Here we may see, that no sooner had the devil power, but he puts it into execution; thus, if the devil has but power to tempt, or to hurry a soul, O how grievous a tyrant he is, hurrying from one temptation to another, from one sin unto another, and would, if it were possible, hurry you all into hell with as much violence, as he did the poor swine into the sea; but CHRIST by his grace prevents it. JESUS CHRIST died for souls, and therefore the devil cannot do with them as he will; he may have the will, but he cannot get the power. It is plain, that when the devil himself, or persecuting men, get the power, they will harrass the poor christians; every thing is too good for them, and they are not worthy to be set with the dogs of the flock. My brethren, how joyful would many be, if the laws of our land would permit them to destroy us; how would the Pharisees hurry us to prison and to death; but, blessed be GOD, he does not say to them, as to the devil, “Go:” No, he bids them stay, he hedges their way up with thorns that they cannot stir to hurt us; they would fain, but they dare not destroy us; nothing withholds them but the power of the blessed JESUS. And therefore, be not afraid of their wrath though it is cruel, and of their anger though it be fierce: let them shoot their arrows, even bitter words, against us, blessed be GOD, the shield of faith will be a preservative against them all.
And when you are thus preserved, it will be the occasion of joy in the Holy Ghost; though many look on the joy of the Holy Ghost as enthusiasm and madness, and say that there is no such thing; but well do I know there is, it carries its own evidence along with it. Plead therefore with GOD, in the name of JESUS CHRIST; continue to wrestle with him, until he bestows the blessing upon you, and gives you a feeling of that joy which the world intermeddles not with, and which they are strangers to: indeed the devil may stir up his agents to hurry us from one trouble to another; but it will not signify, for the LORD JESUS CHRIST will not suffer him to hurry us into hell; no, but will give us his Spirit, which will be a preservative against all the assaults of the devil. Now see what followed this miracle, which JESUS had wrought, by permitting the devil to enter into the herd of swine.
_And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing; and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils._
The people were so amazed to see the power that CHRIST had, and the malice with which the devil was possessed, that they were afraid, and told all that had befallen the possessed of the devils: and so, when the spirit of GOD has been at work on your souls, and you are brought to feel the power of GOD upon your hearts, you will be so overjoyed that you will tell to every one what great things GOD has done for your souls; you will be so full of joy, that you will declare the whole working of GOD on your hearts, and you will declare how you have been enabled to overcome Satan, and how you were affected at such a sermon, in such a place, and at such a time.
You will then love to talk of JESUS; no conversation will be so pleasing as that of the LORD JESUS CHRIST; no, he will be altogether lovely unto you, when you have once tasted of his love, and felt the power of his grace upon your hearts.
_And behold the whole city came out to meet JESUS, and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts._
The whole city came to meet JESUS, not to worship, nor to thank him for the releasing of the two poor men who were possessed; no, but to beseech him to go from them; they valued their swine more than the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and had rather part from him, than them: and have we not among us, thousands who call themselves christians, who had rather part with CHRIST than their pleasures? A play, a ball, or an assembly is far more agreeable to them than the company and presence of the LORD JESUS CHRIST: if they can but indulge their sensual appetite, please and pamper their bellies, satisfy the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, they regard no more, but rest contented, as if they were to live here always. O my dear brethren, I hope none of you can rest contented with such proceedings as these, but that you like the company of the LORD JESUS too well to part with him for a few delights of this life: and are there not many, who part with CHRIST for their own good works, and think they can go to heaven, if they do but go to church and say their prayers and take the sacrament? but alas! they will be much deceived, for if they rest in any thing short of the LORD JESUS, if they do not make him the chief corner-stone, they will fall infinitely short of what they flattered themselves to attain unto.