II. Though they shall fight against them, yet they shall not overcome. They shall not prevail against it; that is, not finally, in the end the victory shall be the saints; Jerusalem shall be "a burdensome stone to all people," Zech. xii. 3.

1. Such a stone that they shall not be able to lift, or move it out of its place; it shall stand as a rock, against which the impetuous waves may dash themselves, but they cannot move it.

2. They shall not be able to bear it. It shall crush those who burden themselves with it; those who shake the church are pulling a house about their ears, a rock upon their loins; it shall break the backs of all those who contend against it; they shall be cut in pieces (saith the text) that burden themselves with it; though all the earth, yea, and hell too, be gathered together against it. It is a vair design that Satan and his partakers are driving on. "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" Psa. ii. 1. It is a vain design, and it is a fatal design to themselves: "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

In the first dawning of this glorious day-light, it is promised that the Seed of the woman shall break the serpent's head. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel," Gen. iii. 15. "Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out," John xii. 31. Cast out, whence? Why, cast out of his kingdom, out of his hold, cast down from his throne and dominion. His prison is broken, and now the prey is taken from the strong, the captives of the mighty are taken away.

But how was this now done, at the death of Christ, to which these words refer? Doth not Satan still reign? Is he not still the god of this world, and the prince of the power of the air? Yea, what hold hath he yet of the saints that are in the earth! What a tyrant is he to them! how doth he entangle and ensnare them! what havoc doth he make in their conscience! lording it over them, leading them captives by lusts and temptations; what a strong party hath he still within them, bearing arms against their Lord, fighting against their souls' What sad spoil doth he make upon their grace, upon their peace! they cannot rest for him day nor night, abroad nor at home, alone nor in company; he is ever following them; whithersoever they go, the devil is at their backs; they cannot pray, nor read, nor spend a thought, nor cast a look, nor despatch a sigh towards the Lord, but Satan stands by to resist, and hinder them. What a yoke hath he still upon their neck! what clogs and weights hath he still upon their loins! how do they mourn in their souls whilst he vexes them from day to day! how do they groan, and travail in pain, sighing in themselves, and waiting for their redemption! How is it then said, Now is he cast out? Why, now he hath received his judgment?" The prince of this world is judged," John xvi. Now is the fatal blow given, now is the serpent's head broken, though he still may bruise and hang on the saints. The blow he levelled at our Lord hath rebounded on his own head. Though he be as Gad, a serpent in the way, yet you may now tread upon this serpent, and it shall not hurt you. The strong man is now bound; if he be a god still, he is a god in chains, a prince in fetters; he must ask leave of your Father ere he can touch one

hair of your heads. He cannot tempt you, nor cast a bank against you, nor shoot an arrow at you, without a commission from Heaven. The devils are sub

ject to you. He is cast out, and in your Lord's name you may cast him out. "In my name shall ye cast out devils;" out of possessed bodies, out of possessed souls; you may be instruments to bring many a soul to repentance, that they may recover themselves out of the snares of the devil, who are held captive by him at his will. Every sinner that is converted by you, you have cast out a devil out of that soul.

Though he be an adversary still, yet such an adversary as may be resisted; "Whom resist stedfast in the faith," 1 Pet. V. 9. And if you will resist, he shall flee from you, James iv. 7. Stand, and your enemy runs.

Nay, more; he is not only a conque: ed enemy, but made your servant. This viper shall yield you medicine against his own poison. His smitings shall be an excellent oil; his messengers he sends to buffet you, his thorns he sticks in your flesh, shall be a prevention of greater evils. The very destruction he intends to bring upon you shall promote your salvation. "Deliver such an one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus," 1 Cor. v. 5. Behold, the devil is the church's servant, and such a servant as in their present state they cannot well want. The execution of their censures. A commonwealth may as well want a jailer, or a hangman, as the church a devil. Behold Satan divided against Satan; the devil without, against the devil within; the destroyer of souls become the destroyer of sin.

"Deliver such an one to Satan for the

destruction of the flesh." Though much against his mind, his hand is against his own party. He is made to kill his own friends, which otherwise would kill the soul. Whether he will or not, the very tormentor is made a saviour; "that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Christians, as much as you feel of the devil's malice, you could ill want his service; there is many a soul lost and undone by a sleeping, that might have been recovered and roused by a raging devil. His winds shall blow off your chaff, his floods shall wash away your filth, his earthquakes shall open your prison-doors, his tempests shall drive you to harbour. Some men want a tempest to save them from a wreck.

Nay, once more; he is not low enough yet; he shall be yet brought lower. You have assurance of his total and final overthrow. "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly," Rom. xvi. 20. "The devil shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone," Rev. xx. 10. It is but a little while, and when he hath done his work he shall be sent to his place, where he shall be shut up, and a seal set upon him; whence he shall come out no more for ever. He shall tempt no more, vex no more, deceive no more, destroy no more, torment you no more; he shall be thrust out, he shall be chained up; the tormentor shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

;

Stand, christians, stand your ground a little while follow your work, hold up your holy profession, hold on your holy course; keep your hearts, keep your garments, keep on your armour, keep under corruption, resist temptation, bear your affliction; hold out faith and patience, fight again your adversaries, watch with your Lord this one hour, and behold, he

that shall come, will come; he cometh quickly, and he that is in the world shall be consumed with the breath of his mouth, and destroyed with the brightness of his appearing. He shall be cast out, he shall be cast down, and rise no more for ever.

CHAPTER VII.-Death in the Covenant.

GOD hath put death into the covenant. "Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, all are yours," 1 Cor. iii. 21. Death! there is a great purchase, you will say; what advantage is that? Yes, death is advantage. To die is gain. For,

I. The commission of death is changed. It was once, Take him jailer; away with him, carry him down, to prison with him, there to be reserved to the judgment of the great day. It is now, Take him, janitor; take him, porter; take him in, give him an entrance into his master's joy. Death doth but take the bride when she is ready, and lodges her in the chamber of the bridegroom; this made death the apostle's desire; "I desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better," Phil. i. 23.

II. Death is conquered. What does this mean?

Your enemy is yours; other than this, your enemy is conquered to you; a conquered enemy is made a tributary; death is disarmed, it hath lost its sting. When a serpent hath lost its sting, you may take it into your bosom.

He that can say, "Death, where is thy sting?" may go on and add, "Thanks be to God, which hath given me the victory." A signet sent from heaven, with a death's head, is a precious token. Come, christians, be of good courage, set your feet on the neck of this king of terrors.