children of men. The bad are wholly under his influence : he inspired the four hundred prophets of Baal to deceive Ahab to his ruin1': and both Judas and Ananias were actuated by him to perpetrate the crimes which they respectively committed. But even good men are also wrought upon by him on some occasions, as has already appeared in the case of Peter, and as is intimated in the cautions given by St. Paul both to the Corinthian and Thessalonian Churches s. Satan can easily assume the appearance of an angel of light, and can en- able " his ministers to appear as ministers of righteousness1." Hence arises a necessity to be always on our guard against his devices.]
But his influence shall soon be destroyed —
[It was foretold in the very first promise, that the " Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head." And this has been fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ, who, even whilst he was yet alive, declared, that, " the prince of this world was judged," and "cast out;" and who " by death overcame him utterly," and whilst yet upon the cross " spoiled all the princi- palities and powers of darkness." Afterwards, in his resurrection, he completed his triumph over Satan, " leading captivity itself captive." And as he has thus vanquished him for us, so will he also overcome him in us, enabling us to " resist him till he flees from us," and finally to " bruise him under our feet." Soon shall he cease to harass us. We have but a little time more to conflict with him. The victory is assured to us ; and his doom is sealed. The time is near at hand, when all the judgments which he seeks to bring on us shall fall upon his own head ; and we whom he now labours to devour shall sit in judgment upon him, and, as assessors with the Lord Jesus Christ, shall declare and confirm the sentence that shall be executed upon him to all eternity".]
And this is a great encouragement to us to main- tain the conflict in the way before prescribed —
[Were the contest to be of any long duration, we might be discouraged, just as the Israelites in the wilderness were, at the length of the wayx. But " it is but a little time, and He who shall come, will come, and will not tarry y." Methinks, already has Satan received his death wound, so that we have but to follow up the victory already gained. Already is he, like the five kings of the Amorites when shut up in the cave, doomed to certain death: and soon, like them, shall he be
r 1 Kings xxii. 19—23. s 2 Cor. xi. 3. 2 Thess. iii. 5.
1 2 Cor. xi. 13—15. u 1 Cor. vi. 3.
x Numb. xxi. 4. y Heb. x. 37.