252 SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15.
Whilst any of these remain, Satan hath some power ; and all these Christ came to dissolve, but by several means and at several times.
[1.] The devil's power lieth in the corruption of v'>ur natures ; for men continuing in the apostasy from God are of Satan's party : Eph. ii. 1-3, ' And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins : wherein in time past ye walked, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience ; among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind.' This was the power that Satan had over us, to rule us and govern us by the lusts of the flesh. This was our daily walk and trade, without any remorse for it, or any desire to change our condition. And we are the more confirmed in it by the general and corrupt example of those among whom we live. Now, whilst we follow these sinful motions and suggestions, Satan is our prince and God ; the corrupt nature makethus readily to entertain his motions, and we ' are taken captive by him at his will and pleasure,' 2 Tim. ii. 26.
Now how doth Christ take away this power ?
I answer — By converting grace, which is not only a turning from sin to God, but from Satan to God : Acts xxvi. 18, ' To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God ; ' whereby the reign of sin is broken ; for as long as sin reigneth, Satan is in peaceable possession: Luke xi. 21, 'When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace ; ' and the devil, who hath lost his seat in heaven, hath still a throne in the hearts of men, and lords it over them as his slaves. Now the reign of sin is broken when Christ puts an enmity into your hearts against it : ' I will put enmity between thy seed and her seed ; ' for sin dieth as your love to it dieth, and is mortified and subdued as your enmity increaseth. Well, then, they that are converted to God are possessed with a spirit of enmity to Satan and his ways, such as they had not before whilst they remained in the degenerate estate. Therefore it is said, Ezek. xxxvi. 26, ' A new heart will I also give to you, and a new spirit will I put within you ; ' such as none else have till the Kedeemer work upon them : 1 Cor. ii. 12, ' We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God.' The spirit which possesseth the generality of men is the worldly spirit that inclineth to earthly and sensual sat- isfactions; but this Spirit maketh them look after the great things promised by Christ, and the great things required by Christ ; in short, a spirit quite opposite to the satanical spirit. The satanical spirit is contrary to God and man. To God: Col. i. 21, 'And you that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.' To man : James iv. 5, ' Tlie spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.' But this spirit begetteth in us love to God and man, that we may seek his glory and the good of others. Now till this spirit be planted in us, we have not changed parties and masters. The being of sin is found in all, but the reign only in the unconverted ; therefore the reign of sin must be broken by the dwell- ing of this spirit in us. Sin will put strongly for the throne again, but you must pray earnestly : Ps. cxix. 133, ' Order my steps in thy word ;
SERMON UPON GENESIS III. 15. 253
and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.' And watch con- stantly, as ever mindful of your baptismal vow and covenant : Eom. vi. 11, ' Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' And then you will find Christ overcoming more and more the satanical spirit, and enlarg- ing you into the liberty of God's children.
[2.] The guilt of sin, which is an obligation to punishment, and arisetli from the sentence of condemnation pronounced by the law against sinners. Our misery ariseth first from the violation of the piecept of the law, and then from the sanction and penalty threatened. And so also therein lieth Satan's power, as we are obnoxious to the wrath of God ; for therein he is the minister and executioner of death, as God maketh use of all his creatures according to their inclination. And so this wrathful revengeful creature is the instrument of his wrath. He hath an advantage against us by the law of God, the precepts whereof we have broken, and so incurred the penalty ; and so Satan cometh on as one that hath the power of death. Those obstinate and careless souls who refuse the government of the Lord's gi-ace and spirit are put into his hands ; as ' when the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him,' 1 Sam. xvi. 14. He doth or may terrify and afright the consciences of men with the dread- ful expectation of death and the consequences of it, especially the sick and the dying. He that formerly tempted then beginneth to trouble ; and he that formerly showed you the pleasant baits of sin will then show you the hook ; he who now representeth pardon easy, will then represent it as impossible. And when death cometh, he hath power to hale away the sinner to torments ; for as the good angels carry the souls of the faithful to Christ, Luke xvi. 22, 23, so probably the devil hath a power to carry them to hell. Now, as the devil hath this power of death, he bringeth men into sin that he may bring them into terror. Yea, Satan hath a great hand in the troubles of conscience which befall God's children.