A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

(2.) Good Men, or God's own Children, though they are delivered from the Power of Satan, and brought into the Kingdom of Christ, yet they are not wholly free in this World, but are sometimes caught by Satan's Wiles, Ephes. 6. ⟨p. 482⟩11. sometimes wounded by his fiery Darts, ver. 16. Their Lusts, and their Consciences, are sometimes set a raging; though he hath no allowed Authority over their Hearts, yet he exerciseth a tyrannical Power; though he cannot rule them, yet he ceaseth not to assault them, if it were but to vex and trouble them. Briefly, the Children of God have cause to pray (Deliver us from Evil) in regard of Satan, because Satan hath a hand in their Persecutions; and likewise a hand in their Temptations to Sin. It is he that instigateth their Enemies to persecute them; and it is he that inflameth their Lusts.

1. In stirring up their Enemies to persecute them. All the Troubles of the Children of God, they come originally from the Devil; Luk. 22. 53. This is your Hour, and the Power of Darkness. We do not read that Satan did immediately vex Christ; and how was that Hour then said to be the Power of Darkness? Why, by setting his Instruments a-work to crucify him. And as he dealt with the Head, so with the Members. Rev. 12. 12. The Devil hath great Wrath, for he knoweth he hath but a short time. When his Kingdom begins to totter and shake, then he stirs up all his Wrath, and inflames his Instruments; as dying Beasts bite hardest. So, Rev. 16. 14. we read of the Spirits of Devils that go forth unto the Kings of the Earth, to stir them up against the Saints. If you could behold, with you bodily Eyes, this Evil Spirit hanging upon the Ears of great Men, and buzzing into them, and stirring them up, and the common People, and animating them against the Children of God, you would