those only who, with deliberate and determined pur- pose of heart, set themselves to seek it in solemn fasting and prayer. In reference, then, to these occasions we may well apply the text: in doing which, I will shew,
I. The extraordinary difficulties which some have to encounter — There is no man who has not much to encounter both from within and from without. But some have far greater difficulties to contend with than others,
1. From the great adversary of souls — ■
[We know but little respecting angels; except that the good angels are " ministering spirits, sent forth to minister unto those who are the heirs of salvation ;" and that the evil angels are occupied in constant endeavours to ensnare and ruin the souls of men. Of the evil angels, as well as of the good, there are different ranks and orders, called " angels and prin- cipalities and powers ;" and that they act under the guidance of one, even of " Beelzebub, who is the prince of the devils d." It should seem, too, that some possess a deeper measure of malignity than others ; since one spirit, on being driven out of a man, is said to " take unto himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and to enter into him again, and make his last state worse than the first e." Sometimes several of them take possession of a man at once : for " out of Mary Magdalen our Lord cast seven devils ;" and out of another person a whole " legion." Over Satan's family these bear an undisputed sway f : and over the godly themselves they maintain a very considerable influence ; insomuch, that, if not restrained by Almighty God, they would " sift" every living man " as wheat," and reduce even an inspired Apostle to chaffg. On some he acts , by guile, putting on the semblance of" an angel of light11:" and so subtle are " his wiles," and so crafty " his devices," that it is inconceivably difficult to be always on our guard against them1. Love to the Saviour himself may even be perverted by him into an occasion of evil ; and be rendered, through the ignorance and inadvertence of man, subservient to the advancement of Satan's purposes k. At other times, Satan comes rather " like a roaring lion, ready to devour us1;" and, with an overwhelm- ing power, carries men to the commission of the most palpable
d Matt. xii. 24. * Matt. xii. 45. f John viii. 44.
b Luke xxii. 31, 32. •> 2 Cor. xi. 3,- 14.
1 2 Cor. ii. 11. Eph. vi. 11. k Matt. xvi. 21—23.
1 1 Pet. v. 8.