xMCCX.
HOW SATAN IS TO BE VANQUISHED. Rev. xii. 1 1. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.
THE establishment of Christianity, whether in the world at large, or in the souls of individuals, is, by means of a warfare, carried on between " the god of this world," and the God of heaven and earth. Such is the representation given of it in our text. " There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon ; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world : he was cast out into the earth ; and his angels were cast out with him''." By this I understand, that whilst our blessed Lord sought, by means of faithful ministers and active saints, to establish his kingdom upon earth, the Devil, through the agency of persecuting Emperors, and idolatrous priests, and heathen philosophers, laboured to the uttermost to counteract this gracious design. During: the three first centuries the conflict was severe : but at last the Lord Jesus prevailed, so that Christianity, under Constantine, became at last esta- blished through the Roman empire, and idolatry was in a great measure destroyed. " Then was heard in heaven a loud voice, saying, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ : for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night : and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony ; and they loved not their lives unto the death ;" that is, This victory was gained, not by the sword, but by the faith of Believers, the fidelity of Ministers, and the constancy of all.
The words, which we have taken for our considera- tion belong more particularly to Believers, who main- tained
' ver. 7— 9.