John 8:44

Secondly, in this reply Christ doth clearly and positively shew unto them who is their spiritual father of whom they are, even which is the Devil, of which see what is said on verse 38. This he proves, in general, from their earnest following and endeavouring to execute these wicked lusts which reign in him, and their writing after his copie, and imitating of him, being acted by him. Then he instanceth this general in two particulars, of murther, and opposition to, and defection from the truth; Which as it appeared in Satan from the beginning of the creation, in deceiving our first parents, and opposing the truth God had delivered to them, and in drawing them under the stroak of temporal and eternal death; So it was to be seen in them also, in seeking to kill him, verse 40. and opposing his truth; which he had hinted at, verse 43. and doth more clearly prosecute in the following verses. Lastly, he clears God of all these lusts of Satan, shewing that they slowed from his own defection, and that all his lies are his own invention, and so they who followed these practices, could not father themselves on God. Doctrine 1. It should be counted no absurdity, but the sound doctrine of Christ, to assert that not onely they who boast much of pripiledges, but these who indeed are members of a true Church are nothing in reality and in Gods account, but limbs and children of Satan; so long as they are unconverted, and live in a wicked course; for, saith Christ of these Jewes, ye are of your father the devil. 2. Such as will not take with a reproof when it is mildly given by Christ, do provoke him to tell it out in sharper termes; for, they would take no notice of what Christ formerly spake in general, of their spiritual parentage, and now he speaks it out, ye are of your father the devil. 3. Mens practices will prove that they are Satans children, let them say what they will; And these do prove themselves to be eminently his children, in whom he works the greatest conformity to himself; for, Christ proves his own assertion, and refutes all they had to say against it, with this, the lusts of your father ye will do; and according as they were eminent imitators of him, accordingly did they prove how eminent they were among his children. 4. Satan is full of raging wicked lusts, wherein his children, being acted by him, do imitate him; for, there are the lusts of your father, wherein they do resemble him. 5. Albeit Satan and his children do very often get many of their lusts fulfilled in the world; yet through the restraining power of God, and Christs watchful providence over his own, many of their hot attempts are frustrated; for, sometime they prove but lusts, vexing chiefly themselves who have them, and ye will, or, desire to do them, but can get no further. 6. God will not judge of Satans children by their actings and successe onely, but by their desires and endeavours; And albeit they be ofttimes stopped in their course, yet he will account them Satans children, because of their obstinate and wilful endeavours; for Christ proves the point by this, as sufficient, ye will do, or, desire to do the lusts of your father; for as yet they had gone no further then desires and endeavours in persecuting him. 7. As all unrenewed men are Satans children; So, in particular, all liers, deceivers, double minded and bloody men, and especially, despisers and opposers of Christs truth, and bloody persecutors, are Satans chief children; for, these are the particular lusts, whereby he proves them eminent children, even murder and lying, of both which they were guilty. 8. This doctrine delivered by Christ, concerning Satans fall and practices, doth hold forth several useful Instructions, which I shall point out in this order. 1. The most excellent and perfect of creatures, being left to themselves, and the guidance of their best perfections, will not be able to stand, or keep their integrity; for, so much appears in this example of Satan, who being one of the most excellent creatures, yet being left to himself, he abode not in the truth, or, in his original station and holinesse, and in his cleaving to God, but turned aside to a vain lying course, and to be a deceiver of others, as is afterward cleared. And he was in this defection, from the beginning, to wit, of mans fall; So that however he was created perfect in one of the sixe dayes, yet before the fall of man he had left his first habitation. 2. The cause of Satans fall was in himself, who of his own accord left his original holinesse and station; for, be abode not in the truth, but forsook it. 3. As since Satans fall, there is no spark of goodnesse, holinesse, or truth in him, (for, there is no truth in him;) So this depravation proves, that he is fallen from that condition wherein he was created; therefore doth this come in by way of reason, that since God made all his creatures good and perfect in their kinde, therefore it must necessarily follow, that he abode not in the truth, because now there is no truth in him. And so the Lord is cleared of his fall. 4. Satan since his fall is a great enemy to man, and full of malice that man should fill that roome from whence he fell; So much appears in his being a murderer and liar, and that from the beginning. He did begin soone, and continues long; so that Gods people are to remember that they dwell in a world where Satan is going about, full of rage. 5. Whatever mask Satan put on, in dealing with men; Yet he is but seeking their destruction, both of soul and body; for, he is a murderer. 6. Satans attempt and successe upon our first parents, is a clear evidence of his designes against the children of men, and a sad document, shewing how farre he may prevaile with the best, if they be left to their own free-will; Therefore is it peculiarly marked, that he was a murderer from the beginning, as a clear warning to all, from what he did to Adam and Eve, hazarding the destruction of their, and all their posterities, souls, and bringing them all under the sentence of bodily death. 7. Satans great engine, for bringing about his bloody designes, is, lying and deceits; Therefore is it subjoyned, he is a liar; And by this he prevailed with our first parents, subtilly calling the truth of God in question. So that to give heed to his lies against the truth, is, in effect, to give up our throat to the murderer. 8. As Satan is a very subtile and crafty adversary, full of cunning and sleight to entrap the simple; (see 2 Cor. 2.10, 11. Eph. 6 11) So he is, in all he saith, a liar and not to be trusted; for, so saith Christ, there is no truth in him, he is a liar. Therefore, though he transforme himselfe in an Angel of light, and busk up his projects; Yet men are not to be taken therewith; And though he sometime speak truth (as sometime he did commend Christ, Mark. 1.24. Luke 4.34. and his servants, Act. 16.17. and may bear in true challenges upon beleevers;) Yet he is still to be rejected, as intending thereby to deceive. For by his commendation of Christ and his followers, he intended either to make them be suspected, or to draw persecution on themselves by casting him out, as befel Paul. And when he pleads Gods cause against his people, it is but to drive them from God; and when he chargeth upon them what they deserve, his scope is to deprive them of all hope of remedy, and perswade them that they shall be dealt with only according to deserving. 9. Satans sinne is of himselfe, and all the evil that is in the world, God is free of it, and only Satan, as the enticer, and we, as the consenters, are to blame for it; for, when he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: he is the father of it, or, the inventer and beginner of it, in himselfe and his followers.