sanctuary　above。　Before　the　Flood；　after　Noah　entered　the　ark；　God　shut　him
  in　and　shut　the　ungodly　out；　but　for　seven　days　the　people；　knowing　not　that
  their　doom　was　fixed；　continued　their　careless；　pleasure…loving　life　and
  mocked　the　warnings　of　impending　judgment。　〃So；〃　says　the　Saviour；　〃shall
  also　the　coming　of　the　Son　of　man　be。〃　Matthew　24：39。　Silently；　unnoticed　as
  the　midnight　thief；　will　come　the　decisive　hour　which　marks　the　fixing　of
  every　man's　destiny；　the　final　withdrawal　of　mercy's　offer　to　guilty　men。
  〃Watch　ye　therefore：　。　。　。　lest　coming　suddenly　He　find　you　sleeping。〃　Mark
  13：35；　36。　Perilous　is　the　condition　of　those　who；　growing　weary　of　their
  watch；　turn　to　the　attractions　of　the　world。　While　the　man　of　business　is
  absorbed　in　the　pursuit　of　gain；　while　the　pleasure　lover　is　seeking
  indulgence；　while　the　daughter　of　fashion　is　arranging　her　adornmentsit
  may　be　in　that　hour　the　Judge　of　all　the　earth　will　pronounce　the　sentence：
  〃Thou　art　weighed　in　the　balances；　and　art　found　wanting。〃　Daniel　5：27。
  （492）
  Chapter　29
  The　Origin　of　Evil
  To　many　minds　the　origin　of　sin　and　the　reason　for　its　existence　are　a
  source　of　great　perplexity。　They　see　the　work　of　evil；　with　its　terrible
  results　of　woe　and　desolation；　and　they　question　how　all　this　can　exist
  under　the　sovereignty　of　One　who　is　infinite　in　wisdom；　in　power；　and　in
  love。　Here　is　a　mystery　of　which　they　find　no　explanation。　And　in　their
  uncertainty　and　doubt　they　are　blinded　to　truths　plainly　revealed　in　God's
  word　and　essential　to　salvation。　There　are　those　who；　in　their　inquiries
  concerning　the　existence　of　sin；　endeavor　to　search　into　that　which　God　has
  never　revealed；　hence　they　find　no　solution　of　their　difficulties；　and　such
  as　are　actuated　by　a　disposition　to　doubt　and　cavil　seize　upon　this　as　an
  excuse　for　rejecting　the　words　of　Holy　Writ。　Others；　however；　fail　of　a
  satisfactory　understanding　of　the　great　problem　of　evil；　from　the　fact　that
  tradition　and　misinterpretation　have　obscured　the　teaching　of　the　Bible
  concerning　the　character　of　God；　the　nature　of　His　government；　and　the
  principles　of　His　dealing　with　sin。
  It　is　impossible　to　explain　the　origin　of　sin　so　as　to　give　a　reason　for　its
  existence。　Yet　enough　may　be　understood　concerning　both　the　origin　and　the
  final　disposition　of　sin　to　make　fully　manifest　the　justice　and　benevolence
  of　God　in　all　His　dealings　with　evil。　Nothing　is　more　plainly　taught　in
  493
  Scripture　than　that　God　was　in　no　wise　responsible　for　the　entrance　of　sin；
  that　there　was　no　arbitrary　withdrawal　of　divine　grace；　no　deficiency　in　the
  divine　government；　that　gave　occasion　for　the　uprising　of　rebellion。　Sin　is
  an　intruder；　for　whose　presence　no　reason　can　be　given。　It　is　mysterious；
  unaccountable；　to　excuse　it　is　to　defend　it。　Could　excuse　for　it　be　found；
  or　cause　be　shown　for　its　existence；　it　would　cease　to　be　sin。　Our　only
  definition　of　sin　is　that　given　in　the　word　of　God；　it　is　〃the　transgression
  of　the　law；〃　it　is　the　outworking　of　a　principle　at　war　with　the　great　law
  of　love　which　is　the　foundation　of　the　divine　government。
  Before　the　entrance　of　evil　there　was　peace　and　joy　throughout　the　universe。
  All　was　in　perfect　harmony　with　the　Creator's　will。　Love　for　God　was
  supreme；　love　for　one　another　impartial。　Christ　the　Word；　the　Only　Begotten
  of　God；　was　one　with　the　eternal　Father；one　in　nature；　in　character；　and
  in　purpose；the　only　being　in　all　the　universe　that　could　enter　into　all
  the　counsels　and　purposes　of　God。　By　Christ　the　Father　wrought　in　the
  creation　of　all　heavenly　beings。　〃By　Him　were　all　things　created；　that　are
  in　heaven；　。　。　。　whether　they　be　thrones；　or　dominions；　or　principalities；
  or　powers〃　（Colossians　1：16）；　and　to　Christ；　equally　with　the　Father；　all
  heaven　gave　allegiance。
  The　law　of　love　being　the　foundation　of　the　government　of　God；　the　happiness
  of　all　created　beings　depended　upon　their　perfect　accord　with　its　great
  principles　of　righteousness。　God　desires　from　all　His　creatures　the　service
  of　lovehomage　that　springs　from　an　intelligent　appreciation　of　His
  character。　He　takes　no　pleasure　in　a　forced　allegiance；　and　to　all　He　grants
  freedom　of　will；　that　they　may　render　Him　voluntary　service。
  But　there　was　one　that　chose　to　pervert　this　freedom。　Sin　originated　with
  him　who；　next　to　Christ；　had　been　most　honored　of　God　and　who　stood　highest
  in　power　and　glory　among　the　inhabitants　of　heaven。　Before　his　fall；　Lucifer
  was
  494
  first　of　the　covering　cherubs；　holy　and　undefiled。　〃Thus　saith　the　Lord　God；
  Thou　sealest　up　the　sum；　full　of　wisdom；　and　perfect　in　beauty。　Thou　hast
  been　in　Eden　the　garden　of　God；　every　precious　stone　was　thy　covering。　。　。
  。Thou　art　the　anointed　cherub　that　covereth；　and　I　have　set　thee　so：　thou
  wast　upon　the　holy　mountain　of　God；　thou　hast　walked　up　and　down　in　the
  midst　of　the　stones　of　fire。　Thou　wast　perfect　in　thy　ways　from　the　day　that
  thou　wast　created；　till　iniquity　was　found　in　thee。〃　Ezekiel　28：12…15。
  Lucifer　might　have　remained　in　favor　with　God；　beloved　and　honored　by　all
  the　angelic　host；　exercising　his　noble　powers　to　bless　others　and　to　glorify
  his　Maker。　But；　says　the　prophet；　〃Thine　heart　was　lifted　up　because　of　thy
  beauty；　thou　hast　corrupted　thy　wisdom　by　reason　of　thy　brightness。〃　Verse
  17。　Little　by　little；　Lucifer　came　to　indulge　a　desire　for　self…exaltation。
  〃Thou　hast　set　thine　heart　as　the　heart　of　God。〃　〃Thou　hast　said；　。　。　。　I
  will　exalt　my　throne　above　the　stars　of　God：　I　will　sit　also　upon　the　mount
  of　the　congregation。。。。I　will　ascend　above　the　heights　of　the　clouds；　I　will
  be　like　the　Most　High。〃　Verse　6；　Isaiah　14：13；　14。　Instead　of　seeking　to
  make　God　supreme　in　the　affections　and　allegiance　of　His　creatures；　it　was
  Lucifer's　endeavor　to　win　their　service　and　homage　to　himself。　And　coveting
  the　honor　which　the　infinite　Father　had　bestowed　upon　His　Son；　this　prince
  of　angels　aspired　to　power　which　it　was　the　prerogative　of　Christ　alone　to
  wield。
  All　heaven　had　rejoiced　to　reflect　the　Creator's　glory　and　to　show　forth　His
  praise。　And　while　God　was　thus　honored；　all　had　been　peace　and　gladness。　But
  a　note　of　discord　now　marred　the　celestial　harmonies。　The　service　and
  exaltation　of　self；　contrary　to　the　Creator's　plan；　awakened　forebodings　of
  evil　in　minds　to　whom　God's　glory　was　supreme。　The　heavenly　councils　pleaded
  with　Lucifer。　The　Son　of　God　presented　before　him　the　greatness；　the
  goodness；　and　the　justice　of　the　Creator；　and　the　sacred；　unchanging　nature
  of　His　law。　God　Himself　had　established　the　order　of　heaven；
  495
  and　in　departing　from　it；　Lucifer　would　dishonor　his　Maker；　and　bring　ruin
  upon　himself。　But　the　warning；　given　in　infinite　love　and　mercy；　only
  aroused　a　spirit　of　resistance。　Lucifer　allowed　jealousy　of　Christ　to
  prevail；　and　he　became　the　more　determined。
  Pride　in　his　own　glory　nourished　the　desire　for　supremacy。　The　high　honors
  conferred　upon　Lucifer　were　not　appreciated　as　the　gift　of　God　and　called
  forth　no　gratitude　to　the　Creator。　He　gloried　in　his　brightness　and
  exaltation；　and　aspired　to　be　equal　with　God。　He　was　beloved　and　reverenced
  by　the　heavenly　host。　Angels　delighted　to　execute　his　commands；　and　he　was
  clothed　with　wisdom　and　glory　above　them　all。　Yet　the　Son　of　God　was　the
  acknowledged　Sovereign　of　heaven；　one　in　power　and　authority　with　the
  Father。　In　all　the　councils　of　God；　Christ　was　a　participant；　while　Lucifer
  was　not　permitted　thus　to　enter　into　the　divine　purposes。　〃Why；〃　questioned
  this　mighty　angel；　〃should　Christ　have　the　supremacy？　Why　is　He　thus　honored
  above　Lucifer？〃
  Leaving　his　place　in　the　immediate　presence　of　God；　Lucifer　went　forth　to
  diffuse　the　spirit　of　discontent　among　the　angels。　Working　with　mysterious
  secrecy；　and　for　a　time　concealing　his　real　purpose　under　an　appearance　of
  reverence　for　God；　he　endeavored　to　excite　dissatisfaction　concerning　the
  laws　that　governed　heavenly　beings；　intimating　that　they　imposed　an
  unnecessary　restraint。　Since　their　natures　were　holy；　he　urged　that　the
  angels　should　obey　the　dictates　of　their　own　will。　He　sought　to　create
  sympathy　for　himself　by　representing　that　God　had　dealt　unjustly　with　him　in
  bestowing　supreme　honor　upon　Christ。　He　claimed　that　in　aspiring　to　greater
  power　and　honor　he　was　not　aiming　at　self…exaltation；　but　was　seeking　to
  secure　liberty　for　all　the　inhabitants　of　heaven；　that　by　this　means　they
  might　attain　to　a　higher　state　of　existence。
  God　in　His　great　mercy　bore　long　with　Lucifer。　He　was　not　immediately
  degraded　from　his　exalted　station　when　he　first　indulged　the　spirit　of
  discontent；　nor　even　when　he
  496
  began　to　present　his　false　claims　before　the　loyal　angels。　Long　was　he
  retained　in　heaven。　Again　and　again　he　was　offered　pardon　on　condition　of
  repentance　and　submission。　Such　efforts　as　only　infinite　love　and　wisdom
  could　devise　were　made　to　convince　him　of　his　error。　The　spirit　of
  discontent　had　never　before　been　known　in　heaven。　Lucifer　h