The Inseparable Communion of a Believer with God, Sermons · Sermon 10
ROM. 8.38, 39.
I am Perſwaded—Nor Powers.
BY Powers I underſtand the Powers of Hell, the Devil and his Angels, called the Powers of Darkneſs.
Doct. Not all the Power of all the Devils in Hell ſhall be able to ſeparate a Believer.—
I. The Devil is a profeſt enemy to mankind, as Rev. 12.9. but he exerciſeth his greateſt enmity againſt thoſe God hath gathered in Communion with himſelf in love through Chriſt. Therefore your Adverſary, — 1 Pet. 5.8. your Adverſary above all others; This name Satan ſignifies an enemie, and not only the Prince of Devils, but every Devil is a Satan, as that Text ſhews, Matth. 12.26.
Firſt, for the exerciſe of this enmity he is furniſhed with great power; he is called a ſtrong man arm'd, a mighty Goliah that comes forth to defie the whole Hoſt of Saints, Luke 11.21. you read of the Power of Satan, Act. 26.18. the Power of darkneſs, Col. 1.13.
Secondly, great ſubtilty, therefore call'd a Serpent; the Serpent thus beguiled Eve, 2 Cor. 11.3. now an old Serpent, Rev. 12.9.
Thirdly, great Malice, Rev. 12.12, 17. hence call'd a Lion, a roaring, devouring Lion, 1 Pet. 5.8. A Dragon, a red bloody Dragon, and a great one with ſeven Heads,— Rev. 12.3. to note his Power, Policy and Principality.
II. This Power, Policy, and Malice of devils is manifeſted and exerciſed in his Temptations: he is call'd foreign, the Tempter, Mat. 4.3.1 Theſ. 3.5. as men are called Lawyers or Phyſicians from their Profeſſion or Employment. It is his trade for this end he is ſaid to have.
1. His foreign, or devices, 2 Cor. 2.11. a word that ſignifies Craſty Counſels, ſtratagems, witty and fallacious Conceptions, compoſed on purpoſe to deceive; ſophiſtical Argumentations, acute Diſtinctions to elude the truth: Satan manageth his temptations with great ſubtilty and dexterity.
Secondly, his foreign, or wiles, Eph. 6.12. as Profeſſors in Arts or Sciences uſe to bring all the Principles of that Art into a methodical Order. So hath Satan his tempting Art in a method, he hath reduced them into common places; he knows what temptations fit with every temper, every degree of grace, every condition in Chriſtianity.
Thirdly, his foreign, his Depths, Rev. 2.24. myſteries, profundities, hid under ground, not eaſily diſcerned; doctrines that have a ſhew of light, humility, knowledge, wiſdom, holineſs, learning, ſpirituality; as himſelf and his Miniſters and doctrines appear as Angels of light, ſo his temptations. Thus he deceived Eve.
Secondly, in his Accuſations, he is call'd The Accuſer of the Brethren, foreign. The word ſignifies an Accuſer, an Impleader in ſome Court, Rev. 12.10.
I. He accuſeth us in the Court of Gods Juſtice.
Firſt, ſomtimes by way of Complaint and Narration of ſins they have committed; he is the great tempter to ſin, and the firſt Accuſer, Zach. 3.1. This is call'd a drawing up of a thing againſt them, Rom. 8.33.
Secondly, ſomtimes by way of ſuſpicion and preconjecture, Job 1.9, 10 11. he charged him of hypocriſie.
II. He accuſeth them in the Courts of men, as David, Pſal. 35.11. Acts 25.7. Act. 24.5.
III. He accuſeth them in the Court of their own Conſciences, by making them to queſtion their Pardon, by impleading their Evidences, by miſrepreſenting their ſtates, by charging them as hypocrites, unſound Chriſtians, thereby endeavoring to fill them with vexation, ſorrow and diſcontent.
Thirdly, let us conſider how much theſe Powers of darkneſs engage their power, policy, malice, by all their temptations, accuſations to ſeparate, —For we are ſaid to wreſtle— foreign, Eph. 6.12. about heavenly things; not that theſe Rulers of darkneſs abide yet in heavenly places, ſo it may be rendred, Eph. 1.3.
1. They oppoſe to the utmoſt the love of God to us, in which we have Communion with God, that kindneſſe and love of God to mankind, Tit. 3.4. is matter of everlaſting envy and malice of devils; that God ſhould have love for fallen man, and none for Angels; That God ſhall reſtore man into Communion with himſelf, and ſeparate devils with an everlaſting curſe from him, how muſt this needs torment and terrifie.
If devils envied Mans ſtate in Communion with God, in love before man fell from God, how much more to ſee man reſtored, and themſelves caſt off for ever.
Secondly, they oppoſe our intereſt in Chriſt, through whom we have Communion with God again in love.
When Chriſt came into the world to redeem men into Communion with God again and his love, what mighty ſtrong oppoſition did he make againſt him, he muſtered up all the Powers of the world, and all the Powers of H…ll, and darkneſs againſt him; and will he not endeavour to the utmoſt to ſeparate us from this intereſt, 2 Cor. 11.2, 3.
Thirdly, they mightily oppoſe our Adoption, or being the ſons of God, which is the greateſt manifeſtation of that love of God through Chriſt. No ſooner was Chriſt declared the Son of God, Mal. 3.17. but the firſt temptation wherewith the Devil aſſaulted him, Matth. 4.3. was concerning this, when the Spirit of Adoption hath ſecured our Sonſhip, how many Arguments will the devil draw from our ſpiritual wants, weakneſs, infirmities, temptations, afflictions to diſprove it; what faith he, ſuch as you the ſons of God.
Fourthly, they mightily oppoſe that faith by which we apprehend the love of God in Chriſt, and by which we are brought into bleſſed Communion with God; ſee 1 Theſ. 3.5. Luke 22.31.32.
Fifthly, they make ſtrong oppoſition againſt that righteouſneſs by which we are juſtified, which is the life of faith, and our neareſt fitneſs for Communion with God. In this caſe he is ſaid to have bewitched the Galatians, chap. 3.1. the truth then is, the doctrine of Juſtification by faith in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt, in oppoſition to the righteouſneſs of the Law; the devil knows the righteouſneſs of the Law will condemn us.
Sixthly, they make mighty oppoſition againſt that grace and holineſs in which we continue our Communion with God, 1 John 1.6, 7. If a childe of the devil be ſuch an enemy to all grace, what is the father, Act. 13.10.
Fourthly, let us conſider what great advantages the Powers of Hell have againſt believers in Communion.—
Firſt, there is yet remaining much darkneſs in them: darkneſs of ſin, corruption, unbelief, unmortified luſts and affections, and the devil is the Ruler over the darkneſs of this world.
Secondly, the impotency of their graces, by reaſon of which he can more eaſily prevail with Saints, then formerly with Eve, 2 Cor. 11.3. it was but a buffeting, and but from a Meſſenger of Satan, yet all Pauls grace was too weak to reſiſt, 2 Cor. 12.8.
Fifthly, yet we ſhall ſhew, that all the Powers of Devils, and all the Rulers of the Kingdom of Hell and Darkneſs ſhall not be able to ſeparate—
Firſt, his Power, Malice, Policy, and …tmoſt Agency, is limited to their feet, Gen. 3.15. cannot reach their heart nor head.
Secondly, Chriſt hath ſtated their ſecurity in himſelf, on himſelf, Matth. 16.18.
Thirdly, none of his remptations ſhall do it. Chriſt hath firſt overcame him in himſelf, and hath learnt thereby to ſuccour and commiſerate us, Heb. 4.15. Heb. 2. ult.
Fourthly, none of his accuſations ſhall be able; none in the Court of God, there Chriſt is foreign, our Advocate, 1 John 3.1. to be our ſecond, to rebuke Satan, to preſent a Propitiation for their ſins, Zach. 3.2.
None in the Court of our own Conſcience, we have the Spirit of Adoption, a foreign, is in direct oppoſition to Satan, the foreign, to bear witneſs to our Conſcience, to help our infirmities, to clear our Evidences, and to come to the Th…one of grace boldly for mercy and grace.
Fifthly, becauſe greater is he in Saints then,— 1 Iohn 4.4. is the devil a ſtrong man, Chriſt is ſtronger, Luke 1, 22. is he a lion, ſo is Chriſt. Rev. 5.5. is he a Serpent, ſo is Chriſt, Iohn 3.14.
1. Uſe. Sinners who are yet in your unregeneracy look about, you are yet under the power, policy, malice of Satan: The devil hath full poſſeſſion of you, ye know not how many. Ye are in darkneſs, which is the Kingdom of the devil, led captive by him at his pleaſure; every ſinner (ſaith one upon that text) is the Devils Pack-horſe, whom he rides and rules at pleaſure.
You will ſay, but all is at peace with us.
An Argument the devil ſtill holds poſſeſſion, Luke 11.21. Make haſte to Chriſt, who alone can caſt him, though a Legion, in one man, Mar. 5.8. he made the devils to cry, roar, tremble, he caſt them out of mens bodies ſouls unto ſwine.
2. Uſe. Give thanks,— who hath delivered you,— Col. 1.12, 13. who hath turn'd you from— the power of Satan to God,— Act. 26.18.
3. Uſe. Hath God gathered you into Communion.—
Here is matter of great Comfort that you are always, and everlaſtingly ſecured in this bleſſed ſtate, from the power, policy, malice of Hell; from all the temptations, accuſations of devils, how many devices, wiles, depths ſoever they be managed withal.
Live comfortably, but not ſecurely, 1 Pet. 5.8.
Secondly, reſolve to make reſiſtance, Iam. 4.7.
Thirdly, your we apons againſt ſpiritual enemies muſt be ſpiritual, the Sword of the Spirit, and the Shield of faith, Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5.9.