F SERMON XXI. ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS. THE NATURE, THE POWER, AND THE MALICE OF EVIL SPIRITS; AND THE NECESSITY OF A STED- MARK V. 13. AND FORTHWITH JESUS GAVE THEM LEAVE. AND THE 'HE church has appointed this feftival, ΤΗ that we may not forget that there are other beings, befides those we every day see and converse with, with which we are greatly concerned; the word of God affuring us, that both good and bad angels are appointed or permitted by God, the one to fuccour and defend us, the other to hurt and ruin us whenever we take ourselves from under his protection. Sometimes we are apt to ascribe too much power to evil fpirits, and to be too much afraid of those whom we fufpect to have dealings with them. And fometimes we despise them * See Ecclus. xxxix. 28. Luke x. 17. John xiii. 27. 2 Cor. ii, 10. Ephef. ii. 2. James iv. 7. Rev. xii. 12. and and their power, as if we had nothing to fear from them. We are in the wrong in both these extremes. The hiftory, which I am going to explain to you will give us a better account of thefe matters. It is mentioned by three of the Evangelifts, as a fubject which the Christian world ought to be well acquainted with; fo that you may be fure it is your duty to know and understand what God has revealed to us concerning the nature, the power, the number, and the malice, of those evil spirits that are about us, and how we may be fecure from any evil they can do to us. The history is this: There met Jefus a man poffeffed with a legion of devils. His condition was very miferable; he was night and day in the mountains and in the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones; he had been often bound with fetters and chains, but to no purpose; he plucked them afunder, neither could any man tame him. Jefus, feeing him in this condition, had compaffion on him, and commanded the evil fpirits to leave him. They knew they must obey, but they befought him that they might go into an herd of fwine, that were feeding hard by; the very nature of them being to do mischief whenever they are permitted. Jefus, that he might convince the world how dreadful their malice is, and how great their power, when left to themselves, and not reftrained reftrained by God, therefore gave them leave: and behold, the whole herd of fwine ran violently down a steep place into the fea, and perished in the waters. And that very legion of evil fpirits, which just before could not deftroy one poor man, (their power being limited by God) can now deftroy with eafe two thoufand other creatures, having obtained leave fo to do. When Jefus was about to leave this place, he that had been poffeffed with the devils befought him that he might be with him; fearing, very probably, that the devils and his diforders might return, when once his deliverer fhould be gone and at a diftance from him; but Jefus fuffered him not to go with him, but bade him go home to his friends, and tell them how great things the Lord had done for him. From which he would have us to learn, that the eyes of the Lord are in every place, and that his providence is fufficient fecurity against all attempts of the devil, provided we are but in the way of our duty. Now; from this hiftory we learn three truths of great importance. ift. That the devil is a fpirit of great malice, and great power. 2dly. That both his malice and power are altogether under the government of God. And, 3dly. That God often permits him to do great mifchief for the punishment of wicked men, and for the trial of the faith of good men. I. And first; That the devil is a spirit of great power and malice, is made known to us as often almost as he is fpoken of in the holy fcriptures. St. Paul' expreffes his power after this manner: We wrestle not against flesh and blood, that is, against men like ourselves, but against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked fpirits, who endeavour all that is poffible to make men as wicked as themfelves. And St. Peter likens him to a roaring lion, feeking whom he may devour, that is, whom he may be permitted to deftroy. He was a murderer from the beginning, faith our Lord, John viii. 44. And Rev. xii. 9, he is faid to deceive the whole world. And, because we are more affected with what we fee or hear to be done by him, this history is recorded, that we may not want fufficient evidence of what he can do. Having got poffeffion of the poor man, be had no longer reft. Being forced by the command of Chrift to leave this habitation, his malice went as far as he knew it would be fuffered to go; for getting poffeffion of the fwine, they were immediately every one deftroyed. Now; this miracle being the only one of all that Jefus wrought, which brought any thing that looked like an injury to any man, we may be fure it was permitted, in order to fix a lafting impreffion and remembrance upon all that should hear of it, what great power Ephef. vi. 12. Chap. v. 8. с the the devil has when he is let loose to do what he pleases. And it was well even for these very people who loft their goods, that they knew the power of evil fpirits by fuch a judgment as this. For the devil could as eafily have destroyed two thousand of them, as two thousand of their fwine, had God permitted him to have used his power. II. For being entirely under the government of God, he can do nothing without God's permiffion. The text faith, Jefus gave them leave, to affure us, that without his leave they had no power. And in the book and hiftory of Job, it is revealed to us, that the evil spirit has no power to exercise his malice but when he hath express leave from God: Haft not thou made a fence about him, and about all that he hath? This that the devil complained of was Job's fecurity; but when God gave the word, Bebold, all that he has is in thy power; we fee what short work the devil made of all that the world calls happiness. He left him neither estate, nor child, nor health, nor friend, except God only; in whofe providence, notwithstanding his fevere afflictions, he continued to put his truft, and in the end it turned to account, and for his good. d And our Lord told St. Peter, Behold, Satan bas defired to have you, that he may fift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not;-that God would deliver thee from < Job i. 10. d Job i. 12. Luke xxii. 31. that |