There is yet another adversary, who is lying in wait for our souls, and, like a roaring lion, going about, seeking to devour us ; and that is Satan : nor can we have any conception of the wiles and devices to which he has recourse, in order to accomplish his malignant purpose. Even in Paradise he pre- vailed to ensnare and ruui our first parents: and the same temptations he puts in our way, assuring us, that, in following his counsel, we shall have unqualified pleasure, and happiness without alloy. He is in Scripture compared to "a fowler^; and, Hke a fowler, he spreads his nets, and allures us by temptations suited to our appetites, and by the example of sinners whom he has already ensnared, and whom he makes use of to decoy us. We see nothing but the promised grati- fication ; and whilst one or another invites us to participate his supposed joys, we flock to him, " without considering that it is for our life^." Thus it is the drunkard, the whoremonger, the adulterer is ensnared : he thinks of nothing but his pleasure : but the fowler who lays the snare, foresees and prognosticates the end. Having succeeded in " taking us alive''," he " keeps us in peace'," and does all he can to hide from us our bondage: but he knows, that they who now yield to his solicitations as a tempter, will soon experience his power as a tormentor.
Another enemy also that is confederate against us, is death.
^ Numb. xiv. 28, 29, 35—38. » Deut. xxxii. 35.
^ Ps. ix. 17. <= Ps. xi. 6. ^ Deut. xxxii. 41, 42.
e Ezek. xviii. 4, f Ps. xci. 3. s Prov. vii. 23.
^ i'Ctaypi^lilroi. 2 Tim. ii. 26. > Luke xi. 21.
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