I. I am to show who Satan is, and what character he possesses. Satan is one of the fallen angels. He is their prince and leader. He was the first creature in the universe who entertained a dislike to the character and government of God. He was the first in whose heart pride arose; and who conceived of an increase of happiness, by being independent of the Most High. He was the first creature who became weary of adoring and worshipping the Creator. He was the one, who stirred up rebellion in heaven, and drew off a multitude of holy angels from their allegiance to the King of heaven. He is that malicious being, who envied the happy state of our first parents, and induced them to join the rebel angels, in being proud, hating God, and setting up for independence. And since the Redeemer has set up a kingdom of grace in our world, Satan has made it his whole business, by every means permitted him to use, to thwart and counteract him in his gracious designs. His character has grown no better since his apostasy, but has been continually growing worse. He has been a rebel against God now almost six thousand years, and his enmity and malevolence have risen to an enormous height. He may well be called the prince of darkness, the devil, the destroyer, and THE EVIL ONE, by way of eminence. He is no doubt the wickedest being in the universe. There are other beings of a simi. lar character; but there is probably no one, who possesses such an inconceivable degree of depravity as this fallen spirit. This, I am persua

ded, you all know, is the dreadful character given of Satan in the scriptures of truth.

II. I am to describe an angel of light. Light is a lively emblem of holiness; while darkness symbolizes sin. God is said to be light, and Christ is called the true light. The saints are by Christ called the light of the world, and the children of light. The apostle Paul also distinguishes them from the world by calling them children of the light and of the day. It is evident then, that by an angel of light, in the text, is meant a holy angel, in distinction from an apostate angel or devil. It is the character of an angel of light to love God supremely, and at all times; to be filled with the profoundest regard for his character, and the sweetest delight in the displays of his holiness. In the vision which the prophet Isaiah had of the glory of the Lord, the seraphims are seen surrounding his throne with the deepest reverence, and crying one to another, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." Angels of light are perfectly pleased with the most absolute independence in God, and the most absolute dependence in themselves. It is the whole of their pleasure to please God, and to behold his glory. The angels of light are greatly pleased with the Redeemer, and the work of redemption. At his birth they sang a new song, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good-will to men!" They are full of activity to advance the interests of Christ's kingdom. This kingdom appears to them of more value than all the other kingdoms in the world. Angels of light have

no malice, but are perfectly benevolent. Although they are an order of creatures above us, they exercise the kindest affections towards us, and rejoice in our salvation. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth." They are willing to become ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation. An angel of light is therefore a creature possessed of a perfectly good character. There is no better character, in kind, in the universe. It is a perfect resemblance of His, who is altogether lovely.

From the description which has now been given of Satan, and of an angel of light, it is manifest, that their characters are totally diverse the one from the other; the one is proud, the other humble; the one hates God with all his heart, the other loves God with all his heart; Satan is a perfect enemy to true religion, but to an angel of light religion is precious; Satan is seeking to destroy our souls and is unwilling one of us should repent and be saved, while the angels of light are seeking our salvation, and are grieved to see any of us reject the Saviour and perish. What then can be meant by Satan's transforming himself into an angel of light? This I am

III. To show,---also for what end he thus transforms himself. When it is said, that Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light, it cannot mean that his nature is changed, so that he becomes an angel of light, that is, a holy angel. Such a change is, in itself, possible. A change similar to what this would be, is familiar to us in this apostate world. Blessed be God!

the children of Adam are acquainted with such a wonderful transformation. Regeneration transforms a sinner into a saint; an enemy of God in. to a friend; a selfish, malicious, and hateful creature into one disinterested, benevolent, and amiable: in fine, it transforms a child of the devil into a child of God. But it is evident, that it is not in this sense, that our text speaks of Satan's being transformed into an angel of light. It is most manifestly spoken of, as a deceitful work; as appears by the context. I will now read the text with the verse standing on each side of it, which will in a moment discover what the apostle meant by Satan's transformation into an angel of light. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." Satan, even when transformed, remains a rooted enemy to the Redeemer, and to his people, and is utterly unwilling that sinners should be converted.

Having shown what is not meant by Satan's transforming himself into an angel of light, I pro ceed to show what it does mean. It undoubtedly means, that though Satan retains the character of an angel of darkness; yet he puts on the appearance of possessing the character of an angel of light; that is, he pretends, like an angel of light, to be a friend to God, and to have a regard to his word; to be a friend to the Redeemer and his cause. He pretends, like a good an

gel, to feel tenderly concerned for the happiness of men,---to wish for their conversion, and to rejoice in it. Do not understand me to say, that he pretends this is the character of Satan. He denies that he is Satan or the devil. The devil he acknowledges is a base character; but he is not the devil; for, as he would have us believe, he is friendly to our best and eternal interests. Spiritual beings have, without doubt, the power of communicating thoughts to each other; and though we are clothed with bodies, still they have power to make impressions on our minds. The devil is said to work in the hearts of the children of disobedience; he catches away the seed of the word, which is sown in their hearts; and they are led captive at his will. As he can work, without making himself visible, he can work so deceitfully as not even to be suspected; on the contrary, the subject of his deceitful operations, may fancy himself under the influence of a good spirit. If Satan has ever had permis

sion to make himself visible to the external senses of men, he has, no doubt, been permitted sometimes to appear in a glorious, instead of a hideous form.

It has frequently been said, Satan cannot transform himself into an angel of love, though he may into an angel of light. To this it may be answered, that light in the text means the same as loye, as hath been already shown. An angel of light, being the opposite of a sinful angel, means a holy, loving angel; therefore the text does in effect, declare that Satan is transformed into an angel of love. Dr. WATTS, in one of his hymns, has said,