WE are continually observing what processes and influences, sometimes world-wide, arise from small beginnings. Water from a hillside spring overflows its basin, and a little rill finds its course through leaves and moss. The spring itself may be fed by subterranean channels from the melting of perpetual snows upon the heights, and so is never failing. Its tiny stream is added to by streamlets which fall into its channel; and by and by, increased by many other rills and brooks, it foams down rocky canons until it reaches the broad plain through which it bears the refreshment of the flow of a great river.
Growth is also illustrated in the appearing of a noble tree. A child's hand may place an acorn in the soft earth, which in time appears as a huge tree growing beneath the earthsurface as well as above it, for the root may penetrate the earth to a depth approximating the height of the tree which ascends into the sunshine; so there is earth-fast strength to resist the sudden storm or the continuing force of the insistent gale. And while we know that all this growth began within the tiny acorn, and appeared as two pale green leaves above the earth, we never seem to fathom the mystery of growth and expansion. It is likewise hard to realize that men who have been great and noble in the world's history, went through the stage of the babe on his pillow vaguely smiling, having yet to learn what it is that his seeing shows him, and to understand what sounds mean, and to gain a comprehension of the way in which, by gestures and speech, he may communicate with his kindred. Speedily from that early stage follows growth, the realization of power to think, the discovery of a noble ambition. Such a one may be the finder and explorer of new lands. In another realm of exploration he may be an inventor, or he may use the results of invention to become a captain of industry. He may be a witness to the power and beauty of Christianity, than which there is no higher mission.
But history seems to show that some persons may be misunderstanders of the ideals and opponents of the teaching presented to mankind by the Christ of God. With a recognition of the possibility of such subversions of growth, the hope expressed for many a child has taken form as a prayer: Grant that he may have power and strength to have victory and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh. The word "devil," which human imagination has made so personal, means, exactly, the "accuser"; and since an accuser is so frequently a false witness, the word slanderer or liar is a very correct translation of the word "devil." The word subsumes all the influences which discourage the good man, cause him to be weary in welldoing, suggest to him that he has no reward for his work, misinterpret to others his motive in what he does, pervert, in report, the good which he does into evil, and otherwise misrepresent him, so that the general result will be a belief in evil as power.
