now, ho that hath a pone, let him take it^ and likewise Au scrip : and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accom-
plished in me. And he waa reckoned among the transgressors : for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
We learn, from these verses, ichat a fearful enemy the devil k to believers. We read that "the Lord said, Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." He was near Christ's flock, though they saw him not. He was longing to compass their ruin, though they knew it not. The wolf does not crave the blood of the lamb more than the devQ desires the destruction of souls.
The personality, activity, and power of the devil are not sufliciently thought of by Christians. This is he who brought sin into the world at the beginning, by tempting Eve. This is he who is described in the book of Job as " going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it." This is he whom our Lord caUs " the prince of this world," a "murderer" and a "liar." This is he whom Peter compares to a " roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." This is he whom John speaks of as " the accuser of the brethren." This is he who is ever working evil in the churches of Christ, catching away good seed from'the hearts of hearers, sovmig tares amidst the wheat, stirring up persecutions, suggesting false doc- trines, and fomenting divisions. The world is a snare to the believer. The flesh is a burden and a clog. But there is no enemy so dangerous as that restless, invisible, ex> perienced enemy, the devil.
If we believe the Bible, let us not be ashamed to be- lieve that there is a devil. It is an awful proof of the