(2.) Affirmatively. {1st.) It is so far broken and destroyed, that we have necessary assistance provided for us : 2 Cor. xii. 9, ' My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' Per- fect, that is, manifested to be perfect. When the world is of Satan's side, God is of our side: 2 Tim. iv. 17, 'Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me;' 1 Cor. x. 13, 'But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation make a way to escape.' (2d) The final victory is secured by promise to the striving christian : Rom. xvi. 20, 'The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.'
2. As to his interest in the corrupt world, the kingdom of Satan is more and more subdued ; for Christ must divide the spoil with the strong, Isa. liii. 12. Christ prevails upon opposition, and against oppo- sition, and by opposition. For —
[1.] Christ having a grant of a kingdom over the nations, is every way furnished with power to obtain it, by means proper to the medi- atory dispensation. His kingdom is to be a spiritual kingdom, there- fore his means are suited — his Spirit, his word, his providence.
(1.) His sweet but powerful Spirit, convincing men of the truth of his religion. And what can stand before the all- conquering force of it ? John xvi. 8-11, ' And when he is come, he shall reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment : of sin, because they believe not on me : of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more : of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.' He shall demonstrate to. the world that Christ was the Messiah ; and therefore they are guilty of gi-eat sin who will not believe on him, that he was a righteous and innocent person, and no seducer, because he rose from the dead, and went to the Father ; that he was an exalted prince above Satan, or whatever was looked upon as divine powers, because he converted most parts of the habitable world, and brought home sinners from their idolatries to repentance and change of life.
(2.) His word, which is called the * rod of his strength,' Ps. ex. 2, and the ' power of God to salvation,' Rom. i. 16. These weapons are not carnal, but mighty through God. The world cannot resist its con- vincing power : 2 Cor. x. 4, ' For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.' Those that feel it not, fear it : John iil 20, ' Every one that doeth evil
26 SERMON UPON PSALM VIII. 2.
hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.'
(3.) His providence. All judgment is put into his hands, John v. 22. All events that fall out in the world, they are not left to an uncertain contingency, but under the government of a supreme provi- dence, which is in Christ's hands.
[2.] In the external management of the mediatorial kingdom there are many vicissitudes and changes of the outward condition of the church. The harmony of providence requireth it, for the punishment of the unthankful, for the trial of the sincere, for the reward of the faithful, and destruction of the ungodly. Sometimes God doth notably defeat Satan and his instruments, and the devil's kingdom visibly goeth to wreck ; as at the first promulgation of the gospel, though the whole world lay in wickedness, and Satan everywhere had his temples wherein he was worshipped, his oracles resorted to with great rever- ence ; he ate the fat of their sacrifices, drank the wine of their drink- offerings, yea, often the blood of their sons and daughters was offered to him ; yet all his strongholds were demolished, the idols whom their fathers prayed to in their adversity and distresses, and blessed in their prosperity, are on a sudden set at nought.
[3.] Why this is great matter of praise and thankful acknowledg- ment.
(1.) Because this is the great instance of the favour Grod hath put upon man ; his dignifying of them above other creatures ; that he would not wholly desert us in our fallen estate, when the devil had overthrown us by sin ; that the Son of God must come from heaven to deliver us from the bondage Satan had led us into. There was <f>iXav6pco'jna, ' a love to man,' in our redemption : Titus iii. 4, ' After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared.' Surely this is a great mystery, 1 Tim. iii. 16. Christ made man, died for men, rose again, carried our nature into heaven, reigneth there over all his enemies as God incarnate. What will raise your hearts in thanksgiving, if these things do not ? They are plain points ; they need no descants, more than a diamond doth painting.
(2.) The many benefits that result to us thereby.
(ist.) A capacity to serve and please God ; the most considerable part of the creation had been else out of joint. God was robbed of the use and service of mankind : Luke i. 74, 75, ' That he would grant unto us that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.' We were, in our natural estate, governed and ruled by Satan, Eph. ii. 3, 4, easily taken captive by him, working upon the desires of our flesh, 2 Tim.'ii. 26. We had no remorse for it, nor desire to change our condition, Luke xi. 21, 22 ; all was in a sinful quiet and peace, as when wind and tide go together ; but now this carnal security is disturbed, we are recovered and changed, and made meet to serve and please God.