A learned, pious, and practical commentary, upon the Gospel according to St. Mark wherein the sacred text is logically analyzed; the meaning of the holy Spirit clearly and soundly opened: doctrines naturally raised, strongly confirmed, vindicated from exceptions, and excellent inferences deduced from them: all seeming differences in the history between this and the other evangelists fairly reconciled: many important cases of conscience, judiciously, succinctly, and perspicuously solved. By that laborious and faithful servant of Christ, Mr. George Petter, late Minister of the Gospel at Bread in Sussex.

Mark 3. 27.

No man can enter into a strong man's House, and spoil his Goods, except he will first bind the strong man and then he shall spoil his House.

[Observ. 2] OBserv. 2. In that our Saviour doth here resemble himself unto one that is stronger than the strong man, and able to bind him, that is, Satan: We are taught, that our Saviour Christ is of greater Power than Satan, and able to vanquish and over-rule him at his pleasure, yea, to spoil him of his Goods and Ar∣mour, that is, to take from him the use of his Power, and to drive him out of that possession which he holdeth in men. So Luke 11. 22. 1 Joh. 4. 4. Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the World. Therefore Revel. 20. 1. An Angel came down from Heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the Dragon, on that old Serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. &c. And Revel. 12. 7. Michael and the Dragon fought, &c. but the Dragon, that is the Devil, was foiled of Michael, that is, of Christ, who cast him out, &c. Therefore also we read in the Evangelists how our Sa∣viour Christ cast many Devils out of the possessed, though they were most unwilling to go out; and some∣times they prayed him not to torment them, nor to cast them into the deep; all which shews the Power of Christ to be far greater than the Devil's Power.

[Reas.] Reas. Christ is true God as well as Man, and so he hath an uncreated infinite Power; whereas the De∣vil's Power is created and finite, &c.

[Use 1] Use 1. Here is comfort to the Faithful against Satan's Power: Christ being stronger than he, is able so to curb and restrain him, that he can do nothing against them but what he suffereth him to do; now, He will not suffer him to do any thing that may be for their hurt, that is, for the hinderance of their Salvation. He may suffer Satan to vex and trouble their bodies for their greater tryal, and he may and doth often suffer him to as∣sault and molest their minds with his inward temptations, and that sometimes very violently and forcibly; but certain it is, he will never suffer him wholly to prevail over them: They being by Faith built on Christ the Rock, Hell-gates cannot prevail against them. Satan may molest and trouble them for a time, but Christ Jesus shall at length tread him under their feet: Joh. 12. 31. The Prince of this World shall be cast out. Christ came of purpose to throw him out; yea, he came to destroy him and all his cursed works, 1 Joh. 3. 8. How great Comfort is this to the faithful? How should it incourage us to go on constantly in fighting against Sa∣tan, seeing we are sure of Victory over him, through the Power of Christ. Therefore let not any Child of God, or true Believer, fear his Power or his mighty Assaults overmuch, but remember, that greater and stronger is he that is in them, then he that is in the World.

[Ʋse. 2] Use 2. When we feel the strong and powerful Temptations of Satan, go unto Christ Jesus by Prayer for help against him. Desire him to rebuke him, and to restrain his Power, and not to suffer him to tempt thee above thy strength: Desire him also to give thee some of his strength to resist Satan, and to vanquish him: For of thy self alone thou can'st never do it; Satan's Power cannot be vanquished but by a greater Power, which is in Christ alone; therefore seek to him for it.

[Observ. 3] Observ. 3. In that the Scope and drift of our Saviour in using this comparison, is to shew, that the Devil cannot be cast out of those that are possessed of him, but by a stronger Power than his own is; Hence gather, that it is a very hard matter to rescue and deliver those from Satan which are under his Power; very hard to cast him out of his Possession which he hath gotten in men, onely Christ can do it. How hardly is he cast out of the bodies of such whom he possesseth? How loath is he to forgoe his Possession? This we heard be∣fore, Chap. 1. Ver. 26. So also where he hath any hold and possession in the hearts of men, he is with great difficulty cast out thence; yea, this is harder than the former. Thus it is with the wicked that live in sin and go on in it impenitently, they are under Satan's Power and Tyranny, and he holds Possession in their hearts, Ephes. 2. 2. 2 Tim. 2. ult. They are taken captive of him, at his Will, as in a Net, &c. And therefore very hard it is for them to be freed from that bondage: Satan will not easily let go his Prisoners and Slaves that are under his Power: No way to rescue them but by a greater Power, even by the Divine Power of Christ himself.

[Use. 1] Ʋse 1. See what is to be done of those that are under Satan's Power, and in whose bodies or minds he holds any possession. They must seek unto God, and unto Christ Jesus, to be delivered from his Tyranny: As the Israelites, being in bondage under Pharoah, cryed to God to be delivered; so have all that are in bondage under Satan need to cry to God in Prayer to be set at liberty. Onely Christ Jesus can bind Satan, the strong man, and cast him out of his hold; Go to him therefore for deliverance. This is the best course to be taken

in the case of bodily possession with the Devil, as we heard before: And so also, it is the onely course for such whose hearts are possessed by Satan; they must go unto Christ, desiring him to shew his Divine power in dispossessing Satan.

[Use 2] Ʋse 2. See further by this, that the work of Repentance, and the Conversion of a sinner, is a very diffi∣cult work, because the wicked and unregenerate are under Satan's power, who holds a possession in their hearts and minds, and he will bestir himself with all his might before he will be driven out of it. How foo∣lish then are they that think it an easy matter to Repent, and to come out of the snare of the Devil; and therefore presume to put it off. But deceive not thy self; If thou be yet under Satans power, think it not easy to be delivered, and that thou canst break from him when thou wilt. No, it is God that must break the snare, and set thee free, else thou canst never escape: therefore defer not the practice of Repentance, the longer thou goest on in sin, the stronger hold Satan gets in thee, and the harder it is to be delivered, &c.

[Use 3] Use 3. Take heed of comming under Satans power, let him not get hold and possession in our hearts by his Temptations, lest we find it very hard to cast him out again, &c.

Notes

• Dec. 19. 1619.