[2.] By faith we believe that God is true in all the promises of the gospel ; and so temptations are defeated, whether they tend to atheism, blasphemy, unbelief, despair, or any sensual practice. Man fell at first by believing the devil rather than God, Gen. iii. 3 ; and we stand now by believing God rather than the devil. When we are tempted to any unworthy thoughts of God, or un.seemly practices against him, while we keep close to his word, because God cannot lie, this giveth us victory.
[3.] And by faith we set the merit and power of Christ a-work for us, and so are encouraged to make resistance. Satan is not only called 0 i-^dph^, the enemy, that assaults by strength and force, but 6 uvTihiKO'^, our adversary, 1 Peter ver. 8, in point of law and right, he is both a tempter and an accuser. Now in point of law Satan would carry it against all that come of Adam, were it not that Christ hath freed us from the curse of the law. Now without faith we are destitute of Christ's imputed righteousness ; for that is ' unto all, and upon all them that believe,' Rom. iii. 22. And only received by faith : Phil. iii. 9. 'And be found in him, not having our own righteous- ness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.' And so we are not only exposed to the dint of sin-pursuing justice, or the wrath of God : John iii. 36, ' He that believelh not the Son, hath not life, but the wrath of God abideth on him ; ' but to all the bitter accusations and challenges of the devil our adversary. But when we are possessed of it by faith, then, ' Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect ? it is Christ that justifieth,' Eom. viii. 33. We may silence Satan by the righteousness of Christ. Again, as he opposeth by strength and power, faith engageth the power of God on our behalf : Eph. vi. 10, ' Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.' Without this, if we stand by our single strength, we are exposed as a prey to every temptation ; but when we set Christ against the tempter, we are not so weak in the Lands of Satan as Satan is in the hands of Christ. He that sideth
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with US against Satan hath an ahsolute command over him. If he will be our second, why should we fear ? Satan hath no more power in him than any other creature, which may be taken away at God's pleasure, and is in the meantime hmited by him. The unclean spirits obeyed Christ in his lifetime upon earth, Mark i. 27 ; if Christ do but say the word, at his rebuke they vanish.
Well then, yon see temptations from Satan must be, will be ; and the means to resist him is not by spells, but by faith, or confidence in the death, intercession, and power of Christ. This evil spirit is not driven away with crosses, and holy water, and charms, and relics, but by a steadfast faith in Christ, according to the promises of the gospel :
II. Having showed the necessity of living by faith in an hour of temptation, I now come to show what are the grounds, pro])s, and supports of faith against Satan's temptations.
1. Christ's victory over Satan. Christ hath obtained a fourfold vic- tory over Satan, all which doth encourage our faith.
[1.] By his personal conflict with him in his own temptations. Jesus Christ himself was tempted, Mat. iv. and therefore we should not be dismayed when we are tempted. It becomes good soldiers to follow the captain of their salvation ; he is the more likely to pity and succour us : Heb. ii. 18, ' For that himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted ; ' as a man troubled with the stone, or gout, his heart is entendered to pity others labouring under the same exquisite and racking pains; as Israel was to pity strangers, because they themselves were once in the same condition. Non ignara mail, miseris succurrere disco. He hath pulled out the sting of temptations by submitting to be tempted in his own person. He sanctified every condition that he passed through : his dying hath pulled out the sting of death ; so his being tempted hath made that condition the more comportable. He hath directed us how to stand out, and by what kind of weapons we are to foil Satan. He that is a pattern in doing and suffering is also a pattern in resisting ; and not only so, but he hath overcome Satan. Our general in whose quarrel we are engaged, hath already vanquished Satan ; he got his victory over Satan for us. Christus diabolum vicit, saith Austin, et pro te vicit, et tibi vicit, et in te vicit. Christ hath beaten Satan to our hands. Christ's victory over Satan, though it be by himself, yet it is not for himself, but for his members, that we may have the victory over him, and comfort in all our temptations ; as lie hath shown us the way to fight, so he hath assured us of the victory, that we shall overcome.