"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil." But it was not deemed fit to do it at once, and at a single blow; if it had, he who commanded the boisterous winds and the raging seas, and they were still--he who expelled demons at a word, and cured diseases by a touch--he whose creative energy restored lost limbs to the victims of misery--who reanimated the dead and the putrifying, and remanded their spirits from an invisible state--could have withered at a touch the power of hell, crushed in a moment the throne of diabolical authority, and bound the dragon himself in his eternal chain. But the wisdom of God, which at first permitted evil to stain his moral creation, designs to admit the reign or influence of Satan for an appointed period, and to overturn his dominion by a gradual establishment of truth and righteousness in the earth. The great adversary was smitten by his hand when the first promise of salvation was given to our race; the stroke was repeated, in successive predictions to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and the death-blow inflicted when the expiring Redeemer exclaimed on the cross, "_It is finished_!" Still, like a dying monster, who raves amidst his agonies, and terrifies spectators by his terrific aspect and more terrific efforts, and destroys or mangles all who venture within the reach of his arm, Satan still rages and raves--sometimes languishing into comparative inaction, at other times breathing out threatening and slaughter against the church of God--still conscious that his power is declining, and that the whole system of providence is preparing for his final overthrow. This overthrow will be _complete_. He will never more ascend from his confinement, to fill the earth with plagues or the church of Christ with terror. The "new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," will never be exposed to his awful revisitings--the contest will have for ever ended--the struggle eternally ceased; and the harps of angels, with the holy hymnings of ten thousand times ten thousand before the throne-- "Blest voices, uttering praise!" will proclaim the full, the final, the everlasting victory. And in the heavenly city "there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (See APPENDIX.) Dorcas. Chapter X.