I observe here —
1. Two opposite powers and agents — the devil and the Son of God. The devil sought the misery and destruction of mankind, but Christ sought our salvation. Satan is the great disturber of the creation, and Christ is the repairer of it. This malicious cruel spirit ruined mankind at first, and therefore he is called a liar and a murderer from the beginning, John viii. 44 ; and Christ, as early promised and prefigured, is said to be ' the Lamb slain from the founda- tion of the world,' Eev. xiii. 8. We were at first ruined by hearkening to his counsels and suggestions, as we are now saved by faith in Christ. By his lies he deceived our first parents, and induced them to sin, and so we are made liable to death ; and so by Christ's truth we are led into the way of salvation. All persons were corrupted and out of frame by the fall of man, through the suggestion of Satan, and are set in joint again by Jesus Christ. The devil is still ' a roaring lion, going about seeking whom he may devour,' 1 Peter v. 8; and Christ is the lion of the tribe of Judah, in whom is our safety and preservation, Kev. V. 5. The devil is wholly employed to oppose the work of man's salvation and to bring us into sin and misery, and Christ is employed to preserve the elect, and keep them in his own hand. The devil is an accuser of the brethren, Rev. xii. 10, and Christ is an advocate: 1 John ii. 1, 'We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' In short, we must set the one against the other, the captain of our salvation against the author of our destruction.
2. Let us consider the advantage that we have by the one above the
YkII. 8.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 51
other, and you will find that Christ is much more able to save than Satan to destroy.
[1,] The devil is a creature, but Christ the sovereign Lord, who hath power over him and all creatures. The devil's tempting is by leave. He was fain to beg leave to tempt Job, chap. i. 12 ; to winnow Peter, Luke xxii. 31, 'Satan hath desired to winnow and sift you as wheat.' Nay, he could not enter into the herd of swine without a new patent or pass from Christ, Mat. viii. 31. This cruel spirit is held in the chains of an irresistible providence. When we are in Satan's hands, it is a great satisfaction to remember that Satan is in God's hands.
[2.] The devil is a rebel and a usurper for the most part, but Christ is our appointed remedy : John iii. 16, 'He gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have ever- lasting life ; ' Eom. iii. 25, ' Whom God hath set forth to be a pro- pitiation, through faith in his blood.'
[3.] The devil hath no power upon the heart, cannot work any change upon the will, or create new principles and habits which before were not, as God doth, Jer. xxxi. 33. God can put his law into our inward parts, and write it on our hearts. He can only propound alluring baits and objects to the outward senses or inward fancy, but God worketh immediately upon the heart ; therefore by the power of Christ the godly may overcome the wicked one. The Lord puts an enmity in our hearts against Satan and his ways and counsels : Gen. iii. 15, ' And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and be- tween thy seed and her seed.' It is put by way of eflficacy on the one side, and allowed on the other by way of permissive intention. God maketh use of our will and affections in this opposition. Enmity is the voluntary and strong motion of the mind of man against that which he hateth.
[4.] The devil only maketh use of the root of sin which is in us by nature, and prevaileth by his assiduous diligence, multiplying tempta- tions without intermission. But yet we have more for us than against us, if we consider that Christ hath power enough to deal with Satan ; he is overmatched and overmastered by Christ, the stronger than he, Luke xi. 22. Merit enough to counterbalance the evil of nature. There is much more in the grace of the Redeemer : Eom. v. 17, ' For if by one man's offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Christ Jesus.' Then for his assiduity, Ciuist hath love enough to attend and mind the affairs of his people. It is true Satan is always blowing the bellows, inflaming our corruptions, suggesting wicked temptations ; but doth not Christ still make intercession for us ? Is not his Spirit as watchful in our hearts to maintain his interest there? So that if we believe that Christ hath power enough, merit enough, love enough, surely the case is clear ; the Son of God will have the better in all in whom he is pleased to work.
3. That all mankind by nature lieth in wickedness, and sin and Satan workelh in them at his pleasure, and therefore Satan is called the prince and god of this world : Eph. vi. 12, ' Rulers of the darkness of this world.' He is the prince and ruler of those that live in sin, darkness, ignorance of God, and superstition, and exerciseth a tyranny