First, The adversaries ; they are mighty. They are always expressed by such notions as do im])ly great strength and power : Col. ii. 15, it is said, * He spoiled principalities and powers.' The evil angels, by reason of their power and prevalency in and with the world, are expressed by that name, ' principalities and powers.' So Eph. iv. 8, ' He led captivity captive;' that is, he captivated enemies such as are apt to bring us into bondage. It is as much as if it were said, he prevailed over victory, — he led captivity itself captive. And he is called the strong man, Luke xi. 21.
But let us a little more particularly consider the enemies, and then we shall see how much they add to the glory and renown of the con- quest.
1. There is the devil, who is a powerful adversary. He causeth great disturbance to the people of God, either to the called or uncalled. He either accuseth us, or soliciteth us to evil. He accuseth the called and converted, and so filleth their souls with disquieting, doubtful thoughts. Ay! but ' the prince of this world is judged,' John xvi. 11. God liath condemned him for an accuser ; God hath condemned him for condemning you : and when he cometh to resist you at the time you are about the work of God, judgment is passed upon the liar who would cause you to misjudge yourselves. Sometimes he soliciteth to evil; injects carnal and provoking thoughts. Ay 1 but Satan is rebuked : Zech. iii. 2, ' And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee.' There is grace to check and oj)po.se him. But Satan chiefly worketh upon the uncalled people of God — men in their unre- generacy and sinful estate ; he possesseth tlicir hearts, and ' worketh in the children of disoliedience,' Eph. ii. .3, detaining them in blind- ness, captivates and subjects them to the power of their lusts, and so by tliis means possesseth the mo.st part of the world by ignorance and superstition, or else causeth them to hold the truth in unrighteousness ;
ISA. LIII. 12.] THE FIFTT-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH. 4G3
and erects stronp^holds, partly by I'f^norance, partly by error and super- stition, and partly by lusts and violent temptations, which he darts forth that he may keep the world in his obedience. But now ' the prince of this world is cast out,' John xii. 31. Satan is dispossessed, and his power vacated, his rule disannulled. Great Pan is dead, being like Dagon brought upon his face in the presence of the ark. And so, some stories say, the idols were overturned at the time of Christ's birth. Certain we are, spiritually it is true, if not fulfilled in a literal miracle. Thus Satan is an enemy.
2. The law, that was an enemy, as it condemns us ; the law of ordinances was against us. Now Christ hath abolished it, so far as it was contrary and prejudicial to our acceptance with God, as it made for our discomfort and condemnation, and bound us to wrath, and to such obedience as could not be fulfilled by us : Col. ii. 14, ' Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.' Christ contended with the law, and took us out of the hands of it, abrogated the curse and rigour of it. Alas ! we were all a prey to the law, till Christ did arise and plead our cause, and removed the curse and the difficulties of obedience, and made the craggy hill to become a plain to us. He * slew the enmity by his cross,' Eph. ii. 16. Now, as great an enemy as the law was to us, it was by God's appointment, and it may be thought much that God should abrogate his own law. Christ was not only to deal with rebels, but with his Father's appoint- ments, that he might abolish them so far as there was any enmity and contrariety in them, to our good.
3. Death and hell. I join them both together, because the scripture doth so often. Of all enemies, these are the most potent and severe, yet are overcome by Christ. Christ, conquering the law, must needs conquer death : ' The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.' By Christ death is made a friend, as Haman served Mordecai. It doth but help us to honour and advancement : 1 Cor. XV. 54, ' Death is swallowed up in victory,' — destroyed and brought to nothing. We may outdare death, it cannot harm us, it doth but midwife us into glory. And then for hell, the mouth of it is shut up, so that it serveth only as an aggravation of our mercies : Rev. xx. 6, ' Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection ; over such the second death hath no power ;' 2 Tim. i. 10, ' He hath abolished death,' — overthrew it. When the fears of death encroach upon our spirits, you may see a stone rolled upon the mouth of hell by Jesus Christ : Rev. i. 18, ' I am alive for evermore, and have the keys of death and hell;' and Rev. xx. 14, ' Death and hell are cast into the lake of fire.' What comfort is this for those that have an interest in Christ, that Christ hath the keys of death and hell !