fore to think that their number far exceeds that of the human species ; because there is no human being beyond the reach of their assaults, no, not for a single hour. Nor are they formidable merely on account of their number, but principally on account of their union, and subordination under one leader. We read of "the devil and his angelsk," as of a king and his subjects : and though we know not what precise ranks and orders there may be among them, we know the name of their chief, even " Beelzebub, the prince of the devils1." It is because of their acting thus in concert with each other, that they are so often spoken of as o?iem : and well they may be ; for, the whole multitude of them are so perfectly one in operation and design, that, if one spy out an ad- vantage, he may in an instant have a legion more to second his endeavours : and as this constitutes the strength of armies on earth, so does it give tenfold power to our spiritual enemies.
The office which they execute as " the rulers of this dark world," may serve yet further to give us an idea of their strength. It is true, this office was not delegated to them, but usurped by them : still however, they retain it by God's permission, and exercise it to our cost. Satan is expressly called, " the prince of this world"," " the god of this world0," " the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in all the children of disobedience1'." He " blinds them" that they may not seeq, and then, as the prophet led the Syrians, he leads them whi- thersoever he willr; he takes them captive altogether8. A few indeed who are brought out of darkness into the marvellous light of the Gospel, have cast off his yoke : but except them, the whole world, enveloped in worse than Egyptian darkness, lieth under him as its universal monarch1. The very elements are under
k Matt. xxv. 41. i Matt. xii. 24. m Luke iv. 2, 3, 5, G, 8, 13. n John xii. 31. and xiv. 30. and xvi. 11. ° 2 Cor. iv. 4.
P Eph. ii. 2. q 2 Cor. iv. 4. r 2 Kings vi. 18—20.
s 2 Tim. ii. 20. 1 1 John v. 19. 'Ey Tf 7ro»'?/pw, in the. wicked one.