suflFerer was healed. The " many devils " by whom he had been possessed were compelled to leave him. Nor is this all. Cast forth from their abode in the man's heart, we see these malignant spirits beseeching our Lord that he would " not torment" them, or " command them to go out into the deep/' and so confessing His supremacy over them. Mighty as they were, they plainly felt themselves in the presence of One mightier than themselves. Full of malice as they were, they could not even hurt the " swine " of the Gadarenes until our Lord granted them permission.
Our Lord Jesus Chat's dominion over the devil should be a cheering thought to all true Christians. Without it, indeed, we might well despair of salvation. To feel that we hare ever near us an invisible spiritual enemy, labouring night and day to compass our destruction, would be enough to crush out every hope, if we did not know a Friend and Protector. Blessed be God ! The Gospel reveals such an One. The Lord Jesus is stronger than that '^ strong man armed," who is ever warring against our souls. The Lord Jesus is able to deliver us from the devil. He proved His power over him frequently when upon earth. He triumphed over him gloriously on the cross. He will never let him pluck any of His sheep out of His hand. He will one day bruise hun under our feet, and bind him in the prison of hell. (Rom. xvi. 20 ; Rev. XX. 1, 2.) Happy are they who hear Christ's voice and follow Him ! Satan may vex them, but he cannot really hurt them ! He may bruise their heel, but he cannot destroy their souls. They shall be^'more than conquerors" through Him who loved them. (Rom. viii. 37.)