d 2 Cor. xi. 13 — 15. ^ Isai. xliv. 20. Jer. viii. 5. andix. 6.
355. J Satan's stratagem to deceive ahab. 440
his temptations, as he is to solicit our compliance. The case of Ahab is one of daily occurrence : thousands there are who hate the light, and say to their ministers, " Prophesy unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits^." It is obvious therefore that Satan finds in the very dispositions of men the most successful advocate, and able coadjutor.]
Having seen the sources of his povv^er to deceive, we proceed to point out,
II. The limits- Doubtless his power is inconceivably great, since he deceived man even in his state of innocence, and from that time has *' deceived the whole world ^." But his power is limited,
1. In its duration —
[Satan shall not always have the ascendant that he now has : there is a time coming, (and, we hope, at no great dis- tance now,) when he shall " be bound, and deceive the nations no more for the space of a thousand years'^." What a blessed period will that be ! What peace, and joy, and holiness will abound in the Church, when that wicked fiend shall cease from
defiling and troubling the souls of men' ! O that the
happy period were arrived ! May " God hasten it in his time ! "]
2. In its objects —
[Wide as his influence is, it is not universal ; for God has delivered his chosen people from his malignant influence. We say not indeed that there are any so dehvered, but that they need to be continually on their guard against him ^. But our Lord has assured us, that " it is not possible for him to deceive the elect ^ : " and the reason of this is, that God has discovered
to them his devices™, and armed them against his
assatJts", and engaged to "guide them by his counsel,
till he receives them to glory °." A further reason is,
that Jesus, our all-prevailing Advocate, " intercedes for them, that their faith may not fail^:" and hence it was, that, whilst " Satan desired to have Peter, as well as Judas, to sift him as wheat," he could prevail over him only for a season ; so that Peter rose again and overcame him, whilst Judas hanged liim- self, and became the everlasting prey of the destroyer.]
f Jer. V. 31. s Rev. xii. 9. '' Rev. xx. 1 — 3, 7.
• Zech. xiv. 20, 21, with Isai. xxx. 26. and Ix. 19 — 22. ^ Zech. iv. 1. Matt. xxvi. 41. 2 Cor. xi. 3. 1 Matt. xxiv. 24. m 2 Cor. ii. 11. " Eph. vi. 11.
o Ps. Ixxiii. 24. p Luke xxii. 31, 32.