The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 241

than himself, and entered in and dwelt there, so that" the last state of that man was worse than the first"? At all events, he felt that there was no safety but in nearness to Christ; and this is the proper sentiment for every follower and friend of Jesus to entertain. When Peter followed Christ afar off, Peter fell Nearness to Christ is safety, sepRration or distRnce from him is insecurity and danger. We need his grace, for by it we stand; bis strength, for by it we are fortified against temptation; his blood, for hy it we are cleansed, and we need a fresh application of it daily ; his sacrifice, it is the ground of our acceptau.ie, and we must look to it always; his example, it must be our daily pattern; his faith, "the life which we now live in the flesh we must live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us; n his person, "Christ in you, the hope of glory ; " his presence, it is our comfort, for he has said, " I will never leave thee nor forsake thee;" his protection, that, where Satan would sift us as wheat, he may intercede for us, that our faith fail not; his love, to keep up the flame, that would otherwise burn low or go out altogether. 5. His cwthing evidence of restored sanity. He was sitting as a scholar at Jesus' feet, as also for safety, as we have seen; he was clothed, and in his right mind, the former being, as well as his sitting, evidence of the latter. We dislike and disapprove of those naked figures which we see in books and paintings and statues ; of whatever use they may be to the anatomist or painter or statuary, they are, we think, unsuitable to Christian refinement and inconsistent with Christian purity. Their usefulness to people in general is questionable. The passions of fallen humanity are bad enough of themselves, and in their own nature, without exciting them. 'l'he demoniac cured by our Lord is clothed ; the sinner converted to Christ is ciotned likewise. When brought to the foot of the cross, and seated at the feet of Jesus, he is clothed. He has on the" fine linen, clean and white," which is "the righteousness of saints." He is "found in Christ, not having on his own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is by the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith." He has obeyed the precept, accepted the advice, feeling the benefit of the counsel, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich ; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." A practical question is here suggested. Do you, reader, possess that robe? It is put on by the hand of faith. Have you that precious faith? If not-if you have not already "good hope through grace," pray for that faith. Do not be ashamed or afraid to do so. Do not neglect or delay to ask it. Ask the Holy Spirit to work faith in your heart, and so unite you to Christ, for " if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature;" and God gives his Holy Spirit to them that ask him. 6. Restoration to reason. His mind is right about sin, as "that abominable thing which God hates," and hurtful to man as hateful to God; right about Satan, "as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour"-" :1 murderer from the beginning;" right about the Saviour, as "the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely ; " and right about holiness, as the way of happiness and the way to heaven. IV. 'fHE POWER THAT BEBCUED THE DEMONIAC FROM WRETCHEDNESS AND RUIN. 1. The greatness of that power. The possession of this demoniac was something singularly shocking. It was not one demon, but many, that had made him their prey. "My name," he so.id, "is Legion: for we are many." The no.me is a Latin name, and denotes a levying or enlisting, then, a body of troops so levied. The full complement of a Roman legion was six thousand infantry, and a squadron of three hundred cavalry. Each legion was divided into ten cohorts; each cohort into three maniples ; and each maniple into two centuries. Then again, when arrayed in order of battle, there were three lines-Principes, Hastati, and Triarii. What a formidable host I How powerful, and how numerous! The host and the hostility, the multitude and the enmity, the Hlrength and the skill thus conveyed by the name here applied to the demons which had had possession of this man, are fearful to contemplate. Yot the power of Christ expelled them, mighty, multitudinous, and n:alicious though they were. It was the power of Christ did it all. Demons owned that power. 'l'hey had faith ia him, but not of the right sort; "they believed and trembled." So here they feured be wn8 coming to judge them and consign them to torment before the time. Jesus has the self-same power still; "he is able to save to the uttermost all that cowe unto God by him." 2. The miserable home of those de■ ion,. 'l'hey would rather ~o anywhere than  THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. MARK. [oe, v. 1-43.