eternal world, and " they make light of all," and say, like the devils in this poor demoniac, " What have we to do with these things?" or as Pharaoh, "Who is the Lord, that we should serve him ? We know not the Lord, neither will we obey his voice." Not even this poor demoniac acted a more insane part than the generality around us : he wounded and destroyed his body : but these, in all that they do, wound and destroy their immortal souls : so true is that declaration of Solo- mon, " The heart of the sons of men is full of evil ; madness is in their heart, while they live ; and after that they go to the deadf." And all this is by the instigation of the devil, who is "the God of this world," and " worketh in all the children of disobedience g."]
2. But Jesus still exercises the same sovereign
power over him —
[Truly the word of the Lord is yet quick and powerful, nor can all the powers of hell withstand it. We see the effect, as visibly as ever the Gadarenes did, of the word going forth in the ministration of the Gospel. Are there not even here pre- sent some who have "passed, as it were, from death unto lifeh," and have "been translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son1?" The Prodigal Son shews us what a change takes place in the soul when once it is enabled to recover itself out of the snare of the devil k, and to assert its liberty. And if in him we behold all the madness of a life passed under the influence of the devil, and all the blessedness of a life consecrated to the service of the Most High, then may we behold the same in many, I trust, amongst ourselves, who have, by the preached Gospel, " been turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God1."]
3. But still is there the same enmity against the Saviour in the hearts of ungodly men —
[When the power of divine grace is seen in the deliverance of sinners from the bonds of Satan, we should naturally sup- pose that all who behold the change should rejoice in it, and desire to become partakers of the same benefits. But the very reverse of this is found true in every place : and, as in the instance before us, an opposition to the Saviour is raised, and persons of every description unite in a desire to expel him from their coasts. In this, Herod and Pontius Pilate will unite m: in this will both Jews and Gentiles concur": in this
f Eccl. ix. 3. g 2 Cor. iv. 4. Eph. ii. 2.
11 1 John Hi. 14. ' Col. i. 13. * 2 Tim. ii. 26.
1 Acts xxvi. 18. "' Luke xxiii. 12. » Acts iv. 27.