works to a confederacy with Satan, rather than to the agency of the Spirit of God. In like manner, when his Apostles cast out devils in his name, many supposed that they wrought their miracles by means of magical incantations. Hence some,' and, in par- ticular, seven sons of a Jewish priest, thought by the use of the name of Jesus to produce the same effects. But Satan soon shewed them their mistake ; infusing a more than human strength and courage into the man whom he possessed, and falling upon the seven exorcists with such irresistible fury, as to convince all, that he could be vanquished only by an almighty arm. His address of defiance, which we have just read, will lead me to set before you,
I. The power of Christ and his Gospel —
When Satan had prevailed over our first parents, a promise was given that the Son of God should become incarnate, and bruise the head of that serpent that had beguiled thema. Accordingly, Christ came in due season to effect for men the promised deli- verance : and he accomplished it,
1. Personally — [The first encounter which he had with our great adver- sary was in the wilderness, just previous to his entering upon his public labours ; and there, after withstanding his repeated assaults, he drove him, as it were, from the field of battle, saying, " Get thee behind me, Satan." During the course of his ministry, he exerted an irresistible power over this wicked fiend, expelling him from multitudes whom he had possessed, and constraining him to confess himself a vanquished enemy b. Towards the close of his life he experienced the yet fiercer assaults of Satan, attended by all the hosts of hell : " This," says our Lord to the Jews, " is your hour, and the power of darkness : " but he triumphed over them, agreeably to that . word, " Now shall the prince of this world be cast out ;" now shall " the prince of this world be judged0." Upon the cross indeed he appeared to suffer a defeat: but there, and there chiefly, he gained the victory : " through death he overcame him that had the power of death, that is, the devil11;" yea, upon the cross, " he spoiled principalities and powers, and
a Gen. iii. 15. b Mark i. 27. c John xii. 31. and xvi. 11.
a Heb. ii. 14.