in the wilderness and then the devil, when vanquifhed and obliged to retire, departed only "for a feafon *." Probably, the attack was renewed, though without fuccefs. Jefus obferved to his enemies, near the clofe of his life, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness +:" whence it fhould feem, that Satan was then permitted to make his fierceft onset, and try what his malice could do. But, with a reference to that onfet, the Saviour exclaimed in a delightful exultation, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in met." The foe, indeed, fo far prevailed, as to procure the crucifixion, in which perhaps he triumphed as the completion of his wishes ; but that event proved the ruin of his own kingdom. We are encouraged to rejoice, that our victorious Redeemer "through death deftroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil §. Confiftently with his character as "the enemy of all righteoufnefs," Satan has uniformly endeavoured to obftruct the Gofpel. This being the most effectual inftrument for "the pulling down of his ftrong holds," and the emancipation of his captives, he may be expected to oppose it with all his ftrength and fubtlety. Wherever, therefore, the word of grace and falvation is preached, he watches for an opportunity to prevent its fuccefs. Like a bird of the air, he hovers about the place, in which the good feed is fown, that he may take it out of men's hearts, "left they fhould believe and be faved ." He is the enemy, which foweth tares in the field with a view to defeat the defigns of its proprietor +. If we are favoured with an evangelical miniftry, the confideration of fuch a malicious intruder fhould awaken a holy circumfpection and fear. As it is his plan to keep us in ignorance and unbelief, he will endeavour to caft reproach upon Luke iv. 13. † xxii. 53. John xiv. 30. § Heb. ii. 14. the the truth, and fill our minds with prejudice. Let us fufpect and guard against his influence. The most violent perfecutors of the Church are his inftruments: he affifts them in the contrivance and execution of their schemes. Accordingly, the imprisonment of the faints is afcribed to him, because it is effected under his inftigation. He is active, likewife, in promoting falte doctrines and divifions among Chriftians, as the probable means of obstructing the work of God. How folicitous fhould we be, left through our folly or perverfenefs" he get an advantage of us!" We ought to be conftantly aware of his devices +." Thofe, who are rescued from his dominion, and devoted to the fervice of Chrift, muft look for a fevere attack, fince the tyrant will not quietly refign his prey. Young converts, therefore, generally experience a peculiar degree of his malice. He feems to practise upon them every method of temptation, by which he may ibake their religious principles, and fubject them again to his own authority. When thefe fail, and they, who were once his willing captives, are evidently brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God, then indeed the power of the ufurper is broken, but his enmity remains the fame. He will continually endeavour to difturb the peace of believers, and diftrefs thofe whom he cannot de. ftroy. This malignant influence alone will account for the ftrange cominotions, which are excited in their minds. Difficulties, doubts, and fears are suggested, by which their faith is ftaggered; and with a kind of violent importunity they are folicited to act in oppofition to their better judgment and defires. Such is the warfare, which they must be prepared to maintain through life. Satan is a restless opponent, and therefore, when one fcheme fails, he will try the effect of another. Accordingly, it is found, that he is con Rev. ii. 10. † 2 Cor. ii. 11. ftantly ftantly aiming to harafs and feduce the fervants of the Lord by fome new device, and that with every fresh circumftance he varies his mode of attack. He it was, who tempted David to tranfgrefs, probably through motives of ambition, by numbering the people. By his malevolent interference, Job, that eminent faint of God, was reduced to a state of extreme diftrefs, confufion, and horror. When "Jofhua the high pricft," as the reprefentative of the Church, "tood before the Angel of the Lord," pleading for acceptance, "Satan ftood at his right hand to refift him t." This is a ftriking picture of our adverfary's employment: for he is the accufer of our brethren, who accufeth them before our God. day and night t." The Apoftles of Chrift were once induced to forfake their Lord; but he himself accounted for that strange event, when he faid, " Satan hath defired to have you, that he may fift you as wheat §." St. Paul was perplexed and almoft overwhelmed by a fevere affliction, which he calls "a thorn in the flesh;" but the fharpnefs of the trial was owing to the influence of this wicked fpirit: it was "the meffenger of Satan to buffet him." After fuch inftances, who fhall expect to escape an attack ? Every believer is called to be a foldier, and exprefsly required to be prepared for the combat, by "putting on the whole armour of God," in order "to ftand against the wiles of the devil 4." It is spoken of as probable, that the foe may shoot his "fiery darts" into the foul but an affurance is given, that " the fhield of faith" will quench them **. There is therefore only one method of fafety; "Refift the devil, and he will flee from you ‡‡.” It should be remembered, that, notwithstanding the Rev. xii. 10. + Eph. vi. II. power power of the tempter, our moral liberty is not fo impaired, as to render us in any degree the lefs accountable for our actions. He may propose the commiffion of fin, and folicit our compliance; but he cannot fucceed, except by our own voluntary confent. Yet, alas! how prone we are to yield to his fuggeftions! Such is the depravity of our nature, that it is always ready to fecond his attempts; and therefore his afcendancy over us will not furnish us with an excufe: nay rather, it fhews the greatness of our guilt. We are his willing vaffals; and his fervice, though moft oppreffive, is what we choose. We muft blame him, but we cannot acquit ourfelves. Let us lie down afhamed, and earnestly deprecate that wrath, which we have deserved. In attending to the scriptural declarations concerning apoftate fpirits, we have only to remark further III. Their future doom. They are already configned to a state of extreme punishment, as the due reward of their tranfgreffion, without hope of deliverance. Their character and fituation are fixed and determined for ever. A Saviour is provided for us, but not for them: and yet there was nothing in our cafe, any more than in their's, which could encourage an expectation of forgivenefs. Criminals can have no claim to favour. Here, then, we behold the aftonishing grace and diftinguishing love of our Redeemer. They are dealt with in the way of ftrict juftice, and cannot therefore complain of fuffering wrongfully. But rich mercy is displayed towards our fpecies. The Lord Jefus "took not on him the nature of angels," he did not interpofe for the rescue of those miserable beings, who were once angels in heaven; "but he took on him the feed of Abraham," pledging himself for the falvation of all those of the human race, who fhould partake of that Patriarch's faith*. *Heb. ii. 16. The The prefent fyftem exhibits a conflict between the evil fpirits and our exalted Redeemer: but it is drawing to a close, and the final iffue will be for his glory and their everlafting confufion. In the profpect of this complete victory, Jefus exclaimed, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven *." And again, "Now fhall the prince of this world be caft out f.' St. Paul alfo thus encourages believers to triumph on the fame account, "The God of peace fhall bruise Satan under your feet fhortly." The malignant fiend will be permitted to maintain his influence among men a little longer. But the time is coming, when he shall be bound for a thousand years §, and during that period confined to his own place, without exercifing the destructive power upon earth, which he now poffeffes. His dominion fhall be fubdued, and "the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chrift ." Afterwards, he fhall be fuffered to regain his afcendancy for a fhort feafon, in which, as it fhould feem, iniquity will prevail more generally than it has ever done 4. But "the end of all things" will immediately fucceed, and exhibit a tremendous scene. Satan and his vile affociates will be fummoned to the tribunal of Chrift, and examined in the laft judgment; by which the malignity of their characters and the juftice of their punishment will be publicly evinced. They are now "referved in everlasting chains under dark nefs," and there can be no poffibility of escape but they will be brought forth to the judgment of the great day,**" that their conduct may be fubmitted to the infpection of the affembled univerfe. The horrid ftratagems, by which they deceive the world and harafs the Church of God, will then be unfolded, and greatly aggravate their condemna * Luke x. 18. † John xii. 31. X Rom. xv. 20. § Rev. xx. 2. **Jude 6. VOL. IV. tion. |