A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

He blinds and holds them captive at his Will and Pleasure, their Souls are fettered, 2 Tim. 2. 26. And sometimes he oppresses their Bodies, (for Satan carrieth on his Kingdom by Force, Tyranny, Fears, and Bondage); and therefore it is said, Acts 10. 38. That Christ went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil. Yet further, as God's Executioner, he hath the Power over Death, for their torment; Heb. 2. 14. That through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death, that is, the Devil. And unless the Lord be merciful, he never ceaseth carrying on wicked Men, until both they and he are for ever in Hell; Mat. 25. 41. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. All this is spoken, to show ⟨p. 481⟩Carnal Men their Condition: O that they would seriously think of it! When they do Evil, when they slight the Motions of God's Grace, they are under Satan; and not only by force, as a Child of God may be sometimes, but they are willingly ignorant, 2 Pet. 3. 5. The more willingly we commit Sin, still the more we are under the Power of the Devil. Well then, if any have need to say, Deliver us from Evil, certainly unrenewed Carnal Men, have need to go to God, and say, Lord pluck us out of Evil; as the same Expression is used, Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of Darkness, [Greek or Hebrew], who hath delivered us with a strong hand. O go to God, in the Name of Christ; there is no way of escape, until God pluck you out by main force. And mark, this Power by which we are delivered, God conveyeth by the preaching of the Word, which was appointed to turn us from Darkness unto Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, Act. 26. 18. and therefore hearken to God's Counsels, before your Condition grow incurable, and wait upon the Ordinances; for the more you neglect and contemn the means of your Recovery, your misery increaseth upon you; for every day you are still more given up to Satan by the just Judgment of God, and to be captivated and taken by him, at his will and pleasure, by the Snares he sets for you.