ruption, a leaving the kingdom of grace for the slavery of sin, an electing of eternal death in the realm of outer darkness in place of resurrection to eternal life in the kingdom of Christ. All sin leads to this, for—
α. Sin must inherit death and damnation.
β. Sins lead to infidelity. (Ps. xiv. 1. Prov. xviii. 3.)
γ. They make gods of mammon or the belly. (Tobit iii. 3. Phil. iii. 19. Eph. v. 5.)
3. Satan is like a merchant offering wares in exchange for souls; like the king of Sodom who said, Give me the souls, and take the goods to thyself. (Gen. xiv. 21, Vulg.) But what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?
4. Satan tells here three lies.
α. He claims the world and its kingdoms as his own, whereas they belong to God. The whole world is Mine, and all that therein is.
β. He says that he gives kingdoms to whom he will (St. Luke); whereas God says, By Me kings reign. (Prov. viii. 15. Dan. ii. 21. John xii. 31.)
γ. He says that he has power to bestow things, whereas he has no such power whatever.
5. Satan tempts Christ to fall down: and so—
