2. The connection may be conceived thus : If you would submit to God, you must beware of those proud suggestions wherewith Satan would puff up your spirits. The note is : —
OIjs. That one of Satan's chief temptations is pride. Therefore, when the apostle speaketh of submi.ssion, he presently addeth, * resist the devil.' By this Satan fell himself; therefore it is called ' the con- demnation of the devil.' That is the cause for which the devil was cast out of heaven. He would fain have more company, and draw us into his own snare. It is a bait soon swallowed, it is natural to us. Our parents catched at that, ' Ye shall be as gods.' He off'ered to tempt Christ himself to a vainglorious action. Certainly we all desire to be set on high ])innacles, thougli we run the hazard of a fall. We had need, then, to be the more watchful against such thoughts and insinuations. Places liable to a.ssault have usually the greatest guard. And we may admire the wisdom of God, who can overcome Satan by Satan. Satan's messenger wherewith Paul was buffeted was to cure his pride, 2 Cor. xii. 7.
3. It may be the occasion of the direction in this ])lace was only thus : He having told them what submission is required, he would also tell them what resistance is lawful. You must submit to God, but not to Satan. Tiie scriptures, that they may speak with clearness and distinction, use thus to make exception of necessary duties. So 1 Cor. xiv, 20, ' In malice be ye children, but in understanding be ye
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men;' so Eom. xvi. 19, *I would have you wise concerning that which is good, but simple in what is evil.' Which are speeches much suiting with this of the apostle : You must submit, and yet resist, &c.
Obs. 1. But to the words ; resist the devil. Observe, instead of carnal lusts, he mentioneth Satan. The apostle doth not say, ' resist sin,' but ' resist Satan.' Observe, that Satan hath a great hand and stroke in all sins. Survey the pedigree of sin, and you shall see it may call the devil father. Carnal desires are called ' his lusts,' John viii. 44. And it is said, ' Whatever is more is e/c Trovrjpov, from the evil one,' Mat. V. 37 ; that is, from the devil. Giving place to anger is, in the apostle's language, ' giving place to Satan,' Eph. iv. 26, 27. Survey the iniquities of every age, and is not Satan's hand in all this ? Because our first parents brought death into the world by his suggestion, as also because of the act of Cain, he is called ' a murderer from the be- ginning,' John viii. It is said of Judas's treason against Christ, John xiii. 2, ' The devil put it into his heart.' So too Ananias, Acts v. 3, ' Why hath Satan put it into thy heart to lie ? ' So 1 Chron. xxi. 1, * Satan provoked David to number the people.' So Mat. xvi. 23, ' Get thee behind me, Satan.' The heathen, who understood not the opera- tion of the devil, thought all our conflicts were against internal pas- sions. Now the apostle is clear that we fight not only against lusts and carnal desires, * but spiritual wickednesses in high places, and principalities, and powers,' &c., which argueth the fight to be the more sore. Sometimes the devil beginneth the temptation, sometimes we. He began with Judas ; he ' put it into his heart' by the injection and immission of evil thoughts. At other times, our own corruption working freely, the devil may adjoin himself. As Zanard speaketh of the outward power of the devil over tempests; sometimes he may raise the matter, at other times, the matter being prepared, Satan may adjoin himself, and make the tempest more impetuous. Well, then, all sin being from the devil, as we defy him, let us * defy his works ' and lusts too. We defy Satan as the pursuivant of divine justice, but we honour him as head of the carnal state. We love his lusts, and so call him father, and keep the crown upon his head. Many rail on him, and yet honour him. Though he be a proud spirit, he careth not for praise or dispraise. All his aim is at homage and obe- dience ; so he may engross our spiritual respects, other things do not move him. As Christ loveth not a glavering respect when we violate his laws, so Satan is not exasperated with ill language. His policy is to blind the mind, and carry on his kingdom covertly in the dark- ness of this world. Every sinner is really the devil's drudge.
Obs. 2. Again, from the nature of the duty pressed, that it is the duty of Christians to resist Satan. The point is of great use in the Christian life, and a subject in which many men of note and eminency in the church of God have travelled. But you know under the law rich men were to leave their gleanings for the poor ; therefore we may come and glean up something after the reapers. Possibly, as Boaz did for Euth, they might let fall some handfuls, Kutli ii. 16, of purpose for others' diligence and industry. I shall endeavour to open four thing's : —