[They have usurped a power over us, and governed us with most despotic swayf ]
But Christ has completely triumphed over them upon his cross —
[As a conqueror, he invaded the empire of Satan, and rescued millions of the human race from his dominion. He " spoiled the principalities and powers " of hell, and seized as his prey the souls of which they had so long held an un- disturbed possession^. It was upon his cross that he effected this : for there it was that he satisfied divine justice ; there it was he fulfilled and cancelled the obligations of the law ; there it was that he paid the price of our salvation. " He redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for ush." His triumph was then complete. Like a victorious general leading in chains the distinguished personages whom the chance of war had put into his hands, our blessed Lord exhibited, as it were, to the view of God, of angels, and of his believing people, the vanquished powers of darkness : "he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them upon his cross." He did not indeed, like earthly conquerors, exult in victories gained by the sword of others, and at the expense of their blood : his triumphs were gained by no sword but his, and with the loss of no blood but his : " His own arm brought salvation ; and he trod the wine-press of God's wrath alone1."]
Infer —
1. What a wonderful sight is the cross of Christ!
[The eye of sense can behold nothing in it but an instru- ment of punishment, and a person suffering upon it as a malefactor. But what will the eye of faith behold? It will discern, not a sufferer, but a conqueror ; not one raised on an accursed tree, but exalted on a triumphant car : not one crowned with thorns, but wearing a wreath of victory: not one nailed and bleeding, but one blotting out with blood, and cancelling with nails, the bonds that were against his chosen people : not one himself a spectacle, but exhibiting to view his vanquished enemies : not the despised Nazarene, but " the Lord of glory." Strange as it may sound, we affirm, that it was not Jesus, but the prince of this world that was then judged k, cast out1, destroyed™: for it was then that Jesus " bruised the serpent's head" :" " by death he destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and delivered them who till that hour had been all their life-time subject to
f Eph. ii. 2. and 2 Tim. ii. 26. & Luke xi. 22. Isai. liii. 12.
h Gal. iii. 13. ' Isai. lxiii. 3, 5.
k John xvi. 11. l John xii. 31.
m Heb. ii. 14. n Gen. iii. 15.