BibleWare/BibWare.bin/bibref/wesley/serm_072.txt

Text File | 1996-12-03 | 27KB | 477 lines

John Wesley


SERMON 72


[text from the 1872 edition]


OF EVIL ANGELS

"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against wicked spirits in heavenly places." Eph. 6:12.

1. It has been frequently observed that there are no gaps or chasms
in the creation of God, but that all the parts of it are admirably
connected together, to make up one universal whole. Accordingly there
is one chain of beings, from the lowest to the highest point, from
an unorganized particle of earth or water to Michael the archangel.
And the scale of creatures does not advance _per saltum_, by leaps,
but by smooth and gentle degrees; although it is true, these are
frequently imperceptible to our imperfect faculties. We cannot accurately
trace many of the intermediate links of this amazing chain, which
are abundantly too fine to be discerned either by our senses or understanding.


2. We can only observe, in a gross and general manner, rising one
above another, first, inorganical earth, then minerals and vegetables
in their several orders; afterwards insects, reptiles, fishes, beasts,
men, and angels. Of angels indeed we know nothing with any certainty
but by revelation. The accounts which are left by the wisest of the
ancients, or given by the modern heathens, being no better than silly,
self-inconsistent fables, too gross to be imposed even upon children.
But by divine revelation we are informed that they were all created
holy and happy; yet they did not all continue as they were created:
Some kept, but some left, their first estate. The former of these
are now good angels; the latter, evil angels. Of the former I have
spoke in the preceding discourse: I purpose now to speak of the latter.
And highly necessary it is that we should well understand what God
has revealed concerning them, that they may gain no advantage over
us by our ignorance; that we may know how to wrestle against them
effectually. For "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against wicked spirits in heavenly places."

3. This single passage seems to contain the whole scriptural doctrine
concerning evil angels. I apprehend the plain meaning of it, literally
translated, is this: "Our wrestling," the wrestling of real Christians,
"is not" only, or chiefly, "against flesh and blood," weak men, or
fleshly appetites and passions, "but against principalities, against
powers,"--the mighty princes of all the infernal regions, with
their combined forces: And great is their power, as is also the power
of the legions they command,--"against the rulers of the world."
(This is the literal meaning of the word.) Perhaps these principalities
and powers remain chiefly in the citadel of their kingdom. But there
are other evil spirits that range abroad, to whom the provinces of
the world are committed, "of the darkness," chiefly the spiritual
darkness, "of this age," which prevails during this present state
of things,--"against wicked spirits"--eminently such; who mortally
hate and continually oppose holiness, and labour to infuse unbelief,
pride, evil desire, malice, anger, hatred, envy, or revenge--"in
heavenly places;" which were once their abode, and which they still
aspire after.

In prosecuting this important subject, I will endeavour to explain,


I. The nature and properties of evil angels; and,

II. Their employment.

I. 1. With regard to the First, we cannot doubt but all the angels
of God were originally of the same nature. Unquestionably they were
the highest order of created beings. They were spirits, pure ethereal
creatures, simple and incorruptible; if not wholly immaterial, yet
certainly not incumbered with gross, earthly flesh and blood. As
spirits, they were endued with understanding, with affections, and
with liberty, or a power of self-determination; so that it lay in
themselves, either to continue in their allegiance to God, or to
rebel against him.

2. And their original properties were, doubtless, the same with those
of the holy angels. There is no absurdity in supposing Satan their
chief, otherwise styled, "Lucifer, son of the morning," to have been
at least one "of the first, if not the first Archangel." Like the
other sons of the morning, they had a height and depth of understanding
quite incomprehensible to us. In consequence of this they had such
knowledge and wisdom, that the wisest of the children of men (had
men then existed) would have been mere idiots in comparison of them.
Their strength was equal to their knowledge; such as it cannot enter
into our heart to conceive; neither can we conceive to how wide a
sphere of action either their strength or their knowledge extended.
Their number God alone can tell: Doubtless it was only less than
infinite. And a third part of these stars of heaven the arch-rebel
drew after him.

3. We do not exactly know, (because it is not revealed in the oracles
of God,) either what was the occasion of their apostasy, or what
effect it immediately produced upon them. Some have, not improbably,
supposed, that when God published "the decree" (mentioned Ps. 2:6-
7) concerning the kingdom of his only-begotten Son to be over all
creatures, these first-born of creatures gave place to pride, comparing
themselves to him;--possibly intimated by the very name of Satan,
Lucifer, or Michael, which means, Who is like God? It may be, Satan,
then first giving way to temptation, said in his heart, "I too will
have my throne. 'I will sit upon the sides of the north! I will be
like the Most High.'" But how did the mighty then fall! What an amazing
loss did they sustain! If we allow of them all what our poet supposes
concerning their chief in particular,--
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                        His form had not yet lost
                All its original brightness, nor appear'd
                Less than archangel ruin'd, and the excess
                Of glory obscured;

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if we suppose their outward form was not entirely changed (though
it must have been in a great degree; because the evil disposition
of the mind must dim the lustre of the visage,) yet what an astonishing
change was wrought within when angels became devils! when the holiest
of all the creatures of God became the most unholy!

4. From the time that they shook off their allegiance to God, they
shook off all goodness, and contracted all those tempers which are
most hateful to him, and most opposite to his nature. And ever since
they are full of pride, arrogance, haughtiness, exalting themselves
above measure; and although so deeply depraved through their inmost
frame, yet admiring their own perfections. They are full of envy,
if not against God himself, (and even that is not impossible, seeing
they formerly aspired after his throne,) yet against all their fellow-
creatures; against the angels of God, who now enjoy the heaven from
which they fell; and much more against those worms of the earth who
are now called to "inherit the kingdom." They are full of cruelty,
of rage against all the children of men, whom they long to inspire
with the same wickedness with themselves, and to involve in the same
misery.

5. In the prosecution of this infernal design, they are diligent
in the highest degree. To find out the most effectual means of putting
it into execution, they apply to this end the whole force of their
angelical understanding; and they second it with their whole strength,
so far as God is pleased to permit. But it is well for mankind that
God hath set them bounds which they cannot pass. He hath said to
the fiercest and strongest of the apostate spirits, "Hitherto shalt
thou co