who comes upon him, and overcomes him, and takes from him his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils '." He rescued millions from the dominion of that wicked one, and preserved them from the assaults of their cruel adversary. And " greater He still is," than that wicked fiend, and all his adherents.
He is greater in wisdom : for though the " devices " of Satan are inconceivably numerous, and " his wiles" beyond all conception subtle, yet he discerns them all, and knows how to counteract and defeat them all. He is greater also in power : for though Satan is " an angel that excels in strength," and has millions of wicked spirits, like unto himself, acting in confederacy with him, and under his special controul, He who sitteth in the heavens laugheth him to scorn ; and says to him, " Hither shalt thou go, and no further." Earnest as Satan's desire was to destroy Job, he could effect nothing, till per- mitted by the Deity ; and then could he not move an hair's breadth beyond his appointed bounds. Not even the herd of swine could he destroy, till he was liberated from the restraint which our Lord's superior power had imposed upon him.]
That we may improve the assertion for our own use, I will,
II. Confirm it as applicable to the present day —
The same wicked spirit works mightily in the world at this time —
[Various are the instruments he employs, and incessant are his exertions to destroy the souls of men.
He works by open infidelity. It is well known what efforts he has made throughout the whole of Europe, and with what prospects of success; insomuch that his agents boasted that they should soon crush our blessed Lord, and extinguish his religion. And in our own country, if the legal authorities had not interposed to uphold the laws, there is reason to fear that impiety and blasphemy would have filled every corner of our land.
He works, too, by secret discouragements. In every place, he assaults the souls of those who are desirous of being liberated from his dominion. He would persuade them that they are, on some ground or other, excepted from the general invitation to accept of mercy. They are not among the elect ; or are too unworthy to obtain God's favour ; or have committed the sin against the Holy Ghost, so that their day of grace is passed. All such suggestions are for the purpose of effecting that in
1 Luke xi. 21, 22.
m l JO I IN, IV. 4. [2453.
individual characters, which, by infidel principles, he endeavours to accomplish on the community at large.
He works also by specious admixtures ; mutilating and de- basing the true Gospel, by confounding it with the law, and introducing into it terms subversive of its fundamental prin- ciples. It matters little to him, how he effects his purpose: if it be by a bold denial of all religion, or a desponding rejection of proffered mercy, or a perversion of the Gospel under a pre- tended zeal for good works, he equally attains his end : and therefore he varies his assaults according to the diversified cha- racters of men, if by any means he may draw them from Christ, and finally effect their ruin.]
But a mightier power is in us also —
[God is still with his Church and people ; and still work- eth in them, " mighty to save."'
He is greater to instruct, than Satan is to deceive. The deepest of Satan's devices he can unveil, to the very weakest of his people ; and can overrule them for the accomplishing of his own gracious purposes towards them. Satan hoped, by destroying the Messiah, to subvert his kingdom : but God made it the very means of establishing that kingdom. It was " by death that our Lord overcame him that had the power of death ;" and on the very cross he spoiled principalities and powers, " triumphing over them openly in it."