A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

2. This Kingdom which Satan exerciseth, is an invisible Kingdom. The Devil doth not sensibly appear to his Vassals and Slaves. When Christ's Kingdom and Regiment was more external, so was the Devil's also: As when God was served by Sacrifices, and delivered his Mind by Oracles; so Men did then more professedly own the Devil, by observing his prescribed Rites of Worship, and by being deluded by lying Oracles, and Answers to their Prayers and Questions. ⟨p. 200⟩But now since the Kingdom of Christ is more spiritual, and managed by the Holy-Ghost in the Hearts of his Saints; so is Satan's Kingdom invisible. So that Men may be Christ's Subjects by external Profession, and the Devil's by internal Obedience, and Constitution of Mind, tho they worship not by Pagan Rites, as he ruleth in their Hearts, and takes them off from obeying the Gospel they profess. The God of this World hath blinded their Eyes, 2 Cor. 4. 4. All carnal Men, however they defy Satan, and abominate the thoughts of serving him, yet while they remain in their Sin and Ignorance, they still hold the Crown upon the Devil's Head. Look as God's Subjects may own him in verbal pretence, yet their Hearts may be far from him, Mat. 15. 8. So that wicked Men may defy the Devil in pretence and words, and cannot endure to hear of him; but they are under the God of this World, he hath blinded their Hearts. So that this Kingdom is to be sought for in the Heart. Christ made a great Inroad upon the Devil, beat him out of his Quarters: Yet, as the Sea gets in one place what it loseth in another; so, tho the Devil hath lost Ground in the Christian World, as to external Profession, whilst People renounce the Superstitions of the Gentiles, yet still he gets Ground in the Hearts of wicked Men by their carnal Dispositions; his Empire is upheld still, tho professedly they are Subjects of Christ.

2. This Kingdom which Satan exerciseth, is an invisible Kingdom. The Devil doth not sensibly appear to his Vassals and Slaves. When Christ's Kingdom and Regiment was more external, so was the Devil's also: As when God was served by Sacrifices, and delivered his Mind by Oracles; so Men did then more professedly own the Devil, by observing his prescribed Rites of Worship, and by being deluded by lying Oracles, and Answers to their Prayers and Quesions.