with us, when we read our LorcVs miracles, never to despair of the conversion of any soul.
In the second place, we see in these verses a striking exam'ple of the weakening effect of unbelief. The dis- ciples anxiously inquired of our Lord, v/hen they saw the devil yielding to his power, '^ Why could not we cast him out ?" They received an answer full of the deepest instruction — " because of your unbelief" Would they know the secret of their own sad failure in the hour of need ? It was want of faith.
Let us ponder this point well, and learn wisdom. Faith is the key to success in the Christian warfare. Unbelief is the sure road to defeat. Once let our faith languish and decay, and all our graces will languish with it. Courage, patience, long-suffering, and hope, will soon wither and dwindle away. Faith is the root on which they aU depend. The same Israelites who at one time went through the Ked Sea in triumph, at another time shrunk from danger, like cowards, when they reached the borders of the promised land. Their Grod was the same who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. Their leader was that same Moses who had wrought so many wonders before their eyes. But their faith was not the same. They gave way to shameful doubts of God's love and power. " They could not enter in be- cause of unbelief (Heb. iii. 19.)
In the last place, we see in these verses that Satan's kingdom is not to he pulled doion loithout diligence and pains. This seems to be the lesson of the verse which concludes the passage we are now considering : '' This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." A
213
gentle rebuke to the disciples appears to be implied in the words. Perhaps they had been too much lifted up by past successes. Perhaps they had been less careful in the use of means in their Master's absence, than they were under their Master's eye. At any rate they receive a plain hint from our Lord, that the warfare against Satan must never be lightly carried on. They are warned that no victories are to be won easily over the prince of this world. Without fervent prayer, and diligent self-mortification, they would often meet with faihue and defeat.
The lesson here laid down is one of deep importance. '' I would," says BuUinger, " that this part of the Gospel pleased us as much as those parts which concede liberty.'' We are all apt to contract a habit of doing religious acts in a thoughtless, perfunctory way. Like Israel, puffed up with the fall of Jericho, we are ready to say to our- selves, " The men of Ai are but few ;" (Josh. vii. 3 ;) "there is no need to put forth all our strength." Like Israel, we often learn by bitter experience, that spiritual battles are not to be won without hard fighting. The ark of the Lord must never be handled irreverently. God's work must never be carelessly done.
May we all bear in mind our Lord's words to His disci- ples, and make a practical use of them. In the pulpit, and on the platform, — in the Sunday school, and in the dis- trict,— in our use of family prayers, and in reading our own Bibles, — let us diligently watch our own spirit. Whatever we do, let us " do it with our might." (Eccles. ix. 10.) It is a fatal mistake to underrate our foes. Greater is He that is for us than he that is against us — but, for all
214