Sermons Preached from Luke 11:21-22, Sermon 4
SERMON, IV.
THREE Doctrinal Truths have been already Spoken to:
I. That the Soul of Man is a Noble Palace which the Great GOD built for Himſelf.
II. That it is by Sin become as a Garriſon or Strong Hold which Satan keeps againſt GOD.
III. That there is a wretched Peace and curſed Quiet which the Carnal Heart lies in under Satans Tyranny. The ſtrong Man armed keepeth his Palace and his Goods are in peace.
I proceed now unto the Fourth Doctrine.
IV. That the Victorious SAVIOUR reſcues whom He pleaſes, and will reſcue all his Choſen from Satans Power & Tyranny.
But when a ſtronger than he ſhall come upon him, and overcome him, He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he truſted, and divideth his Spoils.
According to the Phraſes in the Text, I will ſpeak to it in theſe Three Propoſitions. 1. That there is a ſtronger than the ſtrong Man armed. 2. That he will come upon him and Overcome him. 3. That CHRIST's Victory over Satan, in reſcuing poor Souls from him, is the Moſt Perfect and Glorious, Compleat and Entire that can be He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divideth his ſpoils.
I. There is a ſtronger than Satan, the ſtrong Man Armed. This is a ſmall Obſervation to make to them that believe in GOD THE FATHER Almighty, in the SON and in the HOLY GHOST. For who in the Heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened unto our GOD! If we ſpeak of ſtrength, lo HE is ſtrong. Our Father in Heaven is Greater than all, and none can ſna…ch us out of his Hand. Satan in his firſt and beſt ſtate was but an Angel, Created by the power of God, and infinitely beneath that Power that made him and now judges him. Like the Angels of God he firſt excell'd in ſtrength, but fallen he is became weak as we. A crawling Worm and Serpent, which 'tis beneath the power of God to trample on! Wherefore He treads him under our feet. Hell is Gods Dominion: He reigns over it, as the Priſon belongs to the King. There the Devil is in Chains under darkneſs. limited and reſtrained and reſerved to the Day of Judgment. He cannot ſtir without leave, no not to enter into a Swine.
The Lord JESUS is stronger than Satan; and to ſay ſo is ſcarce to ſpeak with reverence eno' of the Son of God. Elſe he were no Saviour to us. Sampſon was the Type of Him in his Great strength. He ſlew the Lion with his naked hand, and out of the Eater came forth Meat, and out of the Strong ſweetneſs. He ſlew the Enemies of God and his Iſrael heaps upon heaps, with his ſingle arm, and without a Weapon. He tore up the City Gates and bore away the Poſts and Bars, when they tho't they had him ſure. Yea he pull'd down the Hol Temple, bow'd the ſtrong Pillars of the Mighty Stucture, and buried Dagon and his Worſhippers in the vaſt Ruines together.
David was yet a more Auguſt Type of the Power of Chriſt, who without Sampſons miraculous ſtrength, yea with the weak arm of a Stripling ſlew the Lion and the Bear, and the fiercer Philiſtine, and delivered the Iſrael of God. The Son of David is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Salvation and Strength came together.
Our LORD appeared ſtronger than all the Hoſts of Hell in Arms and Battle Array in the day of his Temptation, when they aſſaulted him, were repuls'd and fled. He did moreover often caſt out Satan; with Authority he commanded the Unclean Spirits and they obey'd him. They lay trembling before him, confeſſing, beſeeching him, deprecating and as well as they could Adoring him. He again ſuffer'd them not to ſpeak, and they rag'd and tore and ſhreik'd out. In his laſt Agonies, that hour of the power of darkneſs, they renew'd their Aſſaults only to their own Confuſion.
The HOLY GHOST, the Infinite and Eternal Spirit of God is Greater and Stronger than Satan and all his Legions. It were a Blaſphemy againſt Him never to be forgiven to ſay the contrary. If I by the Finger of God, i.e. His Spirit, cast out Devils —, ſaid our Saviour. He the Holy GHOST endued the Apoſtles with power from on High, to tread on Scorpions and all the Power of the Enemy; the Dragon and the Lion to trample under foot. Satan had his lying Wonders, like the Magicians of Egypt, but how inf…riour to the Finger of God! How devour'd by the Rod of Moſes! The inſpired Word is the Eternal Spirits Sword to peirce and puſh back the fallen Legions into their Pit, and he deſtroyes them with the Breath of his Mouth.
But to deſcend lower yet, and take an infinite ſtep for the Greater Debaſement of Hell: The Holy Angels of God are now ſtronger than Satan. They excel in ſtrength, hearkning to the Voice of God. In this their Great ſtrength lieth, even in their Integrity and Obedience to God, having preſerv'd their Original Purity and Holineſs; while Satan is ſhorn and his ſtrength departed from him. Wherefore in the laſt day Michael and his Angels will eaſily bind and bring the fallen Hoſts to the Bar, and hale 'em from thence to the bottomleſs Pit and caſt them in, to come forth no more: See an Image of the Superiour ſtrength of a ſtanding Angel over thoſe that are fallen: Rev. 20.1, 2, 3. And I ſaw an Angel come down from Heaven, having the Key of the Bottomleſs Pit, and a great Chain in his hand, and he laid hold on the Dragon, that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him, — and caſt him in, and ſhut him up, and ſet a ſeal upon him.
But this Viſion may as well, or rather, be interpreted of CHRIST, by his Miniſters on Earth, as by the Miniſtring Spirits of Heaven. Wherefore to come down from Heaven to Earth, — Thro' the Spirit and Grace of Chriſt even WE are ſtronger than Satan. Even we Worms of the duſt. The very Devils are Subject to the Grace of Chriſt in us, the Spirit of God in the Regenerate. He bruiſes Satan under our feet. He makes us more than Conquerors. 1 Joh. 2.14. I have written unto you Young Men becauſe you are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the Wicked One. In our ſelves we are wretchedly Weak, and cruſhed before the Moth. Yet we wreſtle againſt Principalities and Powers and Spiritual Wickedneſſes, and they fall before us. We are strong in the Lord and in the power of his Might. He puts on us the whole Armour of God. Our Faith quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one. In Prayer we cry to God and our Enemies turn back. The kind goes out at the glorious Name which we Invoke and plead. And his Word in our Mouth is a Power and Spirit which be cannot reſiſt, or ſtand before. Thus there is a stronger than the ſtrong Man Armed: which was the firſt Propoſition.
II. He will come upon him and overcome him. Which ſpeaks,
1. The Certainty of the REDEEMERS Encountring the Enemy of Souls. He will come upon him.
2. The Suddenneſs and Sarprize where with he uſually comes upon the Enemy in his Security and Peace.
3. The certain Iſſue of the Combat, he ſhall overcome.
1. The Certainty of the Redeemers Encountring the Enemy of Souls is here ſuppoſed. He ſhall come upon him. And this is very ſure as to the whole Election of Grace, and as to all that is neceſſary to be done for the delivering them all and every one of them from the power of Sin and Satan, and the tranſlating them into the Kingdom of his Grace in this Life, and of Glory hereafter. This in his time & way, ſooner or later, He ſhall ſhew who is the Bleſſed and Only Potentate, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
It is true that the moſt by far of the miſerable Children of Adam are left at laſt under the poſſeſſion, and in Captivity unto Satan, who is the Prince of this World; but the Election ſhall obtain Deliverance, even all Thoſe whom the Father hath given unto Chriſt out of the World: For GOD has given him power over all fleſh, to give Eternal life unto as many as he hath given him. Theſe choſen Veſſels of Mercy are fore-known & predeſtinated in the Eternal Counſels and Purpoſes of Grace, and ſo are the Wayes and Means of their Effectual Vocation and Perſeverance; and not one of them is lost.
It was promiſed from the beginning that there ſhould be a Glorious Seed of the Woman, that ſhould break the Serpents head, and that He ſhould ſee his Seed. Long was he look'd for by them that were waiting for Redemption in Iſrael, and known in the Church by that Name and Style, O' foreign, He that ſhould come. In the Fulneſs of time He came, being manifeſted to deſtroy the works of the Devil. And as to all the future times and ſeaſons which he has ſpoken of, the Great Periods for the Advancing his Kingdom on the Ruine of Satans, He that ſhall come will come and will not tarry.
2. He comes with ſuddenneſs and ſurprize upon the Enemy, in their ſecurity and peace. So it is commonly in the Converſion of Souls, and ſo as to the Great Events foretold reſpecting the Downfal of the Kingdom of Satan, and the Triumphs of the Church therein. The Soveraign and Irreſiſtible Grace of God reſcues Souls in the Day of his power, when very often there is the leaſt Appearance and Probability of the thing, either to the Perſons themſelves, or to Others. When Satan leaſt fears he is Ejected, and when the Soul ſometimes leaſt expects it is delivered. The Power of GOD arreſts ſome, like the Light from Heaven which ſtruck down Saul in his evil way; and the free Grace of GOD unexpectedly meets others. as it did the Eunuch on the Road. So Unexpected was the Blow to the Kingdom of Darkneſs, when the Thouſands were pricked to the Heart in an Inſtant: A ſurprize as aſtoniſhing to the Infernal Powers as it was unto the Men themſelves.
But it may be 'tis much more ſo in all the Great Events of Providence, wherein the Greateſt Blows are given to the Intereſts of Hell, in the Changes and Revolu…ions that happen among the Kingdoms of Men. It is not for us to know the Times and Seaſons which the Father reſerves in his own Power: Nor may we too Curiouſly ask, Lord wilt thou at this Time reſtore the Kingdom to Iſrael? The Kingdom of GOD cometh not with Obſervation. Wherefore leaſt of all do the Great Expectanda come to paſs at the Time and in the Way which Men are moſt Confident about; and when they are ſaying—Lo here, and lo there.
When the World by Wiſdom knew not God it pleaſed God by the Fooliſhneſs of Preaching to Convert the World: As much it may be to the Confuſion of Hell, as to the fruſtration of the wiſe Expectations of the Jewiſh Doctors: for the One no more ſeem'd Aware of the humble Means of that Great Event than the other: But Satan like lightning fell from Heaven, ſtruck with the flaſh before he was aware, and down to the Abyſſe in a Moment. How ſtrange and Inexplicable to them was it, to hear our Saviour ſay, Joh. 12.31. Now is the Judgment of this World, now ſhall the Prince of this World be caſt out. Indeed the Great Events of the Kindom of Chriſt in their Accompliſhments are high and dreadful, bright and ſurprizing, as the Lightning that paſſes from one part of the Heaven to the other; Conſpicuous to all, ſudden and Irreſiſtible.
3. When Christ comes upon the Enemy he Overcomes him. Victory over Satan is the certain Iſſue. He has come and he Overcame. He is yet daily Conquering. And He will yet further overcome, and make his Victories compleat in an Everlaſting Triumph.
1. In the dayes of his fleſh our Lord came and overcame the Enemy. In his Temptation he conquer'd; and ſo in his whole Obedience and conſummate Righteouſneſs, in all his Sorrows and Sufferings, and in his Death, wherein he made his Soul an Offering. He finiſhed Tranſgreſſion, and made an End of Sin, and bro't in an Everlaſting Righteouſneſs, and made Reconciliation for Iniquity. He condemned Sin in the fleſh, he deſtroyed him that had the power of Death, i. e. the Devil. He forgave Sins, he caſt out Devils, he called whom he would and they came unto him. He pour'd out his Soul unto Death, and divided the Spoil with the ſtrong. On his Croſs'd he triumph'd, and having ſpoiled Principalities and Powers, he made a ſhew of them openly in his Reſurrection & Aſcention. His riſing again was the death of Death, and the utter breaking of Satans Head. He then Aboliſh'd death, which was the Curſe. Then was bro't to paſs the ſaying, O Death I will be thy Plague, O Grave I will be thy Deſtruction. When he aſcended on high he led Captivity captive. He paſs'd triumphantly thro' Satans Territories, the Prince of the powers of the Air, whoſe Hoſts were in effect led in chains before his Chariot Wheels. Thus our Saviour conquer'd when he came.
2. Ever ſince his Aſcention he has been carrying on his Victories, and ſpreading his Conqueſt far and near. And this
1. In the ſetting up his Viſible Kingdom, which ſhall finally prevail.
2. His Internal and Inviſible Kingdom in the Souls of Men.
1. The Victorious Saviour has ſet up his Viſible Kingdom in the World on the Ruines of Satan, and the Gates of Hell ſhall never prevail againſt his Church. This began gloriouſly in the Day when the Holy Ghoſt deſcended on the Apoſtles, endowed them with Power from an High, confirming the Word with Signs and Miracles, and accompanying it with his mighty Workings on the Souls of Men; whereby the Converſion of ſo great a part of the World to Chriſtianity was moſt wonderfully Effected. The Idolatries of the World, and the Wickedneſs and Ignorance wherein it lay, were Satans poſſeſſion of it and Empire in it. In this reſpect he appear'd the God of this World, and might have ſome pretence to ſay of all the Kingdoms of the Earth, and the Glory of them, — all theſe are Mine. For the things which the Gentiles Sacrificed, they ignorantly Sacrificed to devils and not to GOD. And Agreably the Services which he impoſed on them were like his own curſed Nature, barbarous and cruel, unclean and filthy. But Idolatry was ſoon expoſed to Contempt at the Preaching of the Goſpel of Chriſt, which came every where in power and in the Holy Ghoſt; and Men turned to GOD from Idols, to ſerve the Living and True GOD and to wait for his Son from Heaven whom He raiſed from the dead, even Jeſus which delivereth us from the Wrath to come, 1 Theſ. 1.9, 10.
From about the Time of our Saviours Birth and onwards the Devils Oracles were ſhuck dumb, his Reſponſes ceas'd, his power of Deceiving the Nations was reſtrained; "as the "riſing Sun chaſes away the Birds of Night. In the Place of theſe was the Spiritual and Pure Worſhip of the true GOD reſtored and ſet up, the Holy Doctrines and Laws of the Goſpel publiſhed thro' many Nations, Converts Multiplied, and in a while the Empire became Chriſtian.
The Kingdom of our Lord firſt flouriſh'd in Aſia and in Greece, and ſuffer'd leſs there by many Oppoſitions and Perſecutions, than it ſoon did in Europe afterward by the Romiſh Apoſtacy. By that it was a long time horribly Obſcured, and the Name of Jeſus was rather blaſphem'd than worſhip'd for many Centuries of Darkneſs and Idolatry together; all which time the Devil ſeem'd as it were to have got back the Kingdom of Chriſt into his own Hands. At laſt came the Day of the Revival and Reſtoration of the Viſible Kingdom of Chriſt, in the Happy and Glorious Reformation, which began in the days of Lather, and prevailed wondrouſly in Spite of the rage of Rome and of the Imperial Power: ſince which day altho' a Sea of the Blood of the Martyrs hath been ſhed, yet the Reformed Religion lives, and we believe ſhall finally triumph in the Downfal of Antichriſt.
For we koow that GOD has promis'd and foretold, and we according to his promiſe look for, a more glorious State of the Church, than hath been yet ſeen; in reſpect both of Extent and Enlargment, and of Knowledge, Holineſs and Love. We believe that ſuch a Dominion and Glory is to be given to Chriſt, that all People, Nations and Languages ſhall ſerve him. We believe that the Kingdom of Chriſt is that Stone cut out of the Mountains without hands, which ſhall it ſelf become a Great Mountain and fill the whole Earth, and break in pieces and conſume all other Kingdoms. We look for the Coming in of the Fulneſs of the Gentiles, the Converſion of the Jews, & the Deſtruction of the Man of Sin; whoſe Coming has been after the Working of Satan, with all Power, Signs and Lying Wonders; that Wicked One whom the Lord ſhall conſume by the breath of his Mouth, and deſtroy with the brightneſs of his Coming. The Earth will be lightned with the Glory of that day, when the mighty Voice ſhall be heard, Babylon is fallen, is fallen.
In a word, we look for a New Heaven and a New Earth, and a Reign of Holineſs, ſuch as has never yet been; ſome moſt happy and flouriſhing State of the Church, for Purity of Ordinances, for Increaſe of Light and Knowledge, for the Power of Godlineſs, for the Multitudes of Converts, for the open and publick Profeſſion of the Truth, and for outward Peace and Tranquillity. Then ſhall the Church have a long and ſingular Freedom from the power of Satan and his Inſtruments. This is the first Reſurrection: i. e. The Churches Revival from its preſent State of Weakneſs, Sinfulneſs and Sorrow, unto a State of Power, Purity and Joy: And bleſſed and holy is He that hath part therein; whoſe lot it is to live in this happy time; when the Means of Holineſs and the Meaſures of Holineſs ſhall be more abundant. Satan ſhall be bound for that happy ſeaſon, and after it he muſt be looſed for a little time.
To conclude, In every Period of the Advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus, from the firſt Dayes of Chriſtianity to the Conſummation of it, is carried on Michaels War & Victories over the Dragon & his Angels; and the Caſting down that old Serpent called the Devil & Satan, which deceiveth the whole World; and at every Period and great Event we may hear that loud Voice in Heaven, ſaying, Now is come Salvation and Strength, and the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Chriſt! — and they over came him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony. Thus our Lord has come upon the Enemy and overcame him. and ſhall yet further do ſo, in ſetting up his Viſible Kingdom upon the Ruine of Satan.
2. He more eſpecially comes upon the Enemy and overcomes him in his Internal and Inviſible Kingdom in the Souls of Men. This Eminently is his Kingdom and Reign among Men, for the ſake of which the Adminiſtration of Providence is put into his hands, and he has a Church in the World.
When therefore the Phariſees demanded of him, When the Kingdom of God ſhould come, Luke. 17.20. He anſwered them and ſaid, The Kingdom of God cometh not with Obſervation: Neither ſhall they ſay, Lo here, or lo there; for THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU. That is to ſay, The Kingdom of God is in its true Glory and Efficacy an Inward & Spiritual thing, in the Heart, the Soul, the Conſcience of Man; There look for the Meſſiabs Kingdom, even within your Selves. There is his Throne, in the Hearts of a free and willing and holy People, who are by his Divine Power bro't to believe in and obey him. The Seat of his Government and the Glories of it are to be ſought within us. His Empire is over Souls, and like them Inviſible, by the Secret Operations of his Spirit on the Mind and Conſcience.
Thus there is a Spiritual Kingdom of Christ, ſet up in the hearts, his Government in the Souls of Believers; in the Soul that is Sanctified, that believes and obeys the Goſpel. This Kingdom of Chriſt conſiſts in the Converſion of Souls from Sin unto God, and the carrying on the Work of his Grace in them unto Salvation. It is the whole work of Sanctification, wro't and carried on in the Souls of the Elect, by the Preaching of the Goſpel. Hence we read of the Kingdom of God and his Righteouſneſs; and of the Word of the Kingdom, the Goſpel of the Kingdom, the Good Seed and the Children of the Kingdom.‖Mark 1.14. Math. 4.23.6.3.13.38.
Two Things might be very pertinent to obſerve here,
1. That there is no Empire or Rule in Nature like that which is over the Soul and Spirit. God governs the World, we ſay; and very truly. All his Works are ordered, directed and managed by Him. The Sun, Moon and Stars obey Him (we ſay) in all their Motions. His Will is their Rule & Law which guides and limits them. But all this is not properly Government, nor ſtrictly Obedience in them. The Creature knows not the Will of its Maker, nor is ſenſible of its own Being and Motion, Uſe and Service. Government is of the Superiour, Reaſonable and Intelligent Creatures, Angels and Men Theſe are capable of Law and of a free Subjection, and a willing Service. Theſe have a Law written in their Nature. Over them therefore God reigns. Theſe are His Subjects and the People of his Kingdom, being his Nobleſt Creation and Workmanſhip. He maketh his Angels Spirits, the Miniſters of His Kingdom both of Providence & Grace; they excel in Strength, Knowledge and Holineſs. He made Man like them a Living Soul; in His own Image, who is a Spirit and the Father of Spirits; and all Souls are His, and we are His OFFSPRING.
Now here is the Perfection of Rule, of Knowledge and Power; to know the Tho'ts of the heart, and ſearch it, and turn and change it as it pleaſes GOD. Others can reach the Body, order and inſpect our outward Behaviour, and puniſh the Overt Tranſgreſſion; but the Mind is free and not to be bro't under the Power of any. Humane Laws can preſcribe only to the outward Life and Actions, and take Cognizance only of Mens Manners: But it is the Glory of God, his Laws, and his Government that he looks to the Heart within, requires the Love and Service of that, and will accept nothing leſs; but the Tho't of Wickedneſs is Sin before him and he judges therefor. Jer. 17.10. I the Lord ſearch the Heart, I try the Reins.—.
Conſcience within us is His Vicegerent. He has created it, endow'd and impower'd it, and to Him it is Accountable. He has given it Knowledge, and he Commiſſions it, and to Him it renders in its Regiſter and Teſtimony. For the Spirit of Man is the Candle of the Lord, ſearching all the inward parts of the Belly, Prov. 20.27. This is GODS Government, whereby he rules over the Higheſt and the leaſt. The Hearts of Kings are in his Hand and he turns them, & cuts off the Spirits of Princes. In this He appears to be the Bleſſed and Only Potentate; the King Immortal, Inviſible and only Wiſe; from whoſe Spirit and Preſence there is no hiding, no flying. Such Knowledge is too wonderful for Man; it is High and he cannot attain unto it.
In a word, This Empire over Souls and Spirits takes in the Dominion of the vaſt Hades, the unſeen World; the Key whereof is put into the Redeemers Hand: In Compariſon whereof the Millions of Souls on our little Globe are but a ſmall Number, and as a ſingle Family. How many Millions of Immortal spritis paſs out of this World of ours, in every Age of it, into this Hades? Beſides the Myriads of Angels and Legions of Devils there before! What a Kingdom of God is here without limits, or any Number of its Hoſts! this Empire over Souls or Spirits!
To theſe GOD has ſubjected the reſt of his Glorious Creation, made them for Dominion, & put all things under their feet; reſerving them to be his Own Dominion and Servants, becauſe the Superiour Orders of Being.
This is the firſt Note which I commended to your ſerious Attention, That there is no Empire or Rule in Nature like that which is over the Soul and Spirit. The next Obſervation I would make is,
II. That there is no Rule or Empire over Souls here on Earth like that which God diſplays in the Work of Sanctification, or his ſaving work of Grace wro't and carried on in our Souls by His Holy Spirit. There are other wonderful Proofs and Inſtances of GODS Governing the Spirits of Men in the common Rule of His Providence: there being indeed no ſuch thing at all as a Providence over Humane Affairs, without a particular Knowledge of and Power over Mens Spirits; directing and over-ruling them as the Alwiſe Governour of Heaven and Earth ſees meet and neceſſary; Inclining or reſtraining them, and changing their Purpoſes and Counſels, according to his own Will & unto his own Glory. There is a powerful inſenſible Operation of Providence on the Spirits of Men, which puts no force on their Freedom, Liberty and Choice, but yet governs their Will to its own Purpoſe and Council. But now the Work of Grace, Converſion & Regeneration, and the progreſs of our Sanctification is a more manifeſt and Eminent Empire of GOD over our Spirits than all this.
1. It is Gods Glorious Efficiency. The Excellency of the Power is of GOD and not of Man. The Word is the Power of GOD unto Salvation. The Day of a Souls Converſion is the Day of GODS Power‖1 Cor. 1.18. 4.20. Pſal. 110.3. 2 Cor. 4.7. Eph. 1.19. For who but GOD can change the Soul? give a new heart? renew the Mind and Spirit? form and make a New Creature? For there is a new Mind given, a new Will, new Affections, new Purpoſes and Reſolutions, new Strength and Power, and ſo a newneſs of Life produced. This is Dominion, Rule and Government over our Spirits with a witneſs: An Abſolute Power exerted upon them, whereby they are reformed and reſtored, according to the Will, and into the Image of God, who worketh all in all. This is the Exceeding Greatneſs of His Power to Us-ward who believe, according to the Working of his Mighty Power.
2. It is all Efyected & Carried on in a way of Rule & Government: by a Divine Regency which is moſt Free and Gracious. An Act of true Dominion, bringing the Reaſonable Creature in a Way agreable to its rational Nature, Liberty & Faculties, into a choſen Subjection to God. To ſet this in a true light we need only conſider the Means which the Holy Ghoſt uſes, and the Method which he takes with us in this glorious Work: And this is ſuch as is moſt proper to the Government of a Soul. That is to ſay, He works on the Soul by that Inſpired Word and revealed Law which He hath given for our Government, to regulate us & to be Obeyed by us. His Word is the Rule of Holineſs and of our Duty. It preſcribes both to the Outward Life, and to the Inward Tho'ts, Affections & Deſires. It is a Law to our Conſciences, and it is quick & powerful as a Sword to peirce into the Inmoſt Soul; a Diſcerner of the Tho'ts and intents of the Hearts, and a judge of them. This Divine Word is the Ordinary Means which the Spirit of GOD uſes in Convincing & Converting Sinners; and to that End the Miniſtry and Preaching of it is Ordained, and by the Bleſſing of GOD with it is made Inſtrumental & Efficacious. Now this is Agreable to our Nature and the proper Government of Reaſonable Creatures. For God made Man to be rul'd by a Law and Precept. He wrote his Law in Mans heart at firſt, and ſome Remains of it abide in his Apoſtacy. He gov…rn'd Man in his Integrity by a Law and Commandment, requiring a perfect Obedience of him; by a Promiſe and a Threatning, by Hopes & Fears. And ſo he doth yet by the Written Law, Precepts and Prohibitions, Promiſes and Threats. He uſes the proper Means, Humane and Rational, to Inform Enlighten and Convince the Judgment, to perſwade and overcome the Will, to move the Affections, Deſire and Loathing, Love and Hatred, Hope & Fear, Grief and Joy; and by all to Alarm the Conſcience, Encourage and Deter us, as His Glory and our Happineſs do direct. In this way Soveraign Grace gets the Dominion again in the Soul of Man, and in this way it maintains it: Which is the Way of a Rational Dominion, the Governing by Law free & Intelligent Beings. The Divine Government in our Souls is upheld by the Law of the Kingdom. Faith comes by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God. Of His own Will be begets us by the Word of Truth. The Commandment comes and the Sinner dies ‖Rom. 10.17. James 1.18. Rom. 7.8, 9.So he is bro't to the foot of Chriſt, to kneel to the Scepter of his Grace.
Thus the Holy Ghoſt accompanies this Word of the Kingdom with an Inviſible and Irreſiſtible Bleſſing, whereby he ſubdues the Enmity of the Heart againſt the Divine Law, and brings it to ſubmit freely thereunto.
3. Herein is the Kingdom of Satan in the Soul overthrown, and the Oppoſite glorious Reign of Holineſs ſet up in its stead. Satan is diſpoſſeſſed and Souls recovered from Sin unto God. The Dominion of Sin is broken, and the Scepter of Chriſt bow'd to, the Laws of Holineſs obeyed. So that here is a proper Conquest and Reduction of the Soul from the Tyranny of Satan, and from Slavery to him into the Glorious Liberty of the Children of God. He that was ſometimes alienated and an Enemy in his mind by wicked Works, now is Reconciled, Col. 1.21. Many Enemies are conquer'd in the Souls Converſion, and all of them are fought with daily and reſiſted in the progreſs of our Sanctification, and in the Saints Perſeverance. Fleſh, World and Devil are the Mortal Enemies of this bleſſed Work; for they well know that it tends to their Mortification and Deſtruction, and conſiſts therein Theſe are ſtubborn, fierce and irreconcilable Foes, ſubtle and ſtrong, fighting for their life and for the Dominion which they have uſurp'd over us. All the Powers of Hell are in Arms againſt every Souls Salvation, and every Soul has a treacherous corrupt Nature ſiding with the Powers of Darkneſs. It is now the Glory of GODS Grace to conquer theſe Powers, break their cruel and unjuſt Dominion, ſet up a Contrary Law and Rule in the heart, and bring the Soul to a willing Obedience unto the Holy Law which it once hated and violated, and unto a mortal hatred of that Tyranny and Curſed Way of Sin, from which the Grace of GOD hath deliver'd it. Thus the World is overcome, and this is the Victory even our Faith: The Fleſh is Crucified with its Affections and Luſts, and Satan is reſiſted ſtedfaſtly and bruiſed under our feet. The Soul is turned from Darkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan unto God: It is delivered from the Power of Darkneſs, and tranſlated into the Kingdom of his dear Son Col. 1.13.
4. And laſtly, This delivery of Souls begun in this Life in the Work of Sanctification, from the Power of Satan, ends in their final Salvation and eternal Glorification in Heaven. At Death theſe Redeemed Souls are carried by Angels, in ſafety & in triumph, thro' Satans Territories into the Paradiſe of God. The Devils ſee them paſs along thus guarded, to the Preſence of Chriſt, to ſee his Glory, and to be glorified by him. They dare not come nigh 'em, to offend 'em, in this their Glorious Paſſage. They at a diſtance ſee it with Envy & Rage, and gnaſh and melt away. And whither they go Satan can never come: They go to thoſe Realms and Seats of Glory which he (Accurſed Spirit) left and fell from, and can return to no more. The Crowns of Glory which fell from the Heads of theſe Apoſtate Spirits, the Redeemed Saints of Chriſt aſcend to wear; and they reign in thoſe Thrones, from which theſe were caſt down to Hell. When Chriſt aſcended on high He led Captivity Captive, and when Believers aſcend after him they ſee the Captive Spirits in Chains all the Way they paſs, Unable to offend them, Afraid to behold them. They fade away and are afraid out of their cloſe places.
But then in the Reſurrection of the Dead the Dominion of Sin and Satan will be more ſenſibly and fully broken. Then Death, the laſt Enemy will be deſtroyed, aboliſhed, and Mortality it ſelf ſwallow'd up of Life, ſwallow'd up in Victory.
And yet in more formal manner will the Redeemers Conqueſt of Satan appear in the Judgment Day; both in the Condemnation of Satan Himſelf, and of all thoſe that have ſ…v'd and obey'd him; and in the publick Juſtification of Believers in Chriſt.
For then Satan himſelf, the Devil and his Angels ſhall be bro't forth in Chains before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt, and ſhall be condemned by him to Eternal Torments: To that Everlaſting Fire prepared for them. They believe this Day and tremble, they once ſhreik'd out before the Son of God on Earth and ſaid, — Art thou come to torment us before our time? But in the laſt and great Day the Time of their Torment will be fully come, and the Man Chriſt Jeſus (in the Glory of the Father, with all his Holy Angels) will be their Judge; Yea His Saints ſhall ſit by him and judge Angels: 1 Cor. 6.3. And they ſhall be caſt into the Bottomleſs pit, into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, to be tormented Day and Night, for Ever and Ever, Rev. 20 10.
That is to ſay too, All thoſe that have here Impenitently hearkened unto Satans Temptations and Deluſions, and done his Luſts, ſhall be Adjudged and Condemned with him to one and the ſame Place of Torments: Mat. 25.41.
But at the ſame time theſe Damned Spirits ſhall behold with Envy and Horror Millions of the Children of Adam, Redeemed from the the Earth, waſhed white in the Blood of Chriſt, openly Juſtified in their ſight, and declared Heirs of Eternal Glories in Heaven. Satan ſhall behold this bleſſed Election of free Grace T…phing in that glorious Day; He the Object of their Contempt, Diſdain and Abhorrence, They of his Envy and Rage: He ſhall conſider them as Sav'd from Sin & Hell, from his Malice and Hatred, by the Power and Grace of Chriſt, to the Everlaſting Enjoyment Adoration and Service of God, to Infinite and Unſpeakable Bleſſedneſs in His Love and …our for ever and ever: He'll ſee it with Amazement and Anguiſh, Confuſion and Shame, and down he'll Sink Blaſpheming, with all the Sinful Ghoſts a-round him, in Everlaſting Deſpair.
And thus I have Meditated the Redeemers Conquest of Satan in the Reſcue of Souls from him by the Power of his Grace. And this would have led me to a more particular Conſideration of the latter Phraſes in the Text, and the laſt Propoſition thence reſulting; He taketh from him all his Armour wherein he truſted and divideth his Spoils: It is a Victory the moſt Compleat and Entire, Perfect and Glorious that can be.
But I muſt proceed no further at this time.