that is not with us is against us." He does not avow himself our Mend, and so he Becomes practically one of our foes.
24. — [He wcdketh through dry places.'] The expression translated "walketh," is more frequently rendered, "passeth, or goeth through." Let it be noted, that it is the " spirit," and not the man, of whom this is said. — The expression, " dry places," is a difficult one. The literal signification of the Greek words would be, — "places without water." According to some, it means "unin- habited or wilderness-places," where the devil finds no rest, find- ing no one to injure. — ^According to others it signifies the Gentiles^ over whom Satan exercised special power before the Gospel was preached to them, and the heathen, over whom Satan specially reigns now. — Our inability to make out clearly the meaning of the expression, arises, in a gieat measure, from our ignorance of what is going on in the unseen world of spirits, both evil and good. To an immaterial creatiure, like a devil, the expression would probably be quite plain.
{Seeking rest.'] This is an awful expression ! It shows the restless unwearied craving to do mischief, and inflict injury on God's creatures, which seems at present a special attribute of the devil, during the period that he is permitted to do evil.
[^He saith, I will return unto my Jiouse.1 This is another most awful expression. How many men and women are being daily watched oy the devil, and mischief planned against them, while they, in their folly, never dream of what Satan is doing!
25. — [And when he cometh, he findeth.] Let it be carefully noted hoth here and in the foDowing verse, that it is the evil spirit, and not the man, of whom these things are said. Literally translated, the Greek words should be, "When it cometh, it findeth, &c."
[Swept and garnished.] These expressions must of course be regarded as figurative. They are borrowed from the condition of a house, and applied to the state of a reformed, but unoon- Terted, people or heart.
Let it be remembered that there may be much moral cleanli- ness, and even much " garnishing," about one who is unsanctified. There may be much that is fair to the eye, and yet no grace.
26. — [Seven other Spirits^ The number seven is often used in Scripture proverbially, to denote great increase in number, or size, or quantity, or intensity. Thus, Fsalm cxix. 164 ; Prov. xxiv. 16 : Matt xviii. 21 ; Daniel iii. 19.
[Worse than himself!] This expression seems to denote that even among devils there are degrees of wickedness and malice. Jnst so there are degrees of glory in heaven, grace on earth, and pmiishmeDt in hell.