My loss was not through them, so their
restoration does not grieve me; only that fallen man will be restored and
not I."
"Thou deservest to grieve, tissue of lies that thou art!" exclaimed our
Savior. "Thou boastest of being released from Hell and permitted to come
into Heaven. No joy hast thou there! Thy own malice moved thee to torture
Job. Brag not of thy lies, thy oracles for men. Henceforth oracles are
dumb, since God has sent his living oracle into the world to teach the
truth."
Satan, though angry, still dissembled.
"Accuse me, reprove me, if thou wilt. Fallen as I am, I still love to hear
the truth fall from thy lips."
Unmoved by his false words the Savior of men declared that he neither
forbade nor invited his presence, and Satan, bowing low, disappeared as
night fell over the desert.
In the mean time, those at Bethabara who had rejoiced at the declaration
of John and had talked with the Messiah, were deeply grieved to find him
gone and with him their hope of deliverance. His mother, too, was troubled
at his absence, but comforted herself with the thought of his former
absences, afterwards explained.
Satan, hastening from the desert, sought his troop of evil spirits to warn
them that his undertaking was no easy one, and to summon them to his
assistance.
Night fell on the Son of God, still fasting, wondering what would be the
end.
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