whom the scriptures designate by the name of Satan, or the devil, can hardly be denied by those who credit the Word of God; for we are there expressly told that Jesus Christ was manifested for the very purpose of " destroying the works of the devil." It is equally clear that he is a very formidable being; for he is described in the same divine oracles as "a roaring lion, walking "about, seeking whom he may devour,' ever anxious, and ever on the watch, to slay the souls of men."

But though the influence of this wicked spirit over mankind has been considerable ever since the event of the Fall, yet it is by no means irresistible His power, as I have before hinted, is only a permitted one: permitted, for the purposes of trying, but not destroying, the children of men; of exercising their faith; and proving their christian virtue. Hence arises the "enmity," or constant struggle, between that condemned being (of which the serpent was the apt representative) and the humble, conscientious, and. earnest followers of Jesus Christ. They must, necessarily, be in everlasting opposition to each other; for "what fellowship can there be," as the Apostle asks, "between righteousness and unright"eousness? or what communion between

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light and darkness? and what concord "between Christ and Belial ?" The heart of the faithful christian is filled with repentance for his sins, faith in his Saviour, an earnest longing after the divine life, the love and fear of God, and charity and goodwill towards man; his eye is directed to heaven; and his chief study and endeavour are," so to pass through things temporal "as, finally, not to lose the things eternal."

His spiritual foe, on the other hand, points, and invites, and seduces him to far different dispositions of heart and rules of conduct; for he urges the believer to become "the servant of sin," and the "child "of hell." The "enmity," therefore, is such as never can be reconciled; the warfare must continue as long as man is a pilgrim here below.

Nor can we hope to escape entirely unharmed during this perpetual strife. The serpent will bruise man's heel."

The Devil will throw temptations in our way; temptations so exactly adapted to our passions, our wishes, our pursuits in life, and our station in society; so alluring in their form, and so flattering in their promises of gratification; as will require the most steady, and oftentimes the most painful, efforts to withstand them; and the

tempter will sometimes succeed in his snares. He will find, perchance, the Christian unguarded, and unsuspicious of the evil; or in self-security, and not dreading it: and having succeeded in his temptation, will then afflict the culprit's soul with selfreproach, bitter remorse, and all those cruel pangs which follow the conviction of wilful sin.

He will, moreover, as he has done in all ages, occasionally harass the true disciple of Jesus with persecution, with "mock"ings and scourgings; yea, with bonds "and imprisonments;" or (what, perhaps, is a trial still more dangerous than actual persecution) with ridicule and derision; with sneers at his piety, and laughter at his devotion; and point "the finger of scorn," and wag "the tongue of raillery or slander, at his conscientious endeavours" in simplicity and godly sincerity" to "have "his conversation in the world."

These, and other trials and temptations, such as occasional misgivings in trust; failings in faith; interruptions of hope; and wanderings in prayer; are the stones" of "stumbling," and "rocks of offence," scattered in the way of the humble pilgrim to Immanuel's land, by the spiritual adversary of mankind; and while they satisfac

torily explain the figurative language of the text, that the serpent should" bruise the “heel" of " the seed of the woman." they fully accomplish the prediction which it implies.

But the blasting influence of Satan over fallen man will be (as we have already said) only partial and temporary; and evil, confined within certain limits even in this world, shall in the end be utterly rooted out. CHRIST (" the seed of the woman, in the highest and most emphatic sense) will "bruise the serpent's head." He will support his Church, and every conscientious member of it, with his " might" and

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grace," against the violence and the delusions of Satan, as long as the "warfare" subsists between them; and when that is "accomplished," will altogether confound and" destroy his works."

That the everlasting Saviour has already, by his Gospel, checked the power of Satan, and is still preventing him from overcoming or undoing those who are ardently desirous of salvation, is sufficiently evident from that gospel itself, which offers means of strength and sources of comfort to the true believer, all sufficient for his defence against every spiritual attack and every carnal delusion.

Should the malice of the foe try the

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Christian under the form of persecution, and attempt to terrify him from his duty, he may meet the trial with these words of Jesus Chsist: "Be not afraid of them "who kill the body, and after that have "no more that they can do: but I will "forwarn you whom ye shall fear: fear Him, which, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into Hell. Yea, I say unto you, fear Him."

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Should Satan tempt the good Christian, as he did the Redeemer, by promises of secular good and temporal advantages, to withdraw his allegiance from God, and surrender himself to the world; the admonition of the Apostle will secure him against the delusion: "Love not the

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world, neither the things that are in the "world for the world passeth away, and "the lusts thereof; but he that doeth the "will of God, abideth for ever."

Should the Devil entice him to uncleanness, by exciting his passions,-to dishonesty, by false views of interest,—or to impatience and murmuring at his appointed. lot in life; the Word of God, if resorted to, will supply the means of preservation, by these solemn declarations, these clear injunctions, and these animating promises"Whoremongers and adulterers God