1862)

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil!" Ephesians 6:11

"That Satan will not outsmart us--for we are familiar with his evil schemes!" 2 Corinthians 2:11

How formidable are these foes, Satan and his allies! What would become of the saint, if unsupported by Divine grace and Omnipotence!

Satan is called . . .
Abaddon and Apollyon--the destroyer,
the angel of the bottomless pit,
the god of this world,
our adversary,
the accuser of the brethren,
a deceiver who leads the whole world astray,
an antichrist,
a liar, and the father of lies,
a murderer from the beginning,
Beelzebub, Belial and Lucifer,
a great leviathan,
an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, 
the ancient serpent,
a cruel tormentor,
a poisonous adder,
a ravaging wolf,
a roaring lion, seeking those who he may devour!

We are told of the "wiles of the Devil"--who hides his evil designs, and falls upon us when we least expect it.

He is invisible--his influence is like the silent pestilence which walks in darkness.

He studies our propensities, and adapts his temptations to them.

Though invisible, he is near us. The safety of a nation menaced by an enemy often depends on his being kept at a distance. But this enemy is within our borders, and there is no other resource left, but to struggle for our life!

He works himself, and he employs heinous instruments. His knowledge of evil and temptations is derived from the experience of 6,000 years. And what is worse, he has a strong party within us, which he incessantly labors to excite to rebellion!

How fearful is the  — ! But it is consolatory to know that these demonic powers, as great as they confessedly are--are limited, controlled, overruled by Jehovah, who will "bruise Satan under our feet shortly!"