The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

4. The Divine Power admirably appeared in making the Death of Christ victorious over all our Spiritual Enemies. Now to show what an eminent degree of Power was exercised in the effecting this, we must consider, that after Satan was cast out of Heaven for his Rebellion, he set up a throne on the Earth, and usurped an absolute Empire over Mankind. His Power was great, and his Malice was equal to his Power. The Apostle represents him with his black Army under the titles of Principalities and Powers, ¹the rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickednesses in heavenly places; as in respect of the Order among them, so in respect of their Dominion they exercise in the World. His Principality hath two parts; To tempt Men powerfully to sin, and to execute the wrath of God upon them. He works effectually in the Children of Disobedience. He fires their Lusts, and by the thick ascending smoke darkens their Minds, and hurries them to do the vilest Actions. And he hath the power of death, to torment Sinners; God justly permitting him to exercise his Cruelty upon those who comply with his Temptations. Now in the time of Christ seeing, many ravished out of his hands, and translated into the Kingdom of God, he grew jealous of his state, and by his instruments brought Him to a cruel and shameful Death. He then in appearance obtained a complete Conquest, but in truth was absolutely overcome. And from hence the glorious Power of Christ is most clearly manifested. As he that will take the height of a Mountain, must descend to the lowest part ⟨p. 409⟩of the Valley, where fixing his Instrument, he may discover the distance from the foot to the top of it: So we must descend to the lowest degree of our Saviours abasement, to understand the height of his exaltation.² By Death he overcame him that had the power of Death, that is the Devil. For his cruel Empire was founded in Mans Sin; his greatness was built on our Ruins. All the penal Evils he brings on Mankind are upon the account of our Disobedience, and his mighty power in Temptations, is from our inward Corruption. Otherwise he might surround, but could not surprise us. Now the Lord Christ by his Death hath taken away the Guilt and Power of Sin: The Guilt in enduring the Curse of the Law, and thereby satisfying Eternal Justice, which all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth could not do: