2. By persecutions or afflictions. Many of Satan's temptations are conveyed by afflictions, that he may make the people of God weary of their profession, and either quit the truth or cast off their duty to him. Thus when the apostle telleth us of the devil's unwearied malice and enmity to souls, he biddeth us ' resist him steadfast in the faith, know- ing that the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren which are in the world,' 1 Peter v. 9. And again, Kev. ii. 10, ' The devil shall cast some of you into prison.' Surely they were put in prison by men, but these men were Satan's instruments. They have their hour sometimes and seasons when they work great trouble to the people of God. God doth not so altogether bind up Satan but that he suffereth him to act many strange parts in the world, either by himself imme- diately or by his instruments.
Again, our trials are the more sore because Satan hath an hand in them.
1. Not only because that is cumulative to the malice of men, or superadded to it. And so the apostle : Eph. vi. 12, 'We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wicked- nesses in high places.' Our business lietli not with men, with flesh and blood only, but with Satan. Men are but the devil's instruments. Human and bodily powers are Satan's auxiliaries, whom he stirreth up and employeth ; so that there is a double party — the visible agents, and the invisible powers by which they are assisted and acted. But —
2. There are special reasons why the devil is a more terrible and dangerous party than any human power : as partly —
[1,] Because of his great enmity to mankind, especially the redeemed by Christ ; because he looketh upon them as likely to possess the vacant places from which he and his angels are fallen. He is always called the enemy with respect to war ; adversary, or opposite litigant party, with respect to law
[2.] Partly because of his unwearied activity. He is always going about 1 Peter v. 8, ' Your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walk- eth about, seeking whom he may devour ; ' and in the book of Job, chap. i. 7, ' From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.' And —
[3.] Partly for his insatiable cruelty. His malice is bitter and extreme, ' Seeking whom he may devour.' His aim is utter ruin and damnation, to prejudice us in our eternal estate or our spiritual and heavenly concernments. It is not your temporal and bodily interests
SERMON UPON LUKE XXII. 31, 32. 401
that lie would mainly bereave you of. He can let you enjoy the plea- sures of the world that he may deprive you of your delight in God. He can be content that you shall have dignities and honours, ease and safety, so they prove a snare to you ; all is to ruin your souls. If he cannot prevail so far, yet he would thereby draw you to scandalous sins, that you may dishonour God : 2 Sam. xii. 14, ' By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme ; ' and destroy your own peace : Ps. xxxii. 3, ' My bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.'
[4.] Partly for his subtlety. He is of a spiritual nature, and so the devil is invisible both in his nature and approaches, and doth often reach us a deadly blow before we know it is he ; and he seeketh by all means to conceal himself : 2 Cor. xi. 3, ' I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve by his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ.' The devil maketh as if he meant all kindness, when he cometh to ruin and destroy souls. He playeth of all hands ; tempteth Peter to dissuade, and Judas to betray, and the high priests to persecute. He endeavoureth to keep out of sight, that he may not be seen himself in the temptation, us the fowler and hunter hide themselves till the bird or beast is gotten into the snare or toil. Alas ! little do we think the devil is so near, and hath so great an hand in the business which we are about to per- form, as we afterwards find him to be. It is not he that seemeth to do it, but such a neighbour, such a minister, or wise man.
3. Why God permitteth this. For many holy and wise reasons.
[1.] To glorify the power of his grace in preserving us : 2 Cor. xii. 9, * My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' ' Made perfect,' that is, found or discovered to be perfect ; for God's strength cannot be more perfect than it is. There are no degrees in infiniteness, much less can our weakness add anything to it. The meaning is, it is manifested to be. perfect. The greater the pressures arc, the more visible and conspicuous is the perfection of the divine assistance. More goetli to the keeping of a saint here in the world than to the preserving of an angel ; for the angels are e|&) /BiXov^, out of gunshot and harm's way, but we are making our way to heaven almost every step by conflict and conquest.