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I. We are to consider THE METHOD OF CHRIST'S ASSAULT UPON THE KINGDOM: OF SATAN IN THE HEART OF A SINNER, in order to gain him out of the enemy's hand; and also the wiles which the devil uses to disappoint the Redeemer's attempt and to keep the sinner in his service. While I am opening this point, it will be evidently seen how the devil wars at all disadvantage; that he must set up falsehood against truth, and temporal against eternal motives; that he cannot foretell the issue of one step he takes, while all his steps are plainly seen and foreseen, in all their consequences, by the Redeemer; that while Satan hath not the least power or strength to oppose one motion of His, He can easily turn all the counsels of Satan back upon himself; in a word, that in respect of Jesus, Satan is a poor, blind, weak, insignificant enemy. What, then, gives him so much success? It is neither his power, vigilance, nor cunning; what are these in respect of the might care, and wisdom of the Redeemer? No, sinners, it is your wilfulness; it is this alone gives him advantage. Now, that I may plainly set before you the method of Christ's attack upon Satan in the heart of a sinner, and Satan's devices to disappoint the success of it, you must be shown the state wherein Christ finds the sinner; His methods with him; and Satan's counterplot to defeat them.

1. The state wherein Christ finds the sinner. In sin - committing sin, an enemy to God, godliness, and godly men.

2. The methods Christ uses with the heart of the sinner, in order to dispossess Satan of his dominion over it. The Spirit working by the Word, and impressing the various motives which the Word contains effectually upon the heart.

3. Satan's wiles to disappoint the convictions which the Redeemer, by the Word and Spirit, has made upon the heart of a sinner.

(1) He may try to catch away the word of conviction by exciting presumption. If the constitution be warm, and a man is naturally bold and hardy (not as many others are, apt to fear in any great undertaking), when the Spirit hath begun to awaken the soul, by the terrors of the Lord, to a strong desire of fleeing from the wrath to come, the work of religion will, of course, seem not so difficult a thing as it is spoken of. Satan, then, will correspond with these views. The sinner shall seem to himself as if he had already overcome.

(2) Another sort of awakened sinners may be as continually fearful, as these we have been speaking of are bold and hardy. When such are awakened, the enemy, most likely, will be working with them to make them discouraged, and to harass them with fears, till they yield. With these he magnifies everything, and swells up mole hills to mountains in their apprehension.

(3) If the enemy cannot prevail by means of presumption or fear, he will endeavour, by the pleasures or cares of the world, to catch away the impression which Christ has made upon the sinner's heart by the Word and Spirit. These are his subtle devices against the soul of a sinner. When there are some stirrings of infelt concern about the judgment and wrath to come, the devil knows how to make advantage of worldly pleasure and care, upon those whom he hath held in subjection by the love of the one or the other. He can plead that pleasure is harmless, and care is needful, till, by the entertainment of the one, and solicitude of the other, the gracious conviction is done away.

(4) The last wile of the devil to keep the awakened sinner for his service, is an attempt to detain him from the throne of grace.

II. I am now, in the second place, more directly with the design of the text, TO DESCRIBE TO YOU THE WILES OF THE DEVIL AGAINST CHRIST IN THE PERSONS OF BELIEVERS, WHEREBY HE ENDEAVOURS TO SHAKE THEIR CONSTANCY, and to render them disserviceable to the cause wherein they are engaged; and likewise the armour Christ hath prepared for their defence, as well as for making them fit to serve successfully under Him against the kingdom of darkness. Satan hath many wiles for those who believe, and are gone over to Jesus; if He cannot draw them back he will harass them, lay bars in their way, try to render them less fruitful, and less serviceable to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. In order to resist them we must put on -

1. Truth, or sincerity.

2. Righteousness; that is, the practice of all holiness.

3. The preparation of the gospel, or firmness, readiness, and constancy in all cases.

4. Faith, namely, in the promises of God in Christ. This must be put on above, or over all, because faith preserves all other graces.

5. The hope of salvation.

6. The Word of God.

7. Prayer.

8. Watchfulness.

9. Supplication for all saints.Then the Christian is prepared for all the wiles of the devil. All these he must put on, not one excepted, because one and another of these things can only preserve us from this and that wile wherewith the devil will beset us.

(S. Walker, B. A.)

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KJV: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

WEB: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.