Ver. 28.-Power over devas. It should not be surprising that some incidents in our Lord's life prove to be beyond present explanation. In this there is a similarity between God's works and God's Word. Probably we could explain our Lord's power over devils if we could recover fully the sentiments of his day concerning possession by devils. Scientific medicine was not known by the Jews. Their persistent ignor- ance is due to their strange belief that sickness was the punishment of sins committed either by the sufferer himself or his relations; hence it was almost always attributed to the action of evil spirits. The only cure possible, therefore, was the expulsion of the evil spirit, and the whole science of medicine consisted in discovering the best method of exorcising the demon. L DEVIL-POSSESSIONS. It is necessary to consider some received views as to the nature of evil. 1. The Ma.nichman. Two co-ordinate principles of good and evil. Compare the Zoroastrian principles represented in Ormu.zd and Ahriman. 2. T):Ie pantheistic. No reality, or separate existence to evil. Only a lower form of good; unripe good. 3. The scriptnraL Evil the contingency necessary to creaturehood; the essential possibility of a moral being, entrusted with the control of his own actions. Man a being snbject to influences; other wills do affect his. Illustrate by power of one man over another. Man is in a state of sin; that is a state of bondage to another will. So comes in the Scripture idea of a king and kingdom of evil. With this in mind, examine the particular form of sickness called "devil possessions." Perhaps it differed from epilepsy, hysteria, or insanity; but the lack of scientific description prevents our forming a precise judgment. What we notice is (1) lost control of the bodily organization; (2) consequent unrestrained sensuality; (3) lucid intervals; and (4) the sense of misery and cry for deliverance. We may best compare with delirium tremem, the mastery of a man's body _and will by the spirit of drink. II. THE JEWISH HODE OF DEALING WITH CASES OF DEVlL-FOBSEBSIONB. They.used incantations. '!.'he rabbi pronounced a magic formula. One of the Jewish bQoks pre- scribes a sacred root called baara.a. Using this aright, the devils will come out through the nostrils. Ill. Oun LoRD'B POWER OVER THE DEVIIrFOBBESSED. Notice: 1. The absence of all incantation. 2. Our Lord used no agencies. 3. The word of command aufficed. If devils represent the supreme woe that can afflict man, then Jesus proclaimed himself Master of man's worst woe.-R. T. Ver. 34.-Tl.e design of miracle frustrated. The destruction of the swine is one of the chief difficulties of the gospel narratives. Some common impressions in relation to it need careful correction. 1. They were wild hogs, not what we understand by pigs. Their conduct is that of half-wild creatures. 2. Christ, at the most, gave per- mission, not command. 3. That the spirits did enter the swine, and that this explains their wild conduct, is the people's idea, based on the paroxysms of the man when the, devils were in him. 4. Similar rushes of animals are due to natural causes, See the stampede of horses, as, some time since, at .Aldershot. 5. We need not think a judg- ment on the people for keeping swine was intended. There is no proof that they were under any Jewish obligations. We may notice the ends served by the scene. 1. It became an effective proof of the reality of the man's deliverance. So it answers to the err. ix. 1-38.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 359
command, "Take up thy bed, and walk." Such a proof was needed by the muAi wno may have feared it was only a lucid interval. 2. It exhibited the terrible nat~re of the devils' poeeeasion. If the devils wrought such havoc in the swine, what must they have wrought in the man I The people may not have properly felt the sadness and misery of their brother's condition. See the effects of the incident on the Gadarenes. It was their " day of grace." Opportunity of salvation was afforded them. I. OPPORTUNITY OF SALVATION WAS REJECTED BY THESE GADABENES. All Christ's offers are associated with some searching test, which makes it hard to accept them, and compels a man to deal resolutely with himself before he accepts them. Illustrate Zacchmus; young rich ruler; Matthew ; St. Paul. Here the test was a mere loss of property. It can never be an easy thing to enter the kingdom. The entrance is a low postern door-a "needle's eye." Tests may now be more subtle; they are not less real, and they are much more searching. Gadarenes failed under their test. II. OPPORTUNITY OF SALVATION WAS BEHOVED FROM THESE GADARENEB. Their rejection had to be recognized. It might have been recognized by some actual punish- ment. It was recognized by the immediate removal of the aid they misconceived and feared. Jesus went away grieving, and never came again. This may be your day of grace. It comes with a testing. In the test you may fail, and reject your Saviour. Rejected, he may remove,-R. T.