tpat/8 in which Satan exhibits his desire to injure man. We read of a dumb devil. Sometimes in the Gospel we are told of an "unclean" devil. Sometimes we are told of a raging and violent devil. Here we are told of one under whose influence the unhappy person possessed by him became "dumb." Many are the devices of Satan. It is foolish to suppose that he always works in the same manner. One thing only is the common mark of aU his operations, — ^he delights to inflict injury and do harm.
There is something very instructive in the case before us. Do we suppose, because bodily possession by Satan is not so glaringly manifest as it once was, that the great enemy is less active in doing mischief than he used to be? — ^If we think so we have much to learn. — ^Do we suppose that there is no such thing as the influence of a " dumb " devil in the present day ? If we do, we had better think again. — ^What shall we say of those who neverw speak to God, who never use their tongues in prayer and praise, who never employ that organ which is a man's "glory," in the service of Him who made it P What shall we say, in a word, of those who can speak to every one but God ? — ^What can we say but that Satan has despoiled them of the truest use of a tongue ? What ought we to say but that they are possessed with a " dumb devil ? " The prayerless man is dead while he lives. His members are rebels against the God who made them. The "dumb devil " is not yet extinct.
Let us watch and pray that we may never be given over to the influence of a dumb spirit. Thanks be to God, that same Jesus still Uves, who can make the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak ! To Him let us flee for