scarcely any form of seductive error that you might not develope by combining in different proportions those three most dangerous spirits.  Thus it follows that, though a person may be well on his guard against one, he may be gradually entangled by the other two; and though he may be on the watch against all in their distinct and separate forms, he may be drawn out of a straight path by a beautiful combination of the three, in which, according to St. Paul’s illustration, Satan has transformed himself into an angel of light.

(3.)  The result of the action of these spirits in conflict.  Verse 14,—‘For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty.’

Their special object appears to be to gather together the kings to the battle of the great day of God Almighty; and in studying the prophecy it is impossible to forget the political difficulties that have already arisen from the decline of Turkey.  But we must not limit the prophecy to kings, for the warning voice of verse 15 clearly applies to us all.  Kings are not the only persons who find it necessary to watch and keep their garments.  These spirits, then, are predicted as gathering men together for battle.  When they are abroad truth and error will be thrown into antagonism.  The Lord Jesus Christ will be collecting His forces, and Satan his: there will be on both sides the mustering of the host.  Those that are on the side of the Lamb will rally round His banner, ‘called, and chosen, and faithful;’ and those that are under the influence of any of the seductive spirits will throw themselves into the ranks of open opposition.  The characteristic of the day will be, not sloth or indifference, but zeal, eagerness, and conflict.

Now no one can have watched the progress of men’s minds during the last half century without observing that this has been most remarkably the case.  There cannot be a doubt as to the fact that, while the Turkish power has been declining, the powers of good and evil throughout Christendom have been awakening into life.  The two processes have gone on side by side.  Turkey has been drying up, and almost every state in Europe has been aroused to religious conflict.  Many amongst us have been able to trace the vast change that has taken place during our own lifetimes.  I can see myself an immense difference between the state of things when I commenced my ministry forty years ago, and the state of things now.  Then the characteristic of the day was stagnation, but now it is conflict.  Then our warfare was against cold, dull, dead, stolid indifference; but now error in every shape is in full activity, and we require to be armed at all points against every species of attack.  Then all that unconverted men desired was to be left undisturbed in the deep sleep that had settled down on their souls.  But they are all awake now, and the cry is ‘To arms!’  Many, alas! are on the wrong side.  Far too many have fallen under the fatal influence of these seducing spirits; but, whether on the wrong side or the right, they are awake.  They are up, and hurrying to their post.  The time for sleep is over; the bugle has sounded, the ranks are forming, the struggle has begun, and the time is come when those who know their Saviour must be prepared to stand with a holy decision on His side.

II.  And now you can see the overwhelming importance of the warning of this verse: ‘Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.’  You can see that the exhaustion of Turkey is a conspicuous signal from God to arouse all Christendom to watchfulness.  We cannot see the three unclean spirits coming forth, but we can see Turkey decaying; and that is God’s visible signal that the invisible spirits are at work.  If ever, therefore, there was a time for especial watchfulness it is now.  If ever there was a time when our young people require to be cautioned, and warned, and helped, and guided, it is now.  And you will observe that the warning is given to those who have some garments.  It is not spoken to the heathen, or unconverted worldlings; but to those who have, what I may term, some sort of Christian clothing.  I have not time to discuss what that clothing is.  It may be their baptismal robe, that which they put on when they were baptized into Christ.  It may be the robe of their Christian profession, that which they wear habitually in daily life; or it may even be that spotless robe washed white in the blood of the Lamb, in which alone they can stand before God, the wedding garment of the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In whatever sense we understand the expression, the solemn and sacred warning from God to every one of us, both old and young, is the same; viz. that we watch and keep our garments, lest we walk naked, and they see our shame.  We see the Euphrates drying up, and therefore we know that the evil spirits are abroad.  We know, i.e. that there are subtle, deadly influences all around us, of various kinds and characters, whose object is to draw us away from the simplicity that is in Christ, to strip us of our garments, and to enlist us on the wrong side of the struggle.  We may not be aware of their stealthy approach; and we are not likely to be so, for we are certain not to see them.  We need not necessarily be shocked by their suggestions, for, though they be unclean spirits, they can clothe their temptation in the form of beauty.  But, whether we detect them or not, we may be sure they are at work, and in full activity.  They are moving with stealthy steps in the midst of us.  They are approaching our minds in secret, disturbing prayer, suggesting doubts, weakening faith, poisoning thought, alienating love, and so labouring by subtle, mental influence, to detach us from Christ.  And only think what the result would be if they were to succeed; nothing less than this, that we should walk naked and they would see our shame.  It is not clear who is meant by the ‘they’ that are to see the shame.  It may be the world at large, or it may be the very spirits that have done the mischief, looking on with a fiendish smile on the misery and nakedness of the poor wretch whom they have ruined.  But it matters not who sees it; that will make very little difference.  To be naked before God, that is enough.  He is sure to see it, and the dreadful horrors of such a position far exceed any power of human imagination.  You remember how St. Paul spoke of it in 2 Cor. v. 3: ‘If so be that being clothed’ (clothed, i.e. with the resurrection body) ‘we shall not be found naked.’  Clothed, but yet naked.  Risen, but not covered.  Alive with all the realities of the body, and all the faculties of the mind, memory, and conscience; but with the poor soul naked, without a claim, without an excuse, without an atonement, without a plea, without a Saviour, without any hope for all eternity of either concealment or forgiveness.  The thought is too dreadful to be borne.  Oh, may God in mercy grant that not one of us, and not one whom we love, may be found naked in that day!  And oh! what an inexpressible joy it is for the child of God, however weak, however unworthy, however unable to cope