(2.) Idolatry. This was his first and great endeavour for perverting the world, to bring men to worship another god, or the true God by an idol. The devil is etBcoXoxapv^f ^ delighter in idols.* He was the con- triver of the idols of the gentiles ; therefore they are said to ' sacri- fice their sons and daughters unto devils,' Ps. cvi. 37 ; and Deut. xxxii. 17, ' They sacrificed unto devils, and not unto God.' They meant it to God, but the Lord saith it was to devils. Aaron saith to Jehovah ;
* Synecius.
SERMON UPON JOSHUA VI. 26. 33
SO saith Jeroboam. Now, where the devil can get such a party in the church as shall not onl)' set up, but be mad upon image- worship, who do more visibly promote his interest than they ?
(3.) That which is ascribed to Satan is bloody cruelty, or seeking the destruction of Christ's most faithful servants ; for he is called * a murderer from the beginning ' John viii. 44 ; and Cain is said to be of that ' wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him ? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous,' 1 John iii. 12. Enmity to the power of godliness came from Satan ; and wherever it is encouraged and notoriously practised, they are a party and confederacy of men governed and influenced by Satan. Now where shall we find this character but in anti- christ's confederacy? Eev. xiii. 15, 'He caused that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed ; ' and again, Eev. xvii. 5, 6, the woman whose name was Mystery was ' drunken with the blood of the saints, and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.' And it hath been eminently fulfilled in the bloodshed of Germany, France, England, and other nations ; and all this to extinguish the light and suppress the truth of Christ. Oh, how many seeming christians hath Satan employed in these works of cruelty ! When once he had seduced the church to errors, and corrupted the doctrine and worship of Christ, he presently maketh the erroneous party instruments of as cruel and bloody persecutions as were ever commenced by infidels and Mahome- tans. Witness their murders upon so many thousands of the Walden- ses and Albigenses, whom they not only spoiled, but slaughtered with all manner of hellish cruelty. Some of their own bishops complained they could not find lime and stone enough to build prisons for them, nor defray the charges of their food. The world was even amazed at their unheard of cruelties ; smoking and burning thousands of men, women, and children, some in caves, others at the stake ; and many other ways butchering them, proclaiming crusades against them, and preaching the merit of paradise to such bloody butchers as had a mind to root them out ; driving also multitudes to perish in snowy moun- tains. What desolations they wrought in Bohemia ; what horrible massacres in France ! What fires they kindled in England ; what cruelties they executed in Ireland and Piedmont ! If we should be silent, history will speak, and tell all generations to come how little this faction of christians have of the lamb-like spirit of Christ Jesus, and how insatiable their thirst is for the blood of upright righteous men. And then consider where the satanical spirit ruleth, and whether we have cause to be enamoured of blood, and fire, and inquisitions ?
(4.) That which is ascribed to Satan is that he is ' the god of this world,' 2 Cor. iv. 4 ; and again, the ' prince of this world,' John xii. 31, John xvi. 11. He playeth the god and prince here, and sensual and worldly souls are easily seduced by him. The riches, honours, and wealth of this world are the great instruments of his kingdom ; and the men of this world, whose portion is in this life, are his proper subjects. As Christ is head of the saints, so is Satan of the wicked, ungodly, am- bitious world. St Austin distinguisheth of two cities — of Jerusalem the city of God, and Babylon which is the incorporation which belong- eth to Satan. And therefore, when you find any party of christians who
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34 SERMON UPON JOSHUA VI. 26.
* are of the world, speak of the world, and the world heareth them,' 1 John iv. 5, they that are to try the spirits may soon see what to choose and what to forsake. Certainly the case is not doubtful where the head of that state, without any warrant from Christ, and with the ap- parent detriment and loss of Christianity, exalteth himself above all that is called God, and affecteth an ambitious tyranny and domineering over the christian world, both princes, pastors, and people ; and to uphold this tyrann)'-, careth not what havoc he maketh of the churches of Christ ; and where the whole frame of their religion is calculated for secular honour, worldly pomp, and greatness.
3. That it is God's purpose to set up one kingdom and demolish the other, not only in the hearts of particular men, but in kingdoms and nations and public societies. Jesus Christ was appointed to be not only ' king of saints,' Rev. xv. 3, but ' king of nations,' Jer. x. 7 ; and therefore not only erect to himself a throne and a government in the hearts of his people, but to have his religion owned and countenanced, and supported by nations and kingdoms and public societies of men. When Christ was promised to Abraham, it was said, Gen. xviii. 18, ' All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him ; ' not only persons, but nations. So Isa. Iv. 5, ' Nations that knew not thee shall run to thee ; ' Isa. Ix. 12, ' The nations and kingdoms that would not serve thee shall perish ; ' Rev. xi. 15, ' The kingdoms of the world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.' When Christ sent abroad the apostles, he said, Mat. xxviii. 19, ' Go, teach all nations.' They were not only to gain upon single persons, but bring nations to a public owning of Christ. There is a personal acknowledgment of Christ when we receive him into our hearts : John i. 12, ' To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.* An ecclesiastical acknowledgment of Christ, when the church as a society is in visible covenant with him : Ezek. xvi. 8, ' I sware unto thee, and entered into covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.' A national acknowledgment of Christ, when his religion is countenanced and suj)ported by nations, and befriended with the laws and constitutions of civil government. This is a great advantage. Christ prayed for it : John xvii, 21, 23, 'That they may all be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us : that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one ; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.' By believing there is meant common conviction. He had promised it before : John xvi. 8, ' When he is comS^ he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judg- ment.' It is a great advantage when the potentates of the earth set open the doors to Christ, and are careful of his interest in the world.