[2.] They know also that all these enemies.set upon his person in their quarrel, and as he was the great defender of the farthful: so that although they were not conquered by their persons, yet they were conquered in their cause; and they are called in to be sharers in the victory, although they were not engaged in the battle.
[3.] That he pabdacd them by.God’s ordinance and appointment, as their representative ; declaring i in his person, who is the head, what should be accomplished in every one of his members.
[4.] And that, by his personal conquest over them, he atk left them weak, maimed, disarmed, and utterly deprived’ of that power they had to hurt and destroy before he engaged with them.! -For he hath thereby deprived them, 1st, Of all their right and title to exercise their enmity against or dominion over the sons of God. Before his dealing with them, they had all right to the utmost over mankind,—Satan to rule, the world to vex, sin to enslave, death to destroy and give up unto hell. And all this right was enrolled in the law and hand-writing of ordinances which was against us. This was cancelled by Christ, and nailed to the cross, never to be pleaded more, Col. i. 14. And when any have lost their right or title unto any thing, whatever their strength be, they are greatly weakened. But he hath herein, 2dly, Deprived them of their strength also. He took away the strength of sin as a law, and the sting of death in sin, the arms of the world in the curse, and the power of Satan in his works and strongholds.
But this is not all: he not only subdues these enemies for them, but also in them and by them; for though they have neither title nor arms, yet they will try the remainder of their power against them also. But “thanks be to God,” saith the apostle, “who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Cor. xv. 57. He enables us in ow own persons to conquer all these enemies. “Nay,” saith he, “in all these things we are more than conquerors,” Rom. vill. 37; because we have more assurance of success, more assistance in the conflict, more joy in the trial, than any other conquerors have. We do not only conquer, but triumph also. For Satan, he tells believers “ that they have overcome the wicked one,” 1 John ji. 13, 14; and shows how it came to pass that they should be able
VER. 10.} EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 398
to do so. It is “ because greater is he that is in them than he that is in the world,” chap. iv. 7. The good Spirit, which he hath given unto them to help and assist them, is infinitely greater and more powerful than that evil spirit which rules in the children of disobedience. And by this means is Satan bruised even under their feet. A conflict, indeed, we must have with him; we must “wrestle with principalities and powers in heavenly places ;” but the success is secured, through the assistance we receive from this captain of our salvation.
The world also is subdued in them and by them: 1 John v. 4, “Whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Faith will do this work; it never failed in it, nor ever will. He that believeth shall overcome; the whole strength of Christ is engaged unto his assistance. Sin is the worst and most obstinate of all their ene- mies. This puts them hard to it in the battle, and makes them cry out for aid and help, Rom. vii. 24. But this also they receive strength against, so as to carry away theday. “I thank God,” saith the apostle, “through Jesus Christ our Lord,” verse 25,—namely, for deliverance and victory. Sin hath a double design in its enmity against us;—first, to reign in us; secondly, to condemn us. If it be disappointed in these designs it is absolutely conquered; and that it is by the grace of Christ. As to its reign and dominion, it is perfectly defeated for the present, Rom. vi. 14. The means of its rule is the authority of the law over us; that being removed, and our souls put under the conduct of grace, the reign of sin comes to -anend. Nor shall it condemn us, Rom. viii. 1. And what can it then do? where is the voice of this oppressor? It abides but a season, and that but to endure anddie. Death also contends against us, by its own sting and our fear; but the first, by the grace of Christ, is taken from it, and the latter we are delivered from, and so have the victory over it. And all this is the work of this captain of our salvation for us and in us.
(5.) He doth not only conquer all their enemies, but he avenges their sufferings wpon them, and punisheth them for their enmity. These enemies, though they prevail not absolutely nor finally against the sons of God, yet, by their temptations, persecutions, oppressions, they put them ofttimes to unspeakable hardships, sor- row, and trouble. This the captain of their salvation will not take at their hands, but will avenge upon them all their ungodly endea- yours, from the lowest unto the greatest and highest of them. Some he will deal withal in this world; but he hath appointed a day. wherein not one of them shall escape. See Rev. xx. 10, 14. Devil, and beast, and false prophet, and death, and hell, shall all together into the lake of fire.