of the PERSON of CHRIsT. 147 in his eternal deftrudion with himfelf, and his malice againft God in depri- ving him of his glory. Hereon upon the diftance that he had made be- tween God and man, he interpofed himfelf, and boafted himfelf for a long feafon, as the God ofthis world who had all power over it and in it. It belonged unto the honour ofthe wifdom ofGod, that he fhould be defeated in thistriumph. Neither was it meet that this fliould be done by a meer a& offavereign, omnipotentpower. For he would yet glory in his craft end the fuccefs of it, that there was no way to difappoint him, but by cruising him with power, without refpeft unto righteoufnefs, or demon- ftration of wifdom. Wherefore it mutt be done in fuch a way, as wherein he might fee unto his eternal fhame and confufion, all his arts and fubtilties defeated by infinite wifdom, and his enterprize overthrown in a way of right and equity. The remark that the Holy Ghoft puts on the ferpent whichwas his inftrument in drawing man unto apoftafy from God, nine- íy, thathe wasfubtleaboveallthe beats ofthefield, is only tointimatewhere- in fatan defigned his attempt, and from whence he hoped for his fuccefs. It was not an a& of power or rage, but ofcraft, counfel, fubtilty and de- ceit. Herein he gloried and prided himfelf; wherefore the way to difappoint him with Manse, mutt be a contrivance of infinite wifdom, turning all his artifices into nicer folly. This work of Godwith refpee unto him is expreffed in the fcripture two ways. I.] It is called the fpoiling ofhim, as unto his power, and the prey that he had taken. The (Iron man armed was to be bound, and his goods fpoiled. The Lord Chrift by death defiroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. He lead captivity captive, fpoiling principalities and powers, triumphing over them in his crofs. So Abraham when he fmote the Kings, not only delivered Lot who was their captive, but alto rook all their Boils. 4.] It is expreffed by the deflru/lion of bis works. For this caufe was the Son of God manifefled, that he might defiroy the works of the devil. The fpoils which he had in his own power were taken from him, and the works which he had ere&ed in the minds of men were demolifhed. The web which he had wove to clothe himfelf withal as the Godof this world, was unravelled to the laft thread. And although all this feems to reprefent a work of power, yet was it indeed an effe& ofwifdom and righteoufnefs paincipally. For the power which fatan had over mankind was in it felf unjuft. ForFirfl, heobtained itby fraud and deceit. The ferpent beguiled Eve. Secondly, He poffeffed it with injuflice, with refpeft unto God, being an invader ofhis right and poffeflion. 4.. Thirdly, He ufed and exercifed it with malice, tyranny and rage i fo as that it was every way unjuft both in its foundation and execution. With refpeft hereunto he was juftly deftroyed by omnipotent power, which puts forth its felf in his eternal punifhment. But on the other fide, man- kind did fufferjuftly under his power, being given up unto it in the righ- teous judgment of God. For one may fuffer juftly what another Both un- juftly infli&. As when one cauflefly ftrikes an innocent man, ifhe ftrikes him again, he who did the first injury fufferethjuftly, but the other cloth unjuftly in revenging himfelf. Wherefore as manwas given up unto him in a way of punithmenr, he was a lawful captive, andwas not to be deli- vered but in a way of juftice. And this was done in a way that fatan never thought of, For by the obedience and fufferings ofthe Son of God incarnate, there was full fatisfa&ion made unto the juftice of God for the fins
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