that Satan is wonderfully capacitated for acquiring knowledge, and that he has been most advantageously circumstanced for acquiring it. And that he has exerted this capacity, and im proved these circumstances, is as evident as that he possesses the one, and is surrounded by the other;—also that he knows how to apply to the greatest practical advantage, and does so apply it, the knowledge he has thus acquired, is as evident as that he actually acquired it. The Scriptures speak of the "devices of Satan," of his "wiles," of his "depths;" all which phrases imply that, from the means of information he possesses, and the discoveries he has been enabled to make, he has formed a system of operation.Again, terms are employed in Scripture to designate him, which imply the existence in him of knowledge and wisdom in a pre-eminent degree. He is sometimes called a serpent ;-" that old serpent, the devil;" which is not merely in allusion to his having employed that creature as an instrument by which to seduce our first parent from her fidelity to her Creator, but also, and principally, to set forth his wisdom. A serpent is proverbial for wisdom hence, our Lord ex

horts his disciples to be wise as serpents. His common appellation too-devil-implies the existence in him of these qualities in a still higher degree: for it comes from a term (saw) which is said properly to signify one that is wise, knowing, or skilful. From the wickedness of the being who is called emphatically Aapov, wicked spirits only are generally understood by the term: the term, however, still designates beings possessed of knowledge and wisdom.

Possessing such knowledge and wisdom, how well acquainted must Satan be with us, and how perfectly can he adapt his temptations to us? We do not, for a moment, suppose that Satan is acquainted with our thoughts and purposes, before, in some way or other, we discover them to him. This is the sole prerogative of Jehovah. But although Satan does not know, with certainty, what thoughts are being conceived by us, and what purposes are being formed, before, in some way or other, we discover them; yet the very first and faintest discovery of them makes him acquainted with them. He can as readily become acquainted with our tempers and inclinations, and therefore ascertain what will excite

the one, and draw to itself the other. But, by presenting to us certain objects, or by making to us certain suggestions, he has really the power of drawing out our minds, and thus eliciting our thoughts and purposes. With what suitableness, therefore, as to nature, with what seasonableness as to time, with what correctness as to opportunity or occasion, and with what power as to effect, can he apply to us temptation!

Secondly, He is possessed of subtilty or cunning. This quality is directly attributed to him. "The serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty" "The devil deceived the nations." And mention is made of the devices of Satan, and the wiles of the devil. He is said to transform himself into an angel of light; and the agency by which he works, or the agents which he employs, are called“ the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness of those who lie in wait to deceive."

But we can point out many examples of the subtilty of Satan. Eve was beguiled by him, in

defiance of her settled convictions; and Peter was ensnared by him, in defiance of his solemn protestations. We have not unfrequently met with persons who have been drawn away by him,

in defiance both of their convictions, and their protestations, and their fears. Under the hand of God, they have been led to see the evil of sin, and to deplore the extent to which they have practised it; and they have protested, that, should the dispensation under which they are suffering be removed from them, they would avoid the practice of it; fearing, however, lest they should not have moral courage and grace enough to avoid the practice of sin, they have desired, and prayed, that the dispensation might not be removed. They have been raised up again; but, instead of living a life of devotedness to God, they have sinned as thoughtlessly, and as egregiously as ever! Have we not even experienced the subtilty of Satan? Some of our wisest plans have been thwarted, and some, perhaps, of our holiest resolutions (at least, they appeared such to us at the time they were formed) have been broken, purely by the subtilty of Satan. In our meditated attacks on his government, he has outwitted us; and, in our determinations to resist his influence, he has tripped up our heels; and thus we have been pierced through with many sor

rows.

Thirdly, He is possessed of diligence and watchfulness.-The diligence and watchfulness of Satan may be inferred from the existence of the same qualities in angels. That angels are constantly watching and attending the persons of the people of God, is evident from the fact, that they are so frequently introduced in the Scriptures as performing important offices about and for them. But they are said to be "all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation;" which office requires watchful attention. "The angel of the Lord," it is said, encampeth round about them that fear him,"is on guard about them,-is appointed to watch their persons. Again, to allay our fears, such guardianship is promised us :-" He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Now, for what purpose is this guardianship and ministry of angels? Why do they

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Why are they

so constantly attend our steps? represented to us as a militant band, ready, should an occasion for it present itself, to engage in actual conflict? Why? Why, but that there is another and an opposite power in existence and

operation, against which all their efforts are in