How prone is mortal mind, alias human nature, alias human wisdom, to judge! Ever since the serpent whispered its subtle error into the listening ear of Eve, and led her to fancy she had a knowledge of good and evil, human wisdom has been striving to assert itself and demonstrate its assumed superiority. Human wisdom would long since have driven Divine Wisdom out of the world, if it could have done so. And, notwithstanding its repeated and signal failures in this direction, how vigorously it is still exerting its puny might to do so! It seems to forget that history repeats itself as well along spiritual, as along material lines. That greatest of all histories, the Bible, is replete with accounts of its failures; yet, human wisdom has gone right on judging Divine Wisdom, with as much assurance and self-complacency as though it had long since driven God and His kingdom completely out of existence.
It is painful to observe the wrestlings of some to tear down God's kingdom, and set up their own. The thought that there should be any power higher than their own will and their own conceptions, seems repugnant to them. There is hate as veritable and positive against God, as there is hate between men on human planes. This antagonism may be the result of misapprehension of what God is; it may be the result of erroneous teaching; but it is more likely, and more often, the inherent conflict between the carnal and the Divine. It is the old, old conflict between Satan and Christ; between error and Truth; between flesh and Spirit; between the material and the spiritual. This element of mortal mind, manifesting itself in open and almost violent opposition to Truth, is harsh, unyielding and severe in its judgments; but, it is an open enemy. Its forces are out in the open field. They may always be seen and recognized.
The most insidious foe is that which wraps itself about with the cloak of a false religion; and it is the more dangerous because, ofttimes, its very subtlety consists in its fancied conscientiousness. Is this assertion too radical? Let me ask, what led to the persecution of the early Christians by the Pagans? It was in part their fear that a new religion would, interfere with their preconceived and traditional system of religion, as well as, in a measure, with their system of government. It was, therefore, in part fear, in part selfishness, and in part conscientiousness that incited the persecutions.
