But their commission is to preach Christ. If they teach for doctrines comman,lment& of men, they betray their trust. (2) The Spirit of Christ is ever present in his Church. He sheds his light npon the Word that he inspired. lie sheds his love abroad in the hearts of his sincere disciples. 2. <Jhrist is also the Subject of his teaching. (1) Styling himself" the Son of man," he claims to be Messiah (cf. Ps. viii. 4 ,vith Heh. ii. 6, 16; see also Dan. vii. 13, 14). (2) The correlative title is II Son of God." Christ con- stantly speaks of himself as II the Son of man" (see eh. xxvi. 63, 64). He uses the term to assert his humanity (see John xii. 34). His miracles asserted his Divinity. (3) With a single notable exception (see Acts vii. 56), his disciples speak of him as "the S?n of_ God.". 3. Properly to know Christ we must embark with him. (1) By embarkmg with Christ we do not escape storms. On tbe contrary, we may encounter them because he is in the ship. Does not Christ's II rebuking" the wind suagest that intelligent agency was behind it? The II prince of the powers of the air" wo~ld rejoice to sink such a freight as Christ and bis Church. (2) But with Jesus we are safe. "Why are ye fearful, 0 ye of little faith?" F'earfulness is a sign of little faith. Why did they not confide in his Godhead, which never sleeps? Had they been able in faith to say, 11 The Lord is my Strength," then would they have added, "Of whom shall I be afraid?" (3) The sleep of Jesus in the storm showed the confidence of bis humanity in his Godhead. It betokened also that inward peace which his disciples might have amidst the storms of temptation and affliction. (4) The recourse of the disciples to the humanity of Christ shows bow necessary is that humanity to us as the way of our access to the Godhead. (5) "And he arose, and rebuked the wind." So the calming of the storm in the soul is the result, not only of the Lord's awaking, but also of his arising, viz. from the sleep of death. He rebuked and calmed the spirits of his disciples first, and then he rebuked the wind and calmed the sea. Spiritual things take precedence of material. (6) "What manner of man is this?" 'l'he Divine Man. 'J.'o still the raging of the sea is the acknowledged work of God. The God of nature is the God of grace.-J. A. M.
Vers. 28---34.-Demoniacal possession. The personality of devils or demons has been called in question, and the examples of demoniacal possession recorded in Scripture have been construed as cases of insanity. But the narrative before us refuses to be thus treated. Here clearly are intelligences who can know, reason, speak, and pray, a.nd who can exist separately from the subject of possession, and after expulsion from men can enter and possess inferior animals. Note- L TH.AT DEVILS ABE FORMIDABLE FOES. 1. They are formidable in power. (1) This is evident from their appellatives (see Eph. ii. 2; vi. 12; Col. ii. 15). (2) From their exploits. See the history of Job. Did not Satan transport the body of Jesus from the. wilderness to the pinnacle of the temple, and thence to the mountain summit (see eh. iv. 5, 8)? (3) From the e:xample of these demoniacs. No man could bind them (see Mark v. 3, 4). 2. They are formidable in number. (1) Else how could they tempt so constantly the 1,400,000,000 living men? Their number must be great if all the wicked men that have died are demons. (2) Their _name is "legion." A Roman leo'ion numbered six thousand men (see Mark v. 9). (3) Things singly insignificant m"' numbers become formidable. Frogs and flies in multitudes became Egyptian plagues. In relation to the swarms of demons marshalled by Satan he is called Beelzebuo-" Lord of flies." 3. They are formidable in their military order. (1) This, too, is suggested in the name of "legion." They are officered into principalities, powers, world-rulers of darkness, and spiritual rulers of wickedness i!} the he!-vens (see Epb. vi. 12). (2) They are efficiently marshalled. Some are devils of pride; some of coveteousness; some of sensuality; some of profanity; some of malice. Those who are Jed by any propensity to evil are posse~sed by a demon apt to stimulate it. Is your familiar an "unclean spirit"? 4. They are formidable in their inveterate malignity. (1) They are proud spirits. What but inveterate malignity could induce them ~o a~k leave of God to work mischief? (2) The more so when they know that for the m1scl11ef they work they will incur a terrible retribution. Devils are not yet in hell. 'l'beir time of torment is the <lay of judgment (cf. ver. 29; Rev. xii. 12; xx. 1-3, 10). 6. They are formidable because of their passion/or enshrinement in humanity. (1) Out of humanity they are troubled and uneasy (cf. eh. xii. 43). It is "torment" to them cm. vm.1-31.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTIIEW. 35l