assured our first parents that " they should not die :" but in this he shewed himself " the father of lies :" and by it he became " a murderer from the beginning1"." The very instant they obeyed his voice, they died ' temporal, spiritual, eternal death became their portion, and the portion of the whole human raceg: nor would any child of man have ever seen the face of God in peace, if the Lord Jesus Christ had not inter- posed to " destroy this work of the devil." As to the great mass of mankind, they are experiencing all the bitter effects of that first transgression : inheriting a corrupt nature, they follow the bent of their own inclinations, and rush on blind- fold to everlasting perdition11. " The devil has taken them in his snare, and leads them captive at his will1." Hence he is called Apollyon, and Abaddon k, as being the great and uni- versal destroyer.
Nor does he relinquish his endeavours to destroy even the best of men : " he goes about, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour :" there are not any so holy, but he shoots his " fiery darts" at them, and torments them with cruel buffe tings1, and " desires to have them that he may sift them as wheat :" and, were he permitted, he would soon reduce even the soundest of men to chaff.]
Let us next inquire, II. How he destroys them —
He came into the world, and "was manifested" in human flesh on purpose to destroy them : and he effects their destruction,
1. By the virtue of his sacrifice — [The death of Christ was a true and proper atonement for sin ; it was " a propitiation for the sins of the whole world :" and by it " he finished transgression, made an end of sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness"1." Nor has he merely cancelled our debt, or removed our obligation to punishment, but has " abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light." " On the cross he triumphed over all the principalities and powers of hell" ;" and, " by death, overcame him that had the power of death, and delivered them, who, through fear of death, were all their life-time subject to bondage0." Yes, when our final victory over sin and death shall be celebrated in heaven, to this shall we ascribe it altogether ; " Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood p."]
f John viii. 41, 44. s Rom. v. 12, 15—19. h Eccl. ix. 3. 1 2 Tim. ii. 26. k Rev. ix. 11.
1 Eph. vi. 16. 2 Cor. xii. 7. m Dan. ix. 24. with yer. 5.
» Col. ii. 15. ° Heb. ii. 1 1. p Rev. v. 9.