temple, if peradventure he might thus induce him, under an idea of trusting in God, to destroy himself. Afterwards he stirred up Peter to dissuade him from executing the work he had undertaken ; saying, " Master, spare thyself." When he could not prevail in any of these ways, he put it into the heart of Judas to betray him, and stirred up all the Priests and Elders to put him to death. In like manner has this wicked adversary still prosecuted his malignant work even to the present hour, blinding the eyes of men, and hardening their hearts, and " leading them captive at his will :" and if any have dared to resist his will, he has stirred up all his own agents, to persecute them, and to put them to death.
On the other hand, Christ has also fought against him from the beginning, rescuing men from his dominion, and " turn- ing millions from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God." In the days of his flesh especially he shewed his superiority to Satan, by dismissing him from many whom he had possessed, and constraining him to relinquish the hold which he had gained, both of their bodies and their souls. And though he seemed himself to sink under Satan's attacks, yet did he, in fact, defeat Satan by the very means which that adversary had used for his destruction: for by death he overcame death, and " him that had the power of death, that is, the devil a:" yes, "on the very cross itself he spoiled all the principalities and powers of hell, triumphing over them openly in itb." And in his ascension, "he led captivity itself captive ;" and has bound all the hosts of hell, " reserving them in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day." In his people, too, he gets the victory from day to day, enabling them to resist him manfully, and to trample both Satan and all his hosts under their feet.
This conflict is still passing from day to day. The God of this world, and the God of heaven, are contending for us, and in us c : and as long as the world shall stand, will this contest continue.]
But in our text we are informed, that Jesus will prevail, and enjoy at last,
III. The victory assured to him —
[In the conflict, the Saviour's " heel is bruised :" but "he bruises the head" of his great adversary, and breaks his power for evermore. Behold the Saviour on his throne of glory, far above all the principalities and powers, whether of heaven or hell ! Behold the progress of his Gospel in every age ! and see in heaven the multitudes which no man can number, continually increased by fresh accessions from every
» Heb. ii. 14. b Col. ii. 15. c 2 Cor. iv. 4, 6.