A treatise on Satan's temptations - Gilpin - VI - Chapter 5

Required reading
A treatise on Satan's temptations by Richard Gilpin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 5.

My summary
Today Gilpin continues to teach us that Satan's power is great.

In particular, Satan's power is demonstrated by:
(i) witchcraft;
(ii) wonders;
(iii) apparitions;
(iv) possessions.

What grabbed me
I was interested to read Gilpin's interpretation of the passage regarding the witch of Endor:

'Satisfying ourselves, then, that there was an apparition, we must next inquire whether it was true Samuel or Satan. It cannot be denied but that many judge it was true Samuel, but their reasons are  weak.

[1.] That proof from Ecclesiasticus xlvi. 23, is not canonical with us.

[2.] That he was called Samuel, is of no force. Scripture often gives names of things according to their appearances.

[3.] That things future were foretold, was but from conjecture ; in which Satan yet, all things considered, had good ground for his guessing.

[4.] That the name Jehovah is oft repeated, signifies nothing. The devil is not so scarce of words. ' Jesus I know,' saith that spirit in the Acts.

[5.] That he reproved sin in Saul, is no more than what the devil doth daily to afflicted consciences in order to despair.

I must go then with those that believe this was Satan in Samuel's likeness.

[1.] Because God refused to answer Saul by prophets or Urim ; and it is too harsh to think he would send Samuel from the dead, and so answer him in an extraordinary way.

[2.] This, if it had been Samuel, would have given too much countenance to witchcraft, contrary to that check to Aliaziah, 2 Kings i. 3, ' Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub ?'

[3.] The prediction of Saul's death, though true for substance, yet failed as to the exactness of time, for the battle was not fought the next day.

[4.] The acknowledgment of the witch's power, 'Why hast thou disquieted me?' shews it could not be true Samuel, the power of witchcraft not being able to reach souls at rest with God.

[5.] That expression of ' gods ascending out of the earth,' is evidently suspicious.

The reality of apparitions being thus established, Satan's power will be easily evinced from it. To say nothing of the bodies in which spirits appear, the haunting of places and persons, and the other effects done by such appearances, speak abundantly for it. '

A difficult passage, but Gilpin makes a convincing case.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 6.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.