March 16

In the works of creation, the superior has power over the inferior: the beasts over the grass and herbs, man over the beasts, and angels over man.

Next, angels are superior because of the spirituality of their nature. The weakness of man resides in his flesh. His soul is made for great enterprises, but it is weighed down by a lump of flesh and must row with a strength suitable to its weak partner. Devils, being angels by virtue of creation, have no such encumbrance, no fumes from a fleshly intellect to cloud their understanding, no clog at their heel to retard their motion. They are as swift as a flame of fire carried on the wind. Being spiritual, they cannot be resisted with human force. Neither fire nor sword can hurt them. No one is strong enough to bind them except God, the Father of spirits.

By his fall the devil lost much of his power in relation to the holy and happy estate in which he was created, but not his natural abilities. He is an angel still, and still has an angel's power.

In addition to their names and nature, the vast number of devils adds to their power. What is lighter than a grain of sand? Yet number makes it weighty. What creature is smaller than lice? Yet what grief a plague of them brought the Egyptians! Think how formidable devils must be, who are by nature so powerful and by number such a multitde. Satan has enough devils to harass the whole earth; not a place under heaven where he has not stationed his troops; not a person on earth without some of these cursed spirits tracking him wherever he goes.

For special sevice Satan can send a legion to keep garrison in a single person (Mark 5:9). And if he can spare so many to attack one, how many must there be on the muster roll of Satan's whole army? Do not be surprised to find your march to heaven difficult, since you must pass through the very quarters of this demonic multitude.

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