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MUCH has been said and written of late respecting Satan, and with a flippancy which implies the utter disbelief of the existence of such a being. We have odes, and essays, and songs, and farces, and caricatures, and political satires, in which the arch-enemy of God and man is introduced to excite merriment, to the utter forgetfulness of the fearful truth that the being thus made a jest of goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; and among his first victims, we may justly conceive, will be those who mock at his existence. The extent to which this "jesting about the devil" has of late been carried, may render it not unprofitable to suggest a few thoughts in relation to what we read of him in Scripture, in order that we may learn to guard against his devices, one of which, doubtless, is to make us forget his existence, and to blind us to his machinations.

All things necessary for our salvation, God has declared so plainly in the Bible, that no person who studies it and seeks for Divine direction can fatally err. That man is by nature a sinful creature, and of himself can do nothing good-that in this condition he cannot enter heaven-that Christ the Son of God came down from heaven and redeemed mankind by His death-and that He rose again, and sent down the Holy Ghost, by whom we must be renewed, and who is promised to all who seek Him through faith in Jesus Christ; this, the Gospel, is strongly and legibly depicted on every page.

But, at the same time, it is as plainly manifest that there are mysteries in the Bible, which none on this side the grave can ever understand. Who that reads the account of the formation of the world can comprehend the Creator? Who can comprehend Him who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out the heaven with a span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who can comprehend the great mystery of godliness; God manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory? Who can fully comprehend this earth, when it was without form and void, when darkness was upon the face of the deep? much more the King of kings and Lord of lords, the triune God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with myriads of angels, who are his messengers, ever waiting to do his pleasure?

Some of these angels, St. Jude tells us, kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation; these hath God reserved in everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of the great day; being however still CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 368.

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endued, as Mr. Scott remarks, with vast capacities, profound sagacity, extensive knowledge, and great power, and wholly actuated by enmity, malice, pride, envy, ambition, and subtlety, they maintain determined rebellion against their Maker: and as they are very numerous, they have established a kingdom in opposition to God's kingdom, under the dominion of the arch-apostate, Satan; so that, as far as they are permitted, they are unweariable and insatiable in mischief: aiming at nothing less than reducing the whole creation to a state of rebellion against God, anarchy, and misery, and rendering all creatures as vile as themselves. These apostate spirits are continually intruding into the company of the children of God on earth, especially when they meet in his ordinances, or approach his mercy-seat. And they would dare to intrude even into heaven, the habitation of God's holiness, if access were allowed them, to join the company of his holy angels: yet this would not in the least degree change their evil nature, for wherever they go they are instigated by malice, and seek to do mischief. In consequence of the fall of man, Satan has obtained great power over him; and he is favoured with treacherous foes within the citadel, the carnal and natural affections of the human heart always fighting valiantly on his side.

If we look back and see the fruits of his assiduous labours, we shall find that they have been most fearful. He was the cause of the confusion of tongues, he instigated our forefathers presumptuously and profanely to build the tower of Babel; by which act they provoked God's righteous judgments, and brought upon themselves the punishment which they so justly deserved. What an advantage did he then gain; and what a hindrance, humanly speaking, has thence arisen, to the promulgation of the Gospel! It is obvious how greatly it is now felt in regard to our missionaries, and how much time and labour have in consequence become necessary for learning the languages of the heathen whom they go abroad to instruct. Seven long years elapsed before the missionaries who went out to Otaheite sufficiently understood the language to be able to address the natives with due effect. They had no grammars or dictionaries to help them. How great an advantage did Satan thus gain !-Again, think what superstitions prevail all over the world; Paganism, Mohammedanism, the idolatries of Hindostan, Juggernaut, the idol worship of the South-Sea Islanders; these and all other religions so called, except the only true one, the Christian religion, are the fruits of his labours. Look around nominal Christendom, and see how Infidelity, Popery, and that soul-withering heresy Socinianism prevail, and what wickedness and departure from God. All this is the combination of the rebellious heart of man with the devices of Satan. though he is the god of this world, and is now the prince of the power of the air, he reigns not in tranquillity; he has mighty enemies to contend with : no power is given to him over us except as we yield to his suggestions ; if such were not the case, his will would be accomplished, and earth would be hell already.

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On the other hand, great victories have been already won over him. When Christ the Prince of Glory was crucified, a great victory was won, though for a time Satan seemed to triumph. When Christ ascended up on high, and led captivity captive, and received gifts for men, another victory was won. When the gifts which Jesus had received were given to men, when the Holy Ghost was imparted on the day of Pentecost, a victory was won! The advantage which Satan had gained by the confusion of tongues was then, till the Gospel was proclaimed to all nations, of no advantage. Now a sharp and deadly conflict is sustained between Satan and his followers, and Jesus Christ and his brethren. The Captain of our salvation will finally prevail; He will be King for ever, and his brethren will reign

with Him; but he that deceived the people, even his followers, together with them, shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, there to be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Satan was formerly permitted on some occasions to have the power of entering into the bodies of animals, and to speak by them, as he entered into the serpent, in order the better to persuade the woman to eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree; and at our Lord's incarnation, he was permitted for special reasons, perhaps in order that Christ might shew his Almighty power, to exercise a peculiar power over the bodies of many men, who were in consequence miserably afflicted and tormented. In those distressing cases, we perceive that it was his character and his delight to torture and destroy.

Let us consider Satan, this enemy to our souls and bodies, under various characters, as he is depicted in the word of God. He is called Leviathan, Lucifer, Prince of this World, God of this World, Liar, Murderer, Satan, Beelzebub, Tormentor, and Roaring Lion.

Leviathan. (Isa. xxvii. 1.)-What animal is to be understood by Leviathan, has been greatly disputed among naturalists: he however is here represented as "that serpent piercing, or crossing like a bar; that crooked serpent;" which expressions may perhaps signify his versatility and cunning. If we turn to the xli st chapter of Job, we shall find throughout the chapter the description of Leviathan. It has been supposed, that either the crocodile of the Nile, the whale, the hippopotamus, or the elephant, must be intended. The crocodile certainly seems to be the most likely to be understood; but there are difficulties in applying the description to this animal, though probably less than those that militate against applying it to the elephant, whale, or hippopotamus. I will copy a short description of the crocodile, that the reader may see how far it coincides with the description given in the chapter.

"The crocodile is a species of lizard, with a two-edged tail, large oblong head, small, but vivacious eyes, short legs, and triangular feet, the fore ones having four, and the hinder ones five, toes, armed with strong sharp claws. Its length is usually about twenty feet, and its circumference about five feet. It has, in proportion to its size, the largest mouth of all monsters; moves both his jaws equally, the upper part of which is armed with not less than forty, and the under with thirty-eight sharp, strong, and massy teeth its voice is a loud hollow growling of the most terrific description it is furnished with a coat of mail, so scaly and callous as to resist the force of a musket ball in every part, except under the belly. It is a natural inhabitant of the Nile and other African and Asiatic rivers; is of enormous strength and voracity, as well as fleetness in swimming; attacks mankind and the largest animals with the most daring impetuosity; and when taken, by means of a powerful net, will often overturn the boats that surround it. Nothing that it once seizes can escape; and shaking its prey to pieces, it swallows it without mastication *. He is generally killed by the natives, when asleep, by harpoons; great dexterity must be used in giving the spear sufficient strength to pierce through his coat of mail: the wounded crocodile instantly flees to the water, and the huntsman to his canoe, which a companion brings to his assistance. A piece of wood fastened to the harpoon by a long cord swims on the water, and shews the direction in which the crocodile is moving. The huntsmen by pulling at this rope draw the beast to the surface of the water, where it is soon pierced by a second harpoon t.-To this dreadful animal Satan is

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* Bagster's Comprehensive Bible, Note, Job xli. † See Dr. Ruppel's Travels.

compared. The comparison shews his strength, and the powerful means which he has at his command to accomplish his purposes, and the strength that the soul also of the Christian must be endued with to defeat his malicious ends.

Lucifer. (Isa. xiv. 12.)-This epithet may be applied, if we consider the context, to the king of Babylon, whose destruction is here predicted, as well as to the fall of Satan and his angels; since the king of Babylon greatly resembled this rebellious spirit, both as to his conduct and his fate. He is represented as saying in his heart, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the Most High." He would now, if he could, dispossess the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity; but God replied to this vain-boasting, "Thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." From this we may learn how arrogant and daring is Satan: his lost state makes him desperate.

Prince of this World. (John xii. 31.)-Satan is at present the king who reigns over our fallen world: the wicked are his subjects; but some rebel against his tyranny, and fight against him with all their might. These, Satan, by promises which he never intends to perform, tries to pacify, and to bring them again under his dominion; but they cannot bear his yoke, and they perceive that his design is treachery, and that, instead of the happiness he promises, he only intends misery. The time will come, when the usurped sceptre shall be snatched from his hand; and he and his followers together shall be thrust into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. "Then shall the Redeemer take the reins of government into his hands then the wilderness and solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose: then, instead of the thorn, shall come up the fir tree, instead of the brier shall come up the myrtletree: all the trees of the wood shall rejoice."

Satan is also represented as the god of this world. (2 Cor. iv. 4.)—This, doubtless, signifies that his followers voluntarily serve and worship him, and are active in furthering his designs. From this we may learn, how great, how assiduous have been his labours, and how great his ambition.

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Liar. (John viii. 44.)—Thus we find him saying to Eve, on the day that she and Adam fell from their happy and holy state, Ye shall not surely die;" in opposition to the threatening of God, "In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." So again, in 2 Chron. xviii. 20, 21, we are told, that "there came out a spirit and stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets." Here we find Satan, or the evil spirit, offering his assistance as a liar, and being, by no means, unwilling or ashamed to acknowledge himself as such. He is continually proving his claim to this title. How many lying temptations does he put in our way! things which seem to promise us great pleasure, and for which he tempts us to sacrifice much: yea, even to endanger our souls; and if any person is foolish enough to endeavour to obtain this fair-looking object, it turns out to be but vanity.

Murderer. (John viii.44.)-The success of his temptation to Eve, brought sin into the world, and sin brought death; the death of the body, and the second death, which is the perdition of soul and body for ever in hell. Again, in 1 Chron. xxi. 1, Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel; and he was thus the cause of David's sin, which brought on the Israelites the pestilence which destroyed so many hundreds of persons.

Satan (Job. ii. 6); that is, the enemy and accuser.-That he is our enemy has been already shewn. But let us now more especially consider him, in the character of an accuser; "the accuser of the brethren," as he is styled in the Book of the Revelations. In order still more to injure Christians, he accuses them; and if he has nothing truly to accuse them of, he falsely accuses them, as he did in the persecutions in the early times of the church. He cannot act the part of an accuser in the day of judgment, for then he is more especially condemned; besides which, God is represented as opening books, in which the deeds of men are written, and by which they are to be judged. Rev. xx. 12: " And I saw the dead, both small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened which was the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." In the account of the day of judgment, Satan is no where represented as accusing the brethren, but as being himself finally condemned.

Beelzebub. (Matt. xii. 24.)—This word signifies literally, the lord of flies, or, as the Septuagint renders it, Baal μviav Oɛov, Baal the Fly God; probably so called because this idol was supposed to defend the people from flies, in the same manner as the Eleans adored Jupiter as the expeller of flies: and divine honours were paid to Hercules, for the same reason. This name the Israelites gave to Satan, in their contempt for that idol: as-much as to say, "You originated this piece of folly and superstition among men, in order to deceive them; therefore, Beelzebub will we call you, that your imposition may not be forgotten." This character may shew how egregiously he deceives the nations.

Tormentor. (Matt. xviii. 34.)-Christ, in the parable in which this character is assigned to Satan, was answering the question of St. Peter, "How often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?" Our Lord represents a king as taking an account of his servants, and one was brought to him who owed him a very large sum of money, and because he could not pay the debt, it was commanded that he, his wife, and children, should be sold, and payment should be made. At which sentence, the servant worshipped his lord, and declared, that if he would have patience, he would pay all. And his lord took compassion on him, and forgave him all the debt. The same servant is then represented as going out of his lord's presence, and finding a fellow-servant that owed him a very small sum, he would not listen to the prayer of his fellow-servant, but cast him into prison. This being reported to his lord, his lord was very wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors till he could pay his debt, which he could never do. Then the parable is ended with the warning, So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." From this verse, it is clear, that the wicked are to be delivered to the tormentors at Christ's second coming, or at the departure of the soul from the body. But let us consider in what manner he torments the souls delivered to him.

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If we apply the word "tormentor" to Satan without any reference to the context, it will be found peculiarly apt. For Satan is the cause of all human misery. Ever since our first parents were expelled from Eden, Satan has more or less tormented mankind. But in the bottomless pit, his kingdom is perfected in the misery of his followers. The sight of Satan, and of the wretchedness surrounding him, will doubtless aggravate the sinner's torment; and the tempter will heighten his misery by taunting him, or by putting into his mind taunting thoughts, reminding him of the privileges he has let slip by, and of the ruin he has brought upon himself by wilful disobedience. There Satan will have complete power over the

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